It Is What It Isn’t Yet

The trippy visions of Daniel 7 are meant to comfort and encourage believers that God is actively ruling the world, no matter which terrifying or wicked forces may be at work in it. The vision also introduces the enigmatic figure of the Son of Man who receives dominion from God (the Ancient of Days), and then shares that dominion with the “saints” who trust him. Centuries later, Jesus claimed this title, using it almost exclusively when referring to himself. Because of his death and resurrection, those who trust him today are the saints who share his dominion partially now, and will fully share it in the future. Instead of cynically accepting that “it is what it is,” Christians rightly know that it is what it isn’t yet.