Lions,Leopards, & Bears! Oh My!

Daniel: In the World.   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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The central theme of the Bible is a King and his Kingdom. As Daniel is navigating the waters of the worldly kingdoms he recieves visions that the true king of Isreal is coming. What was prophecy to Daniel is history to us, and now we find ourselves waiting for the final fulfilment of the King of Kings to take his thrown.

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Introduction
In the World
Connecting in the World without compromising your Faith
Daniel is broken up into two sections.
Daniel life in exile. Chapter 1-6
Daniel was interpreting dreams, visions, and writings on the wall of the Gentile kings that had taken over Jerusalem.
Daniel had to learn to live in a world not governed by the principle of God and still be godly.
Daniel’s prophecies. Chapter 7-12
Daniel is having dreams and visions that are specific to his people Israel.
So of the prophecies overlap what was given to the kings but are more specific to the Jewish people.
As we look at these prophecies together we are going to focus on the end result of the prophecies where we find Jesus, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Today as we look at , together we will discover the formula for a successful Christian life. And in doing so we will also find the reason many are unsuccessful in the walk with Christ.
Body
First we have a time stamp for this chapter.
Daniel 7:1 ESV
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.
Dan 7:1
This vision was given to Daniel a few years before the writing on the wall.
Second He receives the Gentile kingdoms in the form of animals.
Daniel 7:3–6 ESV
3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Daniel 7:7–12 ESV
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
The Times of the Gentiles
Lion = Babylon Empire
Bear = Meado-Persian Empire
Leopard = Grecian Empire
Dreadful = Roman Empire
Daniel 7:17 ESV
17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
Out of the Roman Empire comes a man, the little horn, that I will discuss in detail next week.
And finally the Everlasting kingdom is revealed.
Daniel 7:9–10 ESV
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
Dan

When you live in the light of God’s kingdom you aways look for the King.

The Central Theme of the Bible is a King and his Kingdom.
The Central Theme of the Bible is a King and his Kingdom.
Adam was given dominion over God’s kingdom.
Adam lost the kingdom when he died through sin.
God reestablished the kingdom through the line of Abraham and the promised seed of Issac and Jacob who became Israel.
Israel had 24 anointed kings until the Time of the Gentiles where we find Daniel.
There has never been another king of Israel since the captivity.
Israel has been waiting for the Messiah, “The Anointed One,” that would reclaim the throne of Israel and rule the kingdom of God once again.

Jesus was King before He was Savior.

Jesus is the fulfilment of this prophecy. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus is the fulfilment of this prophecy.

Because of the prophecies and the miracles of Jesus the people try to take him by force and make him King.
John 6:15 ESV
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
The Jewish Leaders reject their King.
Matthew 26:62–64 ESV
62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:62–68 ESV
62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Matt 2
Matthew 26:62
Jesus uses this passage in Daniel as proof that he is the coming King.
Then comes the final rejection
Matthew 26:65–68 ESV
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
-65-68
Jesus was Crucified with a sign written in three languages “The King of the Jews.”
Matthew 27:37 ESV
37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

You can’t receive Jesus as Savior and reject him as King!

He was King first.
The King of kings died for your sins so that you might have entrance into his kingdom.
And here lies the issue with most of christianity today. People want a Savior but don’t want a King.
To deny the kingship of Christ is to deny his very person. There is no Savior without a King.

Salvation is the translation from one kingdom to another.

Here are some common passages about salvation. Let’s look at them in the light of the kingdom.
John 3:3 ESV
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:
John 3:5 ESV
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:
If you have recieved Jesus as Savior and rejected him as King, you have missed the whole point.
This is not about your salvation. This is about His sovereignty.
Romans 10:9 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
Jesus saves those that receive him as Lord.
When Jesus is your King you serve to build the kingdom.
Review & Conclusion
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. You either choose the King or reject the King but he is always the King.
Salvation is dependent on receiving King Jesus as Lord and Savior. You can’t be saved and reject the kingdom.
Your submission to the King for salvation naturally results in your service in His kingdom.
Next Steps
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