What emotions did Daniel experience in Daniel 7:28, and why are they significant? Verse Focus Daniel 7:28: “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” Identified Emotions • Deep inner distress – “deeply troubled by my thoughts” • Physical fear and dread – “my face turned pale” • Restrained anxiety – “I kept the matter to myself” The Weight Behind the Feelings • Overwhelming revelation – The vision spanned empires, Antichrist-like oppression, final judgment, and the eternal reign of the Son of Man (vv. 1-27). • Holy awe before God’s majesty – The Ancient of Days seated on flaming thrones (v. 9) naturally produced trembling; cf. Habakkuk 3:16. • Prophetic burden for persecuted saints – The “little horn” would “wear out the saints” (v. 25); Daniel felt their coming sorrow. • Recognizing personal smallness – As in Daniel 10:8-9 and Revelation 1:17, a mortal collapses when confronted with heavenly glory. Why Daniel’s Emotions Matter • Authenticate the vision’s reality – Genuine prophecies evoke genuine human reactions (Daniel 8:27; 10:16-17). • Highlight the gravity of end-time events – If the prophet trembles, the message is not trivial. • Demonstrate that faith and fear can coexist – Daniel’s earlier courage (Daniel 6) does not exclude later trembling; believers may feel both. • Model reverence toward divine revelation – Scripture is not casual reading; it demands sober, worshipful attention (Isaiah 66:2). • Foreshadow comfort in God’s sovereignty – The same vision that shook Daniel also promised the saints “the kingdom forever” (v. 27), anchoring hope amid dread. Key Takeaways • Prophetic truth can disturb before it ultimately consoles. • Reverent fear is a fitting response to God’s unveiled plans. • Daniel’s emotions invite us to embrace both the seriousness and the assurance found in God’s Word. |
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