8/1 Reading Portions: Judges 15; Acts 19; Jeremiah 28; Mark 14

Genesis 10:23

SPARROWS

We do not know much about these sons of Aram; yet we can at least say something each one of them. Uz, whose name in Hebrew, עוּץ (ootz), means “consultation.” While Abraham’s brother, Nahor, also had a son with the same name, “Huz” (Gen 22:21), the “land of Uz” is mentioned as existing in Edom, southeast of the Dead Sea (Lam 4:21), quite possibly near the Arabian Peninsula (Job 1:1). Regarding the land of Uz, whenever we find ourselves amid worldliness (Edom), or when trials, testing, and temptations are upon us, we need to seek consultation from our Lord Jesus, as it is written:

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Psalm 33:11

Hul’s name is only mentioned here and in 1 Chronicles 1:17. His name in Hebrew, חוּל (chool), means “circle.” It comes from a Hebrew root that means “twisted” or “shapen,” as it is written,

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5, KJV

We need to be reminded often of our depravity and propensity toward sin so we may surrender to Christ ever and always.

Mash is called Meshech in 1 Chronicles 1:17. While we do not know what Mash means, Meshech in Hebrew, מֶשֶׁךְ (ME-shekh), means “sowing” or “precious possession.” Mash (and Meshech) is a reminder that Jesus is our precious possession and we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:8).

Gether is only mentioned here and in 1 Chronicles 1:17. We do not know what his name means, but his name reminds us that no one made in the image and after the likeness of God is insignificant. As obscure as the name Gether may be, whether saved or not, as God’s eye is upon the sparrows (Matt 10:29), His eye is certainly upon you and me (Matt 10:31).

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/31 Reading Portions: Judges 14; Acts 18; Jeremiah 27; Mark 13

Genesis 10:22

SONS

Shem had five sons listed in the verse above. Of these five sons, only the sons and the sons of Arpachshad are mentioned. This does not mean that Elam, Asshur, or Lud did not have progeny. More than likely, they were; however, their sons, and their lineage after them, provided no real significance for the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ, nor do those details provide any benefit to the gospel message and instruction for the faithful Old and New Testament believers in Messiah. Yet these five sons of Shem are recorded in holy writ, so they are worth a moment or two of consideration and meditation. Since Arpachshad and Aaram are mentioned latter with their sons, we will today concentrate on the three sons whose genealogies had not been listed: Elam, Asshur, and Lud.

The descendants of Elam are considered to have settled east of Mesopotamia, beyond the Tigris River. The descendants of Asshur are considered to have settled in northern Mesopotamia, in what would later become the Assyrian Empire. The descendants of Lud are considered to have settled in Lydia of Asia Minor.

Chedorlaomer would become king of Elam and then lead a confederation with three other kings to conquer five kings in Canaan (Gen 14:1-16); whereas Abram the Hebrew would defeat Chedorlaomer and his confederation to save his nephew Lot and liberate the five kings of Canaan. The Assyrian Empire (Asshur) would take the Northern Kingdom of Israel captive in 722 BC (2 Ki 15:29). And Lydia (Lud) was the region that contained seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

By these three sons we have simple gospel messages. First, in Elam we see his descendant, wicked Chedorlaomer being defeated by a faithful man, Abram. Second, in Asshur we see the consequences for sin is God’s judgment; and upon earth until Christ returns, that judgment often comes through the vehicle of sinful men. Finally, in Lud we see the Lord Jesus sending messages to each church in the cities mentioned above, through His messenger, and that messenger in turn, speaks to John (Rev 1:1; 2:1-3:22). By these three sons, we have three wonderful gospel messages: (1) trust Christ; (2) fear Christ; and (3) hear Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/30 Reading Portions: Judges 13; Acts 17; Jeremiah 26; Mark 12

Genesis 10:21, KJV

HEBREW

It is interesting that Shem is the father of all the children of Eber. Eber is the great-grandson of Shem, being the son of Shelah, who was the son of Arpachshad (Gen 10:24). Eber, whose name in Hebrew, עֵבֶר (Ā-ver), comes from a Hebrew root that means “cross over.” His name is the origin for the Hebrew people, עִבְרִי (iv-REEY); as Abram was called a “Hebrew” (Gen 14:13). The modern Hebrew language also comes from Eber’s name: עִברִית (iv-REEYT).

Why would “all the children of Eber” be mentioned as being fathered by Shem? I believe that through Moses, the Holy Spirit reveals to us at least three things.

First, when we follow Shem’s genealogy through Eber (Gen 11:10-26), Shem lived long enough to see the birth of Esau’s children; Esau and Jacob would have been 50 years old when Shem died. He may not have actually seen them, since Abram was told to leave his family to go into Canaan (Gen 12:1), but Shem’s testimony may have been passed down through the descendants of Eber.

Second, all of Shem’s children until Eber spoke the Hebrew language. Languages were confused by God during the idolatry and self-exaltation during the building of the Tower of Babel. This more than likely occurred during Eber’s generation; and Eber named his son, Peleg, afterward, “for in his days the earth was divided” (Gen 10:25); which we’ll look at later.

Third, it was through Eber’s lineage and through the Hebrew language that the promised Messiah would come.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/29 Reading Portions: Judges 12; Acts 16; Jeremiah 25; Mark 11

Genesis 10:21, KJV

REMINDER

Anyone who has been reading my devotionals for any length of time knows that I love using both the ESV and KJV as English translations. Quite often both translations are helpful in conveying the meanings of words, both providing a fuller understanding of the words, phrases, sentences, or portions to be translated. There are a few times, here and there, when one of these translations has dropped the ball. Sometimes it’s the KJV. Today, it’s the ESV. The ESV translates the verse in this way:

The English Standard Version makes it look like Shem was the oldest. The original language states otherwise and the KJV has it right:

We had covered this when considering Genesis 6:10 (see devotional thought here). Yet repetition in spiritual matters is always good, so we’ll consider it again here. Earlier we were told that,

After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 5:32

We were also told that Ham was Noah’s youngest son:

When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, Genesis 9:24

So, at this point, either Shem or Japheth was born when Noah was 500 years old, or perhaps both; however, in the next chapter we will read of Shem’s age the floodwaters receded:

These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. Genesis 11:10

The rain and floodwaters came when Noah was in his 600th year of life (Gen 7:11). Therefore, Shem was only 97 years old at the start of the flood and 98 when it ended. Japheth was the eldest of the brothers by at least two, possibly three years.

Why is this significant? Many of our great confessions of faith express that we believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments from their original autographs are the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God. When we discover inconsistencies like this in our English translations of the Bible, it humbles us to know that we are mere men, and that the best of men is still a fallen descendant of Adam, prone to sin, error, and mistakes. Second, it reminds us that we must be as the Bereans:

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11

Third, it prompts us to extend grace to our brothers and sisters in Christ, for there, but by God’s grace go you and I.

7/28 Reading Portions: Judges 11:12-40; Acts 15; Jeremiah 24; Mark 10

Genesis 10:17-20

FLESH

Six more sons of Canaan are named in these remaining verses, but the only one of special note here are the Hivites. Shechem, the son of Hamor was a Hivite; he was the rascal who defiled Dinah, the sister of Jacob’s twelve sons (Gen 34:1-2). Hamor wanted Dinah as his wife, but the sons of Jacob insisted that the Hivites of their clan must be circumcised to marry their sister. Shechem and Hamor agreed, got their clan to agree, and while they were healing, Simeon and Levi killed all the Hivite males of Hamor’s clan (Gen 34:3-31). The Hivites are an example of a gospel challenge: We must discern as children of God that the Hivites, as worldlings, will perform external religious actions to satisfy their greed and fulfill the lusts of their flesh (Gen 34:20-24). They possess no grief over sin and can muster no repentance for their evil because they are unconverted in heart. Just because someone goes to church or bows his or her head before a meal doesn’t mean he or she is a Christian; just as in the days of John the Baptist or the Apostle Paul, not every circumcised Jew was a faithful worshipper of YHVH God (Matt 3:9; Rom 9:6-8).

As we have seen the past few days, the genealogies of Canaan give us insights into the human condition and warn us of the struggles we may face in our own flesh as well as warning us of the behavior we may face when we encounter the backslidden believer or the reprobate, unbelieving wretch. Moreover, the descendants of a wicked father, Ham (Gen 9:22), and inheritors of a wretched curse, as pronounced upon Canaan (Gen 9:25), will surround gospel believers in our situations and circumstances and by their worldly and fleshly desires will unwittingly or willingly attempt to usurp our gospel blessings in Christ. We must recognize that wicked men and wicked nations may prosper materially but true treasure is found in Christ alone (Matt 6:21); that prosperity may sometimes lead to greater wickedness (Luke 12:15-19); and the most prosperous in earthly wealth cannot escape the punishment of sin (Luke 12:20-21) unless they have surrendered to Christ. Thankfully, we have a Savior in Jesus Christ, who has not appointed us unto God’s wrath, but taking that punishment on Himself for our sakes, we have salvation in Him. Indeed, Jesus is true, eternal riches (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Thess 5:9). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/27 Reading Portions: Judges 10:1-11:11; Acts 14; Jeremiah 23; Mark 9

Genesis 10:16

STRENGTH

As mentioned yesterday, the descendants of Canaan lived throughout the territory known as the Promised Land. The Canaanites were never completely conquered by Israel after God’s people entered the land. One of the reasons for this is that entering the Promised Land was a foreshadow of entering the promises of God’s gospel through faith in Christ. Although we are saved, there are still spiritual battles to be fought in our lives. These descendants of Canaan reflect those battles.

The tribe of Benjamin failed to conquer the Jebusites (Judg 1:21). The Jebusites lived in Jebus, a city so fortified that the Jebusites boasted that their blind and lame could defend the city from attack (2 Sam 5:5). David, however, defeated the Jebusites and conquered the city, renaming it Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:4-10). The Jebusites foreshadow our struggle to overcome worldly wisdom and physical strength. When we are faced with such odds stacked against us, we must rely upon our great King, Jesus Messiah, who will conquer the Jebusites of our lives, just as David went forth to win the city for YHVH God.

The Amorites in the land of YHVH’s promise were formidable foes. God’s Word presents them as being large of stature and physically strong:

“Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.” Amos 2:9

We must remember that when encountering men, situations, or circumstances, that oppose the gospel by the height of their worldly authority or by the strength of their hardened resolve, they are no match for our Lord and King dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit. It is written,

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/26 Reading Portions: Judges 9; Acts 13; Jeremiah 22; Mark 8

Genesis 10:15

CAUGHT

The descendants of Canaan lived throughout the territory known as the Promised Land, that property west of the Jordan River spanning westward to the Mediterranean Sea. The Canaanites were never completely conquered by Israel after God’s people entered the Promised Land. One of the reasons for this is that entering the Promised Land was a foreshadow of entering the promises of God’s gospel through faith in Christ. Although we are saved, there are still spiritual battles to be fought in our lives.

Sidon was known as a wealthy commercial seaport on the coast of the Mediterranean, north of the Promised Land, twelve miles from Tyre in Syria. Sidon’s name comes from a Hebrew root, צוּד (tzood), which means “to catch” by lying in wait for prey. Riches and wealth are not evil in and of themselves; yet when the love of money arises, it may give birth to all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10). Cities, situations, and circumstances like Sidon and the Sidonians are allowed in our lives as opportunities to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, forsaking covetousness that comes with wealth and riches that might appear alongside our sojourn upon this fallen planet. Jesus said,

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Heth was the patriarch of the Hittites. Heth’s name in Hebrew, חֵת (chāt), means “terror.” While it was from the Hittites that Abraham purchased a cave in the field of Machpelah to bury Sarah after her death (Gen 23:1-20), the sons of Heth, or if you will, the “sons of terror” had grown in reputation as being so fierce and terrifying, that the thought of fighting them frightened the Syrian army (2 Ki 7:6). There may be times in our lives when we may face terrifying persons, but when we have willingly surrendered to Christ, keeping our lives free therefore from the love of money because we love Christ Jesus first and foremost, the Holy Spirit will remind us regularly that Jesus is with us by the Spirit’s omnipresent work, and that we need not fear the terror of men; as it is written,

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/25 Reading Portions: Judges 8; Acts 12; Jeremiah 21; Mark 7

Genesis 10:13-14

MITZRAIM

The name of Egypt in Hebrew is מִצְרַיִם (mitz-RA-iym). The original Hebrew is transliterated in the KJV, called “Mitzraim.”

In these two verses we encounter two people groups that have been troublesome to the people of God. Abraham encountered trouble both in Egypt and in the land of the Philistines. During a famine in Canaan, Abram and Sarai traveled to Egypt, and while there, Pharaoh saw the beauty of Sarai and took her as his wife (Gen 12:10-15). Abram, this great man of faith, faltered to trust God and His promises by lying about Sarai, saying that she was his sister (Gen 12:13); and though she was his half-sister (Gen 20:12), a half-truth is still a complete falsehood. Years later, a similar incident took place in the land of the Philistines with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Gen 20:1-18).

Again, Egypt was certainly troublesome to the children of Israel in the years following Joseph’s death, requiring a deliverer to arise for their salvation from the bondage of slavery (Ex 1:1-14:31). The deliverance of Israel from their bondage in slavery was a prophetic foreshadow of the sinner’s deliverance by Christ Jesus from the bondage of our slavery to sin. Egypt, ancient Mitzraim, was recorded to remind us that YHVH God sets all things in order to bring about a prophetic and exalted foreshadow of Christ and His gospel.

The Philistines, descendants of ancient Mitzraim, existed on the southern Mediterranean coast in Canaan. The Philistines were troublesome to God’s people once Israel entered the Promised Land, providing a prophetic foreshadow of what redeemed saints must endure: tribulation in the world (John 16:33) and persecution by the world (2 Tim 3:12) because of hatred from the world (John 15:18-19). Reading about the Philistine origin here reminds us that YHVH God has set things in order ahead of time for our spiritual growth in grace and for the strengthening of our faith so we may trust in Christ through every situation and circumstance (Rom 8:28-29). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Genesis 10:8-12

KINGDOMS

The name of Nimrod, the great-grandson of Noah, means “the rebel.” By this fourth generation through Noah’s son, Ham, Nimrod was the first one “to be a mighty man” (Gen 10:8), or from the original Hebrew “he profaned to be strong.” Nimrod may have become the first hunter of animals, providing game for the people because it was acceptable to eat the flesh of animals (Gen 9:3; 10:9). Instead of being a prince of his own clan, he led his cousins from other clans, perhaps even lording it over them (Matt 20:25-28). As a “strong hunter,” he was literally “in the face of the LORD;” in other words, defiant toward YHVH God (Gen 10:9). When he set up his kingdom in the land of Shinar (Shinar meaning “two rivers”), Josephus said that “…it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God.”^[1] According to Josephus, Nimrod persuaded the people to build the tower in Babel.^[2] After the languages were confused by God because of the building of the tower, Nimrod went north into what would later become Assyria, and he built Nineveh, what would later become the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Nimrod built the cities of two empires, Babel, the Hebrew name of Babylon, and Nineveh; empires that would later be used to take the Northern Kingdom of Israel captive (Assyria), and the Southern Kingdom of Judah captive (Babylon).

You and I, however, belong to an eternal kingdom, a heavenly kingdom. Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. He does not lord it over others. He invites souls to enter His kingdom, for in Him is rest for the weary and the hearts with heavy burdens (Matt 11:28). He did not come as a strong hunter who defiantly stood in the face of God but, instead, humbled Himself and became a servant (Phil 2:5-8), ever pleasing to the heavenly Father (Isa 53:10; Matt 3:17; 17:5). Hallelujah! What a Savior!

ENDNOTES

^[1] Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus; Book 1, ch.4, para. 2

^[2] Ibid., Book 1, ch.4, para. 2, 3

7/23 Reading Portions: Judges 6; Acts 10; Jeremiah 19; Mark 5

Genesis 10:7

PRECIOUS

Besides being mentioned three times here in Genesis (Gen 10:6-8) and three times in First Chronicles (1 Chr 1:8-10), as a people or a nation, Cush is mentioned another twenty-four times in the Hebrew Scriptures, often translated as Ethiopia, or personalized as the Ethiopians.

Not only did the Queen of Sheba bring gifts to Solomon, desiring to see his wealth and hear his wisdom (1 Ki 10:1-9), but also the ruler of Seba brought gifts to Solomon as well:

May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! Psalm 72:10

The wealth of Seba must have been exceedingly great as YHVH God speaks of the redemption of Israel through the prophet, Isaiah, by the ransom of Egypt, Cush, and Seba:

But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” Isaiah 43:1-4

How much more valuable is our redemption therefore in Christ Jesus, whose precious blood is infinitely more valuable than all the wealth in Egypt, Cush, and Seba? It is written,

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

And again,

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/22 Reading Portions: Judges 5; Acts 9; Jeremiah 18; Mark 4

Genesis 10:6

HOT

Ham’s name means “hot” in Hebrew. And from the looks of history, his four children, Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan, produced some hot-headed, hot-blooded, and hot-tempered descendants. Cush, Egypt, and Canaan and their progeny are mentioned in the verses following, so today’s meditation will be upon Ham and Put.

The “land of Ham” or “tents of Ham” are sometimes mentioned as a synonym for Egypt (Psa 78:51; Psa 105:23; 105:27; 106:22). We should keep this in mind when we come across Scripture portions that mention the exploits of Egypt. Sometimes the sins of the father so permeate the condition of his progeny that the villainy of the father’s character hangs as a heavy pall over the lives of the children. Jesus said this of the self-exalting religiosity of the scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests who opposed Him and His gospel:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

The progeny of Put is not mentioned in this genealogy, but Put is mentioned by three prophets in four references. Ezekiel aligns Put with Persia and Lud in the trio’s association with Tyre (Ezek 27:10) and later aligns Put with Persia and Cush in their association with Gog (Ezek 38:5). Jeremiah declares judgment upon Egypt, along with its hired mercenaries Lud, Put, and Cush (Jer 46:9). In Nahum’s prophecy against Nineveh, Put is mentioned as a helper to the capital of the Assyrian Empire (Nah 3:9). Put’s association with those nations whom God has pronounced judgment upon reminds us that willful fellowship with those who loathe the light and lust after darkness will bring even well-meaning folks down:

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32

But not so with the redeemed in Christ. We are a reflection of our Everlasting Father (Isa 9:6; 1 Jn 3:9), and He has made provision for our protection via fellowship with His people, His church.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

One of the correlating features we can surmise from the dream and the vision is that when the Stone strikes the feet of the image in Daniel 2, that gives us a time reference for the horns on the head of the beast in Daniel 7. While Jesus Christ was born in 2 BC during the reign of Augustus Caesar, as mentioned in Part Four of this series,^[1] the beginning of Jesus’ ministry was 28 AD, in “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” (Luke 3:1), also mentioned in Part Four. While Jesus is certainly the Stone who destroys the empires (Dan 2:34), it is Christ’s gospel truth that fills the earth in that dream (Dan 2:35, 44-45). Therefore, the timing of the ten kings of Daniel 7 would be from the reign of Tiberius in 14 AD to the reign of the tenth emperor in succession, which was Domitian, who reigned as the Roman emperor from 81-96 AD.

The portion we will consider today is the most important section of Daniel 7 because it gives us a glimpse of the Messiah, the Son of Man. Let’s look at the verses from the English Standard Version:

⁹“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. ¹⁰A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. ¹¹I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. ¹²As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. ¹³I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. ¹⁴And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; Him dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

THE MAGNIFICENT VISION OF DANIEL 7

The difficulty in writing today’s article will be restraining myself from becoming repetitive and redundant from the Department of Redundancy Dept., because the whole of this portion will not make as much sense without understanding everything I had written in the previous article, Part Five. If you had not read it, you can read it by clicking here.

While the initial vision of the four world empires is given in chronological order (Dan 7:1-8), the vision continues in a seamless, chronological flow. It is just that some of what we are covering today is seemingly not as clear until we hear the interpretation that had been given by one of those who stood there before the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:16). At the end of his interpretation, with what we left off with in Part Five of this series, he told Daniel,

‘But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ Daniel 7:25-26

The thrones Daniel sees in his vision, that are set up whereas the Ancient of Days takes His seat before millions who served Him (a thousand thousands), and one hundred million who stood before Him (ten thousand times ten thousand), is a continuation of the initial vision of verses one through eight. By the interpretation given above (Dan 7:25-26), Daniel sees the court sitting in judgment when he sees the Ancient of Days:

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.” Daniel 7:9

So, who is the Ancient of Days here? In dispensational eschatology, basic theology is often thrown out of the window when it comes to these passages because its progenitors do not know what to do when it comes to the 13th verse “and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man.” The question then will arise, “Since Jesus is the Son of Man as revealed in the gospel accounts, He isn’t presenting Himself to Himself, is He?” Concerning the Son of Man presented to the Ancient of Days, John MacArthur says this:

Daniel 7:13

Son of Man. The Messiah (cf. Dan 9:26), Christ is meant; He often designated Himself by this phrase (Mat 16:26; Mat 19:28; Mat 26:64). “The clouds of heaven” are seen again in Rev 1:7. Here, He is distinct from the Ancient of Days, or Eternal One, the Father, who will coronate Him for the kingdom (Dan 2:44). The picture of old age is not that of being feeble; rather, it highlights God’s eternality and divine wisdom to judge (cf. Dan 7:9-10).^[2]

While his Bible commentary did not address who the Ancient of Days was in verse nine, Dr. MacArthur did address it here. He believed that the Ancient of Days is Father God. If you bear with me through the entire article, Lord Jesus willing and the Holy Spirit helping me, I will be able to explain clearly. The Lord Jesus Himself tells us that the Father does not have a body. He told the Samaritan woman at the well:

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Jesus tells us through the Holy Spirit, that He, Jesus, is the exact imprint of God’s nature, and that the Father is invisible:

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. Hebrews 1:3a

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15

Moreover, Jesus is the one with the body, not the Father or the Holy Spirit:

For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Colossians 2:9-10

Dr. Paul Enns writes this concerning the absolute attributes of God in His spirituality:

God is spirit (not a spirit) who does not have corporeity or physical form (John 4:24). A body localizes, but God as spirit is everywhere; He cannot be limited. Although God does not have a body, He is nonetheless a substance but not material. Spirituality goes further than simply identifying God as not having a body, it also means He is the source of all life. The prohibition of Exodus 20:4 was given because God does not have a physical form; hence, it is wrong to make any likeness of Him. The many references to God’s physical features (cf. Gen 3:8; 1 Kings 8:29; Ps 34:15; Isa 65:2) are anthropomorphisms (figurative language giving God human characteristics used to attempt to make Him understandable).^[3]

Again, the question remains: “Who is the Ancient of Days?” The Ancient of Days is the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the question arises: “Who then is one like a son of man in verse thirteen?” If you can bear with me until we get to the thirteenth verse, I will be able to explain this seeming contradiction.^[4]

The Messiah is the Ancient of Days because the Lord Jesus is the incarnate God, as it is written of Him in the Prophets,

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be Ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2

Note that it does not say Jesus had come from the Ancient of Days, but from eternity, as this English translation may be more easily understood here from the original Hebrew,

…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2, KJV

Again, it is written,

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Jesus is called אֲבִיעַד (a-viy-AD), interpreted in English above as “The everlasting Father.” Sadly, many of the reputable commentaries also present the Ancient of Days as being God the Father: Matthew Henry; John Gill; Robert Hawker; Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown; Keil & Delitzsch; etc. Many of these point to the scene of the throne room of Revelation to uphold their position:

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. Revelation 5:5-7

Again, the theological problem exists of who is sitting upon the throne. In this series, I hope to get to the Book of Revelation, but it would seem I need to address at least this part here and now. I must ask the question, “Does God the Father have a body or not?” If the theologians I pose my question to answer ‘no,’ then they should be prepared for what I will lay out, which will remain consistent with both theology proper and typology. If the theologians and Bible scholars answer ‘yes, the Father does have a body,’ then the burden of proof is upon them to refute existing theology, the Scripture that supports the Father’s absolute spirituality, and the words of the Lord Jesus Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.

It is worth noting here that while I believe the reference to Revelation 5:5-7 is a correct reference for Daniel 7:9-14, the conclusion that the One seated upon the throne is the Father in both Daniel and Revelation is incorrect. The vision that John receives of heaven, is not unlike what Daniel receives in his writing, which presents the gospel truth in typology. The One seated upon the throne in Revelation chapters four and five is the crucified, risen, and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.^[5] The lamb here is a gospel picture in types and figures. Notice what John actually says that he saw:

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6

First of all, John says that he saw a Lamb “as though it had been slain.” This represents Jesus, yet it is not Jesus. Jesus is seated upon the throne. Therefore, John is shown a figure of Christ in typology. Jesus is figuratively “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), but He isn’t actually a lamb. All the paschal lambs slain before Jesus’ true Sacrifice were actual lambs; yet they were types and figures of Christ and His eternal Sacrifice on Calvary’s tree.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus did not have seven horns, nor did He have seven eyes. Neither does He have them in heaven. These terms are symbolic, and though we will not cover the meanings here (that will come in a future article in this series), we must acquiesce to its symbolism, typology, and its significance as representative of Christ.^[6]

Moreover, the Lamb in this vision from Revelation was not slain, it appeared “as though it had been slain” (ESV), or “as it had been slain” (KJV). In other words, it had not really been slain, indicating again that the Lamb in the vision only represents Jesus because Jesus was actually slain. Jesus says of Himself earlier in this Revelation:

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17b-18

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Revelation 2:8

Jesus didn’t say I appeared to be slain. He tells us that He died, came back to life, and is alive forevermore. For Jesus to die, He must become truly human with a body that can… and did… die. Though He is, was, and evermore shall be eternal God, when the Lord Jesus Christ took upon ‎Himself a body, He limited that body, though glorified, to be in one place at one time. As infinite ‎and eternal God, He dwells within each one of His believers through the Holy Spirit, never leaving ‎us or forsaking us (John 14:17; Heb 13:5). This is why it was advantageous and expedient that He ‎send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).‎

Those words, “as though…” in Revelation 5:6 matter. As we had seen earlier in Part Four concerning the birth of the Lord Jesus, Luke records that Jesus was “about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). The word “about” is important. That although Jesus was exactly thirty years old when He began His earthly ministry, fulfilling the Scriptures concerning the ministry of the priesthood (Num 4:3-4; Psa 110:4; Heb 7:11-8:13‎), He is still eternal God (Micah 5:2; John 17:5), and therefore, about thirty years old because eternity is timeless.

We’ll see this again in Daniel 7:13, whereas one little Chaldean letter makes all the difference in our interpretation of the passage.

Understanding Christ-Centered Typology in the Priesthood

To get a better grasp of this typology, since the ministry of Christ’s priesthood was just mentioned, let’s look at that typology.^[7] Jesus, of course, is our Great High Priest. Yet He didn’t perform any of the priestly duties that Aaron and his sons performed. In fact, Jesus brought no sacrifices to the temple. He didn’t need to because He was perfectly sinless, holy, and righteous. It was His disciples who brought the paschal lamb into the temple to be inspected and slaughtered.

Though Jesus is our Great High Priest, he didn’t wear the elaborate clothing of the high priest, nor did he wear the linen garments of the tabernacle or temple priests, the sons of Aaron. Yet Jesus fulfilled them truly and spiritually.

Sometimes, without a Christ-centered understanding of typology, certain doctrinal traditions will arise that confounds the harmony and consistency of the gospel in Scripture. Jesus Himself said that the “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Our understanding of Scripture can only be accomplished through a thoroughly Christ-centered, cross-exalted interpretation of Scripture, else holy writ would seem to us as broken, contradictory, disjointed, and incongruous.

A doctrinal tradition has been held by some, suggesting that the high priest wore a rope around his waist or ankle so that when entered into the Holy of Holies once per year on the Day of Atonement, that if he messed up, and died because he messed up, he could be dragged out of the Holy Place, when those holding the rope didn’t hear the sound of the gold bells. This is taken from a non-Christ-centered understanding of this passage:

³¹“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. ³²It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear. ³³On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, ³⁴a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. ³⁵And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.” Exodus 28:31-35

The problem is that the high priest did not wear these elaborate garments into the Holy Place when he ministered on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Aaron, and his sons who were high priests after him, wore the elaborate clothing of Exodus 28 every day of the year except for the Day of Atonement. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest removed his daily, elaborate garments and donned linen garments, just like the garments wore by all the other priests ministering in the tabernacle, or the temple in later years. It was commanded by YHVH God,

“But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.” Leviticus 16:3-4

When he had finished those duties for all of the offerings required for Yom Kippur, he would remove the linen garments, bathe himself, and don the daily garments once again.

“Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.’ Leviticus 16:23-24

Not only that, even if they did tie a rope around the high priest (which there is no Scriptural evidence for), and even if the high priest did wear the daily garments into the Holy of Holiest places, no one could hear the bells anyway because the high priest was the only one ordained to do the work on that day was the only one allowed in the tent of meeting:

“No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.” Leviticus 16:17

He was the only one commanded to do the work on the Day of Atonement because Jesus required no help to redeem you and me by His substitutionary atoning Sacrifice.

Someone may object, saying, “But didn’t the passage in Exodus say, ‘…when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before ‎the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die’” (Ex 28:35)? Yes. In fact, it reiterates this in Leviticus,

The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, and the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:1-2

So, I answer with a rhetorical question: Does the Word of God contradict itself? Since the question was rhetorical, the answer is ‘no.’ I’ve preached for years, if there’s something that appears to be a contradiction in the Scriptures, we are interpreting it wrong and are failing to see the paradox of Christ in its typology. These seeming contradictions are meant to draw our attention to Jesus Christ.

Why did YHVH God have the high priest dress like this in the first place? Was it not for Christ to fulfill spiritually and eternally? Of course it was. Jesus did not wear these elaborate garments because He is “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psa 110:4). Aaron, in his elaborate garb, was a type of Christ in his foreshadow of Christ’s earthly ministry. As Aaron wore the garments daily, it reflected Christ’s earthly ministry. How so? While we don’t have the time here to look at every minute detail and intricate nuance of the priestly garments, let’s just examine a few of them:

“It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together. And the skillfully woven band on it shall be made like it and be of one piece with it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth.” Exodus 28:7-10

Earlier I had cited the passage that speaks of Jesus being “The Everlasting Father.” In that same verse, it says, “and the government shall be upon His shoulder‎” (Isa 9:6). Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel, governed by God, and He shouldered the responsibility of the Law that Israel could not keep, neither could the Aaronic high priest shoulder, nor could any descendant of Adam handle because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Jesus walked the righteous life that you and I cannot possibly walk, and His righteousness is imputed unto you and me who believe. The twelve names of the tribes of Israel, representative of God’s people, was upon the shoulders of the high priest because on the Day of Atonement, the high priest represented them before God, standing in their place. This foreshadowed, in a type, exactly what Jesus does for all those He has saved by grace through faith. The names are engraved in pure black onyx stones because of the deep darkness of our sins against God.

For the sake of time, we’ll look at the hem of the high priest’s garment, again fulfilled in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Upon the hem were pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, which were separated by golden bells, going all around the hem of the robe (Ex 28:33-34). Now, keep in mind, the pomegranates were not real fruit. They merely resembled fruit because the fruit reflected an aspect of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in a foreshadowing type. What was the fruit, works, or product of Christ’s ministry? It was a tangible expression of the gospel that He preached (foreshadowed in a type by the golden bells between the pomegranates).

Every person Jesus healed and every miracle Jesus performed was a proclamation of the gospel. The first sign Jesus accomplished in His Galilean ministry was changing the water to wine at the wedding feast in Cana (John 2:11). Why was this significant? Because salvation in Christ comes by a miraculous transformation called regeneration, whereas God must give us a new heart and a new spirit and take away from us a heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh, writing the law on the tables of our hearts (Ezek 36:26-27), which is the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:7-12).

When Jesus healed the blind, it was because before He saved us, we could not see God (Matt 5:8; 2 Cor 4:4). When Jesus opened deaf ears, it was because before He saved us, we could not hear the gospel to understand it (John 8:43; 1 Cor 2:14). When Jesus healed the lame, it was because before He saved us, we could not walk righteously before God (2 Cor 5:7). When Jesus healed the withered hand, it was because before He saved us, we could not do the righteous works of God (Matt 7:21-23). When Jesus healed the mute mouth, it was because before He saved us, we could not proclaim the blessed and powerful truths of God (John 8:44). When Jesus raised the dead, it was because before He saved us, we were dead in trespasses and sins with the wrath of God abiding upon us (Eph 2:1-3). I think you get the picture.

The golden bells represent the heavenly truth of Christ’s gospel. He spoke the truth on earth, and it was confirmed by the fruit of His ministry (a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate). Jesus is the only Prophet who ever spoke the truth of heaven without sin, schism, or corruption. His spoken gospel truth, typified in a foreshadow by the golden bells, eternally resounds in the true Holy Place—the third heaven, the throne room of God.

And the reason that the word was given to Aaron, and his sons after him, “so that he may not die,” was because it was a proclamation of the gospel promise to them. By wearing what they wore, and performing what they did, they were proclaiming the gospel themselves in types and foreshadows of what the Lord Jesus would later fulfill by His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. And trusting in the promised Messiah to be the fulfillment of wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, they would not die; just as Jesus told Martha at the tomb of Lazarus:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

Sorry about the little rabbit trail, but it was necessary, as you will see. So let’s examine this part of the vision, verse at a time.

The Thrones

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.” Daniel 7:9

The thrones, plural were placed, and then the Ancient of Days took His seat. Yet we are never told who sits in the other thrones. Only the Ancient of Days takes His seat. I suggest that since the thrones were placed but not sat upon by others, this reflects what the Puritans used to refer to as the “already, not yet” reality of Christ’s kingdom. It is written of the saints, including you and me,

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-6

While you and I are truly in Christ’s kingdom now, we are not yet glorified, and therefore not actually seated with Christ Jesus in a glorified state. Nevertheless, do we not rule and reign with Christ now? Are we not witnesses of His gospel truth and testimonies of His grace and mercy, His love and goodness, and His wisdom and faithfulness? Indeed we are. We are seated with Christ, spiritually speaking, because the work, all of it, was accomplished by Christ.

The Ancient of Days

The Ancient of Days in this verse is a Christophany, an appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ before His incarnation, no different from the vision seen by Isaiah, which was also a Christophany:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1

Even Mr. Spurgeon understood the verse above to be a Christophany, writing in his exposition of the text:

Whenever you read in the Old Testament that any man saw the Lord, understand it of the Second Person of the Divine Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ. He makes himself as we have said, visible to men, and God in him.^[8]

Moreover, John writes in his gospel account that Isaiah was a witness of the glory of the Lord Jesus (John 12:44).

In Daniel’s vision, the hair of Christ’s head was like pure wool, which is consistent with what John describes in his vision on the Isle of Patmos (Rev 1:14). Because this part of the vision in Daniel comes after the eleventh horn speaks great things (Dan 7:8), and after Hadrian’s dominion had been taken away (Dan 7:26) and given to Christ’s saints (Dan 7:27a) because Christ’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (Dan 7:27b), since all kingdoms will serve Him (Dan 7:27c), Christ’s “throne was fiery flames” (Dan 7:9). Why? Because Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matt 3:11; Acts 1:5). As is also seen in the first part of the next verse.

“A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:10

The stream of fire issued, again, reminds us of the fiery baptism by which we are purged of sin through faith in Christ’s righteousness and His precious blood. It is also a recognition of the fiery trials that we must endure; that is the tribulation in the world (John 16:33), hatred from the world (John 15:18-19), and persecution by the world (2 Tim 3:12). Although our Christ is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29), the fiery baptism from Christ and the fiery trials allowed by Christ do not consume the millions, plural (a thousand thousands) who serve Him and the one hundred million who stood before Him (ten thousand times ten thousand), because, in Christ and by His imputed righteousness, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:9).

Again, that those saints who serve Christ, as well as those who stood before Him, were not seated on thrones in the vision, testifies to the “already, not yet” reality of our being seated together with Christ in heavenly places with Christ.

The Judgment upon the Empires

But the stream of fire issued and came out from before Him was also a fiery judgment upon the four beastly empires seen by Daniel in his vision. The interpreter of this vision who stood before the throne told Daniel as much:

But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. Daniel 7:26

Because,

…our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

…these kingdoms will be consumed and destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ to the end. The books opened are the accounts of the persecutions these kingdoms have brought against Christ. Just as Saul of Tarsus persecuting Christ’s church was a persecution of Christ Himself (Acts 9:1-5), so also the empires and their kings are brought into account, being judged by those things written in the open books (Dan 7:10). Daniel witnesses this as the vision continues and he ponders it:

“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” Daniel 7:11-12

The fourth beastly kingdom, which devoured the whole earth and stomped the remnant to pieces (Dan 7:23), was killed by the fire of judgment streaming forth from the throne of Jesus (its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire).

But what about the rest of the beasts, [whose] dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season? This could not have been speaking of the beastly kingdoms that came before the Roman Empire. The fourth kingdom in this vision destroyed the previous one, which destroyed the one before that, which destroyed the one before that. I put to you that this speaks of the beastly kingdoms that existed from the fall of the Roman Empire to all the kingdoms today, for that is also suggested in the interpretation given to Daniel:

‘And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ Daniel 7:27

The first part of this verse speaks of Christ’s kingdom and our being seated together with Him in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6) as the verse in Daniel 7:27 states, “And the kingdom and the dominion… shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Christ’s kingdom is our possession because we are in Christ and seated together with Him, spiritually speaking.

But the second, highlighted part states that “the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole earth shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Standing by itself, some folks may suggest that this implies a Christian’s active involvement in human government. Since Jesus is the King of kings, and all empires, kingdoms, and governments belong to Him, and while the dominion of those nation-governments belong to His saints, whereas we are to be faithful stewards of this dominion, we have to keep in mind what the vision unveiled earlier:

“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” Daniel 7:11-12

The fourth beast was killed, its body burned with the fire of the gospel, the stream of which is issued from before the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:10). So, who are “the rest of the beasts” in Daniel’s vision here. They cannot be the previous beasts from the vision, explained earlier. I suggest that these are all the other kingdoms around the world, including those that exist today, And remember, human empires, kingdoms, and governments are still seen as beastly by God.

Christ has won these kingdoms by His death upon the cross. He has delegated that dominion to His redeemed saints. How then is this dominion applied by you and me as saints in Christ? We are to rule over them by the truth of the gospel, by the truth of Christ crucified, risen, and ascended. Therefore, we are to be good, law-abiding citizens of the nation in which we live, as it is written,

¹Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ⁶For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. ⁸Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:1-8

And again, Peter writes without contradicting Paul:

¹³Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-17

The only exception to this is in cases where we, as individual Christians, are forced by the governing authorities to act contrary to honoring Christ with our lives according to Scripture (Dan 3:12; 6:10; Acts 4:19-20).

We are also to pray for those leaders in empires, kingdoms, and governments:

¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6

But someone may ask,

We must keep in mind that while Paul’s Epistle to the Romans was most likely written during the reign of Claudius, First Peter and First Timothy were written during the reign of Nero. Nero’s persecutions of Christian believers was infamously cruel; and it was during his reign that all of Christ’s apostles were put to death, with John being the only exception, dying during the reign of Nerva. John Foxe wrote of Nero’s persecution:

This was the occasion of the first persecution; and the barbarities exercised on the Christians were such as even excited the commiseration of the Romans themselves. Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the Christians that the most infernal imagination could design. In particular, he had some sewed up in skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs until they expired; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate them. This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity. In the course of it, St. Paul and St. Peter were martyred.^[9]

Remember, that although the redeemed of Christ are not destined by God to receive His wrath (1 Thess 5:9)—Jesus paid that debt—we are promised in God’s Word that we would suffer tribulation in the world (John 16:33) and persecution by the world (2 Tim 3:12) because of hatred from the world (John 15:18-19). The church has suffered and endured the wrath of man, and the wrath of man is ever-present with us today. Moreover, severe persecution can come from those professing to be Christians. Again, John Foxe wrote:

The proceedings of Waldo and the reformed, occasioned the first rise of the inquisitors; for Pope Innocent III authorized certain monks as inquisitors, to inquire for, and deliver over, the reformed to the secular power. The process was short, as an accusation was deemed adequate to guilt, and a candid trial was never granted to the accused.

…The power of the inquisitors was unlimited; they proceeded against whom they pleased, without any consideration of age, sex, or rank. Let the accusers be ever so infamous, the accusation was deemed valid; and even anonymous informations, sent by letter, were thought sufficient evidence. To be rich was a crime equal to heresy; therefore many who had money were accused of heresy, or of being favourers of heretics, that they might be obliged to pay for their opinions. The dearest friends or nearest kindred could not, without danger, serve any one who was imprisoned on account of religion. To convey to those who were confined, a little straw, or give them a cup of water, was called favouring of the heretics, and they were prosecuted accordingly. No lawyer dared to plead for his own brother, and their malice even extended beyond the grave; hence the bones of many were dug up and burnt, as examples to the living. If a man on his deathbed was accused of being a follower of Waldo, his estates were confiscated, and the heir to them defrauded of his inheritance; and some were sent to the Holy Land, while the Dominicans took possession of their houses and properties, and, when the owners returned, would often pretend not to know them. These persecutions were continued for several centuries under different popes and other great dignitaries of the Catholic Church.^[10]

Innocent III (c.1160-1216), whose papacy spanned from 1198 until his death, authorized a violent military crusade, which was enforced from 1209 until thirteen years beyond his death in 1229. The campaign was ordered to wipe out the Cathars in southern France. The Cathars promoted a return to simple, biblical messages of piety and poverty. One of the most insidious campaigns of the crusade was the murderous massacre of approximately 20,000 citizens at Béziers in 1209. This twenty-year crusade against the Albigenses also banned Bible reading and interpretation by those not ordained as clergy in the Roman Catholic Church.

Persecution against Peter Waldo and his followers started in 1189, twenty years earlier than the Albigensian Crusade. Waldo preached boldly to the common man, not in Latin, but in their own language. He and his followers believed in the supreme authority of Scripture alone.

If such persecution should be occasioned upon our lives, then we should trust implicitly upon Christ alone, remembering that we are crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) and that Jesus commanded us to deny self and to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Therefore, we can rejoice that, in Christ, we are eternal people, as it is written:

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11

Like a Son of Man

We come, now, to the heart of the chapter, verses thirteen and fourteen, dealing with the Son of Man coming in clouds before the Ancient of Days. Let’s look at these two verses separately, while considering that they are intrinsically bound together.

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a Son of Man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.” Daniel 7:13

It is time to address the difficulty that many of you have seen coming because most Christians who have been redeemed for even a few months have probably heard that the Son of Man was one of the most frequently used titles by the Lord Jesus in referring to Himself as the Messiah. In the four gospel accounts, Jesus used the term “Son of Man” 81 times: thirty times in Matthew; fourteen times in Mark; twenty-five times in Luke; and twelve times in John. Here’s the difficulty:

The simple answer to that is “no.” It is slightly akin to the question posed by babes in Christ that inquires: “If Jesus is God, and the Father is God, was Jesus praying to Himself.” The simple answer to that one, again, is “no.” This latter question has to do with Persons of the Trinity. This former question concerning the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man in Daniel 7 has to do with a vision which deals with typology, parables, and similitudes, as it is written,

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Hosea 12:10, KJV^[11]

Just like we had seen in John’s vision from Revelation 5:5-7 earlier, whereas the “Lamb” had a symbolic presentation of Jesus Messiah without being Jesus Messiah, one little letter in the Chaldean alef-beyt is significant in understanding the meaning of the text. The verse tells us that the one who approached the Ancient of Days seated upon the throne is “like a Son of Man.” The term in Chaldean is כבר אנשׁ (kh’-VAR en-ASH). The Chaldean term for “son of man” is בר אנשׁ (bar en-ASH), bar meaning “son,” and enash meaning “man.” By placing the letter כ (khaf) in front of the word for “son,” it makes the term mean “like a son…,” not the Son of Man.

What then is going on in this vision? I suggest that, in order to show Daniel this vision, an angel is used as a messenger and ministering spirit to present the gospel for this vision. While Jesus is the One seated upon the throne, He sits in this enthroned position as the Son of God, who is indeed very God, the same in essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and equal in power and glory. Yet because the Lord Jesus is the only One of the Triune God with a body (Col 2:9), it must be Him seated on the throne as a Christophany. At the same time, the angel representing the incarnate God in His humanity, is shown to Daniel as before the Ancient of Days “like a Son of Man.”

The Ministry of Angels

In the Scriptures we are asked rhetorically concerning angels,

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

The ministry of angels is significant in the Scriptures, especially as it pertains to the gospel of Christ. The angel Gabriel gave Zechariah the message of the birth of the Elijah-like forerunner to Messiah (Luke 1:11-25). It was Gabriel as well who gave Mary the message of her conception and the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26-38). An angel of the Lord announced the birth of Christ to shepherds in the field (Luke 2:9-12), followed by a host of angels praise God (Luke 2:13-14). An angel of the Lord warned Joseph in a dream, so Jesus could be protected in His infancy (Matt 2:13); and an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again in a dream to tell him it was safe to return to Israel from Egypt (Matt 2:19-20), thus fulfilling Scripture (Hosea 11:1; Matt 2:15). Angels ministered to the Lord Jesus after His temptations in the wilderness (Matt 4:11), perhaps in the same way angels ministered to Elijah with food and drink under the broom tree (1 Ki 19:5-7). Angels strengthened the Lord Jesus when He prayed in Gethsemane on the night He was betrayed (Luke 22:43). Angels announced Christ’s resurrection (Matt 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:12-13). Angels attended the Lord’s ascension into heaven (Acts 1:10), and even proclaimed the promise of His return (Acts 1:11). According to the Lord Jesus, angels will attend His glorious and triumphant return (Matt 25:31).

The ministry of angels was not confined to Christ’s ministry. Their ministry is extended unto faithful believers as well. Angels protected David when he was in the land of Philistines, Israel’s enemy (Psa 34:7). Angels have been used to release the apostles from prison (Acts 5:17-20; 12:6-11). An angel directed Philip in his evangelistic ministry (Acts 8:26). An angel directed Cornelius to call upon Peter in Joppa so he could be taught the gospel (Acts 10:3). An angel encouraged Paul so he may encourage others (Acts 27:21-26). Jesus rather indicates that those who die in Christ will be carried home by angels (Luke 16:22; 2 Cor 5:8).

Moreover, the angel Gabriel was sent to answer and explain Daniel’s prayer (Dan 9:20-27).

Angels are created (Psa 148:2-5), spirit beings (Mark 12:25; Heb 1:14), who are higher in prominence than created mankind (Psa 8:5; Heb 2:7). The descriptions of winged cherubim (Ezek 10:19; 11:22, e.g.) with features like animals (Rev 4:6-8, e.g.), or winged seraphim (Isa 6:2, e.g.) notwithstanding, angels are often revealed to mankind as having a masculine, human form (Gen 18:2; Zech 1:8-11; Mark 16:5-6; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; 10:30). If everything is about the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:39), and if by Christ’s exaltation is the Triune God most glorified (Phil 2:9-11), then would it not stand to reason that the appearance of angels, whether in winged form as cherubim or seraphim, or in the form of men, that it is because their appearance exalts some attribute of the Lord Jesus Christ?

The purpose of our salvation, growth in grace, and increasing strength in faith as we continue to shuffle upon this mortal coil is not to merely be witnesses of what Christ has done to save us, but to actually be conformed to the image of Christ—as much as is possible for a sinner saved by grace can be, by God’s grace. It is written,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29

All the unfallen angels have been created to honor and exalt Christ.^[12] They are a reflection of who Christ is and what He has done. We can therefore logically conclude that an angel appears like a Son of Man, and that this blessed vision gives Daniel a glimpse of the gospel truth, Christ Jesus being the enthroned Son of God as well as being the incarnate Son of Man coming with clouds.

Having presented all this information above about angelology,^[13] this may beg the question: “Could the millions (a thousand thousands) serving Christ in Daniel 7:10, and the one hundred thousand (ten thousand times ten thousand) standing before His throne actually be angels instead of saints?”

My answer: Absolutely. More than likely, that is what we are seeing in John’s vision in the Book of Revelation. Notice what it says in the opening of John’s writing:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Revelation 1:1-2

Jesus gives the vision Himself. He sent it by “His angel,” the Greek words ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ (ANG-el-oo how-TOO). So, therefore, when John receives the vision of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the unveiling and apocalypse of who He is and what He has done—Christ’s gospel—he is seeing a heavenly vision that is no different from what Moses saw in the presence of the preincarnate Christ (Num 12:8), and no different from what Daniel saw in his vision from Daniel 7.

Again, the question or objection that may arise concerning the words spoken in Revelation 1:17-18 as cited earlier, could be this: “Was that the Lord Jesus Christ speaking, or an angel speaking His words?” My answer is this: The words are Christ’s. This is much in the same way that we refer to our understanding the transmission of God’s holy, inspired, and infallible Word. We use the same rhetoric. Were the books of the Bible written by men or God? The answer: Yes. It is God’s Word, yet He, by the Holy Spirit, breathed out those words through those men (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:19-21).^[14]

Coming on the Clouds of Heaven

It was the reference from Daniel 7:13 by which Caiaphas as high priest condemned the Lord Jesus for blasphemy, and death thereby, as it is written,

⁶³But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard His blasphemy. ⁶⁶What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Matthew 26:63-66

The Jews of Jesus’ day recognized the “Son of Man” from Daniel 7:13 as a reference to the “Christ, the Son of God.” The above reference from Matthew’s gospel account occurred during the Lord Jesus’ second Jewish trial.^[15] The high priest tore his elaborate garments (Ex 28:1-43), which was forbidden in the Law of Moses (Lev 21:10). At sunrise, they gathered the Sanhedrin to officially condemn Jesus to death, and then sent Him to Pontius Pilate.

The term Jesus used, “coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt 26:64), also seems to be referring to His second coming, which He mentions to His disciples, as well as by His angels after as He ascended into heaven:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:29-30

And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11

The Dominion and Glory of Christ’s Kingdom

We’ll conclude Part Six of this series with a look at Daniel 7:14, which says,

And to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

We have to keep in mind that when Daniel received this vision in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, 475 years before Christ’s earthly ministry in 28 AD, 445 years before Christ’s birth. In his vision, Daniel receives a glimpse of what Christ’s gospel accomplishes in its destruction of these world empires. So, when it says that the Lord Jesus “was given dominion and glory and a kingdom…,” this is not to suggest that Christ as eternal God didn’t own the heavens and the earth in the first place. He did. It was never not His. The Triune God delegated authority (dominion) of the earth to Adam and Eve, but when Adam sinned in Eden’s Garden, Adam essentially handed that dominion, that charge and responsibility, over to Satan, who became the god of this world thereby (2 Cor 4:4).

