Week 23: Apoca… what? God makes waves
WEEK 23 | Daniel 7:1-3 & mixed texts
We are shifting genres in Daniel from primarily narrative (1-6) to primarily apocalyptic (7-12). In this first lesson, your goals are simply to learn the characteristics of apocalyptic literature and to begin understanding why God would choose to reveal truth about the near and distant future in such a startling, and often scary, way.
First, an orienting review: remember the Bible is written by multiple human authors, but ultimately One Author is writing One Overarching Story. God is wondrously intelligent, so He could have spoken to us only through abstract propositions using academic or technical language (like “apocalyptic”!). But He is also supremely imaginative, and so what we find is that He largely chose to reveal truth to us through images. Having created you in His image to be both intelligent and imaginative, God challenges you to trace images from one book to another to another and another and another...and some -- like the sea, for example -- from Genesis to Revelation. Using these recurring recognizable images in various design patterns serves as a relatable short hand to communicate theological truths.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Huh?” If so, don’t worry. You know it; you just don’t know that you know it.
Day 1 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came out of the sea, different from one another.” Daniel 7:1-3
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
There are several images in these three verses, but to show you that “you know it” more than you realize, we are only going to study the related images of the sea and beasts. Our method will include reviewing some key Scriptures featuring these images and looking for what these images reveal about God and His eschatological (end times) plan to redeem all He created. Then we will return to Daniel 7:1-3 to see how understanding the images of the sea and beasts amplifies your understanding of just these verses.
Before we start, write down your perceptions of the sea, both positive and negative.
SEA (or the Deep or Abyss) the creation of the sea
directions – In the three texts below, underline what God does in relation to the sea. Then draw a wavy line under all that reveals the character of the sea. See below where I modeled for you. To observe the texts for the W’s (when? where? who? what? how?),highlight|mark-up the text in a system that works for you or take marginal notes.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.... 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1, primarily history genre
He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
Psalm 104, poetry genre
“Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
Job 38, wisdom genre
1. What thoughts do you have so far about –
the nature of God? nature of the sea?
Day 2 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
SEA (or the Deep or Abyss) the sea and its allies
Background – Likely you noticed in the previous texts that the Bible sometimes depicts the sea as if it is alive! For example, Psalm 104 describes how the sea “fled” at God’s rebuke and how God had to set a boundary for the sea as if it were a rebellious child. In the Bible, the sea often rages against God with these allies: the sea-serpent (also called Leviathan or dragon) and Rahab (also referred to as storm). These three (sea, serpent, storm) are sometimes used as if they are interchangeable with each other.
directions – In the four texts below, underline what God does in relation to the sea. Draw a wavy line under all that reveals the character of the sea and a dashed line under all that reveals the nature of its allies, which are, again, the sea serpent (Leviathan or dragon) and Rahab (storm).
His [Leviatan’s] heart is hard as a stone,
hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
at the crashing they are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 He counts iron as straw,
and bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble;
he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot;
he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 Behind him he leaves a shining wake;
one would think the deep to be white-haired.
33 On earth there is not his like,
a creature without fear.
34 He sees everything that is high;
he is king over all the sons of pride.”
Job 41
By his [God’s] power he stilled the sea;
by his understanding he shattered Rahab.
13 By his wind the heavens were made fair;
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,
and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
Job 26
Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the Lord;
awake, as in days of old,
the generations of long ago.
Was it not you [the Lord] who cut Rahab in pieces,
who pierced the dragon?
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
who made the depths of the sea a way
for the redeemed to pass over?
11 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 51, primarily prophetic genre
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Exodus 14, primarily historical genre
2. What additional thoughts do you have about –
the nature of God? nature of the sea?
What thoughts do you have so far about the nature of the allies of the sea (dragon/serpent & storm/Rahab)
Day 3 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
SEA (or the Deep or Abyss) Jesus and the sea
directions – In the texts below, underline what Jesus does in relation to the sea and storm. Draw a wavy line under all that reveals the character of the sea and a dashed line under what reveals the nature of the storm.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4 gospel genre
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[h] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded. Mark 6
3. What additional thoughts do you have about –
the nature of the sea? nature of the storm?
What thoughts do you have so far about the nature of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man?
SEA (or the Deep or Abyss) the final defeat of the sea and its allies
directions – In the texts below, underline the sea in relation to God and His throne. Draw a wavy line under all that reveals the character of the beast (antichrist) and the dragon and a dashed line that reveals the final victory of God and His people..
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 3, apocalyptic genre
and before the throne [of God] there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, [holy seraphim] full of eyes in front and behind: Revelation 4:6
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. Revelation 15:2
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1
4. What did you notice in these texts that is new regarding the last days of the sea and its allies?
5. What comfort will these last three texts offer to those living during the tribulation under the rule of the beast (antichrist) and dragon (Satan)?
