Introduction: REM, It’s The End Of The World
Do you remember the band from the 1980’s, REM? I do. They had a song called “It’s The End Of The World” and it goes on to say, “and I feel fine.” Tragically, for many people when the end of the world comes they won’t feel fine. This is not just a pastor overstating something for dramatic effect, it is the sobering truth.
Read passage: Daniel 7
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
There are 4 beasts which represent different empires and rulers
The four empires, in chronological order:
Babylon: Having it’s wings torn off is most likely a reference to when King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled because of his great pride.
Medo-Persia: Being raised up on one side is most likely a reference to the fact that the Persians were more powerful than the Medes.
Greece: Their speed of attack was like a leopard, they had no rival. The four heads pointed to the fact that Greece’s Empire would be divided under 4 different leaders.
Rome: The fourth kingdom. The ten heads are leaders that would appear in the future. The eleventh head is a reference to the Antichrist.
Daniel’s response is that he was greatly troubled by all that God revealed to him.
The Ancient of Days takes his seat
Verses 9-10 mentions one of my favorite names for God, the Ancient of Days. This is a reference to God the Father.
His clothing was white like snow communicates his holiness.
His throne of flaming fire, and a river of fire flowing from his presence speaks of the fact that he will bring judgment. A topic that many churches fail to speak of, but nonetheless it is a part of the Word of God.
Books were opened. In Revelation 20:15 we learn that this is the Book of Life, also called the Lamb’s Book of Life. All those whose name is not in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
The beasts are judged and the 4th beast is destroyed
We see Daniel 7 unfolding in the future in Revelation 19.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and mall the birds were gorged with their flesh.
The kingdom is given to the Son of Man
The Son of Man is a reference to Jesus Christ. This is a name that Jesus frequently used to describe himself. Jesus took the title from the book of Daniel. Son of Man means a number of different things: 1) it means that Jesus is human 2) it means that Jesus is divine 3) it means that he is coming back one day in the clouds.
Matthew 24:30, speaking of Christ’s return says this, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven.”
The context of this passage leads us to believe that this will be a literal, earthly reign of Jesus on earth
How are we to respond to all of this?
We need to be on guard against merely attaining head knowledge. The main goal of this passage is not meant to give you the tools by which you can draw up a cool chart of the end times. The goal of this passage is to get you to live differently in light of the return of Jesus!
We need to be ready for spiritual warfare. We are living right now in a Babylonian culture. The devil and his other fallen angels are real and they want to stop and destroy us. Are you praying? Are you in the Word of God? Are you fighting a spiritual battle or have you been distracted by civilian pursuits (culture war)?
We need to make sure that our life reflects the awesome glory of God. We should be holy as God is holy. Is your life being transformed into the image of God? We should be living every day life with a sense of urgency. Does the thought of the Second Coming of Jesus cause us to live differently? Do you have a passion for the lost?
We need to be assured that Jesus wins! In the end, the battle between Jesus and the Antichrist is really not much of a fight. It is the breath of Jesus that overpowers the Antichrist. Fully showing the awesome power of Jesus.
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” -2 Thessalonians 2:8
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