sf813 - THE FINAL WORLD DICTATOR (Daniel 7 19-21)
Daniel 7:19-21
INTRODUCTION
Daniel 7 surveyed important events in God’s plan for the future.
Included was the small horn among the ten other horns.
This eleventh horn represents a person with dynamic leadership ability and power to become a world dictator.
Tonight we are going to do a brief but systematic study of this small horn.
1A. A COMFORTING FACT ABOUT THE RAPTURE
1B. The Rapture will take place prior to the Great Tribulation
(Revelation 3:10 NKJV) "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."
“keep you from...” = to preserve something outside the sphere of something else.
“the hour of trial” = refers to the seven year Tribulation (see Revelation 6-19)
2B. The Rapture will remove all believers
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 NKJV) "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. {15} For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. {16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
3B. The Rapture should be a source of comfort
(1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV) "Therefore comfort one another with these words."
2A. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST
1B. He Will Be Wanted, Not Rejected
He will be seen as a savior in desperate times.
It is likely that he will rise to power during a time when people are longing for deliverance.
2B. He Will Be Appealing, Not Repulsive
He will have an uncanny charisma that will win people over quickly.
3B. He Will Be Extraordinary, Not Ordinary
“He will have the oratorical skill of a John Kennedy, the inspirational power of a Winston Churchill, the determination of a Joseph Stalin, the vision of a Karl Marx, the respectability of a Ghandi, the military prowess of a Douglas MacArthur, the charm of a Will Rogers, and the genius of a King Solomon. In addition, he will be empowered by Satan, and his incredible capabilities will be used against God’s people.” Chuck Swindoll
4B. He Will Be A Gentile, Not A Jew
Daniel 7:2-3, 7-8, 19-25
He will come from the divided Roman Empire.
3A. SEVERAL SPECIFIC SCRIPTURES DESCRIBING THE ANTI-CHRIST
1B. He will arise out of the natural flow of events (Daniel 7:24)
2B. He will oppose God and the things of God (Daniel 7:25)
3B. He will not appear until the “rebellion” comes (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8)
It will be a time of apostasy.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
It will be a time of false security.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
It will be a time of false doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
He will set himself up as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
The Holy Spirit (and the church) must be removed first (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8a)
4B. He will be political and religious leader (Revelation 13)
He is identified as the Antichrist (1)
(Revelation 17:7 12-13 NKJV) "But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. {12} The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. {13} "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast."
Daniel 7:7-8 NKJV
He will have many of the characteristics of the Greek, Medo-Persian, and Babylonian empires (2a)
Daniel 7:4-6
His source of power will be Satan (2b)
(Revelation 20:2) "He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."
He will experience a miraculous healing at the height of his career. (3)
Ø This will convince men to follow him
He will lead men to worship Satan (4,8)
He will have an accomplice - a false prophet (11-12)
Ø He will lead in false worship (13-15a)
Ø Will kill any that refuse to worship him (15b)
Ø Will demand that everyone receive the “mark” (16-17)
The significance of 666 (18)
Ø Six is one less than seven the number for perfection
Ø Threefold repetition of six would indicate the unholy trinity of Satan, The Beast, and the False Prophet.
5B. His reign will end at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:17-21)
He will gather his armies in order to go to war against Christ (17-19)
Ø This battle is called the Battle of Armageddon
He will be destroy by Christ (20-21)
APPLICATION
1. The Rapture may occur at any moment. The scripture gives no required preceding events as with the Second Coming.
2. The Rapture must precede the Tribulation and the Antichrist’s ascension to power.
3. We are to stay alert so as to be ready for the Rapture at any moment (Matthew 25:1-30).
Therefore...
Watch the news with your eyes on the Middle East.
Interpret current events with your minds on prophetic truth.
Anticipate Christ’s return with your hearts on God’s promise - the Rapture of the Church!
Get ready to go, tonight.
The Final World Dictator
Sunday, February 7, 1999 - Daniel 7:19-21
1A. A COMFORTING FACT ABOUT THE RAPTURE
1B. The Rapture will take place __________ to the Great Tribulation
(Revelation 3:10 NKJV) ""Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."
2B. The Rapture will ________________ all believers
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
3B. The Rapture should be a source of comfort
1 Thessalonians 4:18
2A. SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST
1B. He Will Be ____________, Not Rejected
2B. He Will Be Appealing, Not Repulsive
3B. He Will Be Extraordinary, Not Ordinary
4B. He Will Be A Gentile, Not A Jew
Daniel 7:2-3, 7-8, 19-25
3A. SEVERAL SPECIFIC SCRIPTURES DESCRIBING THE ANTI-CHRIST
1B. He will arise out of the natural _____________ of events (Daniel 7:24)
2B. He will _____________ God and the things of God (Daniel 7:25)
3B. He will not appear until the “rebellion” comes (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8)
It will be a time of apostasy. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)
It will be a time of false ______________. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
It will be a time of false doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
He will set himself up as _____________ (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
The Holy Spirit (and the church) must be removed first (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8a)
4B. He will be political and religious leader (Revelation 13)
He is identified as the Antichrist (1; Revelation 17:7 12-13; Daniel 7:7-8)
He will have many of the characteristics of the Greek, Medo-Persian, and Babylonian empires (2a; Daniel 7:4-6)
His source of power will be Satan (2b; Revelation 20:2)
He will experience a miraculous healing at the height of his career. (3)
He will lead men to worship Satan (4,8)
He will have an accomplice - a false prophet (11-17)
The significance of 666 (18)
5B. He reign will end at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:17-21)
He will gather his armies in order to do war against Christ (17-19)
He will be destroy by Christ (20-21)
