The End of the Matter

We’ve spent the last few months trying to learn from the trials and tribulations of Daniel and the other faithful Jews in Babylon. It’s pretty heavy stuff. When trials come, we’re going to have to take a stand. It won’t be popular, and we’ll find ourselves isolated as we try to serve God in a world that is against everything we stand for. How do we stand strong through that?

For our final Lesson from Babylon, we’ll look at one last recurring theme in Daniel that can help us persevere through the hard times.

Let’s return to Daniel 2, to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue. It’s tempting to try to identify the various kingdoms represented by the silver, bronze, iron, and clay, but reading a few commentaries will show you that it’s not necessarily as plain as we’d like it to be. But those other kingdoms are secondary to what’s really important. What matters is what happens to the statue:

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. (2:34-35)

Daniel explained what all of this means:

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. (2:44)

Wouldn’t we like to know more about that rock and that kingdom? Fortunately, Daniel was given a vision of his own (chapter 7). In a time when “the beasts”, the kings of the earth, are rising up against God, God will be on his throne, his “court shall sit in judgment,” and the books will be opened and these kings will be destroyed (7:9-11). Then ...

There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (7:13-14)

Daniel saw one “like” a son of man, so he looked human, but Daniel wasn’t sure he was. That doubt was created because he rode on the clouds, something attributed to God many, many times in scripture (eg, Psalm 18:9, 68:4, 104:3, Isaiah 19:1, Nahum 1:3). His “glory and sovereign power” sound divine, too. And he received worship, something godly men and angels both refuse in scripture (eg, Acts 14:14, Rev 19:10). He is given a kingdom that will never end. This sounds like the stone from Daniel 2.

So who is this “one like a son of man”? The term “son of man” is used several times in the Old Testament. When Jesus used it for himself, it could have been taken several ways — until he clarified what he meant:

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62)

Jesus says he is the Son of Man from Daniel. He is the one who will crush the nations of men. He is the one who will rule after the kings of the earth are thrown down.

So this is our final lesson from Babylon: Jesus wins.

No matter how dark things get, no matter how the nations rage, no matter how blasphemous the rulers of men may become, Jesus will stand triumphant over it all. “Jesus has a coffin for every empire and emperor; the only true security is in the kingdom of the carpenter’s Son.”¹

Jesus wins, and so we will win. There will be justice for all God’s people who have suffered. Wrongs will be righted, and faith will be vindicated.

Whether the Lord comes in ten years or ten thousand, wicked men will take every opportunity to be wicked. God’s people are going to suffer. “Until Christ returns, one thing is absolutely certain: the rulers of this present order will do their utmost to wear out the saints of the Most High. So, stand in readiness, do not be surprised or discouraged, and remember these words: ‘The court shall sit in judgment’ (Dan 7:26 ESV).”²


1 Dale Ralph Davis, The Message of Daniel
2 David Helm, Daniel for You

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