Hello Greg.
Good comments.
This is why I stress manifested realization as well as solid hermeneutical policies because some prophecies, by their nature, are only understood by their fulfillment. Some, though, are local and current to the prophet and were experienced by those to whom they were stated; for example, many writings of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel were fulfilled during their lives (the coming invasions of the Assyrians to capture the Northern tribes as well as the coming Babylonians and the captivity of the Jews), some came to be fulfilled later and some are yet unfulfilled. God demonstrates His power certainly by this feature of Scripture.
Daniel, near the end of 70 years in Babylon, became focused on Jeremiah's prediction of the 70 years to finish the desolations of Jerusalem and its temple (and thereby, allow the people of Judah to return to their home). For this he sought God and found yet more to the 70 than he had looked for. He is comforted that there would be a decree to restore it, and is wisked away into the distant future.
Daniel's book is one long prophecy really. Like looking at a vast panorama, you see the whole structure from a great distance at first. Then, as you approach any section, you see less overall outline and more detail. So, each successive vision, starting with the great statue that is crushed by a great Stone that becomes a mountain filling the earth, is a closer look at the major outline of the time of the Gentiles and their overthrow by the Kingdom of God. By the time we get to Daniel 11 and 12, the details are exquisite and subsumed under the general outline. The final week (of years) of Daniel 9 is under the scrutiny of John's Revelation. This is why a good understanding of Daniel is absolutely required for Revelation, for its symbols draw heavily (although not exclusively) on Daniel.
We Gentile believers come at Revelation often with such ham-handed views that it is rendered like an image in a funhouse mirror. Our eyes are imbedded with great planks of cultural prejudice which must be removed first.
Stan |
