9 “Thrones were set up while
I was watching, and the Eternal God took his place.
His
clothing and his hair were white as snow. His throne was a blazing fire with
fiery wheels,
10 and flames were
dashing out from all around him. Countless thousands were standing there
to serve him. The time of judgment began, and
the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10 CEV
Have you ever been afraid of God’s judgment?
Taking a leaf from local versions of today were it is anticipated
that there will be a great screen where each individual’s actions will be laid
bare before the world to see.
Ellen White noted “Every
man's work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or
unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with
terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty,
and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling.” The Great
Controversy, Page 482
The human race tends to view God’s judgment from the negative
point of view. This should not be the case for any well vast Christian. He / She
should know and understand that God’s will in all its composition as Holy,
just, and for pure good purpose unto us (humans) as presented in His Word.
Wikipedia defines the name Daniel as a masculine given name
and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means, "God is my judge". Which
can be taken as the book’s adage whereby after each trial or difficulty faced
by the Quartet (Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego): where we find God always comes through for them,
vindicating them. (Pronouncing judgment on their enemies).
The book of Daniel sets
the stage for different scenes where judgement can be perceived to be
pronounced.
3“One day
the king ordered Ashpenaz, his highest palace official, to choose some young
men from the royal family of Judah and from other leading Jewish families. 4 The king
said, “They must be healthy, handsome, smart, wise, educated, and fit to serve
in the royal palace. Teach them how to speak and write our language 5 and give
them the same food and wine that I am served. Train them for three years, and
then they can become court officials.”
6 Four of
the young Jews chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all from the
tribe of Judah. 7 But the
king’s chief official gave them Babylonian names: Daniel became Belteshazzar,
Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.” Daniel 1:3-7
The stage was set for a conflict of ideologies of health and
education. As one reads on to verses 8 to 21 we see how these young men stood
firm for what they considered right and were finally vindicated before the King
of Babylon.
God’s judgment becomes apparent with King Nebuchadnezzar and
his son King Belshazzar. Taking an example of the scene in Daniel 5 where King
Belshazzar on calling a party defiled the gold and silver cups his father had
set aside for the Almighty God. His judgment is set in verse 5 which played out
as prophesied by Daniel.
Divine’s providence has always been the determinant of the
final outcome of our world’s and God’s children. Through His judgment the last
word is always God’s word.
God is our final judge of our actions, and through His word we
know that His nature is one of Mercy hence we should not fear that final judgment
but look forward to it hopefully.
References
But
there is a God in Heaven (2015) by
Carlos Puyol Buil- pg 10
The
Great Controversy, Page
482 - https://text.egwwritings.org/publication.php?pubtype=Book&bookCode=GC&lang=en&pagenumber=482
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel
Contemporary
English Version (CEV) Bible
