Nightmarish Reality

Daniel 7; Psalm 122; Proverbs 29:2-4

We’ve all had nightmares, at least when we were little. But part of the way that we get beyond nightmares is by telling ourselves, “It wasn’t real.” What if you couldn’t do that?

Daniel had a dream that turned out to be full of visions from God. The images he saw depicted reality. And Daniel was scared. His visions of four beasts, culminating with a beast that “devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left” (Dan. 7:7), ought to disturb us, too, because this nightmare will come true! The interpretation tells us:

The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will…devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. … The saints will be handed over to [its last king] for a time, times and half a time. – Daniel 7:23-25

That’s frightening because God revealed it and it’s true! This reality is coming someday, maybe soon! Since we can’t tell ourselves that this nightmare isn’t real, how do we grapple with it?

We grapple with real-life terror by turning to the end of the story:

The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever. – Daniel 7:17-18

Or, with more detail, after the saints are handed over to the fourth kingdom’s final king:

But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. – Daniel 7:26-28

Terrifying days lie ahead, and we don’t know exactly what they’ll look like. We just know that they’re coming, and that even God’s people cannot escape the terror completely. But we know something that can reassure as we prepare and then go through the midst of this nightmare: the Most High is coming to reign forever, and He will destroy the power of even the most powerful wicked rulers. His people will be safe in His kingdom, and all the earth will be subject to Him. In that day, we will be safe everywhere on earth!

Father, help us to trust You!

What fear have you learned to leave in God's hands?