Security in the End Times

The object of our faith amid global disturbance must be a clear vision of the Father through the Son, who holds all things together through the Word of His power. The troubling imagery of Daniel 7, in which the empires of this world are portrayed as beasts bent on rule, conquest, and bloodshed for the sake of power, surrounds one of the most explicit pictures of God in all of scripture. 

Daniel 7:9–10 (ESV) “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Right after the verse detailing a little horn making great boasts as he wipes out competing factions of nations, Daniel sees where true authority lies. It is not found in the boastful endeavors of men. It is not found in the rise of a new technologically advanced empire. It is found where God dwells, over all the Universe, on His throne of fire. 

What a picture.

Daniel saw the rise and fall of five kingdoms: the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the kingdom of Satan, headed by the Antichrist. He was watching all the world's turmoil when he realized that God's kingdom is above it all, ruling over all these events. 

Here is a parallel picture of what is described in Revelation 4. Just before the dark imagery begins in that apocalyptic account, John is caught up into heaven to behold the glory of Jesus among the angels, the four living creatures, and the 24 elders.

It seems when the world is most worrisome, God's people will be assured that they have nothing to fear, for the One who holds it all in His hand is ultimately in control. 

Now, Daniel is Old Testament literature, yet He sees something more, or should I say Someone more. 

Daniel 7:13 (ESV) “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

Notice amid night visions stands the Lord. Prefigured here for Daniel, but ruling now in heaven for us. But we get a peek at what transpired when Jesus ascended to heaven after the resurrection. As Hebrews stipulates:

Hebrews 4:14 (ESV) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

And later:

Hebrews 10:12–13 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

So Daniel beholds that moment for us here:

Daniel 7:14 (ESV) And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

What held Daniel together in the empire of Babylon is what will hold us together in the tribulation. The testimony of Christ's shed blood has forever perfected His chosen ones before Him. So later in the text, Daniel is given a revelation of a 3.5-year period of trouble coming from the "little horn" who rules and persecutes God's people. 

Daniel 7:25 (ESV) He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Yet, amazingly, in what would appear to be all hell breaking loose on the Earth, that "little horn" will be thrown down, and Christ will rule and reign. 

Daniel 7:26–27 (ESV) But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

Blessed be God who has secured us in Christ His Son. May His kingdom come!