If you read the works of 20 different Bible scholars you will get 20 different flavors of the particulars of what all the imagery in Daniel 7 means. Our purpose this week isn’t to nail down all the symbols to their exact implication, but to step back and think about the eternal ramifications of this scene.
 
Daniel’s vision is strange and unsettling; so terrifying to him his face turns pale and he keeps all of it to himself. He sees a world full of chaos and danger. In the interpretation, those fears are affirmed. These images do, in fact, remind us that human history can feel turbulent and terrifying. Nations rise, expand, conquer. Leaders brag about their exploits and arrogantly spew nonsense about their own worth and power, demanding our allegiance. From a purely human perspective, it seems power goes to whoever can seize it from others and hold it through might.

But that’s not the end of Daniel’s story.

In the middle of the tumultuous scene, things shift from earth to heaven. The Ancient of Days takes His seat. The courtroom of heaven (the Divine Counsel) convenes and the books are opened. The kingdoms who looked so intimidating just a moment ago we now see are only temporary. Their authority is limited and their time is short.
 
But the most amazing part of the vision is when Daniel sees One like a Son of Man approaching God’s throne and receiving an everlasting Kingdom. Earthly rulers and domains rise and fall, but this King receives dominion that will never end. It’s important to note His authority and rule isn’t taken by force or domination, it’s received from the Ancient of Days Himself.
 
If we begin our thinking about this passage from this point, the fear of what the other images could mean melts away. The news of the day, elections, conflicts, and shifts in culture hold no power over our future or the ultimate outcome of history. God’s purposes are steadily moving toward their ultimate fulfillment of a fully realized Heavenly Kingdom wherein He makes All Things New.
 
This story isn’t about which earthly kingdom will survive the longest or about cracking some magic code to identify which beast correlates to which earthly kingdom. This story is, and always has been, about the King whose Kingdom cannot be destroyed.

Thanks to the manipulating power of algorithms and information outlets, it’s easy for our imaginations to be molded by the world around us. What earthly powers or constructs most easily capture your attention or arouse fear in your soul? How can Daniel’s vision help you rest easy knowing you are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be destroyed?

Father, help me to see history and the world through your eyes. Remind my heart that no earthly power holds a candle to Your authority and power. Teach me to trust the Kingdom that never passes away. Amen.