Apocalyptic Dreams of Daniel
- Admin KPC
- May 2, 2024
- 5 min read
As we approach Daniel’s apocalyptic dreams let me give you some thoughts on how to interpret and understand apocalyptic biblical literature.
First, apocalyptic biblical literature is very different than what we now see in modern day apocalyptic literature (movies and books). When we think apocalyptic in modern times we think of the end of the world and the end of humanity. Only a few survivors live in an abandoned and destroyed city. But biblical apocalyptic literature is different: it is revelation about the ending of this present age, which involves conflict, but the conflict always leads to an age of peace. Biblical apocalyptic literature is marked out by hope because it is telling us what will really happen at the end of the age: God wins, evil is conquered. So as we read apocalyptic biblical literature we should not focus on the conflict to the exclusion of hope. These visions are given to the church to help us have hope in the midst of struggle.
Second, if you really want to understand apocalyptic biblical literature then we should read it several times. Spend time studying it slowly verse by verse. Look for ways other passage of scripture helps us understand what we are reading in Daniel. Hearing it for the first time on Sunday morning is not as helpful as reading it slowly several times on your own. This really applies to all scripture: read and re-read. Scripture should be less like a shower and more like a bath. Our minds need to soak in scripture.
Third, apocalyptic literature is highly symbolic. The author is primarily painting a abstract picture for us, not showing us a detailed picture. When we try to understand an abstract painting we must approach it one way and when we look at a graphic picture we must approach it in a slightly different way. This type of literature is dealing with images that represent real events and real people through symbols given to us in written form. The problem comes in figuring out what historic events the symbols represent. As a general rule when we get too detailed in our analysis of the dream we tend to get into trouble. So instead of treating this dream as a detailed picture of the event we need to treat the picture as an abstract painting. We know know the general idea of the painting but can’t really make out all the details.
Fourth, apocalyptic biblical literature is set in biblical history. We need to realize that the visions or dreams are given to a certain people and at a certain time in history. And because they are tied to that specific time period they need to be interpreted with that biblical audience and history in mind. There is a reason God gave Daniel the dream and not me (which I am very thankful for). If we take apocalyptic literature and immediately try to apply it to our own time period we are not interpreting it well. Lots of people start to apply the four beasts of Daniel to contemporary countries and leaders and completely skip over hundreds of years of history. But in the same breath this dream is recorded in scripture to teach and encourage us. So after we figure out what it means to Daniel and to the people of his time, then and only then, do we apply it to our own time.
Fifth, apocalyptic biblical literature is also part of prophecy. When Daniel receives this vision it is meant to tell him about something that will happen in the future. I think the tendency is to think that this prophecy is always in the future. In other words, we read this and are tempted to think that we are still waiting for all of the events depicted in Daniel’s dream. There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that have already happened: the promised land, the exile of God’s people, the birth of Christ, the crucifixion. As we read biblical apocalyptic literature we need to ask: has any of this prophecy already been fulfilled? Because it is apocalyptic in nature some of it is pointing us to the end of the age, but some of it has already taken place.
Sixth, apocalyptic biblical literature is given to make a theological point. The dream has a big idea. It’s not given to provide us with a step-by-step survival guide to the end times. The dreams are given to teach God’s people what to believe during their struggle in these last days. These dreams should shape what we think about God and that in turn will determine how we live during the last days. So instead of trying to figure out every detail of every verse we should be asking: What is the big idea in this dream? What is God teaching Daniel and His people about Himself? How does this story strengthen my faith?
Dr. Andreas Köstenberger says in an article on the Ligonier website, “Apocalyptic literature is designed to reassure believers that while they may face present suffering and persecution, God will bring history to its final conclusion. Jesus will come back in all His glory, judge the wicked, and usher believers into God’s presence where they will live for all eternity. At the same time, Revelation demonstrates that God has given unbelievers every opportunity to believe in Christ. It is only because of their persistent refusal to believe that they will finally be judged.”1 The big idea of the passage should carry more weight than what we think the details are revealing about the history.
Seventh, apocalyptic biblical literature is part of the greater biblical narrative and the over arching story of redemption. We should not take apocalyptic literature in isolation from the rest of scripture, but need to realize that apocalyptic literature uses some of the same ideas and themes God has already given us in scripture. Allow scripture to help interpret apocalyptic scripture. Allow Daniel to help you understand Revelation. Early chapters in Daniel should help us interpret the later dreams of Daniel. What we see happen in the garden of Eden should help us understand Revelation. If we use scripture to interpret scripture as a general rule for interpreting the Bible why not let it help us interpret apocalyptic sections as well.
My final piece of advice to approaching biblical apocalyptic literature is you cannot interpret it without help. Biblical literature is not meant to be interpreted in isolation, but in community. Read what other people have said about that dream. Take what is helpful and leave what is bad. In some ways it’s like being a tourist. If you are going on a trip to a national landmark it is best to read about the place before you go and to get a guide once you arrive that can help you understand and fully appreciate the place. If you do not rely on the expertise of other people you will not fully understand, appreciate, or even see everything there is to see. The same applies to biblical literature, especially something like apocalyptic writing. Find a good guide, good books written by respected theologians, that can help you interpret the dream. 2 We need help when we read scripture to understand. Ultimately that helps comes from God. It makes me feel that Jesus’ disciple ask Jesus to interpret the parables for them because they do not understand. The same thing applies here: it gives me great comfort to know that in the middle of Daniel’s dream he needs to ask someone in the dream to help him understand what all the images means AND that person helps him with the interpretation. This should give us comfort: the dream is meant to be understood (at least in part) and God is willing to help us understand it. So as we go to God’s Word let us, like Daniel, turn and ask for help to understand, because our Savior has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our understanding of His Word.