Bible + Culture 2015 4. Daniel 6–8

DANIEL Day 4: chapters 6–9

Daniel 6

Who is Darius?

Ugbaru (=Gobryas) – Persian general who captured Babylon?

Gubaru – governor of Babylon?

Cambyses – son of Cyrus?

Cyrus?

Rubens

Briton Rivière

Daniel7 – 12

A God vindicates his faithful servants (1) B Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: 4 kingdoms (2) C God rescues his faithful witnesses (3) D Warning for king; redemption (4) E Warning for king; judgment (5)

F God rescues his faithful witness (6) G Daniel’s dream: 4 kingdoms (7) H Details of post-Babylonian kingdoms (8) I Jerusalem restored (9)

J More on post-Babylonian kingdoms (10–12)

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Chapter 7 is ‘the single most important chapter of the Book of Daniel. Its position is pivotal, both in terms of the architecture of the book as a whole and in terms of the brilliance of the vision which it contains.’

Sibley Towner

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Once convinced of the truth this chapter is proclaiming, the reader is in possession of the key to history.

Joyce Baldwin

1 Daniel refuses to compromise

2 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: kingdoms

10–12 Writing of truth

5 Writing on the wall

9 Jerusalem: discipline/restoration

4 Nebuchadnezzar: discipline/restoration

8 ‘None can deliver out of his hand’

7 Daniel’s dream: kingdoms

6 Daniel refuses to compromise

3 ‘No god can deliver out of his hand’

7 First year of Belshazzar (553 BC)

8 Third year of Belshazzar (551 BC)

9 First year of Darius (539 BC)

10–12 Third year of Cyrus (537 BC)

symbolic visions (7, 8)

Standard vision report

a. Introduction

b. Report of the vision

c. End of the vision

d. Prophet’s reaction

7:1

7:2–27

7:28a

7:28b

8:1

8:2–25

8:26

8:27

‘epiphany vision’ (9, 10–12)

‘Epiphany visions’ in Daniel

a. Circumstances b. Prayer c. Messenger

appears d. Reassuring

message e. Revelation f. Charge

9:1–2 9:3–19 9:20–21

9:22–23

9:24–27

10:1 10:2–3 10:4–9

10:10 – 11:1

11:2 – 12:3 12:4

Understanding apocalyptic

literature

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It's ‘a “911” genre, for times of emergency – not just the stress of routine problems – times when the ordinary means for addressing life’s difficulties are simply not sufficient.”

Thomas Long

prophetic visions

narrative framework

revelation mediated by an otherworldly being

concerns the interaction between this world and a

supernatural reality

ultimately about eschatological salvation

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Apocalyptic literature draws back the curtains and allows the reader to see the eschatological victory of God, which has already been achieved over whatever forces are, even at the moment, crippling the community of faith.’

Thomas Long

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Apocalyptic literature is ‘intended to interpret present, earthly circumstances in light of the supernatural world and of the future, and to influence both the understanding and behaviour of the audience by means of divine authority.’

SBL

Eight common features• ‘Temporal dualism’ • Pessimism about the present; optimism

about the future • Viewing history as distinct periods • Expectation of God’s imminent arrival

Eight common features• Cosmic perspective • Righteous people being vindicated • Involvement of supernatural beings • A messianic element

Daniel Block

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The intention of apocalyptic is not to chart out God’s plan for the future so future generations may draw up calendars but to assure the present generation that — perhaps contrary to appearance — God is still on the throne . . . and that the future is firmly in his hands.

Daniel Block

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Apocalyptic tends to be impression-istic, more like an abstract painting which communicates an overall impression. . . . Sometimes the details in apocalyptic are for dramatic effect; there may be no significance other than how the imagery of the scene is enhanced by the details. . . .

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. . . The details in apocalyptic must not be seen as allegorical in the sense that each detail has a corresponding reality.

Brent Sandy and Martin Abegg

don’t interpret everything symbolically

don’t interpret everything spiritually

don't think it’s allabout the future

don't think it’s allabout the past

focus on the main point

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The key to the interpretation of images is to find the point of connection [between the images and their intended meaning] and not push the peripheral elements of the comparison. . . .

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. . . This means we will be left with a gray area in our interpretation. Some of the points of comparison will be obvious, but others will not be. At such points we need to hold back and not insist on our interpretation.

Tremper Longman III

identify the scenes and characters

identify the plot line

climax

setting

description of vision

rising tension – request for

interpretationinterpretation

conclusionperhaps with

prophet’s reaction

Daniel 7

sea = chaos

© Stuart McKiggan, used under a Creative Commons licence

?What are the scenes in Daniel 7, and what characters are involved?

Try to identify the plot line.

?Compare the beasts in Daniel 7:3–8,19–25 with the statue in Daniel 2:31–43.

What similarities are there?

What are the differences?

If Daniel 2 is a human perspectiveand Daniel 7 is God’s perspective,how does that help us understandthe difference?

Shumma Izbu

© British Museum. Used by permission.

Four kingdoms

1. Lion = Babylonia (605–539 BC)

Daniel 7:4 (cf 2:37–38)

lamassu

© British Museum. Used by permission.

2. Bear = Medo-Persia(539–331 BC)

Daniel 7:5 (cf. 2:39; 8:3)

3. Leopard = Greece(331–63 BC)

Daniel 7:6 (cf 2:39; 8:8; 11:3–4)

4. Beast with iron teeth = Rome (63 BC – AD 476/1453)

Daniel 7:7–8,19–25 (cf 2:40–43)

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Rome showed itself to be the first truly universal empire of antiquity. Rome was characterized by its conquering and crushing power and by its ability to consolidate the territories which it seized.

E.J. Young

10 horns

horned crown

© British Museum. Used by permission.

little horn

the little horn in Dan. 7:7–8is not

the little horn in Dan. 8:9–12

little horn in Daniel 8 =

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

(215 BC – 164 BC)

© Jniemenmaa, used under a Creative Commons licence

little horn in Daniel 7 = antichrist /

man of lawlessness

1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10

one like a son of man

Daniel 7:13–14

?How is the ‘one like a son of man’ contrasted to the four beasts?

one like a son of man = the Son of Man

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When people heard Jesus use the term “son of man” for himself, they had to decide which type of “son of man” he was. Technically he was both, but it took faith to believe he was like the “son of man” in Daniel

ESV Study Bible

www.tonywatkins.uk