Above all earthly powers: Daniel and the dream of the invincible King Pt.2

Above all earthly powers: Daniel and the dream of the invincible King, pt. 2—Daniel 7.15-28 Proposition: 4 life-transforming elements of the future that make us joyful, radical and global agents of Jesus Christ A tantalizing preview of the end (vv. 15-18) Beast #1: lion = Babylon Beast #2: bear = Persia Beast #3: leopard = Greece Beast #4: 10-horned monster = Rome A terrifying explanation of the beast (vv. 19-24a) The trauma unleashed by the little horn (vv. 24b-26) 3 questions about “the little horn”: 1) Who is he? 2) Is he alive right now? 3) Will we live to see him and face his violent persecution? Revelation 13:1-8: And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And…the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God…7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. The triumphant victory of the saints (vv. 27-28) Life-transforming element #1: The future frees you to live radical lives, recklessly abandoned to Jesus Christ. Life-transforming element #2: The future delivers you from the tyranny of storing up treasures on earth Life-transforming element #3: The future shapes all of your priorities in the present Life-transforming element #4: The future empowers us to persevere through trials and pain