The Kingdoms of this World and the Kingdom of Christ

Introduction

Daniel 7. Pg. 744

Apocalypse Now?

Who doesn’t love a good apocalypse?

The church in every age has had its fair share of apocalypse mania

That is, in every age, we see in our current events sure signs that the end is near

We can read about Christians in the early church, Medieval Church, Early Modern Church, and of course, the contemporary church who thought they saw irrefutable signs, based upon the teachings of Scripture, that the end was nigh.

Who can forget the pamphlet, “88 reasons why the rapture will be in 1988.”

Or its much anticipated sequel, 89 reasons why the rapture will be in 1989.

The same author said “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong” -Edgar C. Whisenant

He predicted that the rapture would happen in 88, then 89, then 93, then 94. Then, thank the Lord, he just gave up

We always seem to think that our own era is so unique that surely, the end must be in my lifetime.

Silly Interpretations

So when we come to passages like Daniel 7, it is very tempting for us to read our current events into the passage

I have read some interpreters claim that the united states of America is prophesied in Daniel 7.

Here we read of a lion with the wings of an eagle. The wings are plucked off and the beast is made to stand on its two feet and given the heart of a man

The lion is the animal of Great Britain and the bald eagle is the animal of America. So, clearly what is being prophesied here is America being born from Britain and being transformed into a man, who is actually uncle Sam.

The bear is then obviously soviet Russia. The leopard is the Roman empire, then the Holy Roman Empire, then Hitlers third Reich, and finally the European Union.

Finally, the fourth beast we read about is the one world government brought in by the antichrist.

All we need for that to happen is to find a red heifer and slaughter it on the Temple Mount and we can really get things rolling

These interpretations of Daniel 7 use the news paper to interpret scripture

They read into the scriptures things that are not there and thereby miss the main point being communicated

What is the main point?

Read Daniel 7.

Thesis: The kingdom of God will triumph over the rebellious kingdoms of men, and the people of God will reign with Christ forever

The Kingdoms of Men

The Kingdom of God

The Citizens of the Kingdom

What and When

Of course, what we want to know as we read this passage is what and when

What is represented by the beasts? Which nations are prophesied?

And when will they come to an end and when will the Son of Man come into His kingdom?

The Nature of Apocalyptic Literature

Daniel Chapter 7, and most of the rest of the book, is what we call apocalyptic literature

It is a particular type of literature that we find in Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and a few other places in Scripture

It’s use of imagery is prevalent and it is a vague picture of future events meant to be mysterious and highly symbolic

We cannot read apocalyptic literature the same way we would read poetry, or historical narrative, or a sermon. If we do, we will find ourselves smack dab in some really outlandish interpretations.

Caution against certain and precise interpretation

Not everything in apocalyptic literature has a one for one correspondence.

What are the three ribs in the bear’s mouth? I don’t know. But he is commanded to eat much flesh. Perhaps they merely signify his ferocious appetite?

I’m not sure that each of the horns represents a specific king, but merely the entirety of the kings that came before the little horn.

Numbers are highly symbolic, and the number ten, rather than referring to 10 individual things is most likely referring to completeness or wholeness

Imagery is intentionally vague

Pictures may be worth a thousand words, but they are not as precise as a thousands words. Yet they evoke feelings and thoughts that words cannot.

Images are not to be taken literally

For instance, we read here of God as the Ancient of Days.

He is presented as an old man with white hair sitting on a fiery throne.

I hope none of us here think that God is literally the old man in the clouds.

Apocalyptic is designed more to give us a sense of the future, not a precise and detailed map of it

The Kingdoms of this World

Daniel’s Dream

Rewind to the reign of Belshazzar

This vision comes to Daniel in the form of dream. Of course, he’s old hat at interpreting dreams, but even Daniel is alarmed at his dream and like Belshazzar in chapter 5, his color changes in trepidation.

The Turbulent Sea

The Sea had great significance in ANE cosmology.

The ancient Hebrew had a 3 tiered cosmology. Sea, land, mountain

Similar to our 3 tiered cosmology of hell, earth, heaven

The sea represents death, chaos, evil, and terror

The Enuma Elish

Four terrible beasts rise up from out of this evil chaos foreboding doom, death, and woe.

Similar to us watching a movie that opens in a graveyard

The Four Beasts

It is difficult to discern what exactly is going on here and what these beasts represent. So let’s start with what we know

Each beast is a king/kingdom

Daniel 7:17 “‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.”

