The Sovereign King and the Eternal Kingdom

Daniel Series #7

Daniel 7

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: 2 I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5 Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks in its mouth among its teeth, and was told, “Arise, devour many bodies!” 6 After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads, and dominion was given to it.7 After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns when another horn appeared, a little one that came up among them. Three of the original horns were plucked up from before it. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn and a mouth speaking arrogantly. 9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. 14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 16 I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:17 “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.” 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and before which three others had fallen—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly and that seemed greater than the others. 21 As I looked, that horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them, 22 until the Ancient One came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom. 23 This is what he said: “As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth that shall be different from all the other kingdoms; it shall devour the whole earth and trample it down and break it to pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. This one shall be different from the former ones and shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the ritual calendar and the law, and they shall be given into his power for a time, two times, and half a time. 26 Then the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and totally destroyed. 27 The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.” 28 Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter in my mind.

Introduction:

Daniel 7 stands as a profound testimony to God's sovereignty over the affairs of nations, a truth held dear in the Reformed tradition. Here, after years of exile, Daniel is granted a vision not to satisfy curiosity, but to reinforce the bedrock conviction that the Lord ordains every kingdom’s rise and fall. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches, “All things, in fact, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand” (Q&A 27).

Throughout redemptive history, God has often disclosed His purposes by means of dreams and visions—Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28), Joseph’s sheaves and stars (Genesis 37), and Nebuchadnezzar’s multi-metallic statue (Daniel 2). Each dream reiterates, in different forms, the same unassailable reality: God governs the destinies of individuals and empires alike. In Daniel’s vision, the shifting imagery—from the beasts of Daniel 7 to the statue of Daniel 2—highlights both the diversity and depravity of world powers, yet also their utter subservience to the divine will.

From a Reformed perspective, we see that these visions are not intended to predict the details of history, but to strengthen faith in God’s providence. Calvin wrote, “God so regulates all events that nothing happens except by His counsel and will,” (Calvin, 1960) pointing us, as Daniel’s dream does, away from the seeming chaos of earthly kingdoms and toward the unshakeable throne of God, the Ancient of Days. Here we see the familiar lesson in a new perspective.

I. The Vision of the Four Beasts (Daniel 7:1-8)

Daniel begins by recounting a vivid dream: four fantastic beasts rising from the sea, each different and ferocious. Like the Statue dream in chapter 2, these beasts symbolize successive kingdoms—empire after empire—that dominate the earth. Their ferocity and diversity highlight the corrupt and idolatrous nature of human governments, which are driven by sin and rebellion against God.

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a magnificent statue composed of various metals that is ultimately shattered by a stone “cut without human hands,” symbolizing the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. Daniel 7 echoes this structure but shifts the perspective from the outward splendor of world empires to their true character: instead of metals, Daniel sees the four bizarre beasts emerging from the sea. While Daniel 2 presents the kingdoms as impressive and glorious in the eyes of humanity, Daniel 7 reveals them as ferocious and chaotic from God’s vantage point, emphasizing how God sees them in their moral corruption and instability.

Both chapters conclude with the same hope: all human kingdoms are temporary, and God will establish an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed. By reading these visions together, we see a holistic picture—God is sovereign over history, and no matter how imposing earthly powers may appear, His kingdom alone stands forever.

Reformed believers acknowledge that God's providential rule governs the course of history. These kingdoms, while powerful, are limited and transient. They serve God's purposes, whether they are aware of it or not. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." No matter how mighty these kingdoms appear, they are accountable to the Sovereign Lord.

In our own lives, we see worldly powers rising and falling, yet we are assured that God's sovereignty remains unshaken. Our hope is rooted not in earthly kingdoms but in the unchanging reign of Christ.

II. The Judgment of the Beasts (Daniel 7:9-12)

Next, Daniel describes a scene of divine judgment. The Ancient of Days, God, sits on a throne—His clothing is white as snow. His throne of fiery flames has wheels of fire, evoking imagery from Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:15-21). The judgment is set, and the beast, the scary one, with the little horn, that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogantly, was destroyed.

God is not only sovereign but also just. His justice will judge every injustice committed by earthly rulers. As Revelation 20:11 declares, " Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them." We can trust that God's justice will ultimately prevail. No matter how evil or powerful a kingdom may seem now, it will not escape God's righteous judgment. Knowing that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, does this motivate you to live faithfully? God wants His people to know this, and to ensure their understanding, He gives Daniel a preview of what is to come. God shows us a visual representation of what He showed John in Revelation (Revelation 1:7).

III. The Son of Man and His Kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14)

In the midst of this celestial judgment, Daniel beholds One like a Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days. To Him, the Sovereign Lord graciously bestows dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom—a realm that shall never pass away. From a Reformed perspective, this Son of Man is Christ Himself, the Mediator of the covenant, who receives all authority from the Father. The New Testament confirms this, as Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man who fulfills Daniel’s prophecy (Mark 14:62), establishing His reign not by worldly might, but by His atoning work and sovereign grace.

