Time isn’t linear
Good morning. I assume you have already read today’s verses—Daniel 7–9—your head must be swirling. There is so much I could write to you about, but it is difficult to even find a starting point.

One question I often get from non-believers is why we think there is a God who can see across all time dimensions. Christians say God knew us before creating the world; they scoff and wonder how that is possible. They are performing the grossest kind of idolatry. The non-believers are creating a god in their image—one who is bound by the constructs that bind them.

Daniel answers that question for us in the verses we read today. In a dream, he saw the rise and fall of many kings and kingdoms (Daniel 7:1, 15–16). God shows him four great kingdoms in his vision.
The four beasts
The Babylonians, who were in control, are the lion with the eagle’s wings (Daniel 7:4). They were majestic like a lion and devastating, but moved swiftly, overcoming many nations in their path. Their reign was from 626 to 539 BCE.(1)

Then he sees a bear. This would be the Medo-Persian Empire that was about to replace the Babylonians (Daniel 7:5). It was strong enough to conquer Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia. These are the three ribs in its mouth. This was an unbalanced alliance between Media and Persia, which is why the bear is lopsided. They would be the dominant world power from 539 to 331 BCE.(2)

Then Alexander the Great would turn Greece into the major power from 331 to 168 BCE. He moved like a leopard with wings—fast and agile (Daniel 7:6). But Alexander’s death would cause them to split into four parts (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy). This was the third beast Daniel was shown.(3)

The terrifying beast followed it with iron teeth and ten horns (Daniel 7:7–8). Horns represented authority and power (cf. Deuteronomy 33:17; Psalm 18:2; Daniel 7:24). This was the rise of the Roman Empire, which had yet to exist in Daniel’s day. The Roman Empire split itself into ten divisions, using new and gruesome forms of punishment and torture. The founders of the United States got the idea of separate houses and branches of government from the Romans. Although the ancient Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD, the foundations exist to this day. Christ will replace this when He returns (Daniel 7:9–14, 26–27).

When we see this vivid vision of Daniel’s, we can realize God does not see time linearly like we do. I know only what has happened before today, and what is on the schedule. Schedules change because things never work out the way we hope they will.
Plans that unravel
My wife has a truck that has expired plates. Several months ago it was not running, so we had it worked on. We replaced a bunch of sensors, a battery, and some wiring, but it still throws a check engine code. This will prevent it from passing emissions testing, so until we can get another mechanic to resolve that issue, it sits on the side of our house. Frequently the plan was: pick it up from the mechanic shop, take it to the DMV, and get the new tags. But each time I got in first thing in the morning to test it, the light would come back on.

These things can disrupt our plans. We have always said, “If you want to make God laugh, show Him your plans.” He has a plan that is much grander than anything we could imagine. He has had this plan since before the first moment of creation. That plan has not, and will not, change (cf. Isaiah 46:9–10; Ephesians 1:4).
Victory is already written
Therefore, we can trust in Him. He already knows how the game is going to go. It may seem like the enemy is leading heading into the fourth quarter, but He is not worried. He knows we win (Daniel 7:13–14, 27).

You can share in that victory by joining His team. Trusting in Christ allows you to become part of the solution. Another thing I have always taught people is, “Don’t be part of the problem—be part of the solution.” The solution is replacing our sinful nature with the holiness of Jesus Christ so that our presence in heaven will not defile it. If we were to enter as we are, the place would be as corrupt as our world. This would not be a place you would want to be for eternity.

To remove the stench of our sins, we all need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14; 1 John 1:7). Choose today to be on the right team. In this game, there are no spectators. You are on the losing team or the victorious one. Just remember, dead people don’t decide. While you still can, choose Christ (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Tomorrow, we will read Daniel 10–12.
Footnotes

John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), 151–156; Edward J. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1949), 146–150.

John E. Goldingay, Daniel, Word Biblical Commentary 30 (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1989), 167–172; Joyce G. Baldwin, Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1978), 150–152.

Tremper Longman III, Daniel, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 184–188; “Diadochi,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, accessed September 2025.

Walvoord, Daniel, 173–182; Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 1 (London: Strahan & Cadell, 1776), 1–30; note on horns as kings: Daniel 7:24.