V. 23 says that the fourth beast is a kingdom and it will devour all the previous kingdoms

Parallels with Chapter 2

You’ll remember in Daniel Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream in which he sees a giant statue made up of four different metals

In interpreting the dream, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he was the head of gold and that the next three metals were 3 successive kingdoms

The chest and arms of silver = Persia

The middle and thighs of bronze = Greece

The legs and feet of iron and clay = Rome

In the dream a supernatural stone crashes into the feet of the colossus and reduce it to dust and then it grows until it becomes a mountain that covers the whole world

Daniel says that this stone is a new divine kingdom set up by God Himself that will be established in the days of the last kingdom

We have the same thing prophesied in different pictures in Daniel 7.

4 kingdoms in succession supplanted by a divinely instituted kingdom

In Daniel 2 the metals are the kingdoms, in Dan. 7 the beasts are the kingdoms

In Dan. 2 we saw the the kingdom of God subjugate the other kingdoms, in Dan. 7 we see the God’s king, the Son of Man, subjugate the other kingdoms

The Lion

Like the head of gold in Ch. 2 the lion is a reference to Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar is compared to a lion by Jeremiah (Jer. 4:7)

And he is compared to an eagle by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 17:3, 11-2)

It seems plausible that what is happening here is the wickedness and atrocities commited by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar are represented by the lion and the eagle, both beasts of prey

But if you remember the Nebuchadnezzar story, he was humbled and looked to the God of Heaven for help, confessed God’s greatness and was restored.

I think this transformation and renewal is what is symbolized in the giving of a human heart in v. 4

Nebuchadnezzar was no longer a terrible, rebellious and beast-like king, but humane and honorable and just

And a promoter of true religion, as all rulers should be

The Bear

Representative of the Medo-Persian empire established by Cyrus the Great

It is said to be raised up on one side.

This is simply communicating that the bear is standing on its hind legs in a menacing and powerful stance, ready to overcome its enemies

The bear is commanded to devour much flesh

Indeed, Persia did devour much flesh and became the mightiest empire the world had yet seen, as depicted by the ribs in its mouth.

But even the empire that Cyrus built could not endure forever

The Leopard

Grecian Empire

Under Alexander the Great the Greeks conquered everything from Macedonia in the West to Egypt in the South to India in the East, and everything in between

The Swiftness of the Leopard

The Cat itself signifies swiftness. Likely an allusion to the rapidity with which Alexander conquered the known world

By the time he was my age he had defeated the Persian Empire and subjugated hundreds of peoples, carving out the greatest empire the world had ever known

And he did it in less than 6 years

Four Heads

After his death at the age of 32, Alexander’s empire split into four different empires; the Pergamon, Seleucid, Egyptian, and Macedonian

The four Grecian empires held sway in the region for centuries

Until the next great empire came along and trampled all other kingdoms under its iron feet

The Fourth Beast

This is the next beast which causes significant fear in Daniel. This is the feet and legs of iron and clay that we read about in Daniel 2.

It represents the Roman Empire which conquered every enemy that stood before it

Italians, Carthaginians, Gauls, Iberians, Greeks, Macedonians, Egyptians, Seleucids, Persians

It was this beast which was most terrifying and in which Daniel was most interested

It was different from all the rest in its ferocity

Indeed, in the interpretation given by the angel in the dream, Daniel asks specifically about this fourth beast

Daniel 7:19 ““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,”

It is said to have 10 horns. In the ANE, the horns of an animal signified strength

In v. 24 the angel tells us that the 10 horns represent 10 kings of this fierce kingdom.

But there is an eleventh king that will come forth, displacing the 3 previous kings. And it will utter all sorts of blasphemies and war against the saints.

The identity of this blasphemous horn is hotly contested. Most of the Reformed thought it was the Pope who is that antichrist.

John Calvin thought it represented Julius Caesar and his successors.

Still others think it refers to some future antichrist.

For my part, I largely agree with Calvin.

The beast represents Rome, the horns represent the strength and arrogance of the kings of Rome, and it was Caesar who spoke blasphemies against God, calling Himself God, and even warred against the people of God, both before, and after the ministry of Christ, up until the reign of Constantine.

And it was by Rome that the greatest atrocity to ever be committed took place; the crucifixion of the Lord of Glory

What the kingdoms teach us

The four beasts represent four particular kingdoms, but they signify more than that

They are representative of all the kingdoms of the World which set themselves up against God

Psalm 2:1–3 “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.””

