Daniel’s Prophecies
Daniel 7-12
June 14th, 2026
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Prophecy passages are often some of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture to understand. As verses are filled with mysterious visions and future descriptions, we might be challenged to determine what the symbols represent and how we should think about them in relation to the past, present, and future. And while specific interpretations for prophecies can be disputed, the point of prophecy in Scripture is clear—God is in absolute control of everything—past, present, and future.
Daniel’s prophecies, in particular, are interesting because they contain such detailed descriptions of the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms. Strange apocalyptic visions are mixed with real-world historical prophecies to form a complex understanding of God’s power over the present and His plan for the future. God uses prophecy literature to remind us that even though we don't know the future, He does.
These chapters in Daniel remind us that God is completely sovereign over human affairs and governments. Daniel sees visions that represent great kingdoms of the world. All of them pale in comparison, however, to the greatness of the kingdom that God will establish and that the Son of Man will rule over. God’s reign is not temporary or limited. Daniel reminds us that we can trust God—who controls all of history—with whatever may be happening in our own lives.
Additionally, Daniel 10 points to the reality of spiritual warfare. An angel revealed that Daniel’s prayer had been heard, but that a delay had happened in the spiritual realm. If we are honest, most of us live without a thought about the spiritual battles happening around us. The delay of the angel showed that the battle in the spiritual realm was intense and real. And while the battle may rage, even the most powerful forces of the spiritual world offer no real opposition to the will and power of God. Even when answers seem distant or delayed, God is working in ways we may never be able to comprehend to bring about His good plan.
Encourage kids to remember the Ancient of Days, who is ruling over every part of their lives for His glory and the good of His people. Point them to the King of kings whose kingdom will never end.
***Next Week: God Brought His People Home (Ezra 1-3)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Daniel 7-12 from the Bible.
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Did you know that you have multiple dreams every night? You just can’t remember most of them. Dreams happen during REM sleep, which stands for Rapid Eye Movement. In this stage of the sleep cycle, the brain becomes highly active and processes information as if you were awake—even though you’re fast asleep!
Daniel had some interesting dreams! Most of his dreams didn’t make sense to him, but an angel helped Daniel understand the messages God was giving to him. God was showing Daniel a vision of His great power and His plans for the future. God wanted Daniel to see that no earthly kingdom could ever be more powerful than God and His Kingdom.
In our lives, we may fear those who have more power than us, or we may want to have more power for ourselves. But God’s message is still true: God is more powerful than anyone and anything! If you think something could be greater than God, then you’re just dreaming! We can trust God and worship Him because He is Ruler over all things.
Daniel’s visions pointed to the truth that God is more powerful than all earthly kingdoms. Jesus, the Son of Man, rules over the kings of the earth, and His kingdom will never end. One day, all who trust in Him will be with God forever.
Pray: Heavenly Father, You are the ruler over all kingdoms and nations. Though earthly powers may rise and fall, we trust in Your eternal and righteous kingdom. Help us trust in Jesus and put our faith in Him so we can be part of Your kingdom. Amen.
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Preschool:
“Do everything for the glory of God”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB)
1st-5th:
”So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIRV) -
Mornings
Pray for the leaders and officials of your local, state, or federal government. Ask God to give them wisdom to lead people well. Pray they would know Jesus and believe in Him as the perfectly righteous King.
Evenings
Pray for the good news of Jesus to spread to all nations. Ask God to raise up and send out missionaries who will tell people about Jesus. Thank God for loving the whole world enough to save everyone who trusts in Jesus.
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For Fun
Make a list of the visions Daniel saw in Daniel 7. Play a game of charades as a family where one family member acts out a vision—such as the lion with eagle’s wings or the terrifying fourth beast—while the others guess. After the game, discuss how Daniel’s visions pointed to God’s power and sovereignty.
To Serve
Choose a country for your family to learn about and pray for this week. If your church has global missionary partners, consider learning about the nation where they serve. Take time to pray for the nations, for those facing hardship, and for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Remind kids that God is sovereign over every nation and His kingdom is greater than any earthly kingdom.