Take Heart, God Wins—Daniel 7

One of Ronald Regan’s favorite jokes to tell was one about twin boys.  Maybe you’ve heard it.  

One of the boys was an extreme pessimist, and the other boy was an extreme optimist.  Worried about their extreme personalities, the parents took them to be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

First, the psychiatrist led the pessimistic boy into a room piled with brand-new toys. But instead of being excited about playing with the toys, the little boy burst into tears. ‘What’s the matter?’ the psychiatrist asked. ‘Don’t you want to play with any of the toys?’ ‘Yes,’ the little boy cried, ‘but if I did I’d probably break them.’”

Next, the psychiatrist evaluated the optimistic boy. Wanting to see how he would respond, the psychiatrist took him outside to a big pile of horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the boy shouted, “Wahoo,” and climbed to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. “What are you doing?” the psychiatrist asked. The little boy shouted back, “With all this manure, there must be a pony in here somewhere!”

Whether you identify with the pessimist (realist) or the optimist, Daniel 7 has something for you!  If you lean toward being an optimist, then what you will find in Daniel 7 is that, in the end, things are going to be better than you could ever imagine.  

If, however, you lean toward being a pessimist and tend to focus on the negative, when you read Daniel 7, you will see that you are not wrong: there are many negative things ahead for the church, including hardship, trials, and pain.  

But what I am hoping that you will see, regardless of whether you are an optimist or a pessimist, is that despite what you may see on the news, or see happening around you,

God is on the throne, and the future is securely in His hands.

That is why the title for today’s sermon is: Take Heart, God Wins.

That is really what Daniel has been telling us over and over in the first 6 chapters. The first 6 chapters have been Daniel’s autobiography.  He was telling us about God’s faithfulness throughout his life; from the time of the fall of Jerusalem when he was a young man to the end of his life, God continually demonstrated that, despite the circumstances, we can take heart, because God wins.

But there is a bit of a switch as we move into Daniel 7.  The final 6 chapters are what we call Apocalyptic scripture.  

The Bible can be divided into categories.  There are the books of the law, which are the first five books of the Bible.  There are the books of history, like Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel.  There are the books of Wisdom and Poetry like Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.  There are the Major and Minor Prophets.  In the New Testament, there are the gospels, Matt, Mk, Lk, and Jn.  There are the General Epistles and the Pastoral Epistles.  All of these different genres that make up the Bible tell us one cohesive story.  All of these different kinds of literature, even though unique, point us to how God wins back His family by sacrificing His one and only Son, Jesus. Along with all those other genres, there is another category of scripture, Apocalyptic scripture. 

The books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah contain elements of apocalyptic literature. The same is true of certain passages in the New Testament, such as 2 Thessalonians 2, Mark 13, and Matthew 24. And then the book of Revelation.

Apocalyptic scripture often has crazy descriptions and bizarre imagery, like  the long-haired locusts with men’s faces in Revelation 9 and the four-faced creatures in Ezekiel 1.

The purpose of Apocalyptic scripture is to give us a visual image of what God is doing behind the scenes.  Daniel 7 is a great example of this.

As with all Apocalyptic scripture, many people have taken deep dives into these verses, trying to figure out the imagery and symbolism.  If that is where you are and you find that interesting, knock yourself out.  Like I said, the purpose of this type of scripture, including the book of Revelation, is to remind us that God is on the throne, and the future is securely in His hands.  

So that is what we will unpack here today.  We will see how this imagery reminds us to take heart because God wins.

Daniel 7 begins with Daniel describing a vision he actually had sometime between the events of chapters 4 and 5.  All the visions Danel describes in the last 6 chapters concern future events.  At least in Daniel’s day, they were future events.  From our perspective, many of them have already happened.

Dan 7:1-3 (CSB)—In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account. Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

Revelation 17:15 tells us the “sea” refers to the nations of the world. So, out of the nations of the world, four beasts will arise. These four beasts represent the four nations that are represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2.

Dan 7:4 (CSB)—The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

The lion with eagles’ wings speaks of the Babylonians, the same as the head of gold in chapter 2. Archaeological discoveries verify that the national emblem of Babylon was a lion with wings.

The wings were torn off the lion, and it was given the heart of a man. This refers to what happened to Nebuchadnezzar. Because of his pride, God humbled him, and he became like a beast. When he turned to the Lord, however, he was given a new heart, and he stood on his feet once again.

Dan 7:5 (CSB)—Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.”

The bear symbolizes the Medo-Persian empire, as do the silver arms in chapter 2. The three ribs symbolize the three empires immediately devoured by the Medes and Persians: the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Lydians.

Dan 7:6 (CSB)—After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads, and it was given dominion.

The leopard symbolizes the Greeks, the same as the statue’s belly of brass in chapter 2. With only 35,000 troops, Alexander could strike quickly and was brilliant in strategy like a leopard. The four heads represent the four generals who took over Alexander’s empire after his death.

