Daniel 7Daniel 7

Nebuchadnezzar's dream and chapter 7

Rise and fall of nations

• This sea is a picture of the nations of the world, and it is never calm – great monsters rise up and for a while and straddle the history of the world, and then, they simply disappear and others succeed them.

ottamangermanyromeU.S.S.R.

Vanity!Vanity!• Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom

identifies the vanity of man.identifies the vanity of man.

perspectiveperspective

• When Nebuchadnezzar When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of the future dreamed of the future he dreamed about a he dreamed about a beautiful image.beautiful image.

• When God showed When God showed Daniel the future he Daniel the future he showed him ferocious showed him ferocious beasts.beasts.

Gold’s influenceGold’s influence

• This lion’s outstretched wings is a fine symbol of Babylon whose influence spread over all the surrounding nations

Spirit of the Spirit of the rebel worldrebel world

• The Persians over the Meads Speaks to one’s Heart

• AGRESSION• LAWLESS

DEMONSTRATION• RACISM• Superiority – I know

more, I’m stronger, I’m more beautiful…..

• The Grecian empire tells The Grecian empire tells one to get it NOW!one to get it NOW!

• Fifteen minutes of fame Fifteen minutes of fame Idol series; Voice; Honey Idol series; Voice; Honey Boo BooBoo Boo

• Today’s seniors had to Today’s seniors had to learn how to live without learn how to live without and live dependently on and live dependently on neighbor.neighbor.

• Today’s youth live in Today’s youth live in loneliness and on credit.loneliness and on credit.

Instant gratificationInstant gratification

• Lawlessness & Self Lawlessness & Self Sufficiency Sufficiency

• Discriminate toleranceDiscriminate tolerance• Science & PharmacyScience & Pharmacy• Heaven on own termsHeaven on own terms

HumanismHumanismThe Roman The Roman Empire speaks Empire speaks to our own to our own personal personal corruptioncorruption

Don’t forget to see theDon’t forget to see the“big Picture”“big Picture”

• All kingdoms will All kingdoms will fall but one.fall but one.

• Every disposition Every disposition that is not found in that is not found in the kingdom will not the kingdom will not make it to heaven.make it to heaven.

This revelation tells us This revelation tells us something about Godsomething about GodHe sees the future.He sees the future.

He controls the world.He controls the world. God has a kingdom.God has a kingdom.

God preserves his people.God preserves his people.

This revelation tells us This revelation tells us something about Jesussomething about Jesus

The “Son of Man” The “Son of Man” Daniel 7:13, 14 & John 3:13-15Daniel 7:13, 14 & John 3:13-15

1.1. He claims to have come from heavenHe claims to have come from heaven2.2. He claims to be eternalHe claims to be eternal3.3. He is the source of healing comparable to the He is the source of healing comparable to the

snake on the pole in Numbers 21snake on the pole in Numbers 214.4. He claims that in order for a person to avoid He claims that in order for a person to avoid

perishing, that person must believe in Him.perishing, that person must believe in Him.

Background of the termBackground of the term• Of the 88 times the expression “son of Of the 88 times the expression “son of

man” occurs in the NASB version of the New man” occurs in the NASB version of the New Testament, all except four are found in the Testament, all except four are found in the gospel accounts. gospel accounts.

• Among the gospel narratives, “son of man” Among the gospel narratives, “son of man” occurs 31 times in Matthew, 14 times in occurs 31 times in Matthew, 14 times in Mark, 26 times in Luke, and 13 times in Mark, 26 times in Luke, and 13 times in John. In every case, the expression refers to John. In every case, the expression refers to Jesus. Jesus.

Darwin

• The “sons of this world” (Luke 20:34) are those people who are characterized by their devotion to the things of this earthly life.

• Middle easterners speak of a “son of the desert,” referring to a person who is particularly connected to, linked with, and characterized by the desert.

The Usage in Context• For example, the “son of wickedness”

(Psalm 89:22) is a wicked person.• “Son of man” (cf. Jeremiah 49:18,33) refers to one’s mortality, the condition

of being a human being—“a euphuism for ‘man.’” Of the 107 occurrences of the phrase (ben adam) in the Old Testament, 93 occur in Ezekiel to refer to that prophet.

Significance of it being Significance of it being applied to Jesusapplied to Jesus

• When referring to Jesus, the expression emphasizes When referring to Jesus, the expression emphasizes the human aspect of Jesus—the phenomenon of his the human aspect of Jesus—the phenomenon of his enfleshment (cf. Philippians 2:7). However, when enfleshment (cf. Philippians 2:7). However, when preceded by the article (“preceded by the article (“thethe son of man”),  son of man”), Bullinger suggests that “the phrase appears to have Bullinger suggests that “the phrase appears to have a special idiomatic usage of its own” indicating a special idiomatic usage of its own” indicating Jesus’ “universal dominion in the earth.” C.F.D. Jesus’ “universal dominion in the earth.” C.F.D. Moule notes that, with the exception of quotations Moule notes that, with the exception of quotations from the Old Testament and John 5:27, in the New from the Old Testament and John 5:27, in the New Testament “son of man” always has the article Testament “son of man” always has the article preceding it (1959, p. 177; cf. p. 116).preceding it (1959, p. 177; cf. p. 116).

““Son of Man” was Jesus favorite Son of Man” was Jesus favorite way to describe himselfway to describe himself

• He undoubtedly wanted people to know that though He is God, when He came to the Earth, He came in human form and became fully human by taking on all the frailties of human flesh (Phil. 2:5-8).

• He undoubtedly wanted every person to understand that “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

• Thayer suggests that Jesus preferred this title “because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendor”

Jesus is “Connected” with the human experience• Because he is the “Son of man,” he is Because he is the “Son of man,” he is

our brother.our brother. Brotherliness carries in it not only a sense of kinship but likewise a disposition to render help. Thus, brotherliness deals not only with a relationship but also with a most helpful disposition.

• His brotherliness was not an act. To him brotherliness is the very essence of religion. Without brotherliness there can be no religion that is pleasing unto God. The old law had said that man must not raise his hand to kill, but Jesus taught that the tongue must not sting (Matt. 5:21ff).

• "If I cannot help them with my life I will help them with my death. If I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.. When they hear me praying for them with my dying breath, they will be convinced that I am indeed their brother."

Significance of Daniel 7:13, 14 Significance of Daniel 7:13, 14 and Acts 1:9-11and Acts 1:9-11

““Now when He had spoken these Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”into heaven.”

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