Daniel 2:4-7:28 shows three pairs of theological themes in mirror parallelism. God dominates over history (chaps. 2 and 7): In Daniel 2, the great and awesome statute in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents four Gentile superpowers in history (2:31-33, 36-43). In the dream was a “stone”, which represents God’s everlasting kingdom that “will crush and put an end to these kingdoms” (2:34-35, 44-45). In Daniel 7, the four monstrous beasts in Daniel’s vision represent four Gentile superpowers in history (7:1-8). But the high point in the vision is the “everlasting dominion” given to “a Son of Man” whom all peoples and nations will “serve” (vv.13-14).

God delivers from harm (chaps. 3 and 6): The faithful people of God refused to compromise their faith, even if it means to be burned in a furnace (3:13-15, 19-23) or devoured by lions (6:6-10, 16-17). But God delivered them miraculously (3:24-25; 6:21-22). God dethrones the haughty (chaps. 4 and 5): Nebuchadnezzar arrogantly boasted: “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself built…by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” (4:30). But God who “humbles those who walk in pride” (4:37) humbled Nebuchadnezzar by dethroning him (4:31-33). Belshazzar “exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven” by using the “gold vessels” taken from God’s temple as drinking vessels in his “great feast” (5:1-14, 22-23). But God humbled him by ending his empire (5:30-31).

The theological structure of Daniel 2:4-7:28 begins and ends with God dominating over history. It means that overarching and undergirding everything is God dominating over history from the beginning to the end. What security we have!