Kingdoms and nations are institutions where the power and greed and wrath and perversion of man concentrates

Nations are capable of far more wickedness and can produce far more devastation than the individual sinful soul

“Individual sinners are harmful, sometimes deeply. But sinners bound together behind a group cause can cause great devastation.” -Tremper Longman

This is why they are ferocious and unnatural beasts in Daniel 7.

The vast majority of nations are represented here, sadly, including our own.

Few kingdoms have acknowledged the supremacy of God and have sought to rule in His place and for His sake in this world.

Every other kingdom rages against God and against His anointed like a beast

Some here have had to flee raging nations to our own country for safety. You know first hand how the nations rage

But everyone of them will be subjected to Christs rule

These kingdoms are not independent

The bear is commanded to devour much flesh

Commanded by whom?

The wings are plucked from the lion and it is caused to stand and it is given a heart of a man

Who did these things to the lion?

The four headed leopard is given dominion

Given by whom?

Even these great empires are dependent and operate only under the direction and providence of God

Man has suffered under the tyranny of powerful kingdoms from the earliest days of civilization

The nations of our day are more powerful than any mankind has ever seen, with weapons of war, tools of propaganda, and surveillance capabilities which boggle the mind

But even so, they are not their own, but are subject to the whims of our all sovereign God

The Kingdom of God

Daniel then gets a glimpse of this all sovereign God in vv. 9-14

The Ancient of Days

Directly after these beasts come up out of the chaotic and turbulent sea, Daniel sees a throne set up and the Ancient of Days comes and is seated upon the throne

These nations rage, they commit their slaughter, they devour much flesh, they swiftly overtake their prey, they even war against the saints. But even so, God sits enthroned in fire

A throne with wheels (v. 9)? A chariot of war

His clothes and His hair are white, declaring His righteousness and purity

He is called the Ancient of Days, proclaiming His eternality

YHWH as Judge

He sits as a judge and the books are opened

The horn keeps speaking its blasphemies in v. 11 so the fourth beast is killed with the fire of YHWH as punishment for its crimes.

This great and powerful nation raged against the Almighty while the Almighty sat in the Heavens and laughed. Then He terrified them in His furry

Myriads Serving Him

Daniel must have been encouraged at this sight.

Seeing the image of the nations of the world in their might and their cruelty. Living in the midst of one of these kingdoms which had destroyed his homeland and reduced the Temple of God to nothing.

Certainly even Daniel was tempted to despair and pessimism and doubt. As we often are as we look at the state of things around us

But here is the Ancient of Days. Here are Myriads serving Him. A thousand thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand.

Daniel was not alone in his service to God. We never are.

Colossians 3:1–4 “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is so easy to be blinded to the true reality by the things of this world. We see with our eyes powerful nations and powerful people arrayed against the people of God

The church seems so small, so feeble, so incapable of standing against so much wickedness and cruelty in this world.

We are not alone. He who is with us is greater than he who is in the world

Those with us are greater in number than those arrayed against us. There is no better way to steel ourselves and bolster our courage for the battles we are called to fight.

The Son of Man

The Ancient of Days is not the only one who Daniel sees in the heavens

There is also one like a Son of Man who comes on the clouds

Riding on the Clouds

In the OT, the one who makes the clouds his chariot is the God of Heaven

Psalm 104:3–4 “He makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind.”

The image of God riding on a cloud is a depiction of God coming to judge the pagan nations.

Isaiah 19:1 “Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.”

Who is this Son of Man?

It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Son of Man is His favorite title for Himself in the gospels

He comes on the clouds and is given a glorious dominion

A universal dominion

That all peoples nations and languages should serve Him v. 14.

An everlasting dominion

v. 14 his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

In contrast to all other kingdoms which will be destroyed at his coming

When will His Kingdom Come?

According to our text, He is given the kingdom when He comes on the clouds.

Many have thought this is a reference to his second coming when all things are made new.

He will descend on the clouds and He will slay that great beast and throw down the antichrist and He will establish His kingdom on earth and reign for a thousand years.

That is not what we’re told here.

In which direction is He traveling on the clouds? Toward the Ancient of Days. v. 13

He is ascending, not descending. Which is exactly what we see in Acts 1:9 “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”

Hebrews 1:3–4 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

His kingdom was established 2000 years ago

Two thousand years ago He rose from the dead, thus defeating Satan and Death, and He ascended into Heaven to sit at His Father’s right hand on His throne.

