In Daniel chapters seven and eight we see two visions that at first glance are incredibly confusing and definitely require some further study and knowledge of world history in addition to bible prophecy. If you ever read passages like these and find yourself lost, confused, and feeling hopeless you’re in good company. For one, Daniel himself wasn’t able to understand! After the first vision Daniel was anxious and states, “the visions of my head alarmed me” (Dan. 7:15) and so he asked a man in the vision what it meant. In his vision in chapter eight, he likewise asks for help (see 8:15-17). Remember, this is the same Daniel that was called upon by the kings of Babylon to disclose the meanings of dreams! He even had to give the content and the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great statue in chapter two, and here he himself is puzzled! If we struggle to understand apocalyptic sections of biblical prophecy, we can take heart that it’s not easy to understand. Even parts of Scripture outside of the apocalyptic genre are difficult at times, and the Apostle Peter describes how aspects of Paul’s writings are hard to understand! (see 2 Pet. 3:16).
One benefit that we have in coming to Daniel’s vision is that we have history on our side. Daniel was shown things to come, and while not all of these things have taken place, some have. In Daniel 7, there are four beasts that come out of the sea (7:3) which represent four kings or kingdoms (7:17). Scholars generally conclude that the four kingdoms referenced are the same as the kingdoms represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream from chapter two. So, the lion represents Babylon, the bear represents the Medo-Persian empire, the leopard represents the Greek empire, and the fourth beast that isn’t likened to an animal is the Roman empire.[1]
Again, we have history on our side and can look back to Daniel’s predictive prophecy and see how events unfolded and how impressively these kingdoms were predicted by an all-knowing God! But what is more important than the identification of the beasts is their ultimate destruction (7:11-12) and the reign of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. Daniel has a vision of the end when the books are opened and judgment is executed (7:10) and he likewise has a vision of one like a “son of man” coming on the clouds of heaven (7:13). This is a clear designation of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Throughout Jesus’s earthly ministry He referred to Himself as the Son of Man more than any other title. This wasn’t just in an effort to show his humanity (alongside his divinity), although this is true. Jesus’ self-designation was primarily to show others that He was the divine, Messiah-figure from Daniel’s vision who was coming. He alludes to this passage specifically in His testimony before the religious council prior to His crucifixion (see Mark 14:61-62).
Whenever we think of the end-times, when we think of the tribulation, the beast, the antichrist, the millennium and all the various ways these things are interpreted we have to remember not to lose sight of what is abundantly clear and most important: Jesus Christ is God’s exalted Messiah and the One to whom all power, dominion, and authority is given. People can debate their theories on the second coming, on the different interpretations on the millennium, whether or not there will be a rapture, and who exactly the antichrist is, but what matters most is who Jesus Christ is and that He is coming again. He is the Son of Man, the Messiah, the exalted Lord. When we read Revelation, we must remember that it’s the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the antichrist (see Rev. 1:1). As we read this passage today, let’s not be discouraged with the difficult aspects to biblical prophecy and apocalyptic writing, but be encouraged with what is incredibly clear: “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:14).
[1] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1600.
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