The Third Sunday of Easter (OTA)

Daniel 7:9-14
9 “As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, 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 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Da 7:9–14). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Daniel sees the vision of the Son of Man coming. He defeats the beasts. He claims his dominion from all the Kingdoms and peoples and nations of the Earth. The message of the Ancient of Days has spread to all corners of the Earth. In Daniel's vision he sees thousands and ten thousands of people who stand before the Judgment seat.

He pictures the Day of Judgment, when all people will have to give an account to what is written. The people of God stand in a great multitude before the Ancient of Days. Others standing before God are consumed by fire including the Great Beast. All unbelievers will parish in the second death. They will die eternally in hell and torment forever.

But what does this matter for believers? Why should we concern ourselves with Daniel's Vision of the Ancient of Days? He will come and rule all the nations. He will establish his great Kingdom that will never be destroyed. This Kingdom is not like other Kingdoms or nations. This Kingdom is of God, established by God's Forgiveness and Witness.

Jesus Christ has given a testimony to his disciples. This same testimony we pass on to others. As this testimony spreads to the Nations, the Kingdom of God spreads to the ends of the Earth. Let us Go and bear witness to what we have seen and heard. Daniel has seen and Heard and so he testifies.