In Chapter Seven an important di vision of Daniel is reached. Up to this point visions of monarchs have domi nated the record. Henceforth Daniel’s personal visions are described. The historical sequences prophetically por trayed in the various visions may be s im ila r. But the perspective is changed. Daniel 7:1-8 explains the succession of empires to follow the prophet’s day. But now these empires are seen from God’s point of view, not as parts of the body of a vast, im posing image (2:31-35), but as vora cious beasts bent on destroying one another. The background— (7 :1 ). Daniel’s visions are grouped together (see 7:1, 8 :1 ). Actually the time-clock is turned back 15 to 17 years. We are again in the first (7:1) and third (8:1) years of the reign of Belshaz zar of Babylon. Both vision and inter pretation are given in this chapter (7:15-27). The four beasts— (7:3-7). Notice librarian. Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, Biola presi dent, Mrs. Linville, Dr. Masakazu Iwata, assistant professor of history, and Mr. Stephen Graham, assis tant professor of physical science. The collection will be used by students in studies and will be housed In the Rose Memorial Library.
God is sovereign and omnipotent. He permits his children to suffer. Sometimes the purpose of suffering ' is to drive us to our knees in repent ance; sometimes to bring us back to our loving Father. T he P enalty of D aniel ’ s l P ersecutors (6:24) The prophet’s accusers met the ¿fate which they had planned for him. I The hungry lions spring to meet them and speedily crushed and devoured their broken bodies. One is reminded of 3:22. Both fire and lions were un der the control and direction of God, who is master of the elements and of all that lives and breathes. ( T he P arallel W ith I srael ’ s F uture T ribulation The persecution and preservation of Daniel in the lions’ den suggests the persecution and preservation of * the believing remnant of Israel dur ing the g re a t tribulation (Rev. 7:3, 14). A collection of precious and semi-preclous stones were presented to Biola College by Mrs. Dorothy Llnville (center). Her husband, now home with the Lord, made a life-long hobby of collecting these rocks from all over the world. From left to right are Mr. Gerald L. Gooden, Biola reference *
\
.4 i I
1
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker