Read Daniel 8:15-27
I think I would have fainted, too, in the presence of the angel, Gabriel. It’s probably the appropriate human response to a visible appearance of God or his messenger. I understand this may be Gabriel’s first appearance in the Old Testament. You may recall Gabriel announced the births of John the Baptist and the Messiah in Luke’s gospel account.
Gabriel tells Daniel, “you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end.” It’s helpful to remember this reference to “time of the end” encompasses the years between the end of the exile and Jesus’ second coming. That’s a lot of years! Gabriel makes it sound like these events won’t be happening any time soon. Daniel doesn’t need to fear for he will not likely be alive.
The vision/dream has details that do line up with history. Alexander the Great ruled Greece, and many lands outside his home country, until his death plunged his kingdom into conflict and chaos. When the dust settled, so to speak, four kingdoms did emerge: the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, the Seleucid Empire in the east, the Kingdom of Pergamon in Asia Minor, and Macedon.
A prophetic vision can describe more than just one single event. This vision seems to have multiple layers itself. Because Gabriel describes this vision as being “God’s wrath” and at the “very end,” new players could emerge closer to that fateful time.
Another example of this phenomenon would be Gabriel’s mention of the “fierce king.” Such an intense king rising to fame after the kingdoms split into four could be seen as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The “master of intrigue” could just as well be referring to the Antichrist expected at the end of human history, too. Multiple fulfillments inspire awe, don’t you agree?
Gabriel tells Daniel to keep this vision a secret. After all, the events aren’t going to happen for a long time. Because we know that the book of Daniel was likely written many years after the fact by authors other than Daniel himself, Daniel had to have told someone. I’m not at all surprised Daniel would do that because he was clearly troubled by what he had witnessed.
Have you ever been so emotionally drained that you wound up sick in bed? Again, Daniel’s response to receiving this vision from God rocked him to the core, and his body responded with illness. Being used by God can change our lives in dramatic ways.
Other than being terrified, what else do you think Daniel felt after receiving visions from God? I would feel honored, but soon the reality of what information I’d been privy to would creep in, bringing fear and confusion. I’d start questioning myself and whether I had gotten the message wrong or was lacking in understanding.
Daniel had been given a gift from God, a vision into the future. In a different way, we, too, receive a gift from God. We have Jesus. We are living at the point in God’s story where we’ve been given the opportunity to meet Jesus the Messiah. We can have a relationship with him! Daniel didn’t have access to that kind of gift.
Spend time reflecting on how God has gifted you. Do you need the angel Gabriel to come and make sense of God’s messages for your life?
Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for how you have gifted me and for the immense privilege to approach you and get to know you. You are so wise and full of mercy. I love how you reveal yourself to me in the words of Scripture. Help me always be in tune with you and understand and follow your desires for my life. Forgive me for my imperfections. I am honored to be a living part of your story and look forward to each new moment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
