Finding Hope in a World of Empire: The Good News in Daniel 7

Kingdoms will come and go. Empires will rise and fall. But God is sovereign over all. In the end, there is nothing that can stop the Kingdom of God from crushing and dominating all earthly kingdoms. And that is good news for God’s people in exile - both in Daniel’s day, and today.

In this episode of How to Study the Bible, Nicole Unice dives into the visually stunning and deeply theological chapter of Daniel 7, where Daniel’s dream of the four beasts reveals the rise and fall of earthly empires—and the unshakable rule of the Ancient of Days. Nicole explains how this vision parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel 2 and points ahead to Jesus as the Son of Man, whose eternal kingdom will never be destroyed.

Listeners will learn how to approach prophetic literature, understand historical context, and anchor their faith in the sovereignty of God—even when the world feels chaotic. Nicole also highlights what it means to live faithfully “in exile,” seeking the good of our communities while keeping hope fixed on Christ’s everlasting reign.

Main Takeaways / Learning Points

• God’s sovereignty is the story behind every story. Empires rise and fall, but God’s kingdom endures forever.

• Prophetic visions are meant to encourage, not confuse. Daniel’s dream reassured exiles that God was still on the throne.

• Be faithful in exile. Like Daniel’s people, Christians today live as “foreigners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), called to pray for and bless their cities (Jeremiah 29).

• Jesus is the Son of Man. The vision in Daniel 7:13–14 directly foreshadows Christ’s eternal authority and glory.

• Hope wins. However dark the times or powerful the empires, evil does not get the last word—God’s justice and peace prevail.

Next Steps:

• Get the free Daniel Study Guide: Daily 15-minute readings, reflection prompts, and prayer to help you engage Scripture all week. (Find it at NicoleUnice.com/daniel.)
• Subscribe & Review: If this helped you, follow the show and leave a quick review so others can find the podcast.
• Share the episode with a friend or small group studying Daniel.
• Study Bible Recommendation: Use trusted commentaries and study notes to help unpack prophetic imagery (Daniel 7 parallels Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4–5).
• Watch the bonus segment on YouTube ("What Is Dispensationalism?"): Join the conversation and get the extra content! https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

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