Day 4 Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply
6. We see the world from our own familiar perspectives. Write about a time when God interrupted your life to get you out of your rutted, limited thinking so that He could show you the reality of your earthly situation from His heavenly perspective. Include what happened, how you were processing it and how you were feeling.
7. In your browser’s search box, type “Bible Project Apocalyptic Literature” or use this link:
https://bibleproject.com/videos/apocalyptic-literature/. Watch the video. Review characteristics below.
CHARACTERISTICS OF APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
WHAT a prophetic vision or dream God gives to unveil the reality of an earthly situation from the
greater heavenly perspective; without this unveiling this truth would remain concealed.
WHO to a receiver who says “I saw” & explained by an interpreter, often an angel & for the
current faithful & the future faithful
WHEN received during time of current crisis when hope seems lost & fulfilled in the future or final
Days to warn and comfort and exhort towards perseverance
HOW through vivid otherworldly images that are highly symbolic and common motifs (repeated images)
of Near Eastern literature to convey truth by comparing from something unknown or startling to
something known and commonly experienced; images are intentionally not perfectly accurate to
preserve mystery and ambiguity
WHERE leads to a whole earth cataclysm as a culmination of God’s eschatological (end times) plan
THEMES seeming hopelessness God’s sovereignty catastrophic judgment heavenly visions
divine visitation ethical instruction the final days the new order
in the BIBLE Isaiah 24-27, 56-66 Ezekiel 38-39 Daniel 2, 7-8, 9:20-27, 10-12 Joel 2:28-3:21 Zechariah 1-6, 12-14 Mark13 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 2 Peter 3:1-13 Revelation
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details, use these words, & make any figurative comparisons?
Read Daniel 7:1-3 again.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came out of the sea, different from one another.”
8. Now that you traced the image of the sea and its allies from Genesis to Revelation, what do you predict will happen after these four beasts arise from the sea?
9. Consider what you wrote in #5 and the characteristics of apocalyptic literature chart. What are you beginning to understand about why God would choose to reveal Himself to us in such startling ways?
APPLICATION
Personal Worship Time
Hilda Gomez, our Care Ministry Coordinator, will be guiding us in praying together in our lessons. Your personal steps before gathering with your group are the following:
1) Review prayer vocabulary.
Prayer: Conversation with God
Adoration: We begin by turning our attention to who God is
Thanksgiving: We recognize and thank God for what He has done
Confession: We honestly acknowledge our sin and need for God’s grace
Supplication: We bring our needs and requests before God
Intercession: We pray on behalf of others
Listening/Reflection: We pause to consider God’s character, His Word, and what He may be teaching us
2) Pray.
a. Reflect on what you learned in this lesson regarding the nature/actions of God and the nature/actions of those who oppose Him that you now want to process in a conversation with God. b. With what you reviewed about God’s character and Word in this lesson in mind, write a prayer that adores God, gives Him thanks, confesses where you are not obeying/trusting Him, and seeks Him for your needs and the needs of others.
HOW TO PRAY TOGETHER | Group Worship Time
Group Prayer Foundation – Group prayer is not a performance; it is participation with one another in approaching God. We are not trying to pray perfectly – we are turning our hearts together toward God.
When we pray together, we are not simply taking turns talking to God. We are coming together as His people to remember who God is, to bring our hearts before Him, to be attentive to His Spirit, and to join our voices in dependence upon Him.
PRAYING TOGETHER PRINCIPLES
Turn Your Hearts Toward God
Prayer is more than presenting your requests to God. Ultimately, prayer is about enjoying time with Him. When praying, focus on who He is – His character, His promises, His purposes, and His work. As you spend time with Him, let His Spirit shape your desires and bring your hearts into greater alignment with His.
Pray Together
Listen to one another and allow your prayers to build upon each other. Everyone is invited to participate, whether praying aloud, praying silently, listening, or agreeing in prayer. You are not performing for one another; you are seeking God together.
Pray with Faith and Trust
Bring your needs and burdens and the needs and burdens of others honestly before God. Pray boldly and expectantly while trusting His wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty with the outcome.
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.” Daniel 2:20
Praying Together Directions – Enjoy having a conversation with God together in adoration, thanksgiving, confession, supplication, intercession and in meditating upon Him and His Word with a listening heart. Use the space below to record as you are praying together what God puts on your heart. Please see the Prayer Requests for the church below to include in your conversation.
September Prayer Requests for the Church
Our Spiritual Growth – Pray that God would grow our trust in His sovereign rule, asking for strength to stand firm in our faith so that we can live faithfully as we look forward to Christ’s everlasting kingdom.
Women’s Retreat Preparation & Sign-Ups – Ask God to give courage to those who are hesitant or new to sign up and get connected and to help leaders to create a retreat where women will be refreshed in their relationship with God and able to build friendships with one another.
The Persecuted Church – Pray that God would intervene for those imprisoned for their faith; ask for their release, and ask for comfort for their families who face emotional and economic hardship.
God’s joy and strength to you,