change, and the Body gathers. Then comes review before Christ. Meanwhile, the world below moves toward the judgments connected with the beast, the nations, and Israel’s prophetic timetable. So yes, there is fire. But rightly divided, the fires differ in purpose and audience. The Church is not appointed to wrath, but the Church will answer for service. The beast faces the throne of fire, but the believer faces the Lord who bought him.
Chapter Seven: The Throne Leads to the Kingdom of the Son of Man
Daniel 7 does not end with the beast winning. It ends with the kingdom being given to the Son of man and the saints of the most High. That is the end of Gentile arrogance. That is the ruin of human empire. That is the death of the beast system. That is the public triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ over the kingdoms of this world. The Stone cut out without hands smites the image. The Son of man receives the kingdom. The King reigns.
This is why Bible prophecy is not pessimism. It is realism with a crown at the end. The Bible believer sees the world getting darker, but he does not think darkness wins. He sees antichrist spirit working, but he does not think the devil wins. He sees apostasy, confusion, and corruption, but he does not think God lost control. The throne is set. The books will open. The beast will be destroyed. The Son of man will reign. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.
The rapture is the Church’s blessed hope before that kingdom judgment unfolds. The Church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air, then returns with Christ when He comes in power and glory. Colossians 3:4 says, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” The Bride goes up before wrath and comes back with the Bridegroom in glory. The throne of fire prepares the world for the kingdom. The rapture prepares the Church to be with the King.
Conclusion
Daniel 7:9-10 gives a magnificent and terrifying vision: thrones are set, the Ancient of days sits, His throne burns like fiery flame, a fiery stream comes forth, thousands minister unto Him, ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him, the judgment is set, and the books are opened. That is the courtroom of Heaven. That is divine authority. That is the end of man’s boasting. That is the place where the beast’s blasphemy meets the fire of God.
The rapture is the Church’s gathering before the great fire of judgment opens on the earth. The Church is not Israel. Daniel is not Paul. The beast’s judgment is not the judgment seat of Christ. But rightly divided, the passages harmonize: the Body of Christ is caught up before wrath, Heaven’s throne governs the judgments, and the world’s proud system faces the Ancient of days. The saints in Christ are not waiting for the beast to purify them. They are waiting for the Saviour to call them upward.
So look past the noise of the kingdoms and see the throne. Look past the boasting of the beast system and see the books. Look past the trembling earth and see the Lord in Heaven. The throne of fire is coming for the world, but the shout is coming for the Church. The Ancient of days will sit, the judgment will open, the beast will fall, and the King will reign. And before the fire of wrath sweeps through the final empire of man, the Body of Christ will be gathered to the Lord in the air.