Daily devotion – Heaven’s lookout
Daniel 7:1 Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.
2 In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction. 3 Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.
4 The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.
5 Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
6 Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
9 I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
10 and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
Do you look at the world’s political scene and get filled with despair and anxiety?
Wondering just how worse things can get? Many people suffer depression and other such things when all they see in the media is tragedy, chaos and no future hope.
In this glorious piece of Scripture, God gives Daniel a view of the world’s kingdoms and political chaos. Man views human kingdoms as prestigious and valuable metals. Remember back in chapter 2 the image of gold made by king Nebuchadnezzar.
But there is a completely = different scenario from the Heavenly vantage point.
The Bible tells us that human history will culminate in a worldwide kingdom under a satanic world rule – the Antichrist – who will defy God and eventually be defeated by Jesus’ return.
In verse 9-14 of Daniel 7, as we are given a description of the beasts – the kingdoms of earth – fighting on earth, God is holding court in Heaven, and everything is under His control.
Jesus Christ will one day establish a righteous kingdom that nobody will overthrow in Jerusalem.
When the course of world history fills you with depression, turn to this glorious passage in God’s Word for a reality check.
It will give you the picture from a Heavenly point of view!
Christ is coming soon, and His reign will be an everlasting rule.
Everything is proceeding exactly to plan.