Fear and Trembling

Readings for today: Daniel 10-12, Psalms 58

In my line of work, I get sent all kinds of things. YouTube videos of so-called prophets predicting the end. Chain emails suggesting I need to focus more on the end times. Free books by obscure authors telling me they’ve cracked the code and know the time and date of Jesus’ return. One of the things that strikes me most about all of this is the utter lack of fear and trembling and humility. These modern-day prophets claim to have seen all kinds of divine visions and dreams but don’t fall on their faces in fear. Rather than grieve, they seemingly take delight in calling for the destruction of the world. They arrogantly proclaim their “interpretation” and refuse to acknowledge when they get things wrong…which they always do. It’s nuts to me.

When God gave visions and dreams to His prophets in the Old Testament, they all fall on their faces in awe before the Lord. They tremble in fear at His coming. They are overwhelmed by what they see and cannot comprehend what God is telling them until an angel of the Lord reveals it to them. They are humble. They grieve over the judgment they know is coming. They fast and pray until their bodies are weak from hunger. Listen again to Daniel’s experience as he receives his final visions from God, “Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees.” (Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB) Now contrast his example with what we hear from those who claim to be prophets in our day and age. It could not be more different.

It’s a fearful thing to receive a vision of the future from God. Such knowledge is far too wonderful and complex for our minds to comprehend. It overwhelms the senses. It forces us to our knees. It leaves us gasping for breath. Human beings simply aren’t designed for such things which is why every single one of the Old Testament prophets is driven to the point of death by the experience. Even Jesus Himself claimed He couldn’t know the timing of the end. He had to trust His Father for that knowledge.

Every human being worries about the future. We worry about tomorrow or the next day or the next month or the next year. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our livelihoods. We worry about our children and grandchildren. For many around the world, they worry about what they will eat or where they will find water. Many believers worry about the end. They look around the world today with all its suffering, violence, hatred, anger, injustice, and oppression and they wonder when God will return to bring these things to an end. Rather than focusing so much on trying to predict it all or figure it out, I think the final words of the Book of Daniel point us in the right direction. “But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.” (Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Haggai 1-2, Psalms 59

Hope

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9, Psalms 57

Today we read one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament about the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. A prophetic vision of the end times when God Himself will set up His throne on earth to bring judgment and an end to all injustice, fear, and violence. He will give His kingdom to the Son of Man who has been prepared from eternity to rule a kingdom that will last forever. No matter how strong and fearsome the principalities and powers of this world may seem, they are no match for the Son of Man. The great “beasts” of this world with all their arrogant, corrupt, oppressive, and abusive ways will be killed and thrown into the eternal fire. They will be no more. It’s a day I long for with all my heart. It’s a day I pray for with all my soul. I long for the day when the Son of Man will come again, bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth, reign and rule over all creation.

Listen again to the words of the vision of Daniel, “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Our world is on fire. Beasts of all kinds rise up and create all kinds of chaos and destruction. None of us are immune. No one can escape. We live in so much fear, so much anger, so much hate. Things are so bad even the “holy ones” of God, believers in Jesus Christ, are led astray. We turn on the news and see the violence. We scroll through social media and drown in disinformation designed to incite all kinds of outrage. We listen to our leaders lie with impunity and without shame. Perhaps worst of all, we become numb to the suffering we see. It’s heartbreaking. Thankfully, we are not at the mercy of the evil in the world. Sin will not have the last word. God Himself is coming to judge. He will take His seat on the throne of this world. And though the nations of the earth rage against Him, they resist in vain. God will remove their dominion and give it to His Son. He will reign forever and ever with glory and power. Every tribe, tongue, and nation will serve Him. His Kingdom will have no end. This is our only hope.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12, Psalms 58

Hope for the Future

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

The book of Daniel is most famous for the visions Daniel sees in the night. So much ink has been spilt trying to interpret the meaning of these dreams. Are they historical? Referring to past events and past kingdoms that have come and gone? Do they tell the future? Of a time when our great Enemy will rise and attack God’s people? Are they both? Can we learn from what has happened in the past and look for those same signs to take place in the future? And what does it all mean for the Christian in 21st century America?

I think we often miss the forest for the trees when it comes to reading Scripture. We get so wrapped up in the details, so lost in the weeds, that we lose sight of the overarching message God has for us. Daniel and his people are in exile. They have experienced national trauma on a level we simply cannot grasp. Their pain and suffering is real and terrible. Their hopes and dreams have been crushed out of existence. Ground under the heel of a merciless pagan empire. Everything they once held dear has been destroyed. These are the circumstances in which God has placed Daniel. He has been a counselor to pagan kings. He has served foreign rulers. He has done all he can to embrace the call God placed on His people back in Jeremiah to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:7) And he has prospered. He has been given power and authority. He has access and influence. He has wealth and privilege. He is considered one of the greatest wise men the empire has ever produced. But one thing continues to set Daniel apart...his deep faith.  

Daniel never loses sight of God. Never loses hope in a future restoration when God will act to deliver His people once again. Daniel trusts God. At great personal risk, Daniel has demonstrated his faith over and over again. Lions. Fiery furnaces. Under threat of torture and death. Daniel has seen it all and done it all and not only survived but thrived. And now God is again visiting him with visions and dreams. He is showing him the future. Kings and empires will rise and fall. The pain and suffering they inflict will be great. The fear they will engender will cause many to flee. Safety and comfort will be in short supply. But under it all, there is a promise. God is in control. God is on the move. God is bringing human history to a predetermined end with Christ taking His seat in glory and His kingdom shall never end.  