Dan 7:7 (CSB)—After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.

The fourth beast represents the Roman Empire and corresponds to the statue’s legs of iron in chapter 2. Out of it, we see ten horns, the same as the ten toes of Daniel 2. The horns and toes represent a confederation of ten nations emerging from the old Roman Empire.

Here’s where things get really interesting:

Dan 7:8 (CSB)—While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.

Now, the vision focuses on a little horn. This little horn grows more powerful than any of the other horns. Its description is basically evil personified. It has human eyes and a mouth. It’s meant to represent an individual (or a type of individual): this is the person the Apostle Paul refers to in 2 Thessalonians 2 as the “man of lawlessness.” 

It is also the same man the Apostle John refers to as the antichrist.

In Paul’s day, the Christians in Thessalonica were going through intense persecution and were getting conflicting information about why they were going through all of this. Here, in 2 Thes 2, Paul sets the record straight and gives a clear description of the man of lawlessness and what he is about.

2 Thes 2:3-4 (NLT)—Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day (that day, meaning the day Jesus will return to gather the church) will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 

Then, it says, God will eventually reveal him and Jesus will destroy him when he comes again.

2 Thes 2:9-11 (NLT)—This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.

This is the little horn, the antichrist, or the man of lawlessness.  He is controlled by our enemy, Satan, and his goal is to deceive the world so they will give their allegiance to him and not to God.  Satan will do everything he can to keep you and the rest of humanity from giving your allegiance to God.

When we ask questions like, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” or “How could people take advantage of and victimize others?” or  “Why is there evil in the world?” This is why.  Satan and his agents are working in the background to keep us from knowing the abundant life that comes when we become a part of the kingdom of God.

Paul reminds us:

Eph 6:12 (CSB)—For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

So where is God in all this lawlessness, deception, and destruction?

Daniel 7:9-12 (CSB)—As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.

The Ancient of Days is a description of God, and the description of his throne is His judgment over the enemy.  God is reminding Daniel that he is not alone.  Even though he may feel like the only one standing for what is right, there are ten thousand times ten thousand standing with him (and us).

It is also a reminder that one day, all injustice and hatred will face a reckoning when the books are opened. Even though the influences represented by those ancient kingdoms that opposed God are still with us, it says that their “lives were prolonged”—in the end, all were killed, and all will be destroyed. Kingdoms and philosophies opposed to God may still linger, but they will not last.

As we read on in Daniel 7 someone else appears:

Dan 7:13-14 (CSB)—I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. 

“One like a son of man.”  What we are seeing here is the coronation of Jesus as He returns to heaven after defeating sin and death.  What Daniel is witnessing in his vision is what happened after Acts 1.

After Jesus was killed and rose from the dead three days later, victorious over sin and death, He appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem, where He had told them to wait for him.  They wanted to know whether this was the moment Jesus would restore Israel.

Acts 1:7-11 (CSB)—He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

This scene in Daniel 7 is the afterparty.  After Jesus leaves the disciples, He arrives in heaven and is given dominion over a kingdom that will never end.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew, just before He ascended? (same event, different perspective)

Matt 28:19-20 (CSB)—Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This is why we are so insistent on sharing the gospel.  You can get depressed about the state of our world and angry about all the injustice, but if you really want to stick it to the enemy and make a difference, tell someone about Jesus. 

Be His witness; share what God has done for you.  Join us in our mission to be the hands and feet of Jesus because one day, and we don’t know when that day will be, Jesus will return and every knee will bow before him, and some will cry out for joy, but others will cry out in anguish because they missed the opportunity to join God’s eternal kingdom.

Even though we are only about halfway through the chapter, God’s message to Daniel is clear at this point.

God has won, and God will win, His people will reign, but the war isn’t over yet.

In the rest of the chapter, Daniel asks for clarity about what he has seen.

Dan 7:21-22 (CSB)—As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

Even though Jesus will prevail, now is no time for us to sit back and relax.  

2 Ptr 3:9 (CSB)—The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

If you read on, Peter describes the day when Jesus will come a second time to gather His family.  Until that day comes, we still wrestle against the cosmic powers of this darkness.  And as we wrestle, we want to rescue as many as will listen and respond to the truth that will save them.

I know this time of waiting can be excruciatingly hard and even terrifying at times.  It was for Daniel.

Dan 7:28 (CSB)—This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.

But as we wait for His return, remember: 

God is on the throne, and the future is securely in His hands. Take Heart, God Wins.

Questions for reflection:

1.  What is one thing that has you discouraged or depressed these days?  Does the reminder that the future is securely in God’s hands change how you feel?  

2.  Is there someone in your sphere of influence who needs to hear the story of Jesus?  Does the reminder that Jesus can return at any moment change the urgency of sharing that message with them?

3.  Pray and ask God to give you an opening to share Jesus with them.