Read Daniel 7:13. Who is the Son of man here, and how do you identify Him? (See also Mark 13:26, Matt. 8:20, Matt. 9:6, Luke 9:26, Luke 12:8).

As the judgment unfolds, a most important figure enters the scene: the Son of Man. Who is He? First, the Son of Man appears as an individual heavenly figure. But as the title implies, He also displays human traits. In other words,

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He is a divine-human individual who comes to play an active role in judgment. Second, the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven is a common image of the Second Coming in the New Testament. However, in Daniel 7:13 specifically, the Son of man is not depicted as coming from heaven to earth, but as moving horizontally from one place in heaven to another in order to appear before the Ancient of days. Third, the depiction of the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven suggests a visible manifestation of the Lord. But this imagery is also reminiscent of the high priest who, surrounded by a cloud of incense, enters the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to perform the purification of the sanctuary.

The Son of man is also a royal figure. He receives “dominion and glory and a kingdom” and “all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him” (Dan. 7:14, NKJV). The verb “serve” can also be translated as “worship”. It appears nine times in chapters 1-7 (Dan. 3:12, Dan. 3:14, Dan. 3:17-18, Dan. 3:28; Dan. 6:16, Dan. 6:20; Dan. 7:14, Dan. 7:27) and conveys the idea of paying homage to a deity. So, as a consequence of the attempt to change the law of God, the religious system represented by the little horn corrupts the worship due to God. The judgment portrayed here shows that true worship is eventually restored. The worship system set by the papal system, among other elements, places a fallen human being as a mediator between God and humanity. Daniel shows that the only mediator capable of representing humanity before God is the Son of Man. As the Bible says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5, NKJV).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Amen!(18)

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “From the Stormy Sea to the Clouds of Heaven” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

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You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Amen!(0)

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1. The vision of Daniel 7. The vision of Daniel 7 expands on Daniel’s vision presented earlier in Daniel 2. Your lesson guide calls this vision “amazing,” so be on the alert for what makes this vision, not just interesting or enlightening, but “highly symbolic” and descriptive of amazing events that will take place “soon” on the horizon of time.
2. Four animals. The lion. What city, empire, or country does the lion in this vision represent? Babylon, of course! Since you knew that the lion represents Babylon, what does the bear represent? That’s right. The Medo-Persian Empire. And the leopard? The Greek Empire. And now the surliest, meanest beast of them all. It doesn’t look like any animal. So who is it?
3. The little horn. This strange creature, Number 4 in the display, seems to emerge from pagan Rome, and as surely as we are reading about it, what three things does this entity accomplish—or try to do? How long does he (or it) have? And for how long does the little horn continue as a part of Rome? Does the reading of this prophecy and its explanation move you to pray to God for protection and guidance?
4. The court was seated. Now there is a judgment scene. The court is in session. Who is being judged? When does this judgment begin? How does the Day of Atonement fit into the drama of this end-time call to justice? What is the purpose of the pre-Advent judgment in heaven? What does the cross of Christ have to do with the final judgment day?
5. The coming of the Son of Man. Is it a puzzle to you in any way that the Son of Man is Jesus? The note states that Daniel 7:13 does not refer solely to the second coming as we have imagined it but to the restoration of true worship. How does the false religious leader (the papacy) try to place a human leader as the mediator between God and humanity? Does this attempt succeed?
6. The holy ones of the Most High. Do you long to be one of the “holy ones” of the Most High? When does the final persecution of the saints begin and end? Can any effort to persecute and destroy God’s people win the battle? How is the victory achieved? Explain the importance to you and me of our refusal to be separate from the love of God. How can we be sure we have the Saviour on our side?

NOTES from the lesson guide. Suggestion: use this passage as a discussion guide at the end (or beginning) of your class.

Look again at all the characteristics of the little horn power that arises from, and remains part of, the fourth beast, Rome. What power alone arose out of pagan Rome many centuries ago and, besides having persecuted God’s people, remains in existence today? Why should this clear identification help protect us from speculation about its identity, including the idea that the little horn refers to a pagan Greek king who disappeared from history more than a century and a half before the first advent of Jesus? How should these clear identifying marks also protect us from the belief that the little horn is some future power yet to arise?

Amen!(0)

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After the vision of the four animals and the activities of the little horn, the prophet sees a scene of judgment in heaven (Dan. 7:9-10, Daniel 7:13-14). As the court convenes, thrones are put in place and the Ancient of Days takes His seat. As the heavenly scene shows, thousands and thousands of heavenly beings minister before the Ancient of Days, the court is seated, and the books are opened.

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What’s important to note about this judgment is that it occurs after the 1,260-year period of the little horn’s activity (A.D. 538-1798; see Friday’s lesson) but prior to the establishing of God’s final kingdom. In fact, three times in the vision the following sequence appears:

1. Little horn phase (538-1798)
2. Heavenly judgment
3. God’s eternal kingdom

Read Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel 7:21-22, Daniel 7:26-27. In what ways does the judgment benefit God‘s people?

The Old Testament describes several acts of judgment from the tabernacle and temple, but the judgment referred to here is different. This is a cosmic judgment that affects not only the little horn but also the saints of the Most High, who will eventually receive the kingdom.

Daniel chapter 7 does not describe the judgment or give details about its beginning and closing. But it implies that the judgment is undertaken in the wake of the little horn’s attack against God and His people. The point here, then, is to emphasize the beginning of a judgment of cosmic proportions. From Daniel chapters 8 and 9 (see following weeks), we will learn about the time of judgment’s beginning and the fact that this judgment is related to the purification of the heavenly sanctuary on the heavenly Day of Atonement. The lesson here is that we clearly will have a pre-Advent judgment in heaven that will be in favor of God’s people (Dan. 7:22).

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(2)

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Key Thought: The vision in Daniel 7 parallels the dream of Daniel 2, except with more detail concerning the course of human history.
February 22, 2020

1. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:1-6.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Daniel see in vision and what seems to be the focus?
3. Personal Application: How much comfort can you get from knowing that amid all the chaos, God rules? What does this teach us about the Scriptures being trustworthy? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “If this is a repeat vision of Daniel 2, what is different about this vision that helps us understand things more here?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:7,8,19-25.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Who is the little horn that arises from the fourth beast and remains part of the fourth beast?
3. Personal Application: Why is it important to know what God has predicted in prophecy in keeping His people from being deceived and misled in the future? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Who or what are the three horns this little horn plucked up by the roots? And who is this little horn? How did he speak blasphemy, how was he different from the other horns? How did he think to change times and laws? How did he rule for a time, times, and half a time?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:13,14,21,22..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. In what ways does the idea of a judgment benefit God’s people?
3. Personal Application: Why id an understanding of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross so central to why we can assurance in the day of judgment? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “If so many Christians are wrong on some doctrinal things like the state of the dead and the Sabbath and yet have the assurance of vindication in the judgment because of Jesus; are they deluded and deceived or not? What difference is it for Sabbath-keepers who have assurance, but may be falling short in some other area, for them to be deceived and deluded as well?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:13.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What does it mean for one like the Son of Man to come before the Ancient of Days?
3. Personal Application: How do you feel about a judgment in which all your thoughts and deeds will be exposed before all of heaven, or will they? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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