November 19th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Judgement before the Ancient One

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.
A stream of fire issued
   and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousand served him,
   and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgement,
   and the books were opened. 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.
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.

Reflection
"That great mansion beyond was for Duke Ellington." This was a description of Duke's place in heaven as part of a joke last night that I heard at a Jazz Concert at church. It was wonderful music and a great time. This thought brings us to think about heaven and the glory and wonder of it all.

Today's passage brings us in a vision to the throne of God. Placed before God on his throne, prepared for the judgment. We are taken to the scene surrounded by the clouds where one in the likeness of humans comes and is taken to the throne before the "Ancient of Days."

I love the vision but... what? One could take this several directions in meaning. As you can see a few verses were skipped from above. A couple interpretations takes the meaning to be involved with kingdoms of that day in Daniels time, sort of. The kingdoms involved are up for debate according to differing scholars. Another interpretation takes you to just four kingdoms of mankind, followed by kingdoms that come after them, and then followed by another period of time with a different kingdom of governments.

This last kingdom is given to the Son of man. A person of divine origin that is eternal. I like this thought. In the end we see Jesus as he referred to himself... "The Son of man." I may not be able to understand those verses left out of the passage above, but I can place all of my faith, hope and love in Jesus my Savior and Lord. What a wonderful vision given to Daniel. What a wonderful hope and Truth given to all people! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you speak to us in so many ways. I heard your Word in music, sacrament, calling, the word spoken, prayer, sacrament and now in visions. You present yourself to us in ways that we have come to appreciate and love. As we are called out into the world this day, whisper into our ears what you would have us do... shout if you need to... that we may please you and bring glory to your name... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen