Bible and Culture 2016 – Daniel 7 My slides from day 4 of Bible & Culture 2016 See more at bibleandculture.org

1. Day 4
Daniel 7 – 9
Apocalyptic
in Daniel
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–
‘‘
’’
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
‘‘
’’
Once convinced of the truth this
chapter is proclaiming, the reader is
in possession of the key to history.
Joyce Baldwin
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)

2. ‘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
‘‘
’’
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
‘‘
’’
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

3. ‘‘
’’
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’ – separating this
present age from the age to come
• pessimism about the present; optimism
about the future
• ‘periodization of history’ – viewing history
as distinct periods
• expecting the imminent arrival of the reign
of God
Eight common features
• cosmic perspective
• righteous people being vindicated
• involvement of supernatural beings
• a messianic element
Daniel Block
‘‘
’’
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
‘‘
’’
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. . . .
‘‘
’’
. . . 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 all
about the future

4. don't think it’s all
about the past
focus on the main point
‘‘
’’
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. . . .
‘‘
’’
. . . 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
interpretation
interpretation
conclusion
perhaps with
prophet’s reaction
Daniel 7
sea = chaos
© Stuart McKiggan, used under a Creative Commons licence

5. ?
What are the scenes in Daniel 7, and what
characters are involved?
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 perspective and
Daniel 7 is God’s perspective, how does that
help us understand the difference?
?
Shumma Izbu
© British Museum. Used by permission.
Four kingdoms
‘‘
’’
The text offers no interpretation of
any of the characteristics of the
dream beasts, except that the horns
are kings. . . . The text does not
answer these questions, nor can
background information resolve
them.
John Walton
IVP Bible Background Commentary
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)
Achaemenid Empire under
Cyrus II

6. Achaemenid Empire under
Cambyses II
Achaemenid Empire under
Darius I
3. Leopard = Greece
(331–63 BC)
Daniel 7:6 (cf 2:39; 8:8; 11:3–4)
Alexander
Macedon empire
4. Beast with iron teeth =
Rome (63 BC – AD 476/1453)
Daniel 7:7–8,19–25 (cf 2:40–43)
‘‘
’’
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.

7. little horn
little horn in Daniel 7:7–8
is not
little horn in Daniel 8:9–12
little horn in
Daniel 8 =
Antiochus IV
Epiphanes
© Jniemenmaa, used under a Creative
Commons licence
little horn in Daniel 7
= antichrist /
man of lawlessness
1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2Thessalonians
Monday: bit.ly/BC2016-dan1
Tuesday: bit.ly/BC2016-dan2
Wednesday: bit.ly/BC2016-dan3
Thursday: bit.ly/BC2016-dan4
Friday: bit.ly/BC2016-dan5
one like a
son of man
Daniel 7:13–14
‘‘
’’
There is nearly universal consensus
that the phrase ‘one like a son of
man’ means simply ‘one like a
human being’. . . . the general sense
of ‘someone, anyone.’
John Collins
?
How is the ‘one like a son of man’
contrasted with the four beasts?
?
?
What is the theme of this chapter?
What is the goal?
?

8. How do we get to
Jesus from Daniel
7?
1. Redemptive-historical
progression
2. Promise-fulfilment
3. Anticipations (typology)
one like a son of man
= the Son of Man
‘‘
’’
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
4. Analogy 5. Longitudinal themes
6. New Testament
references

9. 7. Contrast www.tonywatkins.uk