“Thrones were set in place and The Old One sat down. His robes were white as snow, his hair was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, its wheels blazing. A river of fire poured out of the throne. Thousands upon thousands served him, tens of thousands attended him. The courtroom was called to order, and the books were opened…My dream continued. “I saw a human form, a son of man, arriving in a whirl of clouds. He came to The Old One and was presented to him. He was given power to rule—all the glory of royalty. Everyone—race, color, and creed—had to serve him. His rule would be forever, never ending. His kingly rule would never be replaced.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬) Forget the four great beasts. Forget the visions of lions and eagles  and bears. Rams and goats thundering towards one another across the earth. Forget the terrifying beast with ten horns or the little horn with the big mouth. The focus of Daniel’s vision is on the One called the Ancient of Days. The One who reigns and rules over it all. Pure as driven snow. Engulfed in holy fire. Tens of thousands at his beck and call. He judges the earth. He judges kings and rulers. He holds all dominion and power in His hand. And He calls to the Son of Man. Out of the clouds of heaven comes the Christ and He is given all authority on heaven and on earth. All peoples and nations and tribes and tongues shall serve him. His kingdom shall never end. This is the main point of the vision Daniel receives. God letting his beloved prophet know He is not done. There is still hope. There will come a day when Christ shall come and all things shall be set right and made new. 

And what happens to us on that great day? Listen to how Daniel describes it, “Then the royal rule and the authority and the glory of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people of the High God. Their royal rule will last forever. All other rulers will serve and obey them.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭‭27‬ ‭MSG‬‬) We get to share in this glory! We get to share in this victory! When Christ comes again in glory, we will be given dominion and power and authority to reign and rule at His side and under His Lordship! There will be no more sin. No more evil. No more crying. No more pain. No more suffering. No more fear. For God Himself will be our God and we shall be His people! This is the great hope of the gospel! The great hope sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection! An empty tomb bears witness! Millions upon millions throughout history all stand to give their testimony! Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again! 

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12

Strange Visions

Readings for today: Daniel 7-8, 1 John 5

What the book of Daniel is perhaps most famous for are the visions Daniel sees in the night. So much ink has been spilt trying to interpret the meaning of these dreams. Are they historical? Referring to past events and past kingdoms that have come and gone? Do they tell the future? Of a time when the great Enemy will rise and attack God’s people? Are they both? Can we learn from what has happened in the past and look for those same signs to take place in the future? And what does it all mean for the Christian in 21st century America? How does it all relate to our daily lives? 

I think we often miss the forest for the trees when it comes to reading Scripture. We get so wrapped up in the details. So lost in the weeds. And we lose sight of the overarching message God has for us. Daniel and his people are in exile. They have experienced national trauma on a level we simply cannot grasp or imagine. Their pain and suffering is real and terrible. Their hopes and dreams have been crushed out of existence. Ground under the heel of a merciless pagan empire. Everything they once held dear has been destroyed. These are the circumstances in which God has placed Daniel. He has been a counselor to pagan kings. He has served foreign rulers. He has done all he can to embrace the call God placed on His people back in Jeremiah to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:7) And he has prospered. He has been given power and authority. He has access and influence. He has wealth and privilege. He is considered one of the greatest wise men the empire has ever produced. But one thing continues to set Daniel apart...his great faith.  

Daniel never loses sight of God. Never loses hope in a future restoration where God will act to deliver His people once again. Daniel trusts God. Daniel is faithful to God. At great personal risk, Daniel has demonstrated this faith over and over again. Lions. Fiery furnaces. Under threat of torture and death. Daniel has seen it all and done it all and not only survived but thrived. And now God is again visiting him with visions and dreams. He is showing him the future. Kings and empires will rise and fall. The pain and suffering they inflict will be great. The fear they will engender will cause many to flee. Safety and comfort will be in short supply. But over it all, there is this promise…God is in control! God is on the move! God is bringing human history to a predetermined end with Christ taking His seat in glory and His kingdom shall never end.  

“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. 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...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. 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.” (Daniel‬ ‭7:9-10, 13-14‬) Forget the four great beasts. Forget the visions of lions and eagles and bears. Rams and goats thundering towards one another across the earth. Forget the terrifying beast with ten horns or the little horn with the big mouth. The focus of Daniel’s vision is on the One called the Ancient of Days. The One who reigns and rules over it all. Pure as driven snow. Engulfed in holy fire. Tens of thousands at his beck and call. He judges the earth. He judges kings and rulers. He holds all dominion and power in His hand. And He calls to the Son of Man. Out of the clouds of heaven comes the Christ and He is given all authority on heaven and on earth. All peoples and nations and tribes and tongues shall serve him. His kingdom shall never end. This is the main point of the vision Daniel receives. God letting his beloved prophet know He is not done. There is still hope. There will come a day when Christ shall come and all things shall be set right and made new. 

And what happens to us on that great day? Listen to how Daniel describes it, “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.'” (Daniel‬ ‭7:27‬) We get to share in this glory! We get to share in this victory! When Christ comes again in glory, we will be given dominion and power and authority to reign and rule at His side and under His Lordship! There will be no more sin. No more evil. No more crying. No more pain. No more suffering. No more fear. For God Himself will be our God and we shall be His people! This is the great hope of the gospel! The great hope sealed by Christ’s death and resurrection! An empty tomb bears witness! Millions upon millions throughout history all stand to give their testimony! Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again! 

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 9-10, 2 John 1