Finding Hope in Kingdom Promises

INTRODUCTION

My worst nightmare = MOW // Matrix?

>> elicit fear

Daniel 7:15 and Daniel 7:28

4 empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, & a different out of this world empire.

Daniel & God’s people context

PURPOSE: HOPE

SO TAKE HEART and TAKE HOLD.

In light of the ongoing and coming terror of beastly empires - God’s people will be preserved. They will persevere. Will take possession of the already not yet promises will be already and here.

Saints of the Highest One

Those set apart by God; those that belong to God // Psalm 31:24 “Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.”

The highest one = the god above all other Gods.

God promises: treasure, trials, and triumph. = They are Already and not yet.

1. THE TREASURE

God promises a treasure in the kingdom: Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Genesis 12:1-3, God promised Abraham that he would be a nation // Deuteronomy 30:4-5 “If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. “The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.” // Joshua // 2 Samuel 7:10-12 Promise reinstated to David.

Acts 1:6 “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?””

Will receive and possess

The kingdom is a gift… it is an inherited treasure = saints are co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 4:13 “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

This kingdom as we see belongs to Christ Hebrews 1:2 “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

What is the Kingdom ?

It is the realm of the Lord’s rule and reign

Here is a physical literal reign that is coming. We will physically occupy a geopolitical realm that is ruled by Christ. The PROMISE of a LITERAL EARTHLY KINGDOM Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”” —> ETERNAL REIGN

Those who receive and possess the kingdom are those that have submitted themselves under the rule and reign of the Lord’s lordship >> You don’t need or wait for this coming kingdom to submit… NOW is the day.

Take hold of this:

The kingdom of God is synonomous with the sphere of salvation - the eternal realm where the redeemed have their true citizenship - To be of the Kingdom and possess the kingdom is to have eternal life.

We are a kingdom now… a kingdom of what? Priests… Revelation 5:10 ““You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”” // 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

As priests we have right to enter God’s presence

We intercede for others 2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Rule & Reign

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””

Take ownership and bring order

[BUT BEFORE FULL REALIZATION]

2. The TRIAL

Trial for believers

Daniel 7:21 ““I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them” // Daniel 7:25 “‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”

Tribulation

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” // Matthew 5:10-12 ““Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” // 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”

>> This is a stewardship

>> Persecuted for the right things

Not all persecution is alike. For example, Peter wrote: "For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this a gracious thing in the sight of God" (1 Peter 2:20). He also wrote: "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (1 Peter 3:17).

This is why persecution, biblically speaking, is a qualified persecution – it's persecution "for righteousness' sake" (Matthew 5:10), "on account of the word" (Matthew 13:21), "for the cross of Christ" (Galatians 6:12), and for a "godly life" (2 Timothy 3:12). In short, the persecution that is a blessing is persecution for Christ's sake (see Matthew 5:11). Not all persecution is commended by the Bible but persecution for the right things.

Do we pursue it? NO - 1 Thess 4:11 “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,” // PRAY 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

How do we take heart?

We do not lose hear because of 2 Cor 4 a

it produces good in us James 1:2-4 l

prepares us for service 2 Cor 1:3-9 our affliction so we can help others

Teaches us that this is not our home 2 Cor 4:16-5:5 makes us long for our true kingdom.

God is in it with us:

Ancients of days is sitting… he is in control, waiting, watching… he is not panicking. >> Acts 7:55 “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;”

Daniel was no strarnger to this… at this point in his career he has “semi-retired”… i think here he is forgotten.. he is cancelled in a sense.

1 John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

THEREFORE TAKE HOLD BY

ACTIONS: LIVE HOLY, BE RADICAL… DO NOT BE ASHAMED. IT IS THESE That are not hidden but expose their faith for all to see. Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”

Be faithful to live out and speak out

ATTITUDE: It is a privilege, do you view it this way? Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” Acts 5:41 “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” 1 Peter 4:13 “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

[Transition]

Trial for the beasts

Daniel 7:10 “The court sat, And the books were opened.” Daniel 7:22 “until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” Daniel 7:26 “‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.”

>> This is the end of your persecution.... and the beginning of our eternal triumph.

3. The TRIUMPH

Daniel 7:22 “until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.”

Character of God:

God is eternal and all-wise

God is pure and holy

He is majestic and worthy of all worship - while the kings of the earth are subduing people and demanding worship, only God is worthy and has p raise that never ends.

He limits the beasts // He causes them to arise… he desposes of them.

God is faithful to fulfill his promises - what’s the sign of this?

The resurrection - the Son of Man.

Ephesians 1:20-22 “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”

It is this Son of Man who can keep us until the end.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How do we take hold of this?

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Serve in concentric circles

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”

>> War has been won, but we must still fight.// Some of you live defeated.

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”