Daniel 7:15-28 The Vision Is Explained
I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”
Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet. I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom. Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.” That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
God has given Daniel a prophecy of what will happen throughout human history and in the end times. Ever since Daniel has recorded these prophecies, people have tried to apply them to various empires. But the final kingdom, the one represented by the small arrogant horn that wages war on the saints, has yet to manifest itself. Does this kingdom already exist? Is it about to manifest itself? Only God has the answer to those questions.
What can we do with such prophecies? First, remember that God remains on the throne, no matter which empire dominates international politics. Second, remember that God is the One who allows empires to rise and fall. For centuries, many people believed that the ancient empires mentioned in the Old Testament never existed. Only when archaeology developed did it become apparent that the Old Testament was quite accurate and that these glittering empires that once struck fear into millions of hearts had faded into obscurity.
Finally, we need to remember that we must remain faithful to the One True Living God, no matter which empire is dominating. I have Facebook friends who serve in Kiev, Ukraine and who regularly describe Russian attacks. No matter how much the Russians may desire to reconstruct the Soviet Union, God remains in control.
God favors those who worship Him and serve Him whole-heartedly. The survival of our nations rests on our willingness to remain faithful. May God help us, so that we will be consistent and persistent. God gave Daniel these visions because Daniel could be trusted to transmit them accurately without editorializing or manipulating God’s facts. Can the same be said of us? If God gives us information, are we prepared to honestly relay it, or would we try to put our own spin on it? Daring to be a Daniel means absolute honesty, no matter how shattering a revelation might seem.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust that no matter how frightening events might seem, You are still on the throne as the Ancient of Days, the Almighty Ruler of the Universe. Thank You for giving these revelations to Daniel. Open our eyes that we might see those things You want us to learn. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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