Therefore, as the Son of Man, by His holy, sinless, and righteous life lived, by His paying the sin debt through His sufferings, death, and shed blood upon Calvary’s tree, and by His rising from the dead, the Lord Jesus as fully man, received the dominion back for men. So, the authority and dominion that Adam lost was won back by Christ at Calvary; and it is His to delegate as He wills to His redeemed saints.

At the same time, as infinite and eternal God, restored to the glory He once knew with the Father before the world was (John 17:5), when it says that the dominion, glory, and kingdom has been given to Him, it reflects the same thing the Lord Jesus said to His disciples after His resurrection when they were on the mount in Galilee:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

God never lost His authority in heaven and on earth. Although Satan is the god of this world, he needed permission from YHVH God to afflict Job (Job 1-2). When Jesus said this in the verse above, and when it was written by Daniel from the vision he saw, what was given to Jesus was the ordained work of redemption from before the world was. The work of Christ’s gospel was given to the second Person of the Trinity to bring all things to pass by the gospel truth of Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the promise of His return. This great honor of redeeming the fallen world was given to the second Person of the Trinity and to no other. No precious sacrificial animal, no holy man walking upon the earth, no angel who winged the ether realms could fulfill the work that was accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth. God must become a flesh and bone human being to bring all glory to God alone. Therefore, the Lord Jesus is enthroned gloriously upon high, as it is written:

³He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. ⁵For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? Or again, “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”? ⁶And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” ⁷Of the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.” ⁸But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.” ¹⁰And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; ¹¹they will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment, ¹²like a robe You will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.” ¹³And to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? Hebrews 1:3-13

Read “Understanding Israel from Scripture, Part One” by clicking here.

Read “Understanding Israel from Scripture, Part Two” by clicking here.

Read “Understanding Israel from Scripture, Part Three” by clicking here.

Read “Understanding Israel from Scripture, Part Four” by clicking here.

Read “Understanding Israel from Scripture, Part Five” by clicking here.

ENDNOTES

^[1] I had not mentioned this in Part Four: There have been various dates suggested for the birth of Christ ranging from 7 BC to 2 AD based on historical records for when the provincial census took place. When the worldly or extra-biblical historical records contain contradictions in dates and times, I discard them completely and make my determination upon the authority of God’s Word, cross-checking the scriptural information with undisputed historical data clearly substantiated in historical records. While the exact day when Tiberius Caesar ascended to the throne may be in question, the month and year of the start of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, in September of the year 14 AD. This is undisputed by historians, which is also approximately a month after the death of Augustus Caesar, who died August 19, 14 AD in the town of Nola, Italy.

^[2] MacArthur Study Bible; John F. MacArthur, Jr.; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; © 2005. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

^[3] The Moody Handbook of Theology: Revised and Expanded, Paul Enns; Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL; © 1989, 2008, 2014; Ch.19 “Theology Proper: Doctrine of God” pg.194

^[4] There are many “seeming” or “apparent” contradictions in the Bible. This is why it is so vitally important to have a Christo-centric, or Christ-centered, view in our interpretation of Scripture.

^[5] We may therefore understand that Jesus being seated at the right hand of the Father is a gospel anthropomorphism because God the Father, as Dr. Enns explained, “does not have corporeity or physical form” (cf. Psa 110:1; Matt 22:44; 25:64; Mark 14:63; Luke 22:69; Acts 2:34; Acts 7:55; Eph 1:20; 1 Pet 3:22; Heb 1:3; et al).

^[6] Some of this we will cover a little later in this article because a question remains, “How and why did John see a “Lamb” in Revelation 5? And how does that fit with “a son of man” in Daniel 7?”

^[7] I’ve already covered a basic definition of typology in Part Four of this series, citing a few examples from Scripture of types of Christ, we won’t cover that here.

^[8] The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 60; C. H. Spurgeon; Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, Texas, 1979; “Exposition by Charles H. Spurgeon”, “Isaiah VI”, pg. 611

^[9] Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, John Foxe; ch.2, section i: “The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67”; para. 2.

^[10] Ibid. ch.4, section ii: “Persecution of the Waldenses in France”; para. 6, 7

^[11] Those familiar with John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress know that this is the verse Mr. Bunyan used as justification for his allegory.

^[12] Even the fallen angels fear Christ (Jas 2:19); some of them even falling before the Lord Jesus and bowing down to Him (Psa 66:3; Mark 5:6-7; Luke 8:28).

^[13] Of course, this was not an exhaustive treatment of the topic of angelology.

^[14] God forbid that I give the impression I have all the answers. I am merely a wretched sinner saved by God’s grace who points to the Answer—the Lord Jesus Messiah.

^[15] Christ Jesus was first taken to Annas’ house, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, according to John 18:12-14. This was Jesus’ first trial among the Jews. According to the historian, Flavius Josephus, Annas was appointed high priest by Quirinius and later deposed by the Roman governor Valerius Gratus. Gratus eventually appointed Joseph Caiaphas as high priest, though not immediately after Annas; several others served between them.

7/21 Reading Portions: Judges 4; Acts 8; Jeremiah 17; Mark 3

Genesis 10:1-5

NATIONS

These five verses present another obvious proof of Moses’ authorship, written after the fact. The fifth verse speaks of these different people groups, descendants of Japheth, as speaking their own languages, according to their clans, and living in their own nations. The disbursal of people obviously came after the infamous Tower of Babel incident, when God confounded the people’s language due to their abominable self-exaltation (Gen 11:1-9).

Japheth was the oldest of Noah’s sons, as considered in our devotional thought for Genesis 6:10 (click here to read that devotional).

Note that in the genealogy of Japheth’s seven sons, that only the sons of Gomer and the sons of Javan were mentioned (Gen 10:3, 4). This is probably because the nations were known by these names mentioned during the days of Moses, as well as later, during the days of Judah and Israel’s kingdom and captivities. Gomer and the House of Togarmah are mentioned later (Ezek 38:6). Magog, Meshech, and Tubal are also mentioned later (Ezek 38:2-3).

These verses, and the ones following, remind us that not only do these nations come from the sons of the singular source, Noah; but it also reminds us that not a single one of these peoples, not a single nation and language have escaped the watchful eye of our God. There is no country, no nation, nor a clan of people to which sinners can run to in order to hide from God. There is no country, no nation, and no clan of people with the remotest language that our Savior cannot reach into for the salvation of a soul. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/20 Reading Portions: Judges 3; Acts 7; Jeremiah 16; Mark 2

Genesis 9:28-29

YEARS

Noah lived 20 years longer than Adam (Gen 5:5), but 19 years less than the oldest man recorded in Scripture, His grandfather, Methuselah (Gen 5:27). There are some wonderful gospel truths we can glean from this. Here are just a few.

First, in the 350 years after the flood that God’s sovereign grace granted Noah, we see God’s provision for man’s responsibility to pass down gospel light. Noah lived long enough to know and teach each one of Shem’s sons, from Arpachshad to Abram (Gen 11:10-26). Abram would have been 58 years old when Noah died.

Second, not only did Noah live long enough to teach ten generations of his progeny, but his life as a herald of righteousness would have been an encouraging testimony of patient endurance to those generations. Noah was the man who stood against the world as a witness to the only true and living God (2 Pet 2:5); he stood boldly for God while he built an ark, when every person in the world stood against God and His messenger—against Noah and his message.

Third, that it is recorded that after living such a full life, that Noah died, reminds us of the inevitability of death. If one is so righteous, the only one (Gen 6:9) on the planet, and then he must die, then all must die (Heb 9:27-28).

Finally, that inevitability in Noah’s example also provides us with the most spectacular and wonderful gospel example. Noah was a righteous man, but he was still a fallen descendant of Adam, a sinner, drunk with too much wine (Gen 9:21). There is One, however, who was exceedingly more righteous than Noah, more righteous than the best of men, the Lord Jesus Messiah. It is only by His death, and trusting in the eternal justification from His death, that men may live. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/19 Reading Portions: Judges 2; Acts 6; Jeremiah 15; Mark 1

Genesis 9:24-27

AWAKE

When Noah woke up, he immediately prophesies. This is a prophetic foreshadow of the gospel saint’s recognition of sin, and his or her repentance thereof. It is written,

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:13-14

John Bunyan writes of this in The Pilgrim’s Progress, when the Pilgrim fell asleep in the arbor on the Hill Difficulty, losing his gospel scroll, but after Christian backtracks and finds the scroll, he is strengthened to face the roaring lions at the top of the hill.

