Daniel 7:9-28
Thursday, 3 March 2022
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” -Daniel 7:18
The Book of Daniel portrays God’s sovereign control over heaven and earth. It also provides the prophecy about the destiny of nations and protection of His people. The book contains various other prophecies in the Bible.
Daniel had many dreams and visions; his visions speak of the Messianic kingdom which will overshadow and overpower all earthly kingdoms. In the dream that Daniel saw in Chapter 7, there are four beasts (V.3) which according to Bible Scholars are synonymous of four kingdoms that would come in the world in the course of history. While the dream by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 depicted the political stature of the emerging empires, Daniel’s dream highlights the moral state of these empires. The beasts of Daniel’s dream are representative of the following kingdoms:
The Lion represents Babylonian empire (V.4)
The Bear that ravaged the lion represents the Medo-Persia (V.5)
The Leopard speaks of the emergence of the Greek empire (V.6 ). It’s wings show the expansion of the kingdom during Alexander. The 4 heads of the leopard are the 4 divisions of the Greek empire after the death of Alexander.
The last Beast (V.7) points to the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus and to the end times – even the short reign of Anti-Christ.
The scenes described from V.9 onwards points to the end time. The Ancient of Days and the judgment scene is similar to the vision of Apostle John in Revelation 1:14 & 15. ‘Ancient of Days’ is the Almighty God who assigns power to kingdoms and who judges them in the end. We see that all the empires that reign are all evil and cruel. But Daniel also saw a vision of God’s everlasting and indestructible kingdom conquering and reigning in the end. He also records the vision of the coming of a Rock in a supernatural way, destroying the statue (kingdoms of earth) which became a huge mountain, filling the whole earth (Daniel 2:34 & 35). In Daniel 2:44 it says: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” Remember it is not the world leaders who decide the outcome of history but God in heaven. The Bible urges everyone from every tongue and tribe to be a part of this divine kingdom through Jesus Christ.
Daniel saw the vision of judgment in V.10 – The court was seated and the books were opened. People in millions were judged. Remember a day is appointed for you to stand before God and to give an account of your life. (Acts17:31) V.13 reveals the coming of the Son of Man with the clouds. Jesus Himself states in Matthew 26:64: “ --- hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven .” Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and books were opened. Another book was opened which is the book of life ----.” (Every deed of all people are recorded in those books). Rev.20:15 says, “And any one not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Dear reader/listener: Jesus Christ will come again and the whole world will be judged. The period of grace will soon be over – and the day of His return is sure! If today is that day - have you prepared yourself to stand before Him in confidence?
Thought for the Day: “When He returns is not as important as the fact that we are ready for Him when He does return.” ~A.W. Tozer
Listen: ‘Ancient of Days’
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