DANIEL 7:1-3 : In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the see, each different from the other.”
The following statements are taken from official documents, newspapers and magazines widely read during their day. Listen to what the “authorities” had to say: “Anyone traveling at the speed of thirty miles per hour would surely suffocate” (1840).
“Electric lights are unworthy of serious attention” (1878). “No possible combination can be united into a practical machine by which men shall fly” (1901).
“This foolish idea of shooting at the moon is basically impossible” (1926). “To harness the energy locked up in matter is impossible” (1930).
It’s obvious that the accuracy of all these “prophecies” left something to be desired. They were all based on human wisdom, and every one of them turned out to be false.
Yet the prophecies Daniel shared were quite different. As he foresaw the rise of these four great beasts, which represent four earthly kingdoms, he was not drawing from his own knowledge and wisdom. Instead, he was relating a vision that was given to him directly from God.
While people may disagree as to which kingdoms these beasts represent, the rock-solid assurance we have is that God is still in control.
After describing these frightening apparitions, Daniel proceeded to describe a scene in heaven in which “the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his [the fourth and last beast’s] dominion” (v, 26).
If you are frightened by the future, take confidence in this: God is still on His throne and He always will be. The courts of heaven are in session and they will rule in our favor (v. 27). That’s something you can bank on.
FEAR GOD AND YOU DON’T NEED TO FEAR THE FUTURE.