Christ’s kingdom is both already present and not yet fully consummated; it is spiritual, unshakeable, and governed by His Word and Spirit. All earthly powers, no matter how formidable, are subject to God’s providential rule and are mere instruments to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The certainty of Christ’s reign is an anchor for the saints, assuring us that, despite temporal chaos, Christ is enthroned, and His kingdom endures forever. In this vision, we are again reminded that God, who alone is sovereign, has given all things into the hands of His Son, who will one day return to perfect His kingdom and judge the living and the dead.

(Fun Trivia Fact: Daniel 7 is thought to take place in the year 553, the first year of King Belshazzar, 553 years before Jesus was born, and 643 years before John wrote Revelation. The same event in two dreams, about a man who wasn’t born when it was first revealed and who was raised from the dead when the second was revealed. Something for those who say that the Old and New Testaments have nothing practical in common theologically.)

IV. The Saints and the Everlasting Kingdom (Daniel 7:15-28)

Daniel then sees that the saints—those who belong to God—are given dominion and participate in this everlasting kingdom. Despite opposition from worldly powers, God's people are secure in Christ’s reign.

Reformed theology emphasizes that the saints' participation in Christ’s kingdom is through union with Him by faith. Our perseverance is rooted in God's election and grace. As 1 Peter 1:5 assures us, we are "being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." It is more than a coincidence that Jesus and Peter quote Daniel. As believers, we are called to remain faithful, trusting that God's promises are sure. There is no denying that we face opposition and trials, but our hope rests in the certainty of Christ’s victory and the promise of eternal life found at the foot of the cross.

V. Why the Unshakable Reign of Christ Matters for God’s People

At the heart of Daniel’s dream lies the triumphant truth of Christ’s unquestionable sovereignty and the everlasting nature of His kingdom. We see the empires of the world as they truly are, not as the world sees them, and certainly not as they see themselves. (Remember, every great army believes that God is on their side.) The kingdoms of this world, no matter how formidable, are passing shadows subject to the sovereign will of the Ancient of Days.

This is no mere abstraction: the Bible teaches us that God’s providence governs all things, great and small. The certainty of Christ’s reign is a cornerstone of our hope. All Christian preachers, Bible teachers, Sunday school teachers, and theologians from all walks of life strive to convey that from eternity past, God has ordained the coming of His Son, who now reigns at His right hand and will one day bring all things to a consummation. Just as the teachings of the Bible are unchanging, though our interpretations may vary, our assurance rests in God’s unchanging purpose—He is not surprised by the shifting tides of history, nor is His kingdom ever at risk. The end will always be the same; Christ will come and judge the quick and the dead.

VI. Pastoral Comfort and Encouragement

This has been our enduring comfort from the beginning, even before Christ was born. The kingdom of God offers both comfort and courage to believers facing trials, persecution, or discouragement throughout history. This world of sin is marked by instability and injustice; Our theology, what we find when we study God’s word, calls us to anchor our confidence in the eternal reign of our Lord. All earthly rulers are subject to Christ, and nothing can separate God’s people from His sovereign love. This is the good news.

For the saints, our participation in this kingdom is secured by God’s grace alone, through union with Christ. We persevere not by our strength, but because God preserves His elect. Our perseverance through suffering and temptation is grounded in His faithfulness. The promise that the saints “will possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18) sustains us with real hope. This is the good news.

As believing, practicing Christians, the call summons us to live as citizens of the unshakable kingdom—bearing witness to Christ’s lordship in every sphere of life, to everyone we meet. We are called to faithful obedience, gospel proclamation, and patient endurance. Our hope is not set on worldly systems or fleeting power, but on the sure foundation of Christ’s reign. This is the good news.

We do this through humility and gratitude. Since all that we have is by God’s grace, we respond by worshipping the Sovereign King and longing for His return, when He will make all things new and establish perfect justice. This is what we sing about when we sing so many of the great church hymns. This is the good news.

Finally, this Dream of Daniel is just one of many lessons God sends us to encourage us to lift our eyes from the chaos of earth to the glory of His eternal kingdom. It assures us that our perseverance, our hope, and our inheritance are secure—not because of our merit, but because of Christ’s victory and God’s unbreakable covenant. This is the good news.

As we await the consummation of all things, let us rejoice and rest in the truth that “the Lord is King; let the earth rejoice” (Psalm 97:1). In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

Book of Confessions, Study Edition [Revised] [Book] / auth. OGA PC(USA). - Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017. - Kindle Edition: p. 76. - Part 1 of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion [Book] / auth. Calvin John/ed. McNeill, John T. / trans. Battles Ford Lewis. - Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960. - Vol. I: II: pp.197-237.

Daniel / auth. Creasy, Dr. Bill. - [s.l.] : Logos Bible Study, 2011. - Second Edition. - Audible Lecture.

NRSVue // Holy Bible w/ With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.. - Washington, D.C.: Zondervan, 2021. - Vol. Updated Edition. - National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

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