Daniel
7 reminds me of a scripture verse that I learned when first studying
the Bible. “For now we see
only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now
I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known”
(1 Corinthians 13:12). In that wonderful chapter, the apostle Paul
is discussing the spiritual gifts, but wraps them in two critical
restrictions. First, any gift that is not used in love is useless;
and second, like little children, we do not have the ability to fully
comprehend all of God’s revelation. In today’s chapter, Daniel
is given a vision. He places the timing of the dream as during the
first year of the last Babylonian king. Within the chapter, Daniel
also provides “the
interpretation of these things“.
Please understand that without interpretation, his vision is just a
lot of noise, so I’ll skip to his explanation. He begins, “The
four great beasts are four
kings that will rise from the earth“.
In a prior chapter Daniel had told Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his
dream, noting that there would be kingdoms that followed Babylon,
each more inferior than its predecessor. Daniel notes that
separately, “The holy people of
the Most High will receive the kingdom
and will possess it forever“.
Through wars, slavery, captivity and dispersion, the Jews have
remained a separate and distinct people. The people of God are
always given special protection.
Daniel
continues with more information on “the
fourth beast… most terrifying,
with its iron teeth and bronze claws“.
He points out this beast was different. This one “crushed
and devoured its victims“.
Experts of biblical prophecy believe this is the Roman Empire, but to
me, I see an image of our human tendency to devolve into destruction.
People and system get corrupted over time without the holy presence
of God. Friend, are you living under His protection, or being
devoured by corruption and compromise?
Daniel
continues noting the fourth beast had “ten
horns on its head…
The ten horns are ten kings who
will come from this kingdom“.
The hands of this prophetic
clock begin to point to future events. Maybe it is important to
discover each of the ten kingdoms, but I see the world around me
continue to divide into more angry sub-groups. I believe Satan loves
to divide and conquer. Daniel sees “another
king will arise, different from the earlier ones“.
This leader will “subdue three
kings” and “speak
against the Most High and oppress his holy people“.
And what does he attack? Holy
Holidays and God’s law are targeted “to
change the set times and the laws“.
Today words like Marriage, Family, and Christmas have become
offensive. Daniel is very specific about one thing, “The
holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and
half a time“. A time of
tribulation is coming, but in the end, “his
power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever“.
Christ will return and “His
kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship
and obey Him“. In the
meantime, remember the urging in 1 Corinthians 13. Hearts are not
changed by your words of wisdom, your hardships, or your good works.
He reminds us, if I “do not
have love, I am nothing“. We
do not have perfect understanding, but we do have three gifts. “And
now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love“. May the love
of Christ flow through you today!