His Kingdom Shall Not Pass Away (pt. 1)

In Daniel chapter 7, this will be the last chapter in Daniel that is written in Aramaic. Daniel this time has the vision about four kingdoms and is a part of the chiastic structure we have seen in earlier chapters. The central focus of the book shifts from narrative to apocalyptic. It also shifts from third person to first person sharing many themes from chapter 2. Chapters 7-12 become more of a Visionary Literature using highly symbolic descriptors. The purpose of this vision is to encourage the oppressed by providing comfort from God to those who are persecuted. It reorients people who are traumatized by the evil by means of providing warnings to the oppressor and calls people to faith comforting the oppressed with the message that God will prevail against evil. Daniel 7 moves back in time, it is not arranged in a strict chronological order.

The First vision depicts the great sea, the four beasts using animal imagery describing the domain where evil exists. The four beasts are described in verses 1-8 as the lion, the bear, the leopard, the fourth beast having obscure horns coming from his head. The scene shifts from earth to heaven (throne room) with God being described as the Ancient of Days. Fire is associated with God’s presence/judgment; Jesus described as “One like the son of man” and the saints as the (holy ones) of the Most High.

In Daniel chapter 2 we learned the relationship between the parts of the statue with respect to their meaning and geographical locations. In chapter 7 additional graphical images are described and associated with the statue. The lion represents Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, the bear represents Medo-Persia, the leopard represents Greece, the beast with ten horns represent Rome. In verse 8 within the ten horns is a little horn that has eyes like a man and a mouth speaking pompous words similar to Revelation 13:5. In verse 9-10 Daniel sees thrones put into place for the Ancient of Days (God) to sit, and a description of God’s hair, His garment, His throne and the people who surrounded Him, similar to what we read in Revelation 1:14; 5:11; 20:4. Verse 11-12 show how the beast is destroyed and how the other beasts lose their dominion. Verse 13-14 See the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came before God and God gave Him dominion, glory and a kingdom for all the nations to serve him. This dominion is everlasting and shall not pass away nor be destroyed.

As a Christian our faith comes from the Lord God in Heaven. This faith is given to us as we strengthen our relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. As we see in Daniels dream, God exposes the evil that not only existed in the beginning of time, in Daniels day but shows how this evil will coalesce in future days. We see today how the world is coming together to become what prophecy has been warning us about for centuries. A one world order, a one world economy and a one world fight against God’s chosen people (Messianic Jews), God’s chosen land (Israel) including the true believers in Jesus Christ across the globe. The sum of the parts equals the body of Christ, the children of God, God’s heirs to the throne.

The full depth and breadth of the bible is used to remind us of the love that God has for us. It shows how God created the world and mankind. It tells of the sacrifices many prophets and true believers have made and how God was there to provide and to protect us. God promises to secure our place in heaven but, most importantly throughout the bible God shows us His love. The greatest showing of His love is sending His Son Jesus to us so we may receive His free gift of salvation. Without a relationship with Jesus our salvation is not secure nor is our place in heaven. If you are a true believer in Christ, your life will truly change! The old life goes away and our new life begins with Christ. It is in our faith of Jesus and God that we will live for eternity.

My pray is that we will see through the evil that this world wraps itself in. That we have clarity though our relationship with Jesus to be one with our Father in Heaven. I pray that our hearts would change and we become true believers, true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ without shame and without falling into temptation. I pray that we continually look towards our Father in heaven to provide for us, protect us and remind us that He is and always will be on the throne. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray this Amen! Amen!