Saturday May 24, 2008

From our vantage point, we have a view of things

that Daniel didn't have. For all he knows, based

on what he sees, the future of the nation of

Israel is nothing but a faded dream. Where is

Daniel's G-d and what is he doing? The book of

Daniel compiles a series of events that fully

demonstrate to Daniel and all who will give

attention to the communication of these events

that there is indeed a G-d in heaven, who is

closely watching and in complete control of the

events that Daniel, and by implication, the

people of Covenant find themselves caught up in.

It's a prototype of the 'end of the days'. The

entire book of Daniel concerns itself with

prophecy related to the end of time because in it

is portrayed a world empire that is indifferent

to the kingdom of Heaven. In one passage there

is recorded that the king, when he's lifted up in

pride, because of his seeming invincibility, is

shown by Divine intervention that he is merely an

actor in the unfolding script. He's not the

director. The director is scripting events from

behind the curtain, from another dimension, from

his throne in the kingdom of Heaven. One thing

that we have that Daniel didn't have is the

complete canon of scripture. Along with the

complete record of scripture, we have knowledge

of world history, and the record of interaction

between this world and the other world that's

provided in the text of scripture. This

perspective gives us the advantage of more

information and the opportunity to examine both

the record of scripture and the record of

history. Daniel helps us to see that there is in

the past and will be in the future complete

supervision of all that we can see and those

things that are kept from our view.


Walvoord says that 'Daniel has a special place

that sets it apart as a unique and distinctive

contribution... which provide a chronology both

for the times of the Gentiles and for the future

of Israel up to the second coming of Christ.'

p.212 I would suggest that, on the surface

level, that's correct. But I would add that on

another level, at a symbolic or metaphoric level,

there is also a revealing of much more about the

significance of this particular prophetic subject

and insight into the overall context where

prophecy plays out. By context, I mean that

prophecy is like reading between the lines of

historic events. We watch events unfold round

us, yet we are often not aware of the

significance that they have in the plan of G-d or

the simple fact they are directed by Providence.

In my mind, this is key. In the book of the

Revelation, as in past difficult circumstances,

there are times when we would rather not believe

that events are under the direction of G-d.

Daniel lets us know for certain that this is the

case.


At another level, I believe that the overall

context, the setting in the kingdom of Babylon,

is also a prototype for the events coming in the

future that are given some discussion again in

the book of the Revelation. These events will

play out inder a system that is called 'Babylon'.

It's an explicit reference, and it is

significant, in that it directs our attention

right back to the book of Daniel, to examine the

prototype of what's to come. Seems simple

enough, but it's never easy. Is it? It provides

a pattern for the interpretation of world events.


I don't know about anyone else, but I've been

hooked on the book of Daniel since the time that

I first began to get a faint idea of it's

significance. It' more than just a couple

stories for kid's Sunday School class. There's

alot more to it. Over the past week, I've tried

to examine the last chapter and emphasize that

future aspects of this passage. Scripture

provides a look into the future of world events

and as believers, we ought to be aware that these

things to come are also guided by the hand of

Providence. Just as a mention, I want to add

that there is no wy that I know of to answer the

question, Why does G-d allow ______ to happen?,

usually something that we perceive as a tradegy.

That's above my pay grade. I expect that when

the time comes, once we cross the river, it will

all become obvious. Until then, scripture

provides all that we NEED to know, if only we'll

take time to look.