7:1–12:13 Section
These chapters record visions and messages that God gave Daniel. They are recorded as apocalyptic writing. They were mysteries that confused Daniel. Daniel had explained dreams and mysteries to Babylonian kings. In the same way, Gabriel and other angels explained these mysteries to Daniel. Even then Daniel still didn’t understand the visions and messages completely.
The animals that Daniel saw were signs for governments. Hundreds of years later animals were also signs for governments in John’s visions. John’s visions were recorded in Revelation chapters 13, 16 and 19. The animals Daniel saw were signs for Babylonia, Persia, Greece, Egypt and Syria. The animals’ horns were signs for the leaders of those governments. The actions of those leaders were described in chapter 11. Some of these leaders were like the man of sin Paul described many years later.
The visions were about events after Daniel’s time. Some events described in these visions took place during the rule of Antiochus IV. He was a Greek king in Syria. He ruled over the Jews in the land of Judah and Israel. At one point he stopped them from worshipping God in the temple. This seemed like the end of the Jews being God’s people. That is one reason these visions are about a time called the time of the end. But the Jews firmly opposed Antiochus IV and won the victory over him. Jews recorded this story in books that aren’t included in the Old Testament.
Daniel’s visions bring hope and comfort. They remind God’s people that God will stop the evil actions of human rulers. God will take care of his people even when they face suffering. The angel Michael’s work made that clear. Michael helped God’s people in spiritual fights. Daniel read Jeremiah’s prophecy about the exile lasting for 70 years. Daniel recognised that the exile was God’s judgement against the people of the southern kingdom. He prayed and asked God to take action to end the exile. He trusted that God would have mercy on them. He believed this not because the Jews were godly and obeyed God. He believed it because God loved them. Daniel wanted all people to know that God is the one true God. He believed this would happen if God allowed Jerusalem and the temple to be rebuilt.
New Testament writers understood something about the visions and messages God gave Daniel. They understood that parts of them came true through Jesus’ life and work. This was the case with the son of man and the Eternal God. It was also the case with life that will never end. Jesus had this life when God raised him from the dead. His resurrection means that all who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.