Two Thousand Years ago He was given dominion. All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Him.

His kingdom is here now and it has been here for 2000 years.

Why do we still see beastly nations raging?

If His Kingdom has been established, why have all the evil kingdoms of this world not been subjected yet?

The custom of the prophets, in treating of Christ’s kingdom, to extend their meaning further than its first beginnings; and they do this while they dwell on its commencement. -John Calvin

That is, the OT prophets often foretold the future coming of the kingdom as all one event, whereas the NT shows us that it is actually a progressively unfolding event.

Like a mountain range in the distance

First its inauguration at the ascension of Christ, then its progressive growth through the centuries, then its final consummation at the return of Christ.

This is why the stone destroyed the kingdoms of the world in Daniel 2, but then grew until it filled the whole world

This is why, in Matt. 13, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, tiny when planted, but eventually becoming a tree which fills the whole garden.

For 2,000 years Christ’s kingdom has been growing

And it has been subjugating empires and nations all along the way, beginning with the Roman Empire

It will continue to grow, advancing against the rebellious kingdoms of men, defeating every one of them

After all we were promised that not even the gates of Hell will prevail against us.

Christ’s kingdom will advance and grow until the king returns to defeat the final enemy, death, and to usher in an eternal state of glory for all His people

Sometimes this is hard to see

No doubt it was hard for Daniel and all the Jewish exiles to see

But whenever we are pressed by our enemies, we must remember that Christ’s victory is more sure than our present suffering

His dominion is more real than our persecution

His kingdom will long outlast my doubts, fears, and my pain at the hands of raging kingdoms

The Citizens of the Kingdom

The Saints of the Most High

vv. 18, 21, 25, 27

These are the people of God in this World. Literally the holy ones of God. His church, His bride.

The Saints of the Most High will Suffer

Daniel 7:21 “As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them,”

Daniel 7:25 “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High

Here is a depiction of the holy war that the human kingdoms of this world continually wage against the church of God

Islam

For more than a millennia, Christians have suffered greatly under the violence and oppression of Islamic nations

Hundreds of millions slaughtered and enslaved in the name of Allah

Atheistic Secularism (Communism)

In the 20th century in particular millions of Christians were slaughtered at the hands of atheistic states like communist China and Soviet Russia

Other Historical Persecutions

We could also talk about the extermination of Christians under the Japanese Shogunate in the 16th century

The intense and sporadic persecution of Christians under pagan Rome

This holy war waged against the saints will persist to the end.

But it will come to an end

The Saint of the Most High will Possess the Kingdom

Daniel 7:18 “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’”

The Saints of the Most High will Possess all the kingdoms of the World

Daniel 7:27 “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.’”

Those kingdoms which once hated and killed and persecuted us. Those kingdoms which once spoke blasphemies against our God will be ours.

And we will rule with Christ. He will be our God, we will be His people. And all of His subjects will one day offer themselves freely to Him

The kingdoms of this world will militate against and persecute the saints of the most high until they are eventually throne down for good

How do we bear up under such fearsome hatred and oppression?

We need what Daniel got. i.e. a vision of the throne room of God and a vision of His chosen King Jesus Christ

God has all power to cast down rebellious kingdoms

Christ has all authority to subject every rule and power to His will, and one day He will

We, saints of the Most High, look to that day in hope

The best proof we have of this hope is the fact that the kingdom is here already

Not in its consummate state, not fully, be really

It has been demolishing the strongholds of the enemy for 2,000 years and it will continue to do so

You brothers and sisters are proof of that fact.

You were once a rebel, but Christ has conquered you, He has set His kingdom in you; in us

He is still conquering today.

Citizens of the Kingdoms of This World

Have you been conquered by Christ?

Are you a citizen of His eternal kingdom? Will you one day possess the kingdoms of this world as your own?

Or, are you still a rebel? Are you still a friend to the chaotic beasts in this revelation? Are you still their slave?

If you are, you will be destroyed along with them. You will not possess any kingdom, but whatever you do have will be taken from you

And you will kneel and pay homage to the king, but not in gratitude or love or joy, but in grief, anguish, and hatred

So bow to Him today. Even now, or perhaps when you go home. Today may be your last chance to do so freely

Call out to Him and plead for forgiveness, kiss the Son lest He be angry and you perish

He will deliver you from the domain of darkness in which you now reside

He will bring you into His glorious kingdom, He will grant you forgiveness, and you will eternally share in His victory over all the forces of evil