Triumph of Christ’s Kingdom (Daniel and Revelation)-2b

Triumph of Christ’s Kingdom (Daniel and Revelation)-2

70 Weeks

Wednesday August 16, 2023

Study Text: Daniel 9:24–26; 1 John 4:3,4; Revelation 12:1–17

Focus: To proclaim that Christ’s coming and victory were prophesied and respond with faith in Christ.

A few weeks ago I gave you a handout of a chart called, “The Last days of History.”

As I mentioned then, this chart is in the Fire Bible at the book of Jude.

In consideration of last week and this week’s lesson, I feel there is one more parameter in the “Last Days of Preparation”: Fulfillment of prophecies before Daniel’s 70th week

God is preparing the world for His return by completing thee kingdoms needed:

Daniel 2:31–35 (LSB) “You, O king, were looking, and behold, there was a single great image; that image, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was rising up in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. 32 “The head of that image was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. 35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Parallel vision: Daniel 7:1–8 (LSB) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and said the following summary of the matter. 2 Daniel answered and said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 “And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 “The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; and a heart of a man was given to it. 5 “And behold, another beast, a second one in the likeness of a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 “After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, fearsome and terrifying and extraordinarily strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great boasts.

The fulfillment of these visions includes much strife and war — even in the heavenly realms.

As I read last week:

Evangelical Commentary: Quote, Page 406

We again see God’s prophetic “calendar” in …

1. The Anointed One Will Come

A. Seventy Sevens (Daniel 9:24)

Daniel 9:24 (LSB) “Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.

We looked at a lot of this last week.

Let’s skip down to the bottom of Page 2 on your handout …

Gabriel noted six specific purposes to be fulfilled during this time (verse 24, kjv). The first three deal with sin:

1. “To finish the transgression,” signaled an end to Israel’s spiritual wandering;

2. “To make an end of sins” pointed toward the rise of a new “post-sin” society where righteousness would rule;

3. “To make reconciliation for iniquity” is a direct reference to the Cross. This pivotal event ushered in the final days of human history.

Moving past the sin motif of the first three, the fourth purpose begins a look at the glorious future of God’s kingdom.

4. “To bring in everlasting righteousness” points to a world that will experience permanent conformity to God’s plans—a stark contrast to the fleeting righteousness that comes and goes in this present world;

5. “To seal up vision and prophecy” envisions that moment when all prophecy is fulfilled.

At that time, Christ will be glorified by all as ruler over all the earth (His millennial reign);

6. “To anoint the Most Holy” has been the subject of much discussion. The Most Holy is literally “the Holy of Holies.”

Some see it as referring to the Old Testament temple that would later be rebuilt under Zerubbabel [zuh RUHB uh buhl].

Others think it looks forward to millennial conditions, since these seventy weeks are determined specifically on Jerusalem and Israel.

Some see in this phrase a picture of the victorious Christ Himself.

“Why is it important to understand that the fulfillment of these six purposes is still to come?”

Many prophecies in the OT have 2 fulfillments: short term and long term.

Most of these particular prophecies have long term (beyond the time of Christ) fulfillments.

Let’s not believe these prophecies have been fulfilled and have no bearing on our lives and future.

B. Anointed One Cut Off (Daniel 9:25,26)

Daniel 9:25–27 (LSB) “So you are to know and have insight that from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and rebuilt, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

We will deal with verse 27 at a later time, but…

Daniel 9:25-26 provides a description of Daniel’s seventy weeks.

Note that sixty-nine of the seventy (483 years) involve events culminating in Christ’s life and ministry on earth.

These sixty-nine time periods are divided into two segments.

The first segment, lasting forty-nine years, is fulfilled in Jerusalem’s rebuilding.

This places week one as beginning in 457 b.c. (See Ezra 4:12–16.)

As such, the first sixty-nine weeks would conclude in a.d. 27.

When the years are calculated, this is found to be remarkably accurate.

It is commonly held that Christ was crucified in a.d. 30.

Thus, the sixty-ninth week concludes at approximately the time of His baptism, beginning His ministry and leading to the time He would be “cut off” or crucified (Daniel 9:26).

Verse 26 also describes another event.

“The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” (kjv).

This phrase points to an indefinite period of time between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week—a period that includes Jerusalem’s destruction in a.d. 70 by the Romans and culminates with the rise of an evil ruler (people of the prince — the devil.

1 John 4:3 (LSB) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

Most scholars see this indefinite period as the Christian era—the Church Age.

“What will happen at the end of the Church Age?”

The Rapture (our next study) and Daniel’s 70th week.

2. Christ’s Victory over Satan

A. The Woman and the Dragon (Revelation 12:1–6)

Revelation 12:1–6 (LSB) And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 And she was with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

This passage is filled with imagery. The woman in verses 1 and 2 almost surely represents __Israel____;

Evangelical Commentary: There can be no births, spiritual or physical, without travail and labor pains.

In times of distress people are receptive to the Gospel and open to an encounter with God… (Read from book)

the twelve-starred crown represents __the 12 tribes________. She (Israel) finds herself in the pains of childbirth when a dragon appears (verse 3).

“What do you think is symbolized by the newborn and the dragon here?”

The dragon:

Evangelical Commentary: Page 405 (dragon’s description)

This dragon swept away a third of the stars—possibly a reference to Satan’s initial rebellion and eviction from heaven with a third of the angels (verse 4).

We read Revelation 12:1-6 last week.

Revelation 12:6 likely pictures a Jewish remnant who will flee into the desert to be preserved during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation.

