All communications are at least bi-directional or even multi-lateral. There is at least one sender and some recipients. Through some media or channels, messages are conveyed. Revelation is no exception. God is the sender and we are the recipients. Since, at least two parties are involved, the quality of communication depends on several factors.
First of all, it depends on the sender. More concretely, it depends on how much the sender wants to communicate and how well the send delivers his message. Granted that God is a perfect communicator, He has no problem in revealing His will to us. Still, He may want to send His will bit by bit or He may change His mind in the course of time. In many occasions, the Old Testament tells us that God "repents" for His plan to destroy the Israelites.
Secondly, it depends on the recipients. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes 4 classes of people. Some reject the Word of God outright. Others listen out of courtesy or pragmatism. They do not really believe. Still others listen and believe. However, their hearts have been occupied by worldly worries. They could not put their belief into practice. Truly, many people are not ready to repent and turn back to God.
Lastly, it depends on the quality of the media or the channel. Our language is one limitation. Our knowledge is another. Many concepts are culturally and historically determined. It was only natural for ancient people to view the earth immobile and the sun circled around the earth. Nowadays, we still say "sun rises", "sun sets" even though we know very well that the earth is actually rotating along its own axis one cycle per 24 hours. When human rights were declared for the first time after the French Revolution and men began to vote for their government, women and negroes were denied such voting rights. Were women or black slaves sub-human? The answer depends on which historical stage you are in.
Secondly, it depends on the recipients. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes 4 classes of people. Some reject the Word of God outright. Others listen out of courtesy or pragmatism. They do not really believe. Still others listen and believe. However, their hearts have been occupied by worldly worries. They could not put their belief into practice. Truly, many people are not ready to repent and turn back to God.
Lastly, it depends on the quality of the media or the channel. Our language is one limitation. Our knowledge is another. Many concepts are culturally and historically determined. It was only natural for ancient people to view the earth immobile and the sun circled around the earth. Nowadays, we still say "sun rises", "sun sets" even though we know very well that the earth is actually rotating along its own axis one cycle per 24 hours. When human rights were declared for the first time after the French Revolution and men began to vote for their government, women and negroes were denied such voting rights. Were women or black slaves sub-human? The answer depends on which historical stage you are in.
Returning to the question I posed in the title, I think that Daniel 7 does not talk about the end of the world as people popularly understand it. We have to wait until the book of Revelation to fully expound the concept of the end of the world. Of course, we can identify many preliminary concepts in Daniel 7.
First of all, people nowadays are very much interested in numbers. They want a date. Their understanding of the end of the world is a pre-determined date. They will be disappointed with the book of Daniel because they will not be able to find such a date written down there.
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).
If the Second Coming of Jesus Christ means the end of the world, Daniel 7 does not tell us when. There is no date.
Secondly, before the end of the world, there is a struggle between the good and the evil.
The second half of Daniel 7 explains the vision. Daniel asked "... one of those who stood there ..." (Daniel 7:16). Was he an angel? Was he one of those saints fighting against the evil? Whoever he was, he was able to interpret the meaning of those symbols.
These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever (Daniel 7:17-18)
What about the meaning of the horn and the last beast?
As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them,
until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom (Daniel 7:21-22).
Unfortunately, this is not very informative. Ask yourself. In which era was/is man free from this good-evil struggle? No such era has ever existed and we don't expect one to exist. The fight between the good and the evil is an eternal truth, a kind of background music for all men to grow and develop. Daniel was simply telling an obvious daily experience his contemporary fellow Jews were facing. He was only conveying this simple truth in an apocalyptic package.
Lastly, Daniel had a conviction. The saints would receive the kingdom. Would you want a share? If you do, you must take the side of the saints and bear the brunt of fighting against the evil.
First of all, people nowadays are very much interested in numbers. They want a date. Their understanding of the end of the world is a pre-determined date. They will be disappointed with the book of Daniel because they will not be able to find such a date written down there.
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).
If the Second Coming of Jesus Christ means the end of the world, Daniel 7 does not tell us when. There is no date.
Secondly, before the end of the world, there is a struggle between the good and the evil.
The second half of Daniel 7 explains the vision. Daniel asked "... one of those who stood there ..." (Daniel 7:16). Was he an angel? Was he one of those saints fighting against the evil? Whoever he was, he was able to interpret the meaning of those symbols.
These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever (Daniel 7:17-18)
What about the meaning of the horn and the last beast?
As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them,
until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom (Daniel 7:21-22).
Unfortunately, this is not very informative. Ask yourself. In which era was/is man free from this good-evil struggle? No such era has ever existed and we don't expect one to exist. The fight between the good and the evil is an eternal truth, a kind of background music for all men to grow and develop. Daniel was simply telling an obvious daily experience his contemporary fellow Jews were facing. He was only conveying this simple truth in an apocalyptic package.
Lastly, Daniel had a conviction. The saints would receive the kingdom. Would you want a share? If you do, you must take the side of the saints and bear the brunt of fighting against the evil.
Dear Lord, I learned tonight in the make-up lesson that without conversion, we will not be able to attain the truth. Lord, You are the truth and You bear witness to the truth. I beg You for my own conversion and the conversion of my sons. Amen.
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