Tuesday: Apocalyptic Prophecies in Daniel
The prophetic visions recorded in the book of Daniel are of a different nature than most prophetic messages delivered by other Old Testament prophets. Daniel’s prophecies belong to the category of apocalyptic prophecy, whereas most of the other Old Testament prophecies belong to the category of classical prophecy. An understanding of the basic difference between these prophetic genres is crucial for a correct understanding of biblical prophecy.
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Apocalyptic prophecies display some peculiar features that differentiate them from the so-called classical prophecies: - Visions and dreams. In apocalyptic prophecy God uses mainly dreams and visions to convey His message to the prophet. In classical prophecy, the prophet receives “the Word of the Lord”, — which can include visions — an expression that occurs with slight variations about 1600 times in the classical prophets.
- Composite symbolism. While in classical prophecy there is a limited amount of symbolism, mainly involving symbols that are true to life; in apocalyptic prophecy God shows symbols and imagery beyond the world of human reality, such as hybrid animals or monsters with wings and horns.
- Divine sovereignty and unconditionality. In contrast to classical prophecies, whose fulfillment is often dependent on human response in the context of God’s covenant with Israel, apocalyptic prophecies are unconditional. In apocalyptic prophecy God reveals the rise and fall of world empires from Daniel’s day to the end of time. This kind of prophecy rests on God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty and will happen regardless of human choices.
Read Jonah 3:3-10. Is this a classical or apocalyptic prophecy? Justify your answer. What about Daniel 7:6?
Knowing about broad prophetic genres such as classical and apocalyptic prophecy can be of great benefit. First, these genres show that God uses a variety of approaches to communicate prophetic truth (Heb. 1:1). Second, such knowledge helps us better appreciate the beauty and complexity of the Bible. Third, this knowledge also helps us to interpret biblical prophecies in ways that are consistent with the testimony of the entire Bible and rightly explain “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
| On the basis of passages such as Hosea 3:4-5; Amos 8:11; and Zechariah 9:1; some Christians today expect the final events of world history to unfold in the Middle East. What is wrong with this interpretation? How can knowing the difference between apocalyptic and classical prophecies help us clarify this matter? |
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In the last few years our written conversations have taken on an entirely different look. We are no longer satisfied with writing. "I am happy" We have to place a smiley face 😀. In fact conversations with my grandsons look as through they have been translated into Egyptian hieroglyphics, and sometimes I despair that the written word has suffered the onset of another disease. However, we all know that the little symbols are powerful expressions of a single idea. In our part of Australia you will see conversations on Facebook with comments that look like this "🙏🙏🙏 🌧️ 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️" demonstrating the desperate need to pray for rain to break the drought and douse the bushfires that are causing so much damage. Even the unbelievers are using these symbols here!
Emojis are symbols, each with a special meaning, emphasising an idea or an emotion. In apocalyptic prophecy God is right up there with the rest of us, using emojis to express powerful ideas about how the future is going to unfold. Images of large statues, and weird animals are used to capture and express powerful ideas. He could have just said, that kingdom after kingdom would come and oppress those who followed him, but it was much more expressive to include characteristics of those kingdoms in those images.
Yes apocalyptic prophecy gives an empact t understand that prophecy.nd shows hw the 1nd n 2nd empire etc shows their powers Nd symbolising he they will rule
Maurice,
The emoji analogy best summarizes the whole concept of prophesy. Here, I've heard people express their struggle with reading and understanding the books of Daniel and Revelation. I sometimes struggle with reading and understanding them. I believe - for us to understand these writings - we must often read and study these texts. You wouldn't understand the meaning of an emoji in a single run unless you use or see it often. To understand this quarter's lesson, I think we need to read Daniel (and supporting texts) a lot! God bless you! Happy Sabbath!
CLASSICAL VS APOCALYPTIC PROPHECY.
CLASSICAL.
It was done by Jeremiah,Isaiah,Amos and the others during the time of monarchy,exile and return from the exile.
God's people were suffering because of unfaithfulness and so God communicated to the Israelites in oracles that revealed his will in clear deliberate terms.
His plan was to establish his reign within the history and deliverance was done through historical persons.
APOCALYPTIC
The prophecy of Daniel and Revelation that focused about the Christian era.
God's people are suffering for being faithful and God communicates to the elect through visions that convey God's plan with symbolic imagery.
