Seeing the King

I hope you had a great weekend! By noon today, I’ll be a new aunt! My brother, Casey, and his wife Summer are having their first baby today. The little toot is breech so she has to have a c-section. I’ve had one of those and it isn’t easy, but it’s worth it! So, pray for Summer today around noon, as well as baby Colton!

Okay, we are going to be scrunching up the last few chapters together. Not all of them, but this week will not be just for Chapter 7. Still, there is much to cover so let’s get started.

From this chapter to the end is where Daniel can get sticky in the whole theology department. Minds more brilliant than me, more mature than me, and more in tune to the whole counsel of the Word still can disagree with one another one many topics in the chapters to come.

Here we will run into prophesy at its best. We’ll look at different takes on end times. We’ll consider the future. And, we might find that all of this is not too scary!

So, buckle up, get your mind and heart focused on the Word and let’s dive in.

Daniel 7

Just a little FYI, this chapter actually happened 2 years before chapter 5. Why it’s chapter 7? I have no idea. That’s all on that.

Take a moment to read 7:1-8. It’s a list of the “beasts” Daniel saw in his visions. I’ll give you a super quick rundown and 2 theories.

Lion 1. Babylon 2. Britain and USA
Bear 1. Medo-Persian 2. Russia
Leopard 1. Alexander the Great 2. China
Terrifying Beast 1. Rome 2. Whole world control

The 10 horns represents a comprehensiveness of the sphere of authority and “another little horn” represents an antichrist, or a type of antichrist, or an world power in characteristic of an antichrist.

Shew!

Let me just say one thing right here. This is my educated opinion. I believe the “1’s” have it up there. I believe his visions and dreams in this particular passage have come to pass. Many would disagree with me which brings us to the “Left Behind” series. Remember, the “Left Behind” series comes from an interpretation of the text and quite honestly is rickety in Biblical strength. My biggest beef with the series is that people get a second chance and according to Scripture, there is no second chance. Decide now before you die. There will be a bit more discussion on this later. Stay with me. But for now…

I’m blunt. I know. Moving on.

The next portion of the text is verses 9-10. Here Daniel describes what he sees. He looked around and was gazing at a throne room. Look at verse 9, “…and the Ancient of Days took his seat.”

What does that conjure up in your mind? Can you see Him sitting on His throne in all His majesty? A picture of a king sitting down demands respect and submission. He has taken His seat once and for all. It’s a place of authority, power, rule, knowledge, and wisdom.

He took His seat and something amazing happened as Daniel watched. Carefully read verses 11-14. I’ll highlight this beauty.

“…and there before me was one like a son of man…He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Oh man, that is amazing. Do you see what Daniel got to see? He watched as the resurrected Christ was given authority before it ever happened! To me, that is simply stunning.

We have talked so much about the authority of God in the earth and Daniel was seeing the promise of an everlasting Kingdom in the midst of captivity. We too can find comfort in such a vision. Our God, our Jesus, our Messiah is an everlasting authority in our captivity. We too can look our eyes to heaven at a resurrected Christ and know that all rulers, authorities, dominions, powers, all of them come under HIS rule.

Check out Ephesians 1:19b-23. I want you to really read this and realize this is what Daniel was seeing.

“That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and (here it comes!!) seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

All rule
All authority
All power
All dominion

Over everything! Your marriage, your kids, your country, your finances, your economy, your tumor, your depression, your pain, your bitterness, your job…

ALL AUTHORITY! Lift your eyes to heaven and trust the everlasting King for all ages and the one to come!

Praise Him because “…God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

That. Is. Amazing. In some supernatural way, we too are seated with Christ Jesus. Man, if that doesn’t make you feel safe, I don’t know what will.

Grab on to Daniel’s vision. “See” Christ’s rule over everything. Feel safe. Know you are loved and protected by a fierce and loving King!

Thank you God for ruling over us. We trust you and find peace under your authority. We bless you and thank you for your promises to us in Christ Jesus! It is in His Name and authority I pray. Amen.