Page 73 - Daniel

impotence.
Having disposed of any possible solution to the problem on the part of

the wise men, Daniel now seized the opportunity to glorify his own God
and, at the same time, disavow that the interpretation of the dream
stemmed from any innate powers that he might have. By giving all the
credit and glory to God, Daniel was showing that the God of Israel is far
superior to the gods of the Babylonians and that He is the God who is

able to know and reveal secrets.
Of particular interest to all expositors is the expression “in the latter
days.” Some limit this expression to the perspective of the alleged
spurious Daniel of the second century. Driver states, “[This is] an
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expression which occurs fourteen times in the O. T., and which always
denotes the closing period of the future so far as it falls within the range
of view of the writer using it. The sense expressed by it is thus relative,
not absolute, varying with the context.” 21

This view would, in effect, regard “the latter days” as stopping short of
the coming of the Messiah in the New Testament. Driver, however,
continues: “Elsewhere it is used of the ideal, or messianic age, conceived
as following at the close of the existing order of things: Hos. 3:5; Is. 2:2
(Mic. 4:1); Jer. 48:47, 49:39; comp. 23:20 (30:24). Here, as the sequel

shows, it is similarly the period of the establishment of the Divine
Kingdom which is principally denoted by it (vv. 34, 35, 44, 45); but the
closing years of the fourth kingdom (vv. 40–43) may also well be
included in it.” 22

Leupold objects to any implied limitation on the messianic content
and writes, “But to stop short at this point and to deny messianic import
to the passage as such is misleading. Though the content must determine
how much of the future is involved, a careful evaluation of all the
passages involved shows that from the first instance of the use of the

phrase (Gen. 49:1) onward the messianic future is regularly involved. In
this passage the messianic element will be seen to be prominent.” 23
Conservative scholars usually regard this expression as including the
messianic age in general, with some considering it especially the end of
the period. Miller notes, “In this context the expression must involve the

eschatological future, for it concerns the final phase of the fourth empire
and the coming kingdom of God.” 24