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In this sermon, we continue an in-depth review of The Daniel Manual for living and ministering in a diverse, quickly changing society.
Big Idea: We find ourselves in a changing, increasingly secular culture that demands our attention and our absolute allegiance. And we can sense the winds of local and even global change as technology develops at breakneck speed, disease impacts our lives, and old divisions and conflict around the world threaten our sense of peace. So, what should we do? How should we live in such secular and uncertain times? Well, let’s learn from Daniel, an Old Testament prophet and statesmen who prayed for and provided wisdom to at least four kings in two competing and diverse empires and pointed them to the one, true and eternal king. Here’s the Daniel Manuel for living in such a time as this.
In Chapter 7, the book of Daniel moves from the historical narrative to prophecy and apocalyptic visions. This chapter is deeply mysterious with its vision of four beasts, a terrible little horn, and an inauguration in the throne room of Heaven. But it is also deeply moving as God gives this exiled prophet and statesman (rather than a Jewish king or priest) a glimpse of the near and even distant future and the awesome power and majesty of the one, true King.
Key Takeaways:
- The view of the book Daniel as a double chiasm: a literary device in which an idea is explained then repeated in reverse order.
- The fantastic question raised by Daniel 7: “Don’t you want to know how the world will end?”
- The connection between the prophetic visions in Daniel 7 and an entire genre of apocalyptic films, including a working catalogue of all the ways Hollywood thinks the world will end.
- The two key views of the four beasts in Daniel 7 and what those views mean for us now.
- The most important moment in human history, as recounted by Daniel in Chapter 7, and what it means for us now.
- The possible identity of the fourth kingdom’s terrible little horn and how the fourth beast in Daniel 7 compares to the beast in Revelation 13.
- The importance of Daniel 7 as explained by Christ, its connection to the Great Commission, and why it should give us eternal, unshakeable confidence in a changing culture.
- The message to Daniel and to us: the way home from Jerusalem is not back but up.