Peace for the End Times

Before I start asking questions, think about movies and book series which deal with end times. I’m sure you can come up with a few which are based on what we know from the Bible, but there are also some which have nothing to do with scripture, but would point towards end time events.

Why do you think this is such a popular topic for entertainment?

What underlying fears or questions about the end of the world do these movies, books, or shows highlight?

Because people are always wondering about what their future holds, there will always be a lot of movies, TV show, and books which will deal with this subject. For the Christian, our beliefs about end times shouldn’t focus on death and destruction, but on life and beginning. The prophecies which are offered in Daniel 7 & 8, we see the promised eternal kingdom where we will dwell which is made possible through Jesus. While we wait for this to happen, we can trust God is in control of it all.

Daniel 7:1–12 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. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 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. 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.

These verses describe the first vision God gave Daniel about the end times. What stands out to you from the vision recorded in these verses?

This set of scriptures greatly resemble those which were shared in Chapter 2 in the statue which King N saw.

The first beast represents the Babylonian Kingdom.

The second represents the Medo-Persian Kingdom.

The third represents the Greek Kingdom.

The fourth represents the Roman Empire.

The little horn mentioned which was grown from the head of the fourth beast will be the Anti-Christ who will come later in time.

The four beasts and the little horn remind us that evil is very real and present in our world.

How should the presence of evil, and the fact that it will continue to exist until Jesus returns, impact the way we live each day?

We know evil will be with us throughout all the time which is spent here on this earth. Eventually, Jesus is going to return, and the evil we deal with day in and day out will be destroyed and will be no more. Those who work for evil purposes, those kingdoms which represent evil will be thrown into the fiery pit and will be demolished. The True King will take His throne, and we will worship Him forevermore. While we don’t like the evil, we know as Christians, we will ultimately triumph.

How did Daniel describe God in these verses?

White, pure

How does the way Daniel describes God inspire confidence?

All of this describes God as being in control of it all. We don’t need to fret about how things are going to end up for us. He will one day conquer everything evil.

Why was it important for Daniel to remember that God is the supreme Judge?

It was important for Daniel to remember this so he knew that God would triumph over all the kingdoms and empires which were shown to him. It was important for the Israelites to see this as well. They were in the middle of an exile from their homeland. For them to know prophecy showed they would one day return gave them hope.

Why is it important for us?

It is the same for us. We may not have the huge empires which are ruling over the world, but we can see the evil which is in it. Knowing one day God is going to conquer all of evil gives us hope for something higher and better to come.

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.

How do these verses describe Jesus, the Son of Man?

Let’s read Mark 14:61-62 to help us see this as well.

Mark 14:61–62 ESV

61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

These verses highlight the lordship of Jesus over God’s kingdom.

How do we acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives?

I think we acknowledge it through trying to follow what has been provided to us through scripture and through the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I think we try and live lives which would please Him out of our love for Him.

Why is it important to submit ourselves to the lordship of Christ?

It is through submitting to Him we demonstrate how we love Him. It is really about the only thing we can do to demonstrate it. While we don’t want to do it out of trying to pay back what He did for us, we do want to do it out of pure love.

How does the lordship of Christ provide clarity in a tumultuous world?

We know He is in control even when things seem to be upside down. We know He has a plan. We know He has had a plan from the very beginning of time.

How does God’s sending Jesus (either the first or second time) inspire confidence in His sovereignty and power over our world and lives?

We know He has been in control from the very beginning and will always be in control. You’d like to say until the very end, but there is no end. We have to accept the fact He has always and always will be in control.

Daniel 7:15–18 ESV

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 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.’

How did the revelation of end time events leave Daniel in 7:15-18?

Distressed and concerned.

Why was he so distressed in spirit?

I think part of it might have been age. Through his visions, he wasn’t clear on what was going to happen to his people. They had been in captivity for so long. He was hoping his visions might be able to see an end of these for them.

What encouraging message did Daniel receive that strengthened his distressed spirit?

The interpretation was that one day Isreal would return to her home land and her kingdom. I imagine this settled his spirit greatly to know this would happen one day.

How does that same message sustain us today?

We also know one day there will be a kingdom which will be established for all eternity. This should give us hope even in the middle of the trials we may be facing.

Questions to think about:

How do you reconcile the sovereignty of God with the presence of evil?

How can faith in Jesus give you confidence concerning the presence of evil and the certainty of the end times?

How does being obedient to the will of God prepare us for the end of days?