Canaan is cursed for Ham’s sin of dishonoring Noah, his father. Though every salvation is by God’s grace alone, the character of our children will often reflect the character of their fathers, whether good, bad, or ugly. The descendants of Canaan were idolatrous, and they became a contentious foe years later to the children of Israel when taking possession of the Promise.

In the details of the curse, we should recognize and note that the children of disobedience, as reflected in the curse upon Canaan, ultimately makes the cursed soul the servant of YHVH God’s purposes, manifested in his servitude to God’s redeemed (Shem), and even to those who are morally descent folk yet unsaved (Japheth). How are the wicked ultimately servants to God? Sometimes, we see this in judgment, since judgment begins in the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). YHVH used the wickedly bitter Chaldeans to bring judgment upon Judah (Hab 1:1-11). Sometimes Christ uses the circumstances of the wicked so we may show mercy, even to the salvation of their souls (Luke 15:11-32). Sometimes the heavenly Father uses the godless, self-seeking soul to bring about the greatest good, like Judas Iscariot betraying our Lord Christ so that by Christ’s sufferings and death, wretched souls like yours and mine could be saved. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/18 Reading Portions: Judges 1; Acts 5; Jeremiah 14; Matthew 28

Genesis 9:23

CHARACTER

Two days ago, we considered the weakness of Noah, the vineyard he planted, the fermented grape squeezings he succumbed to, and the shame and vulnerability his inebriation had exposed. Yesterday, we considered Ham’s delight in the moral indiscretion of his father’s drunkenness. Today, we consider the actions of Shem and Japeth in honoring their father, despite his moral lapse. They took a garment, one large enough to place upon their shoulders, and surely one large enough to cover their father, then walked backward into his tent to cover Noah. In this episode, we are able to draw a distinct contrast between the sinful character of Ham and the humble, righteous, and parent-honoring character of Shem and Japheth. Although the commandment would not be given until much later, it is good to be reminded of it now and then:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

In the New Testament, the apostle reminds us that this was the first commandment given with a promise attached to it (Eph 6:1-3). Why? Because God’s commandments are tit-for-tat? That if I do something, I’ll get something? God forbid. When our character is built to honor our parents in our elemental and elementary years, later on, in the gospel blessings of Christ, our lives will own that Christ-promised abundance (John 10:10), not because we get something we did not yet have, but because we are something we were meant to become… Christ-like (Rom 8:28-29).

Moreover, in Shem and Japheth’s actions we should also note this: Sometimes we work and behave as if we must become little “providences” in Christ’s kingdom, trying to fix this or that because it’s “not right.” True maturity in Christ is realizing that our sovereign God allows many more situations than we care to admit, so that His redeemed people will have the opportunity to honor parents by God’s grace and for Christ’s exaltation so that our heavenly Father is glorified. Had Noah not gotten drunk, and had Ham not delighted in his father’s tomfoolery, we may have never witnessed the Christ-like character of Shem and Japheth. That’s gospel truth. We don’t condone the sin, but we glory in the spirit of Christ and His gospel. Had Adam not sinned, Christ would have been unnecessary. We need to spend more time with a view and perspective on Christ, on His cross, and on His gospel, than on the sin of others.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/17 Reading Portions: Joshua 24; Acts 4; Jeremiah 13; Matthew 27

Genesis 9:22

NAKEDNESS

Here Ham displays an interesting attribute among those who despise the people of God. He takes pleasure in and exposes the shortcomings of others. This is not done out of love, but out of wickedness; for the Scripture says that love “does not rejoice at wrongdoing” (1 Cor 13:6). I believe this is why Canaan is mentioned. As the first five books of the Bible, the Torah, or Pentateuch, was written by Moses during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, the mention of Canaan was to prepare Israel for what they must face and fight when they entered the Promised Land. This is something the godly in Christ must face and endure in a world full of iniquity formed from idolatry, encountering those who take pleasure in the faltering faith of Christ’s redeemed.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was rife with such rot, as YHVH God spoke through the prophet,

They feed on the sin of My people; they are greedy for their iniquity. Hosea 4:8

Moreover, wisdom of Christ states likewise,

A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Proverbs 19:28

We need not retaliate for such tomfoolery but simply call out to the Lord Jesus and solace and comfort in Him. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

7/16 Reading Portions: Joshua 23; Acts 3; Jeremiah 12; Matthew 26

Genesis 9:20-21

WINE

The Hebrew words for wine and became drunk are first used here in the Bible. It says that Noah began to be a man of the soil. Literally, “Noah began, a man of the earth.” Figuratively, Noah began to be a man of the world.” Cain was a laborer in the earth, or rather the world (Gen 4:2), and his outcome was murder (Gen 4:8). Noah planted a vineyard. Some commentaries suggest that this may have been Noah’s occupation before the flood. It never says that he was; and if we take the verses at face value, Noah began at this time to do so; rather implying that he had not before. Noah didn’t plant a victory garden to supply food for himself and his wife. There were eight people on the planet and he planted a vineyard. He plants so many vines that the yield produced more than they could consume. The sugars in the crushed grapes fermented, and Noah drank to excess.

YHVH God did not intervene. This is exactly what happened to the two perfect people in the garden. They were given over to sin immediately and suffered the consequences. Now, Noah, a descendant of fallen Adam, would fare no better. God allowed this for an object lesson to you and me.

Noah was given over to the labor of the earth, whereas before the flood, we do know he was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). He could have been giving himself to the worship of God, seeking fellowship with Him, growing in grace and strengthening his faith in his old age. Wine and alcohol are not evil in and of themselves. It will only make you sin faster by its excess and abuse. And when we sin while our senses or faculties are numbed, it may cause another to stumble—as it will in Noah’s case, which we’ll look at tomorrow.

It is written,

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21

7/15 Reading Portions: Joshua 22; Acts 2; Jeremiah 11; Matthew 25

Genesis 9:18-19

SONS

While not in the exact words, the Word of God repeats that the sons of Noah went forth. We know this. We have read it at least once per year if we have been utilizing the Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan. From these three men, the sons of Noah, all the people of the whole earth were dispersed. All of us today, whether believer or unbeliever, came from one man, Adam. And from that man, came Noah. And from Noah came three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And from no one else. Only a cursory meditation upon these two verses coupled with a faithful eye upon Christ will signal to our hearts with momentous trumpet blasts the absolute absurdity of racism and racial prejudice.

In my short life on the planet, I’ve been to more countries than I can count off the top of my head. I have met and have had fellowship with and broken bread with all kinds of people, from all kinds of cultures, with all kinds of backgrounds, who look and dress differently than I do. And I am so glad. I celebrate the greatness of God for the awesome blessing of His goodness by dispersing all kinds of people all over the world through just three men and their wives; and those three men coming from just one man and his wife. There is only one race: the human race.

Think about the return of Christ and the consummation of all things,

that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

But while we will all be glorified as Jesus is glorified, and our human corruption and mortality is now incorruptible and immortal (1 Cor 15:51-54), we will still possess even those external attributes that make us especially unique. That’s right. No doppelgangers in heaven. It is foreshadowed here on our verses today. As three sons bring forth all that wonderful, beautiful diversity; so by One Son, the Lord Jesus Messiah, will bring forth even more wonderful, more beautiful, and more marvelous diversity because it will give God all the glory alone.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Genesis 9:12-17

BOW

God’s sign for this covenant He has made between Himself, Noah, and every living creature on the planet was a bow. This is the Hebrew word, קֶשֶׁת (QE-shet). The word is found 75 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, and it is always used in connection with an archer’s bow by which arrows are shot. Even here in Genesis 9, though we recognize this bow that appears with the clouds is what we call the rainbow, this colorful prism of light that appears after or during a rain, or when clouds appear in the sky, has an arc that resembles an archer’s bow pointed toward heaven. This is because of the truth of the gospel of Christ behind this covenant. This merciful bow is pointed toward heaven because God Himself would become a Man, and the judgment of God would be aimed at Him. When Jesus hung between heaven and earth, by this fulfillment of the Noahic Covenant, mercy will be established in men who have trusted by faith in the substitutionary atoning Sacrifice of Christ.

Every time anyone looks upon the bow in the clouds, whereas the Scripture says, “and the bow is seen in the clouds,” He will remember His covenant that He had made; for the Father delights in every act of His well-pleasing Son, most especially in Christ’s Sacrifice on Calvary’s Tree. That means that you and I may delight also in the blessing of the rainfall or the cloud cover every time we spot a rainbow, rejoicing in the grace and mercy of our loving God to send His only begotten Son to die in our place (John 3:16). And each time we see His bow in the sky, we may pray and praise Him for His amazing grace and mercy.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!