When are things going to get better? When will good triumph over evil? People have been asking that question for thousands of years. When the Jewish people were being persecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes and the survival of their culture and religion was in doubt, the vision in Daniel gave them hope. It is symbolic - all of the weird animals signified earthly powers and kingdoms. The point of the vision: even though these forces seemed overwhelming and all-powerful, they were not. Their time was limited; in the end, they would be defeated and God would reign victorious on the earth. So have hope, courage, and perseverance - God will win in the end!

Jesus had a similar message in reply to questions about the end-time: look around you and read the signs of the times. Look for signs of newness and change for the present order is passing away. Nothing is permanent; everything changes and passes on - except the words of the Lord! These we can cling to but nothing else. Our world is changing rapidly and there is great uncertainty and fear. So many things that belong to the old order are passing from the scene and a new world is struggling to be born. This is a time that calls for great faith and great fidelity to the words of the Lord. God will never let us down; God is eternal and so is His kingdom.