Chapters 7 and 8 of Daniel take us back in time a little, in order to take us forward in time. During the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream. He had another dream or vision during the third year of this king’s reign. These chapters reveal the dreams and then explain the meaning behind the dreams.

I am not going to attempt to explain or interpret the visions Daniel had foretelling what would happen in the end times. I find it interesting to read but over my head to completely understand. I went through the study of Daniel by Beth Moore several years ago and found it fascinating but I am still without a deep enough understanding to wrap my mind around all of it. I would like to point out a couple of things that stuck out to me though before I move onto Chapter 9.

These two visions went into great detail of what the beasts, ram and goat looked like but not a lot about them beyond their appearance and actions. What was described sounds familiar to what we have seen earlier in the book of Daniel – how arrogance and pride can be destructive. Daniel described the little horn as having a mouth that was boasting arrogantly and described the ram as doing whatever it pleased, becoming very powerful.

Out of the four beasts, the fourth with the little horn whose speech was described as boastful was the only one who was immediately killed and destroyed by fire. The other three lost their authority but were allowed to live a while longer (7:11-12). It is as if the Ancient One sitting in judgment had heard enough and swiftly shut the mouth of the beast. I love the power and authority displayed in Daniel 7:20-22:

This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, UNTIL the Ancient One – the Most High – came and judged in favor of his holy people.

Go God!!! I love the power displayed by our Omnipotent King of Kings! Daniel 8:23-25 describes again the victory that will take place over evil. “At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but HE WILL BE BROKEN, though not by human power.”

Whether we completely understand how the end times will play out or what Daniel’s visions mean, what we can understand is that our God is powerful and that He has always been and will always be victorious. As God’s holy people, we can see that our future is strong in the hands of God. There is nothing to fear.

“But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” – Daniel 7:18

“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.” – Daniel 7:26-27

The future of those who bow to the authority of their Lord and Savior holds victory. But let us also remember that the future of those who are arrogant, proud and boastful is bleak. Those whose speech is boastful and who do whatever pleases them will be brought down and destroyed. There is only one God – the Most High, Omnipotent God – and our future is in His loving, yet just, hands.

“The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.” – Oswald Chambers, today’s reading of My Utmost for His Highest