God's plan is to establish his reign beyond history and deliverance is done by God at the end of time through Jesus Christ.
So I'm wondering if Dan 11 is classical. No symbolism.
Jonah 3:3-10. In what ways is it a classical prophecy?
Hi Bessie, it was classical in that it was dependent upon human response. The people repented and so God did not destroy them.
Hi Bessie and Wiliam,
I also believe that Jonah got the original message to go to Nineveh direct from the Lord , which would be more in the first chapter .Hence a classical prophecy.
No symbolism yet it is apocalypse as use of caricaturing of personalities involved are made to come to alive in historical canvass.
In case of Jonah it is classical in view of time involved for changing their hearts!Hardening of our attitude depend on attitude of characters involved towards God. Moses's experiece with Pharaoh!
Besse the people changed when the message reached then
Classical prophecy is by receiving this words from God.jona received a word t go n preach at nenevah .
Today's lesson states: "This kind of prophecy rests on God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty and will happen regardless of human choices."
I am having difficulty with this view of God's 'sovereignty' - the view that God operates regardless of human choices. To me, this is a contradiction to God's commitment to freewill which is the basis for life and reality within the Kingdom of God. It would similarly seem to be inconsistent with the summary principle expressed by Peter in 2 Peter 3:9.
Rather, I believe that God's foreknowledge means that He knows what choices humans will make and correspondingly 'orchestrates' His responses to human choices in order to bring about (a) an ultimate outcome that is in harmony with the advancement of "abundant life" (John 10:10) - the only viable kind of life possible, and (b) does so in ways that advance as much positive benefit along the way as possible (Romans 8:28) even in situations where bad events themselves don't get any better (James 1:2-4).
My evidence in support of this proposition is the convergence of the following three points:
(1) As far as I can see, there appears to be only one way that true/abundant life can exist (John 14:6), with any and all other ways resulting in the opposite - death/destruction (Prov 16:25). I believe this is inherent to reality itself and therefore is not an arbitrary phenomenon (contrary to what Satan asserted in Genesis 3:4,5). The black and white, absolutistic statement by Jesus in John 10:10 supports such a dichotomy. Please note that I am not saying that reality is bigger than God. Rather, I am saying that God does not operate independently of reality which is why Satan's claim of God as arbitrary is nothing other than a fabricated lie/deception.
(2) Freedom is foundational to God and to the reality of true/abundant life. Consequently, all who freely choose to live in accordance with the way of true/abundant life will - by reception of and collaborative participation in God's grace-based provisions - inherit abundant life. Conversely, all who choose any other way will, in accordance with their freedom to do so, inherit the inherent consequences of doing so - destruction/death.
(3) Revelation 7:1 and 2 Thessalonians 2:6,7 present God in the role of a restraining agent that temporarily restrains the sin/lawlessness-inherent forces of destruction. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us why God does this. And in Romans 1:18,24,26,28 Paul tells us that people reach a point where God releases people to these inherent destructive forces. This is not a point where God's patience runs out, but rather where people become irreversibly hardened in the way of sin/lawlessness (as per Genesis 6:5). Thus, all God does (and all God needs to do) is release the grace-based restraint that He had previously been providing (in the hope that all would respond to His grace and choose the abundant life option) and inherent self-destructive forces ensue - all hell breaks loose so to speak.
Consequently, I believe there is strong evidence that God's sovereignty is about foreknowledge orchestration of events and outcomes within reality that preserves His absolute commitment to freedom rather than an absolute control of reality that would violate this freedom. (Though I also believe that foreknowledge is how we conceive of God's viewpoint because we all we know is our space-time continuum. If God is above and beyond that continuum, it is quite possible that God lives in what has been termed the 'eternal now').
But perhaps someone can provide an example of an apocalyptic prophecy that will happen regardless of human choice?
I found the same statement a little strong as well. But God is caught between a rock and a hard place either way. If He doesn't know the future, then how can He be God? And if He knows the future then what happens to human free will?
God knowing the future does not affect human free will. All my friends know I will be in church next Sabbath, but none of them are making me go. Knowing the future and controlling the future are two different things.
Your friends knowledge cannot be compared to God's because they don't know if you will be sick or die before next sabbath, but God knows. So your friends know your pattern of behavior and can make a good judgment but God KNOWS.
