Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:15-28, Exodus 19:5-6, Hebrews 12:28-29
Scripture records many of the promises of Jesus. Two of those promises that have often brought me comfort and hope in the midst of challenge are seemingly contradictory, but time and time again they’ve proven themselves to work in unity. Take Jesus’s words in John 16:33: “You will have suffering in this world,” but “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Daniel lived in a time of exile. He was held captive in a foreign land as his home and countrymen were systematically dismantled and dispersed. He did not need many reminders that followers of God experience trouble in this world. And while his life predated that of Jesus by several hundred years, it seems that Daniel also understood clearly that God-fearers need not fear the powers of this world.
There are entire books written about our passage for today. And there are many hotly debated interpretations that attempt to parse out various aspects of Daniel’s vision. One thing that interpreters seem to universally agree upon is that, in the end, God establishes His kingdom and His kingdom people forever and ever. Daniel proclaims in no uncertain terms: “But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever” (Daniel 7:18). Amen. May it be so.
When all is said and done, when all the kingdoms have conquered and then in turn fallen, when all the histories have finally been written, God’s purposes and love will be perfectly and eternally established and experienced.
Daniel lived in exile, but Daniel hoped in the future kingdom. I think most of us can identify with that. Most days we experience life somewhere between exile and the fullness of the kingdom. We live in between the promise of suffering in this world and Jesus’s encouragement to have faith that He has overwhelmingly conquered this world.
In almost any 24-hour period, we ebb and flow between the lows of “now” and the hope and healing of “not yet, but coming!” Kingdoms come and go but the city of God is forever (Revelation 11:15). It will outlast and overcome every oppressive system, every injustice, and every wrongdoing. It will bring peace and freedom, wholeness and stability.
Daniel was greatly alarmed by his vision. He saw death and destruction at the center of every one of those kingdoms and their pursuit of power and control. But he knew the end of the story. And so do we. Take heart, saints of the Most High.
Written by Andrew Stoddard
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42 thoughts on "Interpretation of the Vision"
Amen
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“In almost any 24-hour period, we ebb and flow between the lows of “now” and the hope and healing of “not yet, but coming!” Kingdoms come and go but the city of God is forever (Revelation)
You can say that again, brother!
(Thank you, HRT!)
Hold on, my sisters!
(Back to us, SRT)
Be not frightened. Be fearless.
We will not be caught in the madness
of this world forever.
See, there, a vision of love.
More than we dreamed it would be.
For some reason, I can not see Today’s commentary. 9/25/26
Hello Spring Dawn
The word is to hop over to He Reads Truth to read the devotional for today. Same author. Same tribute.
Our hope lies in him. Daily we witness and see the world in which we live, we lose hope in it sometimes but my goodness, our hope truly lies in God and His everlasting promises.
Amen
Happy Friday sweeties! I’m SO loving studying Daniel! On the app: Take heart, saints of the Most High -Andrew Stoddard
For some reason in the reading today the word WILL stuck out to me over and over again. It will …..God will ….all will. Claim it sisters.
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I have to say I love the study of Eschatology! God gave us the Bible full of prophecy and how everything would go! I find it fascinating, exciting, and comforting. I started reading books on it back in 2014ish. And to see how things have changed so much in such a short decade is crazy, but makes perfect sense. (the upside down world, what is right is condemned, and what is wrong is celebrated.) When we zoom out the lens of the last 50 years we see how taking God out of our culture.
With all the chaos in the world, even though it troubles me and saddens me, I can rest knowing that it is all in God’s hands and nothing is a surprise. But that doesn’t mean I can just throw my hands up, and even God forbid just go along with the world’s way! No- I must be earnest and willing to share the good news of Jesus- the Gospel!! That time is coming to an end…either you could die at any minute OR JESUS is Coming! And this is a message for Christians as well…are you sharing that message? Are you living for Jesus? Is your OIL in your lamp ready for the Bridegroom?! Or are we living in the world, going about it as Noah is building the boat over there by himself as we go about our day and business? I hope I’m not wasting my time. We must give our account of our life of “what we did with what we knew!” If we know Jesus is the answer for the hurting neighbor, friend, or family member but don’t share that, that is a sin. God is always prompting us to say YES to be used!
