A Celestial Vision

"If they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,' if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive. and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them ... Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant ..." (1 Kings 8:46-53).

God's people did sin and they were carried away captive to the land of the enemy. But there was a man who, in the land of his captors, repented and pleaded with God. Even after a document had been signed that condemned anyone who prayed to anyone but the king he still went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber opened toward Jerusalem, got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God. He knelt facing Jerusalem but his prayers were directed to the Ancient of Days who is seated in the heavens.

Even before Daniel's faith was challenged by the lion's den God had rewarded his faithfulness by giving him a celestial vision. In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw the Ancient of Days take his seat in the heavens. "His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousands stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:9,10). Daniel had been shown that there was to be a day of judgment. He had no fear of earthly kingdoms; he lived his life with an eternal perspective.

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13,14).

Today I hear the nations raging. My heart is broken by the captivity of sin that I see all around me and so I bend my knees and open the windows of heaven and pray. Three times a day I open the eyes of my spirit and I see Him. He is seated on the throne. He is beautiful with the appearance of precious jewels, and around the throne is a rainbow. From the throne comes flashes of lightning, and rumbles and peals of thunder. Yet, as I listen my heart and soul are filled with peace. Three times a day to behold His glory: three times a day to bathe my mind, spirit and soul with the celestial vision. Three times a day to bring my petitions before the throne of my Father. Three times a day to rise from my knees filled with gratitude and heavenly peace.