This section of the book of Daniel is quite an unusual read. It is almost as if Daniel sees behind the scenery of the stage of this world and is shown what is going on in the spiritual world which determines what happens on the stage. He makes a link with the book of the prophet Jeremiah, and refers to Gabriel (who appears in the Christmas story) and to Michael (who appears in the Book of Revelation), which might just help us to see this is not absolutely beyond our understanding, but stands in the flow of Scripture that says the King of kings is coming, and his kingdom lasts for ever, no matter what the political scenery of the world looks like in any particular Act.

The Revd. David Hildred