What we can learn from Daniel 7 & 8 about looking between, behind, and beneath the trees in order to see the forest.

We live in a complicated world.

Kitchen appliances connect to WiFi, our friendships require multi-billion-dollar corporations to keep us connected, and getting across town can take more computing power than was needed to put a man on the moon.

Humanity complains about complexity, but I’ve begun to suspect that we secretly love it. After all, it’s not like complications are a modern invention. Sure, we’ve dressed it up with more technological coverings than ever before, but a quick history survey should be enough to convince us it’s just the externals that have changed. Underneath, we’ve always leaned towards the byzantine.

Complexity shows up throughout history in our social structures, our art, our sciences, and in our religion.

As an example of the latter, we only need to look as far as the biblical Book of Daniel, chapters 7 and 8. Reading those chapters is enough to make your eyes cross. Two different visions, years apart, with chaos, bodies of water, mind-boggling beasts, strange symbols, and even more. Even more than the text itself, the wide variety of interpretations proposed for these two chapters highlights their complicated nature.

While it’s often fun to dive in and get lost in the details when faced with complexity, stepping back, gaining some perspective, and essentializing the matter can be helpful.

Stepping back from Daniel 7 and 8, we see that, amidst all the symbols, there is a simple contrast between two kinds of kings and the kingdoms they represent.

On the one hand, is the king Daniel describes as “one like a son of man.” This king…

• …is equated with God Himself
• …comes down from heaven to set things right among humanity
• …invites any who will join Him in holiness to reign with Him
• …builds His kingdom on truth and in peace
• …never loses His sovereignty, and His reign lasts forever

The other king is a composite based on what Daniel shares of his visions. This king…

• …is opposed to God Himself
• …rises up in pride over his fellow humans
• …dominates anyone who won’t submit to him
• …builds his kingdom through deceit and violence
• …is ultimately defeated, and his kingdom destroyed

The contrast between these two kings is simple and easy to see. We can allow the complexity of the text to distract us; we can get into debates about the timing of the events in Daniel’s vision, the identity of the various beasts, and how to fit it all together into our chosen eschatological interpretation.

And that can be fun.

But it is only profitable if we start with what is simple: based on Daniel’s words, which king is worth serving?

We can eventually deal with the details, but they will only matter if we nail down that fundamental choice. Our answer to that one question will ultimately change everything about our lives.

For example: how to live in a complicated world.