Daniel (Greek) 7:6-10: a reflection

6“After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns. 8“I considered the horns, and behold, another horn came up among them, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire. 10A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.

Daniel's night vision is full of terrifying beasts, strange, devouring creatures representing the great empires of the world, culminating in a fourth beast, awesome and dreadful, with iron teeth, trampling everything in its path. It is a vision of frightening earthly power. But then the scene shifts upward: thrones are set in place, and the Ancient of Days takes his seat, his clothing white as snow, his throne flaming fire, ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him. The court sits in judgment, and the books are opened. Above the terrifying beasts sits the eternal God, enthroned.

Notice the movement of the vision, from the beasts below to the throne above. The empires and powers of the earth, however fearsome, however much they devour and trample, are not the final reality. Above them all sits the Ancient of Days, the eternal God, before whom the judgment is set and the books are opened. The frightening beasts do not have the last word; the enthroned God does.

That is a steadying vision for those who feel small before the frightening powers of the world. The forces that loom over history and over our own lives, however awesome and devouring they appear, are not sovereign; over them sits the eternal God, enthroned in unassailable majesty, before whom they will all give account. When the powers of the world seem terrifying and unstoppable, lift your eyes, as Daniel's vision does, above the beasts to the throne. The Ancient of Days reigns, the judgment is set, and no earthly power, however dreadful, stands outside his sovereign court. Fear the God on the throne, not the beasts below it.

Lord, Daniel saw terrifying beasts, the fearsome powers of the world, and then his eyes were lifted to the throne, where the Ancient of Days sat in judgment, ten thousand times ten thousand before him. When I feel small before the frightening powers of the world, powers that seem to devour and trample unchecked, lift my eyes as Daniel's vision does, above the beasts to your throne. You reign over them all, eternal and unassailable, and before you they will give account. Help me fear you, the God enthroned, rather than the powers below your throne. The judgment is yours; no earthly force stands outside your sovereign court.