The Light That Was Always There

When NASA released the first deep field image from the James Webb Space Telescope in July 2022, astronomers wept. The photograph captured an area of sky no larger than a grain of sand held at arm's length — yet it revealed thousands of galaxies, some whose light had traveled over thirteen billion years to reach the lens. It was the oldest light humanity had ever observed. Reporters called it "looking back to the beginning."

But Daniel saw something older still.

In his night vision, the Ancient of Days took His seat. His garments were white as snow, His hair like pure wool, His throne a blaze of living flame. A river of fire poured forth before Him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending Him, and the books were opened.

The Webb telescope can peer back toward the edge of the observable universe, but it cannot see beyond creation itself. Daniel's vision does. He glimpsed the One who was there before the first photon flickered into existence — the Almighty, whose reign predates every galaxy that telescope has ever captured.

And then, approaching on the clouds of heaven: one like a Son of Man, receiving dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

The Webb reminds us how vast the cosmos is. Daniel reminds us that the One who holds it all has a face — and that face is turned toward us.