COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-10
The Ancient of Days takes his seat on the throne of judgment. Today's lesson is apocalyptic literature written at a time of persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes IV around 165 B.C. Chapter 7 tells of four beasts representing the Persian, Medean, Greek and Syrian empires. The most terrible beast is the last which led to the writing of Daniel and the Maccabbean revolt. Our pericope interrupts the account of the fourth beast. It consists of a vision of a heavenly court of judgment upon the reign of Antiochus. The passage in symbolic language emphasizes the power, glory and judgment of God who will conquer this fourth beast.

Epistle: Hebrews 13:20-21
A prayer that God may equip his people with good that they may do his will. This passage is often used as …