Daniel 7:1-14 – The First Apocalyptic Vision
Introduction (7:1)
- While chapters 1-6 were narrative prose, chapters 7-12 are apocalyptic visions. This first vision (chapter 7) comes as a dream while in bed.
- Daniel 4-5 parallel each other: responses of kings to the God of Israel.
- Daniel 3 & 6 parallel each other: persecuted saints of God delivered.
- Daniel 2 & 7 parallel each other: four Gentile kingdoms.
- The typical theme of the apocalyptic genre describes the battle between good and evil written for an oppressed people who yearn for deliverance. A cosmic war lies behind the human conflict. The defeat of evil, however, is certain though the people of God suffer horribly. Apocalyptic visions use imaginative symbolism to portray the origins, progress, and end of this cosmic war.
- Daniel’s first recorded apocalyptic vision (previously he had only interpreted the dreams of others) comes in the first year of Belshazzer’s co-regency with his father Nabonidus over Babylon somewhere around 553-552 BCE.
Daniel’s Vision: The Animals
- Origins (7:2-3): “I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from each other.” These huge animals arise from chaotic, terrifying, and threatening waters.
- Descriptions of the Four Horrifying Hybrid Animals (7:4-8).
| Winged-Lion | Its wings were plucked off | Became like a human being | Was given a human mind |
| Bear | Raised up on one side (to pounce?) | Three ribs in its mouth | “Arise, devour many bodies.” |
| Leopard | With four wings | Four heads | Was given dominion |
| Unidentified animal | Iron teeth and trampling others with its feet | Ten horns, three of which are displaced by a “little” horn. | Little horn had human eyes and an arrogant mouth |
- Theological Import: while humanity was given dominion over the beasts of the field in Genesis 1, these beasts exercise dominion over humanity. This is the reversal of creation: beasts terrifying humanity. This is the presence of evil in the world.
A Throne Room Scene (7:9-14)
- The Ancient of Days (7:9-10)Thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sits on the throne. The Ancient One wore white clothing and had white hair.The throne was a fiery chariot (see Psalm 68:4; Psalm 103:3-4; Nahum 1:3). Fire issued from the presence of the Ancient OneMultiple thousands served the Ancient One. This is a courtroom scene: the Ancient One will judge the beasts.
- The Destruction of the Beasts (7:11-12)
- The little horn was speaking arrogant words.
- The beast is put to death, its body destroyed and incinerated.
- Dominion was taken away from the other beasts and their lives prolonged.
- The Coming of the Son of Man (7:13-14)
- “One like a son of man” came to the Ancient One with the clouds of heaven and was presented before the throne.
- The Ancient One gave him dominion, glory, and kingship.
- All peoples, nations, and languages are to serve him.
- His dominion is eternal, and his kingship will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 in the New Testament
- The “son of man” may serve as a collective for humanity (Psalm 8:4) or a single human person (Ezekiel 2:1).
- The one “like a son of man” in Daniel 7 is an eschatological figure who is given an eternal reign. The eternal kingdom is given to a human being worthy of that reign. This is the fulfillment of Genesis 1:28 and Psalm 8:4-6 (cf. Hebrews 2:6-8).
- The “Son of Man” (Jesus’s own self-identification) is human and suffers (cf. Mark 10:45) to enter his glory and become king (Luke 24:26).
- Daniel 7:13-14 seemingly refers to the ascension on the clouds to the throne room and the enthronement of the Messiah (the Son of Man) at the inauguration of his kingly rule. The Son of Man is not coming to earth in Daniel 7 but is coming to the Ancient of Days (much like the ascension in Acts 1 or the picture in Revelation 5, or probably Mark 14:62 as well). Here the Son of Man is taking his seat as king.
- This enthroned one, however, will come again on the clouds from the throne room to gather the people of God and destroy evil (cf. Mark 13:26-27). Just as the Son of Man ascended to the Ancient One on the clouds to begin his reign, so in the last days the Son of Man will descend on the clouds to deliver his people.