Daniel 7:9-12 – The Reaction in Heaven HQ
What is the reaction in Heaven HQ to these four dreadful, incredibly frightening beasts? That’s what we discover today as we catch our glimpse of God himself – the Ancient of Days.
Rather than focusing on the immense glory of our God (v9-10), let me note two surprises. Surprise number one is that God is sitting down (v9). That may not seem significant, but think about it: what would you expect to happen given the turmoil and violence of these four beasts?
You would expect drama and tension in Heaven HQ. You would expect angels to be scampering about, taking messages from place to place. You would expect papers and dispatches to fly through the air as a sense of panic sets in. You would expect any other commander to be frantically pacing the room, trying to digest the horrifying news from Planet Earth. But not God. Note that there is no nail biting, no arm waving, no flapping around. God is completely calm and completely in control. He simply stays in his seat.
The second surprise is the battle itself. It feels like it’s going to be a final showdown for the ages. We expect an epic war where both God and the beast have to pull out their very biggest guns; a monumental struggle that swings back and forth until eventually God vanquishes his foe. Yet, there’s none of that. It could never be made into a movie because it’s a total anticlimax, “The beast was killed and its body destroyed” (v11). God deals with this terrifying enemy as easily as a human being could swot a pesky fly.
This passage should be terrifically encouraging for all of us who are Christians. God’s master plan is in no way threatened even by the most powerful of enemies. All it takes is one click of God’s fingers and those same powerful enemies are toast. So don’t lose your head when things seem to go wrong. Never, ever forget that you’re on the winning side.
Questions
- Verses 9 and 10 describe God’s incredible glory. What stands out most for you?
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would give you a bigger view of him and his glory.
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.