Welcome to Day 1571 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomThe Cloud Rider – Worldview WednesdayWelcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! Wisdom is the final frontier in gaining true knowledge. Our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend; this is Gramps; thanks for coming along on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Today is Day 1571 of our Trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is essential to have a proper perspective on today’s current events. To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must have a proper understanding of God and His Word. This week, we will continue reviewing the book from Dr. Michael S Heiser titled “Supernatural.” The book is an abbreviated version of his more comprehensive book, “The Unseen Realm.” I highly recommend both of these books. Creating a Biblical Worldview based on how the Old and New Testaments connect with God’s overall plan for humanity is essential. This book review will help us understand what the Bible teaches about the unseen world, and why it matters.
The Cloud Rider
We closed the last chapter by noting how Jesus began to talk about his death immediately after baiting the powers of darkness at the gates of hell and Mount Hermon. The challenge set in motion a string of events that would lead to the Lord’s trial and his death on the cross. Christians have read about the trial of Jesus many times. But there’s a supernatural backdrop to it that is frequently overlooked.
To understand what finally draws the death sentence from the Jewish authorities and the transfer of Jesus to Pontius Pilate to carry it out, we have to go back to the Old Testament book of Daniel—to a meeting God holds with his heavenly host, his divine council.
The Ancient of Days and His CouncilDaniel 7 begins with a strange vision. Daniel sees four beasts coming out of the sea (Daniel 7:1–8). They’re all freakish, but the fourth beast is the worst. In the dreams interpreted in the Old Testament, both objects and living things always represent something, and in this dream, the four beasts in Daniel’s vision are four empires. We know that because his vision aligns with the themes of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2, which was about Babylon and three other empires to follow. Our focus, though, is on what Daniel describes next in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+7%3A9-10andversion=NLT (Daniel 7:9-10):
I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
We know the Ancient of Days is the God of Israel. That’s pretty easy to determine, especially if we compare his throne’s description to Ezekiel’s vision of God’s throne (Ezekiel 1). The fire, wheels, and human form on the throne in that vision are the same as Daniel’s.
But did you notice there isn’t just one throne? There are many thrones in Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:9)—enough for the divine court, God’s council (Daniel 7:10). The heavenly court meets to decide the fate of the beasts—the empires—in the vision.
It is decided that the fourth beast must be killed and the other beasts rendered powerless (Daniel 7:11–12). Another king and kingdom will displace them. And that’s where things get even more interesting.
The Son of Man Who Comes on the Clouds
Daniel continues narrating his vision in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+7%3A13-14andversion=NLT (Daniel 7:13-14):
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.