December 15
Daniel Saw the Glory of a Future King
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14
What does the future hold? God gives a glimpse of what the future holds through Daniel’s vision.
His vision reveals a troubling future. Daniel saw the rise and fall of world powers, pictured as ferocious beasts (7:1-8). He witnessed someone putting himself in the place of Christ and oppressing Christ’s believers (7:25). He viewed those persecuting or misleading God’s people.
Jesus said that God’s children can expect that kind of trouble. We can anticipate calamities in nature like earthquakes and disease. We can plan on social problems like war and poverty. We can expect attacks on the church like persecution and heresy. We can anticipate many falling away because of a godless world (Matthew 24:1-24).
But God allowed Daniel to see something other than coming trouble. He revealed to him the coming of Jesus, the King of glory. Unlike the earthly tyrants who devour nations around them, this King would rule like “a son of man” (7:13). He would share in our humanity and all its struggles yet do so without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He would “not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Unlike earthly kings whose kingdoms rise and fall, this King would establish “an everlasting dominion” (7:14). He would protect his loyal subjects until they stand with him in glory.
What does our future hold? God does not share every detail. But he does tell us this: “[Our King’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away” (7:14). Our future rests securely in Christ the King’s hands. Those hands he stretched out to save us from sin and death—those hands will welcome us into his eternal kingdom of glory and wipe away all tears. Those hands rule now and forever over all things for our good.
Dear Lord,
Your kingdom come, we humbly pray,
that Christ may rule in us today
and that your Holy Spirit bring
still more to worship Christ as king.
Break Satan’s pow’r, defeat his rage;
preserve your Church from age to age.
(CW 720:5)
Rev. Brian Hennig serves Martin Luther College as a professor of theology and social sciences.