True, but the point still stands. 😊
“But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory.”
John 12:39-41 NLT
The people did not believe as Isaiah said, not because Isaiah said. It was actually all the evidence that hardened their hearts in disbelief. Isaiah saw what would happen. His prophecy was not controlling what would happen as verse 41 makes clear.
God’s sovereignty has to me become larger than can be imagined...but~in discovering this, I realize how much more there is to discover! He designed, created and sustains more than we know about. And I am (finally) convinced that HE is now, and since before the fall of Adam, focused righteously, beyond laser-like intensity on our rescue. These recent lessons and everyone’s comments/contributions have helped to point to The Way...
Phil, I appreciate your thoughtful attempt to outline your concept of God's "sovereignty" and human "free will" in relation to prophecy. I just want to use a reminder from human history, to appeal to you/us to tread cautiously.
For just about a period of 1500 years of Earth's history, it was "common knowledge" that the Earth was flat and at the center of our solar system--that is, the Sun was moving around us. That CONCEPT remained unchallenged for that length of time because no feedback from our collective senses indicated otherwise, and the tools for probing the heavens were not yet invented. With the invention of multiple scientific tools, we NOW KNOW that we all reside on a a revolving orb that's flying through space at 67,000 mph around the Sun! Even while I'm stating this ACTUAL FACT, I'm amazed that ALL of our collective senses are silent regarding the inertia of BOTH the rotation and flight of our planet home!! My point being, if ALL our brains struggle to process many FACTS regarding just our PHYSICAL EXISTENCE, do you think OUR BRAINS might encounter a greater struggle in our attempts to process the FACTS regarding the Creator of it ALL?! (Never mind, that in an age of accessible, abundant and incontrovertible evidence of a spherical Earth, a Flat Earth Society is still actually alive and well!😊)
The Holy Scripture is clear that it is God's will (Jer 9:24; Hos 6:6) and the privilege of ALL humanity to KNOW our Creator (Jn 17:3; Hos 6:3). It is also clear that no human who TRULY KNOWS God, will do so without the involvement of his/her brain (Lk 10:25-26; 24:25), but just as clear that TRUE KNOWLEDGE of God will never be achieved by the SOLE EXERCISE of the abilities of our human brain (Job 11:7; 38:1-3,36; 2 Pt 1:20-21).
On it's own, the human brain is woefully inadequate to comprehend--let alone explain--the full ramification of God's sovereignty as it relates to human "free will". It's like saying these are parallel lines that intersect...it is the conundrum of an oxymoron. Of course, the "conundrum" is a PERCEPTION that exists only within the MIND of the finite human, but NOT within the MIND of the Infinite. It is akin to our PERCEPTION of residing on a flat, stable, static Earth, when factually we are on a round, floating, flying mass!
Perhaps I did not fully understand your post, but how might you apply the concepts you outlined to the Sovereignty of God and Ahab's "free will", as recorded within the prophetic utterance of 1 Kings 22:1-38? Specifically in reference to the belief you stated in the 3rd paragraph of your post; once the prophet made God's pronouncement (1 Kings 22:17,23), what "corresponding response(s)" did God make in response to Ahab's attempt (1 Kings 22:30) to foil the prophecy? Is there any similarity to Nebuchadnezzar's response in Dan 3:1 to the prophetic pronouncement of Dan 2:38-39,45? Where does God's Sovereignty end and human "free will" continue? Or should it be where does human "free will" end and God's Sovereignty continue?
Thank you for your valid note of caution Lynrol. I completely agree with the need to guard against the SOLE exercise of the abilities of our human brain. That is why I seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to utilise biblically-based reasoning anchored to biblically-based principles (as per Paul's practice in Acts 17:2 and the practice described in Nehemiah 8:7,8). If you or others believe at some point that I am departing from this, please let me know as I value being held accountable for what I share.
In regard to your questions in your final paragraph, I am not quite sure what you are asking as I don't believe 'prophecy' is something that can be 'foiled'. This is because I believe prophecy to be God's omniscient description of what is going to unfold as a consequence of the interplay between reality-embedded cause and effect (the 'laws'/constant-based principles that facilitate and support either life or death - as per Paul's summary description in Romans 8:2) that is inherent to the total context and all the complex factors and forces of that context (eg; the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Darkness and the human exercise of free-will choice to align with either of those two kingdoms).
