IN THE MIDST

Daniel 7:1-3 (KJV)
¹  In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
²  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
³  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

This chapter is a significant shift from the first six chapters of narrative to apocalyptic visions and dreams. Daniel chapters 1-6 serve as a paradigm for understanding chapters 7-12. For e example, chapter 7 seems to reflect chapter 2 and the four medals (kingdoms) mentioned there. It is as though these visions are an encouragement of hope, as we are faithful to being Spirit led as we live simple lives of holiness in times of trouble and persecution, God is faithful to vindicate with justice.

Therefore, God is actively involved in the lives of those whose hearts are actively pursuing Him, and He puts on stage the saints in the midst of tyrant kingdoms; and also, God’s kingdom as victorious over all ages.

Interestingly enough, Daniel never leaves the earth in these writings; nonetheless, heaven appears, and with its appearance revelation explodes in apocalyptic fashion. Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream earlier and his vision of chapter seven are basically addressing the same four earthly kingdoms, Babylonian, Median, Persian, and Grecian.

The kingdoms of this world with their kings may arise in strength seemingly beyond challenge, and in the middle of the process, God’s people become as grapes in a wine press. Verses 9-14 gives hope that God’s kingdom appears in the midst of the strongest and most threatening evil presence, and as His judgment comes, He also establishes His kingdom which shall never be destroyed.

These four evil tyrants came up from the sea. Before they did Daniel witnessed the four winds of the heaven striving upon the “great sea.”  It is as though the sea became turbulent announcing the evil presence coming up as they break into the scene of heaven.

War always takes place in the heavens before they break loose on the earth. Daniel saw this development in the spirit. We call these encounters in the spirit apocalyptic. The word apocalypse itself is derived from a Greek word meaning “revelation;” consequently, the purpose of apocalyptic encounters is to reveal that which is hidden (past, present, or future).

The importance of verses 1-3 reveals heaven is consistently present in any age. This great sea can be connected to John’s apocalyptic revelation of Jesus as he too saw “the throne” in heaven. “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal…” (Revelation 4:6).

Heaven appeared to Daniel, in this appearing he sees “the great sea.” These evil beings pokes their heads up as to wage war or to defy the authority of the throne setting in the midst of his vision. 

The point I want to make, this sea is the floor of heaven in the “Revelation of Jesus.”  This sea is also the beginning of Daniels vision as he witness the four winds of heaven disturb these waters. There is a river flowing from the throne of God emptying into the sea of glass filling up the midst around the throne.

This is the chasm between spirit and flesh. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within us. Basically, here is there and there is here. Somewhere in the midst of prayer the midst of heaven is present.