Daniel: Far From HomeНамуна

By himself, Daniel is unable to interpret the vision he has seen. Whoever the one ‘like a man’ is in verse 15, it is clear that Daniel will need heavenly help to understand the vision. And so the angel Gabriel is told to give Daniel its meaning (v. 16).

Gabriel first tells Daniel that the vision concerns ‘the time of the end’ (v. 17). Given what follows, it is unlikely that we are meant to think ‘the end of all things’, but rather the end of someone’s rebellion against God, as He brings judgement on them. Just as the exile had been an ‘end’ of Judah’s rebellion, so there will be an ‘end’ to the future evil Daniel is allowed to see (see v. 25b).

Daniel is given the interpretation of the dream in verses 20 to 25. The ram of verse 3 is identified as the kings of Media and Persia. The goat is the king of Greece, with the horn being Alexander the Great. The Greek empire would be divided into four parts (v. 22). It is, however only one part that Daniel needs to know about (v. 23). The stern-faced king refers to Antiochus. The word ‘stern-faced’ is used (in Hebrew) of the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7:13. She is the opposite of wisdom. Here Antiochus is also the master of intrigue. Daniel is being given a portrait of this future ruler. He will be very strong, will be against God’s people (v. 24), and so be opposed to God Himself (v. 25).

Daniel must understand that the return from exile which he will witness is not going to be the time when God’s promises to Abraham and David will be fulfilled. Before that there will be times of real suffering, as tyrants like Antiochus will arise and will oppose God’s people. However, Daniel is to be reassured – ‘he will be destroyed’, but it will not be ‘by human power’ (v. 25b). God is still in control and He will overthrow such rulers. The New Testament tells us that Antiochus is only one in a line of those who will oppose God’s people. Like Daniel, we can be encouraged that their downfall is certain.

The conclusion of the chapter tells us what Daniel is to do. In verse 26, what he has seen is ‘true’ and he is to ‘seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future’. It probably means that Daniel is not being given prophecy about the immediate times that he needs to proclaim. Some of what he has seen will only be fulfilled four centuries later. Although Daniel is ‘appalled by the vision’ (v. 27), later readers will see that God has all history under control. And every ‘antichrist’ will be destroyed.

Reflection

Notice Daniel’s response to the vision in verse 27. He ‘got up and went about the king’s business’. Knowing God was in control of the future meant he could continue to his normal life in the present. What impact should God’s sovereign control make on you?