Text: Daniel 7:15-28

Dear Young People,

ASTUTE POWERS OF OBSERVATION
Daniel must have been greatly intrigued by what he heard from the angel. He had told him about the kingdoms that would arise in the future. One of the kingdoms that fascinated Daniel was the fourth beast. The reason why he was interested was given as follows:-

"Then I wished to know the truth
about the fourth beast, which was different
from all the others, exceedingly dreadful,
with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze,
which devoured, broke in pieces,
and trampled the residue with its feet;
and the ten horns that were on its head,
and the other horn which came up,
before which three fell, namely,
that horn which had eyes and a mouth
which spoke pompous words,
whose appearance was greater than his fellows."
Daniel 7:19-20

Daniel was a very keen learner. Whatever he had been taught, he paid close attention. Whatever he had seen in his vision, he noted most carefully, and then asked questions from the angel of the Lord who was his teacher.

We need to be challenged to cultivate this good habit too. Let us train our powers of observation. When we have trained our powers of observation sufficiently, we would find that our spiritual understanding deepens significantly too. The angel of the Lord may explain things to Daniel, but he still has to be responsible for the development of his powers of observation.

A TRULY SHARP SCHOLAR
Daniel showed his sharp powers of observation when He went one step further to ask for assistance to understand the kingdom that would arise from the fourth kingdom.

"I was watching (observing intently);
and the same horn was making war with the saints,
and prevailing against them,
until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment
was made in favour of the saints of the Most High,
and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom."
Daniel 7:21-22

Daniel knew that there would be four kingdoms. All kingdoms are by nature powerful, otherwise they would not be able to conquer and overcome resistance. However, the fourth kingdom appeared immensely more powerful.

But there was more. There was something peculiar about the fourth kingdom. While the other three kingdoms fell, never to rise again, there appeared to be an even more powerful kingdom arising from the midst of the fourth kingdom!

It was not uncommon to note that a kingdom would rise to great heights, and then to decline and fall to the dust. All great kingdoms appear to have gone that way. All four kingdoms have come and gone that way, haven't they? The Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans have all disappeared from the face of the earth.

But what about the kingdom of the little horn that rose up and made war with the saints of the Most High? Daniel wanted to know more about this prophetic word. We need to know more about this kingdom too. This kingdom has yet to be set up. It is yet future. Let's pray about deepening our interest in the Lord's Word.

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 23rd December 2001, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore