Daniel 7 - part 2 (May 24, 2020, AM)
Notes
Transcript
Last week we saw Daniel’s vision of 4 beasts.
We saw that they represented kingdoms and they paralleled the different parts of the statue in Neb.’s dream.
We identified the beasts as ...
Babylon
Medo-Persia
Greece
Rome
… which is the majority report amongst evangelical scholars.
And we said the point was that GOD IS SOVEREIGN!
I could be wrong about the identity of the beasts.
I am not wrong about the lesson on God’s sovereignty.
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The danger with apocalyptic literature is to see too narrowly.
(( 2 points ))
the first is
highly symbolic - John the Baptist and Elijah (Pause and discuss)
the second is
2. prophecies are often fulfilled in more than one way -
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
There are a lot of examples of this - these were just the first two that I thought of.
The point is, this may be fulfilled in ways that you and I do not expect.
The 4th beast caught Daniel’s attention.
The 4th beast caught Daniel’s attention.
We are going to talk about the ten horns and the little horn that uproots three of the horns and all that.
Since I think this 4th beast represents Rome, does that mean that the little horn, who I believe to be the antichrist, will necessarily come out of the geographical area of Rome?
NO.
Rome here may be more of a dominant and oppressive world power than a geographical location.
In the book of Revelation very few commentators think that Babylon refers to the geographical location.
Many think it refers to Rome.
I hope that you are following what I am saying.
I am absolutely not saying that we do not take the Bible at its word - I am saying let’s figure out what it means given all the symbolism and then believe that without doubting.
In other words, please don’t be surprised if Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins got a lot of stuff wrong.
There were a lot of well-educated people anticipating the birth of the Messiah and almost all of them missed it because it didn’t happen exactly according to their pre-conceived notions.
We need to understand and obey the super clear parts of Scripture instead of becoming unduly fascinated with the more obscure parts.
We do not neglect any of the Scripture, but we focus on the clear message rather than the obscure minutia.
Let’s pick up today with this fourth beast which I believe symbolizes, at the very least, the Roman empire, but probably the Roman empire and its legacy.
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.
17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
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,
20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them,
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
These horns, which we are told are kings, come out of the Roman empire.
Does that mean geographically? I really do not know. I don’t think anyone knows for sure.
Again, remember the example of John the Baptist and Elijah.
John the Baptist was not some reincarnated Elijah, but he came in the spirit and tradition of a faithful prophet of God like Elijah.
Some of these kings may come out of the spirit and tradition of Rome rather than the place in Italy.
Who is this loudmouth horn that plucks up three of the other horns?
Many believe this is the final and ultimate antichrist.
There have been many antichrists. We will see a specific and horrible antichrist in chapter 8 named Antiochus Epiphanes.
He too is represented as a little horn - same guy? - some think so - My best guess is that he is not the same guy, but certainly cut from the same cloth.
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
A couple of the worst on that list would be Nero and Hitler.
This final antichrist will be greater than his companions.
He will make war with the saints and prevail over them for a period of time.
I know there are popular traditions that teach a pre-tribulation rapture so that the saints are spared - I am skeptical.
We naturally want to know about the antichrist and what the future holds - so did Daniel - but he is not the star of the show!
I do not know who this little horn represents in Dan. 7.
We will see another little horn in Dan. 8, and I am pretty sure who he was.
Why?
Prophecy is a lot clearer after the fact.
Although we will see some in the coming chapters that are about as clear as can be even before the fact.
But after the fact you can put names to the people and nations prophesied about.
(Maybe) in the year 2000 if I had dream of an eagle being wounded by a couple of arrows that struck it, and then a third arrow was fired at it, but missed its target, and I told you this dream would happen next year - you would not know what to think until after 9/11 - then you would see how all of these pieces of the dream fit together.
It would be way to specific to dismiss - but you would not have the full picture until afterward.
The Angel refocuses Daniel’s attention.
The Angel refocuses Daniel’s attention.
16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.
17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
The angel does not seem to be all that interested in or focused on the beasts.
But Daniel wants to know more.
In v. 19-22 Daniel says, “yeah, but what about that really scary 4th beast?” - that is when the angel elaborates in v. 23-25 that we read a moment ago.
But the angel tries again to get Daniel focused back on the main event.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
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.’
Now we need to place our focus where the angel’s was.
God is the star of the show.
God is the star of the show.
Last week we talked about the Father’s sovereignty, eternality, and righteousness.
Now let’s focus on the Son of Man who is given dominion in verses 13 and 14.
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.
Who is this one coming on the clouds of heaven?
SS answer - Jesus
Let’s talk about why that’s right.
Next time you turn on a History channel special about Jesus and they say that Jesus never claimed to be divine, you need to know what he meant when he referred to himself as the Son of Man.
God is the one who appears riding in the clouds.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;
The skeptical fellow would be saying, “That’s dumb, clouds are just water vapor.”
It is a symbol of majesty and judgment.
1 An oracle concerning Egypt. 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.
This is no ordinary man.
He is one who is exalted and who appears as only God has the majesty and authority to appear.
v. 13 says “he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.”
What man could endure such scrutiny?
No ordinary mortal man had a closer and more intimate relationship with God than Moses.
18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”
19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”
21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,
22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
The Son of Man in Daniel is presented face to face with the Ancient of Days.
Do you remember what the handwriting on the wall said about Belshazzar?
27 Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;
This Son of Man was not found wanting, but was found to be righteous!
(Remind them that they will be weighed and either found wanting or perfectly righteous.)
English Standard Version Chapter 7
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
He was found to be supremely worthy!
So worthy that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
I want us to close with some reasons for you to serve this great king.
Your eternal destiny depends on it.
Your eternal destiny depends on it.
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.
We see more information about these books in
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
You will either be judged according to your works or the works of this righteous Son of Man, Jesus.
You will either be found wanting or found righteous.
You will either eternally experience hell or heaven.
Be on the winning side.
Be on the winning side.
We have seen over and over in history and in our study so far that the kingdoms of this world are temporary.
but...
English Standard Version Chapter 7
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Invest your time, talent, and treasure in the eternal kingdom.
Invest your time, talent, and treasure in the eternal kingdom.
This Son of Man that we have been reading about said this,
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
There are endless reasons for you to serve this king, but the last that we will look at now is...
He is the only one worthy of worship.
He is the only one worthy of worship.
(((REVELATION SONG)))
Have Jimmy give invitation to come talk with me about salvation or church membership.