Thoughts on Daniel 7

It's Friday again and so we provide this article to you as part of the ongoing commentary on the current Sabbath school quarterly: One of the most important contributions of Ellen White is the concept of the universal controversy between Christ and Satan over the character of God. Placing every biblical story and prophecy in the setting of this war over the trustworthiness of God’s character adds a tremendous depth of meaning.  In this context, the central purpose of prophecy is not so much to foretell exact future events and dates, but rather to ensure the reader that God will bring about a resolution of this conflict and that the universal debate over the question “Can God be trusted?” will be resolved.  Secondly, prophecy helps us to solidify our trust in God by helping us to recognize events as they happen, rather than to predict events that have not happened yet.  “I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that 'I Am Who I Am.’” (John 13:19)

The conflict over the two principles

Equally important as the recognition that Christ and Satan and their respective followers are involved in this universal battle, is the understanding what this war is about. Satan has tried to convince our first parents that God wants to restrict the freedom of his creatures by withholding from them very thing that would elevate them to a god-like state: “God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God” (Gen 3:5). Satan charged that God rules his universe by using fear, force, and coercion, and the awful consequences of believing Satan’s lie about God became inevitable: “I was afraid and I hid from you, because I was naked” (Gen 3:10 TEV) In short, Satan succeeded in making us believe that God was untrustworthy and that he is to be avoided and feared. So God condescended as the man Jesus. He came into the womb of one of his creatures, washed the feet of his betrayer, and even allowed his creatures to torture and murder him, to once and for all destroy Satan’s lies and prove to the universe of angels and humans that God is worthy of our love and that he can indeed be trusted.

However, the extent of this battle is not only about the question over God’s character, but also about the validity of the principles of either representative. Satan claims that selfishness and survival of the fittest are superior to God’s principle of other-focused love. It becomes clear that the great controversy is not a conventional war that is waged in some heavenly sphere, but a war that takes place in our minds.

The purpose of the prophecy of Daniel 7

As we consider the prophecies God gave to Daniel in the context of this universal conflict over the trustworthiness of God’s character and principles, we are immediately struck by the conspicuously symbolic language depicting supernatural beasts, horns, flames, books, clouds, etc. And we are even assisted in the interpretation of these symbols.

I would like to point out and discuss three main time periods that are depicted in Daniel 7 particularly in the context of the above described conflict:

1. The nature of the four empires

The first time period is characterized by four earthly empires. Sweeping through the events of history, we are given insight into the authority of these great empires that have ruled the earth since the time of Daniel. And though we have good reason to trust our Adventist interpretation of these empires, we would do well to focus more on the nature of these empires than on their specific historical names and dates. The four beasts become progressively more terrifying. The bear is told to “eat as much meat as you can”, the leopard has a “look of authority about it”, and the fourth beast is “horrible” and “terrifying”, and “crushed its victims and then trampled on them”. And finally the little horn was “more terrifying than any of the others” and proceeds to “oppress God’s people”. It is no mystery that the writer is trying to convince us that all of the earthly empires are identified by their use of extreme force and oppression, a position that clearly establishes which side of the great controversy they are representing.

Yet God assures us that another event will occur which will halt the rule of force, fear, and coercion in this world. Finally, there is talk of a court scene suggestive of some kind of final judgment.

2. The judgment

The second time period depicted is a court scene. The Son of God himself helped us understand the judgment: “Nor does the Father himself judge anyone. He has given his Son the full right to judge” (John 5:22). Yet later Jesus assures us “I came not to judge the world, but to save it” (John 12:47). So who does the judging at the end of time? Jesus explains: “Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day!” (v.48). What words, what message did Jesus come to reveal which will be our final judge? Jesus gives it to us straight: “I have finished the work you gave me to do…I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world”. (John 17:4,6)

The revelation of God’s kindness to the world through Jesus will be the final judge of the inhabitants of this earth. Those who prefer a god who uses force, control, manipulation, and fear will reject the picture of God revealed by Jesus and his true followers and ultimately prefer Satan’s false characterization of God. They are judged by choosing the principles that lead to death and self-destruction over the principles that lead to life.

3. The nature of the final kingdom

Immediately after the judgment, the third and final time period describes a kingdom of ultimate “power and greatness” which “will be given to the people of the Supreme God” (Dan 7:27). How will God’s kingdom be different from the previous ones? Jesus reveals to us the nature of his kingdom: It is a kingdom of the meek and humble, the merciful and righteous, the pure in heart and the peacemakers (Matt 5:5-10). The citizens of this kingdom don’t hate their enemies, but love them and pray for those who persecute them (v.44). They behave unselfishly toward others by giving more than is required, repaying exploitation with benevolence and abuse with kindness (v.39-42). The inhabitants of this kingdom can be recognized for their love and kindheartedness toward each other (John 13:35). Truly a kingdom so fundamentally different from those empires described to Daniel, truly a kingdom “not of this world” (John 18:36)! Yet Jesus assures us that “the Kingdom of God has already come to you” (Luke 11:20). And it is not just an external kingdom that is limited to a heavenly location, rather we are told by Him that “the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

How does this prophecy relate to 1844 and the beginnings of Adventism

The awareness of the existence of a universal conflict over God’s true character is one of the distinctive contributions of Adventism through the writings of Ellen White which developed in the aftermath of 1844. This concept is not only helpful in distinguishing the true God from the one who claims to be the god of this world, but it is equally useful in distinguishing the true followers of God from those of Satan. A united group, such as occurred after Pentecost, who practice the principles of other-focused love will always stick out like a sore thumb against those who are ruled by their own selfishness and who use force and manipulation in their attempt to control others, especially in the realm of religion. The principles of survival of the fittest, selfishness, and fear have never been of God, but of the enemy. The understanding about God’s character that developed out of the 1844 movement enabled us to better understand and judge God’s character as well as our own by the means of the clear message given by Jesus – the message that tells us that God is just like Jesus in character. The way in which we demonstrate a Christ-like character in our lives reveals which kind of God we prefer – the god of force and manipulation, or the God of humility and other-focused love. The recognition of these principles makes it easy then to distinguish correct from false doctrine, good from bad religion.