In regard to your two final questions, I do not believe that there is an end to either God's Sovereignty or free-will. However, neither do I believe that our typical view of sovereignty is the same as God's actual Sovereignty. For further unpacking of the notion of God's Sovereignty, see my post on next Sunday's lesson "God's Sovereignty".
I am aware that I may not have addressed your questions, so if you are seeking any further clarification, please ask.
When my son asked me, let's read the book of Revelation my first reaction was no it's hard to understand.
When I read the book of Revelation or Daniel, I must take the time read and understand each verse.
Revelation 1
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
God uses prophecy to reveal his will unto us.
Prophecy can serve dual purpose. In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about destruction of Jerusalem as well as the destruction of the world.
Therefore, we need the discernment by the Holy Spirit to give the proper interpretation of the scripture.
Even then if we are not careful our human mind will try to influence the interpretation of the scripture.
I have heard, Noah preached for 120 years; however, the bible does not declare the number of years before entering into the Ark.
Our teaching should be based solo scriptura.
In Luke 23:43 one comma wrongly placed changed the entire theology of the dead.
We must examine the word, grammar, and contextual coherence of the passage.
Prophecy has a theological purpose. It is not given to satisfy our curiosity about the future.
There is much more to be written on interpreting the prophecy let the Spirit of God inspire and lead us by revealing His will unto us.
The question did Noah preach for 120 years before the flood is an example of how the Bible is interpreted differently.
Does Gen 6:3 mean
1) from then on no man will live for more than 120 years, or
2) God will only allow this evil to continue for 120 years then He will wipe it all out
I believe it is number 2 because:
A) context - the passage is about ending evil not about man's life span
B) people lived much longer in the rest of the Bible even now days
C) 2Pet 2:5 says Noah was a preacher of righteousness
D) 1Pet 3:20 says God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared to save the eight
E) Our Prophet said that 120 years before the Flood the LORD told Noah about the flood and to build the ark and warn the people. Patriarchs and Prophets pg 92:2
F) other people also believe in option 2. www.versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/are-people-limited-to-120-years-of-life
What do you believe and why?
I believe sola scriptura.
That is a pretty bare assertion R Holness and it needs a fair bit of expansion. I assume that you are asserting that your basis for Christian belief and practice is sola scriptura (by scripture alone). The questions that you have left unanswered are the why and how you have come to that conclusion. I think most of us would agree with the notion that our belief and practice should be based on scripture alone, but we need to ask ourselves whether we agree to it because the Church has said so, or because our parents or an influential church person has said so. And further what beliefs and practices are by scripture alone? I have, for example, seen some church members get seriously exercised over the starting time of Sabbath School, indicating that any starting time other than 9:30am is an indication of Babylonian influence.
Do not most if not all “faiths” have their holy writings/scriptures? Is there an authorized version, interpretation or paraphrase that can be wholly relied on? Are there other evidences of God’ truths?...ie: nature; sciences that allow us to find, identify and date ancient artifacts? What other influencers do we depend on to help us decide whether or not to trust the god with whom we are familiar? What about our own experiences such as personal experiences with prayer, or a favorite speaker...? Does not the God of creation invite us to “test” or “taste” and therefore “prove” that He is “good”?
“Sola scriptura” was the call at the beginning of the reformation. God’s invitation seems to include so much more than just scriptures alone...
It sounds like several of you are saying that God does not intervene in human history. There are too many historical biblical examples of His direct intervention to assume that He will not/does not intervene in the the course of history. He has and will again intervene, regardless of humankind’s free will. Thie ultimate outcome is certain, God’s vindication.
Jim I don’t think any of us are saying that. God can intervene regardless of our free will. God can intervene without removing free will. Yes we see that all the time.
Thanks Jim.
I am in no way suggesting that God does not intervene. I am questioning the traditional and still dominant view of how God intervenes as I believe such a view to be more in line with Satan’s nature and character than God’s.
You state that the outcome is God’s vindication. I agree that this is part of the total outcome. My question is, what will God be vindicated about? What were Satan’s (false) allegations about God?
God’s law, government and character will be vindicated from the charges made by Lucifer. I refer back to a post, one of the best I’ve every read, when we we studying Revelation.
Rev14:7 “Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and [c]worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”
The post gave an excellent exegesis of this passage (I’m sorry I can not remember whom to give credit to). It is God’s Judgement being declared on God Himself regarding His character and law.