While we may not know the details, we do know God will prepare a place of safety and provision for His people.

Petra ? (not in scripture, but): Zechariah 13:9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire And refine them as silver is refined And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’””

(ME READ) Revelation 12: 4b-5 And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

This week let’s look at the bottom of page 2 …

He set out to defeat the newborn (see Matthew 2:16–18), but his effort was thwarted by God (Revelation 12:5).

Matthew 2:16–18 (LSB) Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, 18 “A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE WAS REFUSING TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”

In the end, Christ will have complete victory, for He is destined “to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (verse 5, kjv). His enemies will become His footstool (see Hebrews 10:13).

Hebrews 10:11–13 (LSB) And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

Evangelical Commentary: Read 406 “Rod of Iron”

B. The Dragon Defeated (Revelation 12:7–10)

Revelation 12:7–10 (LSB) And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

In the midst of God’s fulfillment of kingdom being raised up and torn down, there is an ever-present conflict between the dragon, God’s angels and humanity. You see …

Trying to destroy Christ at His birth wasn’t Satan’s first defeat.

Our enemy was first defeated when he tried to take over God’s authority (Revelation 12:7).

Luke 10:18 (NKJV) And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

(The following describes not only a human king, but also satan.)

Isaiah 14:12–15 (LSB) “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be brought down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.

Note the complete failure of his efforts here in Revelation 12.

Satan and his forces never advance far enough to even engage God in battle—being thwarted by the archangel Michael (verses 8,9).

Ask: “What does this account tell us about Satan?”

From the beginning, Satan has been crushed and humiliated by God.

This is a serious warning against pride and rebellion.

It also reminds us that evil cannot and will not win against divine righteousness, power, and love.

Satan’s defeat encourages us to rest in the grace and care of Almighty God.

The dragon’s defeat was announced with a firm declaration:

“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down” (verse 10, kjv).

God’s people need not feel beaten down or defeated by Satan’s accusations against them.

Every believer can experience the joy and promise of new life through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 (LSB) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

In defeating Satan, Jesus provides all those things we desperately need, but cannot secure through our own efforts.

Teaching Tip 5: Brainstorm with the class specific forms of accusations Satan uses against God’s people,

such as guilt and shame over past wrongs long since forgiven by Christ.

He also beats us down by sheer repetition—“day and night” (Revelation 12:10, kjv).

Talk about specific ways we can overcome the pain of such accusations and prepare ourselves to fend them off in the future.

Feelings Handout

3. Live in Christ’s Victory

A. Believers Can Overcome (Revelation 12:11,12,17)

Revelation 12:11-12 “11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witness, and they did not love their life even to death. 12 “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.””

Revelation 12:17 “So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.”

Ask: “Why is it vital to note the phrase ‘by the blood of the Lamb’ when examining the promise that God’s people will be overcomers?”

Sin’s battles and its penalty can be so fierce that when we find victory, we tend to think primarily of the “overcoming.”

We rejoice at where we’ve arrived compared to where we were.

This joy is to be expected.

This poetic passage highlights that there is no triumph without the victory of Christ’s sacrifice.

His sacrifice alone makes it possible for us to overcome spiritually.

The Cross was Satan’s defeat in the lives of believers (Revelation 12:11).

We also enjoy victory as servants of Christ, because of “the word of [our] testimony” (verse 11, kjv).

Martyrdom, the final act of sacrifice, may be required of us as followers of Christ who stand against Satan.

All believers must determine to follow Christ at any cost, recognizing that our final victory is beyond the grave (see 1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 “But when this corruptible puts on the incorruptible, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the word that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

All of heaven sings a song of triumph, for Satan will be defeated on earth, just as he was in heaven (Revelation 12:12).

Satan’s attacks against those on earth will be vicious because of his fury and knowledge that his time is short.

Indeed, his attacks will continue until his final defeat.

Verse 17 refers to the remnant of Israel who will accept Christ during the time of the Antichrist.

All who serve Christ and desire to be overcomers must endure the spiritual attacks of the enemy until the end.

B. Be on Guard (1 John 4:3,4)

Read Again: 1 John 4:3–4 (LSB) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

The apostle John wrote that believers should not foolishly believe every spirit or teaching.

Ask: “How can a Christian discern truth from lies in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile to Christ?”

We can recognize false teachings through the help of the Holy Spirit and by comparing what they teach about Jesus with what the Bible teaches.

First, the Holy Spirit

Evangelical Commentary: Page 410 quote

John 16:13–15 (LSB) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (LSB) But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is profitable [to all]. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to someone else faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to someone else various kinds of tongues, and to another the translation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Also: If teachers or preachers do not teach that Jesus came from God and was a living, breathing human being, they are false teachings (1 John 4:3).

The spirit of antichrist is the driving force behind false teaching about Jesus Christ.

Ask: “Why can believers have confidence they will stay strong in an increasingly hostile world?”

The answer is that we have the Holy Spirit within us (verse 1 John 4:4).

We must rely on the Spirit for the direction, power, and spiritual discipline needed to overcome Satan.

Sin and error will abound more and more as time passes.

But believers can be victorious by staying true to Christ, for “greater is He that is in you (Holy Spirit), than he that is in the world (the devil)” (verse 4, kjv).

Discipleship in Action

As Christians, we will face challenges to our faith in Christ. Temptations and distractions pose threats to our determination to follow Christ to ultimate victory. We can become preoccupied with the cares of this world and forget that we are in a spiritual battle.

We must be on guard. Satan is at work to oppose God’s plan for this world. He will try to move us away from the conduct and belief that reflect our faith in Christ.