“Daniel said, ‘In my vision at night, I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heavens churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.’”
Daniel 7:2-3
Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7, set against the backdrop of ancient empires, speaks profoundly to our current global climate marked by uncertainty and fear. The vision of the four beasts emerging from the sea is a metaphor for the rise and fall of great powers and the inevitable chaos that accompanies human governance.
Each beast in the vision—representing different empires through history—carries with it lessons on the impermanence of power and the problems of pride and corruption. As young believers today, witnessing a world beset by conflicts and crises, we are reminded that no earthly kingdom can offer true and lasting peace or justice.
Yet, Daniel’s vision doesn’t leave us in despair. It points forward to a “fifth kingdom,” one not made by human hands but established by the Ancient of Days. This eternal kingdom, brought forth by God Himself, promises justice, peace, and stability that the world’s greatest empires could never achieve.
This divine kingdom is not just a future hope but a present reality to embrace. As followers of Christ, we are invited to live out the values of this kingdom here and now. By embodying justice, peace, and compassion in our communities, we participate in unfolding God’s kingdom on earth while we await its full realization.
So, let’s encourage one another not to be overwhelmed by the world’s chaos.
Instead, let’s actively create pockets of God’s kingdom in our daily interactions and communities, knowing that each act of kindness and justice is a foretaste of what is to come when Christ returns to reign supremely.
Tomorrow, we’ll see even more of God’s glory revealed. Watch for it!
Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
DIG DEEPER
Read “To Have the Courage of Daniel” also by Bryant Wright