Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

(Slide) We have seen Daniels vision recounted and retold.

(Slide) = Head of Gold = Babylon

(Slide) Bear = Ram = Breast of Silver = Medo-Persian

(Slide) Leopard = Shaggy Goat = belly thigh of bronze = Greece

(Slide) Dreadful - terrifying beast = legs of iron and feet partly of iron and clay = Rome

Explanation and Promise

(Slide) Daniel, in the vision, was distressed and alarmed (v.15) - expand we may have times we are distressed and/or alarmed but it does not change the fact that God is in charge, in control and on the throne.

Daniel, in the vision, seeks an explanation (v.16)

(Slide) Daniel, in the vision, seeks explanation (v.16) - sometimes we need help understanding things, in the vision Daniel still was not sure what he was looking at so he asked for help.

We too should never be ashamed to seek the Lord in prayer for help or talk to others for the Lord can and oftentimes uses others to help us.

(Slide) The explanation (in simple form) (v.17) - an important thing for us to note is that it is speaking of 4 kingdoms, the scripture defines itself -

The explanation (in simple form) given (v.17)

(Slide) The promise (v.18) - notice the change here from what we read before, previously we saw dominion was given to the beasts, here the promise is that the kingdom would be given to the saints of the Highest One.

It also tells us how long.

(Slide) This is the fulfillment of what was retold in

(slide) It doesn’t matter

(Slide) if evil seems to be prevailing, the kingdom is ours

(Slide) The kingdom of the Messiah has been established, you were transferred into it and it will (the kingdom) will never be destroyed

(Slide) The kingdom (sovereignty) is shared with the saints!

- (Slide)

II.

The Forth Beast

(Slide) Daniel wants more of an explanation to the forth beast (v.19) -Dont’ we all have curious minds and natures at times?

Daniel knew this forth beast was significant and wanted to know more.

-Specifically he wanted to know about the 10 horns and the other one that came up in which three of them fell.

(v.20)

(Slide) We know it was different from the others (v.19, 7)

(Slide) It was waging war with with saints (v.21) - the it in this verse is the little horn (v.8) another horn (v.20) was the one waging war with the saints.

(Gods people) - this little horn is a Roman horn waging against the saints.

(Slide) Ancient of Days passes Judgment (v.22, 10)

(Slide) Coming of the Lord - what does it mean?

(Slide) Biblical Examples

Isa19:1-coming as a swift cloud against Egypt

Mic1:3f- coming down and tread on - against Samaria

Nah1:3ff -in whirlwind, storm and clouds and dust against Nineveh

(Slide) The coming of the Lord, a day of the Lord event is judgment - remember judgment is entered but not necessarily carried out right away .

The court already sat (v.10) and passed judgment (v.22) so now is the demonstration of God’s Sovereignty.

It is not the beginning of His reign, just a demonstration of it.

(Slide) Judgment was passed in favor of the Saints! ; Let’s look at a couple of the scriptures beyond (v.22)

Biblical proof (v.22)

Let’s look at a couple of the scriptures

(Slide)

(Slide)

There maybe times when you feel bloody, beaten, defeated, discouraged, abandoned just remember who you belong to and that judgment has already been rendered against the ungodly.

We are to count it a joy when we suffer- (slide)

know judgment passed and though we suffer we are called to His eternal glory! - (Slide)

KNow jud

Definition of Forth Beast

(Slide) Forth beast is a forth kingdom; 10 horns, but one kingdom (vv.23-24) - there is common view of 10 kingdoms, but the definition here is 1 kingdom, 10 kings, already looked at them before.

(Slide) Will subdue three kings (in vision) - (v.24) History- writings of Josephus shows that Domitian is the Son of Vespasian while He was on his way back to Egypt to take the throne his son was there already acting and waging war against Vitellius (ruling party) and cut off his head, already Galba and Otho had short reigns of under a year when they were killed (so there are the three uprooted) At this time Titus is waging war against Jerusalem.

(Slide) will speak out against the Most High (v.25) - He will speak blasphemous against Most High God, - remember when things look bad, God is still in control, it may seem like evil is winning but judgment has already been passed.

(Slide) So what about this alternations of time?

Just because you maybe curious; Jews (ancients in general) had a 360 day year with 30 days per month they added intercalary months to make things work out in solar years (365 day year)

so that can be the time he is trying to change

(Slide) Times, times, times and a half (v.25); what does this mean?

(Slide) it is years, so 3 1/2 years (sound familiar?)

Rev11:2-3, 12:6, 14 and Rev13:5 - all note 3 1/2 years

(Slide) But in OT. there was Elijah for 3 1/2 years that was in the wilderness being cared for by ravens

(Slide) A time of limited persecution in both the O.T. and the N.T.

(Slide) So how do you end all this?

Remember judgment passed in favor of the saints (v.22)

The saints receive the kingdom (rule, reign, authority) (v.27)

(Slide) Eternally - so the question arises are you a saint?

(Slide) Like Daniel, still didn not know everything, we don’t need to know everything, but we need to know something.

God is still God and in control even when it does not look like it or feel like it.