Daniel (Greek) 7:23-28: a reflection

23“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings. 25He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26“‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’ 28“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

The interpretation of Daniel's vision turns to the fourth beast and a boastful horn that speaks against the Most High and wears out the saints of the Most High, oppressing God's people for a time, and times, and half a time. It is a sobering picture of a hostile power that afflicts the faithful. But the vision does not end there. The judgment shall sit, and his dominion shall be taken away; and the kingdom and dominion shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is everlasting. The oppression is real, but temporary; the outcome is settled.

Notice the two things held together: the suffering of the saints, and the certainty of the end. God's people are indeed worn out for a season by hostile power; the vision does not pretend otherwise. But the affliction has a limit, a time, and times, and half a time, and beyond it lies the certain verdict: the oppressor's dominion taken away, and the everlasting kingdom given to God's people. The saints suffer for a while, but they inherit forever.

That is meant to sustain God's people under oppression. There are seasons when hostile powers seem to wear us down, when the faithful suffer and evil seems to prevail. This vision says both that the suffering is real and that it is bounded, that beyond it the judgment falls and the kingdom is given, forever, to God's people. When you feel worn down by opposition, hold onto the vision's end: the affliction is for a time, but the kingdom is everlasting, and it will be given to the saints. Endure the season of pressure knowing the outcome is already settled in your favor.

Lord, Daniel saw a hostile power wear out the saints for a time, and times, and half a time, and yet saw the judgment fall, the oppressor's dominion taken away, and the everlasting kingdom given to your people. When I feel worn down by opposition, when the faithful suffer and evil seems to prevail, hold that vision before me. The affliction is real, but it is bounded; beyond it lies the certain verdict in your people's favor. Help me endure the season of pressure knowing the outcome is already settled, that the kingdom is everlasting and will be given to the saints. Sustain me under opposition with the certainty of your final victory.