Daniel was being used. The Kings loved David. I imagine others that knew him could see he had something different. He stood firm in his belief in his/our God. I love that then God gave him dreams and visions! When I join with God and ASK HIM to give me divine encounters, I have them. When I ask for understanding, He opens my eyes. When I walk with Him daily, I receive strength. When I pray to Him often, I stay encouraged. When I look at the world and the end coming closer, I have peace.
“When I join with God and ASK HIM to give me divine encounters, I have them. When I ask for understanding, He opens my eyes. When I walk with Him daily, I receive strength. When I pray to Him often, I stay encouraged. When I look at the world and the end coming closer, I have peace.”
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Beautiful, Rhonda,
just beautiful! ❤
We are in the palm of our God’s hand, in Christ, with His Spirit within us…we can conquer because He has conquered! We can overcome because He has overcome!
Loved the ending. Take heart, we know the end of the story, saints of the Most High!
To God the Father be all glory, honor, and praise!!
Amen
ANDREW STODDARD- Thank you for this smartly written devo! Amen!
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From John MacArthur NKJV Study Bible:
“Just as the 4 Gentile empires have individuals as kings (cf. 2:38; 7:8; 8:8), so the final kingdom has Christ as King.”
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And He shall reign forever and ever…forever…”!
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SONG SHARE:
Hallelujah Chorus- Handel’s Messiah
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Well when I open this up today, there is no reading. . . Flipped over to HRT to read the text. Anyone else having that issue?
Same! Thankful for He Reads Truth for back up! ❤
Yes! I was able to read it on the He Reads Truth side!
I’m having the same issue – I thought it was my phone, I too went over to HRT for the reading.
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.”
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From HRT: “When all is said and done, when all the kingdoms have conquered and then in turn fallen, when all the histories have finally been written, God’s purposes and love will be perfectly and eternally established and experienced.“
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And that is our comfort in this trials of this life.
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Praying for your requests. Update on the young mama with paralysis. No change and she will be likely be sent home today or Monday with a wheelchair. Pray she would stay encouraged and trust God to work this all out
Prayers for this young woman, Kelly! I just keep prayerfully hoping that the family members who are caring for her son will open their home to her as well.
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Prayed for her earlier this morning. Praying for home health or other community resources as she adapts as well as financial provision and a way to reunite with her son, while still praying for her healing!
This is just so sad for “our” (now) young momma. How she must be at her end with all this and on top be separated from her son! I just pray she will cling to Jesus and know that he sees her and with him he is working all things for our good…that is where the hope is. And that he loves her and will care for her. Tell her how much we all are praying for her.
Praying for her!
Praying for young mama ❤️
Prayers Kelly ❤️
Amen!
Amen!
An everlasting kingdom to be received by the saints of the Most High, forever and ever. Amen and Hallelujah!
Our God is the Most High, no one and nothing is higher than Yahweh, now or ever.
Praying for the lost, that all will come to the knowledge of Christ and accept the gift of salvation He offers. Especially praying for those that reject their need of God’s love and His salvation. A dear friend is in this category, I continue to pray for their heart and mind to be opened, to understand that being a ‘good’ person falls short.
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He Reigns, Newsboys, written by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor.
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It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
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It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
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Let it rise above the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
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It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
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And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
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When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
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B❤️
MERCY ❤️
Praying for requests ❤️
One if my favorite songs- it came to mind recently, too. ❤
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Prayers for your friend to recognize the difference – goodness or godliness.
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Love that song ❤️
Love this! May we know God will prevail even in our most difficult days.
From He reads truth: When all is said and done, when all the kingdoms have conquered and then in turn fallen, when all the histories have finally been written, God’s purposes and love will be perfectly and eternally established and experienced.
Amen! Have a blessed day ladies!
That is exactly the part that jumped out at me this morning, also Tami! So encouraging to remember this when going through difficult times!
Yes God is in control. I have to remind myself that even in this messy probate process, He is in control and can move the chess pieces as He wishes. In speaking with our attorney, the foreclosure notice may be a blessing in disguise because it could be what pushes the court to finally render a decision. So we continue to wait. Thank you for your prayers!
Praying ❤️
You can go to today’s reading on He Reads Truth to get the commentary that is missing.
Thanks!
The text of the devotion is missing from the website this morning, but I am reminded by our readings that God is in control! He is the Alpha and Omega and His kingdom will rule in the end – forever and ever, for which we will be grateful!
Happy Friday Ladies.