"The hour of His judgement is come..." Revelation 14:7. Personally, I feel that this "judgement hour," is the same "hour," as the [hour] mentioned in Revelation 18:10, 17, and 19. We SDA's have made a huge mistake in taking Revelation 14:7 out of the context of verses 8,9,10 of this chapter and tried to make it fit as happening in the year 1844. When it is clear that this "hour" of judgement has to do with the judgement of God's "Seven last plagues" that He uses to judge Babylon The Great.
I appreciate your point Pete, but remember when the last plaques come no one repents, insinuating probation has closed. To me, the call to worship God would come before the close of probation. Remember it also comes right before the fall of Babylon, not after.
...maybe it’s that it’s time for humanity to express their allegiance...or their opposition, to the Creator or to the god they know?
According to this lesson the fulfillment of classical prophesies is dependent on human response.
Must I understand from this that not all prophesies will be fulfilled?
Yes, Ingrid, like Noah's prophecy that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days did not come true because the people repented. Jonah 3:10, 4
Some prophecies about literal Israel will not be fulfilled because as a nation they rejected the Messiah.
Read the whole of Romans 9 and in particular Rom 9:6-8
Literal Israel are no longer God's people but those who accept Jesus as the promised Messiah are now God's people and heirs of the promises Gal 3:29
Yes, Ingrid. You are correct.
Where fulfilment of a prophecy is conditional upon certain conditions and those conditions change, the prophecy will not be fulfilled.
The incidence of Jonah is one example of such. Note Jonah 4:2 where Jonah is not surprised by the non-fulfilment of the prophecy - he was expecting it. Apparently God already had a (positive) reputation for such non-fulfilment.
What are we to understand from the words, "Latter Days?" and in reference to the Prophecies in the book of Daniel?" Daniel 10:14 indicates prophetic things that would "Befall thy (Daniel's) people in [The Latter Days]." Hosea 3:5 mentions his prophecy as taking place in "The Latter Days." In Hebrews 1:2 it says that, "God has spoken 'to us' by his Son, Jesus (in these 'last days.')" And in 1 Timothy 4:1 it speaks of, "The latter times."
I would love to know your take on what you think is the answer to the following question: On the basis of passages such as Hosea 3:4-5; Amos 8:11; and Zechariah 9:1; some Christians today expect the final events of world history to unfold in the Middle East. What is wrong with this interpretation? How can knowing the difference between apocalyptic and classical prophecies help us clarify this matter?
I thought the mistake in the interpretation is that it isn’t only limited to the Middle East. But how does this apply to knowing the difference between classical and apocalyptic prophecies?
Thank you!
Phil you referred to John 10:10, my favorite text with a easy to remember reference. To participate in the 'abundant life' you need to follow the Shepherd. This whole chapter is about the relationship between the stupid sheep and the caring Shepherd. Follow the Shepherd and your life will be filled with abundance.
Thank you, William Earnhardt. But if you will notice in EGW's writings, EGW says that God has not revealed "Two Things to God's People," 1. the exact day and hour of Jesus' second coming and 2. exactly when probation closes. Then if you will also notice in the book of Revelation, the statement made there of those who are still filthy to remain filthy still etc. comes at the very last chapter of that book. Here again, I feel we make a huge mistake in trying to fit this statement as belonging before the first plague starts to fall etc.
One more thing, William Earnhardt, I personally cannot imagine God closing probation, then go on to inflict on humanity His first devastating plague on a supposed unrepenting inhabitants of earth, then go on to do the same exact thing for six more of these horrific and devastating events on people that have already sealed their own fates before the first plague ever started to happen. I mean, why even send more than just the first plague and just finish off the unrepenting sinners with it and save the repented ones at that point? No, my brother, I do not believe that God is that merciless or even sadistic!
Pete neither do I believe God is sadistic. The plaques are not so much God punishing them as much as allowing them to have their free choice. They chose SUNday over the Sabbath so the sun scorching them is simply what they wanted, not what God wanted. They wanted the blood of the saints so God gives them blood to drink. They are only getting what they asked for so God gives them their free choice even though He says He takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked,
Also Revelation says very clearly after each plaque that they repented not. Probation does not close because God stops forgiving but because the wicked are not repenting, thus why probation is forced to close.