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When Nightmares Cease: A Message of Hope from Daniel 7
-Daniel Block, preaching
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Daniel Block began his sermon by talking about the terror of nightmares, and the dreadful, dark world they evoke while we sleep. Daniel had a thoroughly disturbing nightmare in Daniel 7-its deformed beasts are "an obvious expression of chaos," Block said-but despite its grotesque imagery, we should read the chapter as an assurance of God's sovereignty.
Despite the benefit of a "heavenly interpreter," Block said, "Daniel's comments indicate that he had not been reassured by the vision. If Daniel did not get the point even with the benefit of the heavenly interpreter, I should not feel too badly," Block remarked about the density of the text's meaning. "I just wish the heavenly interpreter would return."
Block concluded with three points about Daniel 7:
1. This passage "reaffirms the sovereignty of God over all the nations," Block said. "Verse 12 expresses it all. The dominion of the beasts was taken away."
"For Daniel and his people, this should have been a source of great encouragement. Nebuchadnezzar and his successors rule only by the will of God, and when their time is up . he delivers the authority into other hands."
2) The text proclaims the fidelity of Yahweh to his covenant people. "No doubt Daniel and his countrymen were wondering what had happened to the promises of God. . The primary point of his vision is to reassure the people that the [promises] will prevail. The saints of the most high will ultimately be vindicated and exercise dominion over the earth with the most high."
3) This text offers us the Messiah, in the image of the Son of Man. "The ultimate fate of God's people is linked with the fate of the Son of Man," Block said.
He closed by saying, "May the study of apocalyptic literature inspire us all to greater confidence in the ultimate triumph of God, his Messiah, and his people."
-Nathan Bierma