Daniel (Greek) 7:11-16: a reflection

11“I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. 14Dominion was given him, with glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed. 15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

In the midst of a disturbing vision of beasts and violence, Daniel sees something that changes everything. One like a son of man comes with the clouds of heaven and is brought before the Ancient of Days, and to him is given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. And unlike the kingdoms of the beasts, his dominion is everlasting; it will not pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.

This vision, which Jesus applied to himself, is a picture of Christ receiving from the Father an eternal, universal kingdom. The beasts, the proud and violent powers of history, rise and fall; their dominion is taken away. But the Son of Man is given a reign that has no end. Amid all the turbulence of the vision, and of history itself, here is the fixed point: one to whom all authority is given, whose kingdom outlasts every other and stands forever.

Daniel confesses that the visions troubled him, and the beasts of history can trouble us too, the rise of proud powers, the turbulence of the world. But this vision gives you a place to fix your hope. Above all the passing kingdoms stands the Son of Man, Christ, to whom the Father has given an everlasting dominion. The powers that frighten you will pass; his kingdom will not. Serve the King whose reign endures forever, and let the certainty of his everlasting dominion steady you amid the turbulence of the age.

Lord Jesus, Daniel saw the Son of Man given an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and that Son of Man is you. Amid the turbulence of history and the rise of proud powers that trouble me, fix my hope on your unending reign. The kingdoms that frighten me will pass; yours will not. Let me serve you, the eternal King, and rest in the certainty of your everlasting dominion. Amen.