The Defeat of the Final Evil Ruler (Daniel 7:19-28)
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CPT: A final evil ruler will arise and oppress God’s people, but his kingdom will end and God’s kingdom will remain forever.
Purpose: Comfort in God’s control over the events of time.
CPS: God’s kingdom will end the kingdom of Antichrist.
Introduction
Attention
Illustration (September 11): This is the 21st anniversary of 9/11. I can’t believe it was 21 years ago! It feels like yesterday. They say, “Never Forget,” and for anyone that lived through that, it was a definitely a day you won’t ever forget.
On 9/10/2001, I was in mid-town Manhattan, interviewing for a job at HSBC Bank. I took the train there, interviewed, and went home. It was a normal day like any day in Manhattan, overcrowded and constantly in a rush.
On 9/11/2001, I woke up, got in my car, and drove towards Queens. I was on the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx, and from where I was, I could see the Twin Towers at the end of Manhattan. Now, I’d seen these buildings my whole life. They were part of the skyline. But today, there was smoke coming out of the buildings.
I turned on 1010 Wins, which was the news radio station in the car, and it sounded like the end of the world on the radio. People were reporting and sounding frantic. Then, as I was looking down at the radio, I heard the radio announcer start screaming, “The buildings fell down!” I looked up, and the end of Manhattan was full of a cloud of smoke.
I ended up getting the job that I interviewed for on 9/10. My first day was that Friday. I had to go down to 42nd St for training. I walked to the building for my training. On my way back, I was struck by the massive amount of evil that had happened on 9/11. Hundreds of missing flyers were plastered all over 42nd St of the people who were missing from the Twin Towers.
Overnight, an evil that was in one part of the world was now global. There was a ruler, a guy with followers, who sent his evil across the globe.
It’s interesting of where we are today in the Bible. The Bible tells us about a final evil ruler who will come up during the end times. The Bible calls him the antichrist.
What does the Bible say about this final evil ruler, and how will his rule come to an end? We will look at that in Daniel 7, starting in verse 19.
Scripture Reading
19 “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that looked bigger than the others.
21 As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them
22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.
25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.
27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
Pray
Filler.
Transition
A final evil ruler will come at the end of the age.
A final evil ruler will come at the end of the age.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
Text: Dan. 7:19-20; Rom. 11:25
Filler.
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The nature of the fourth beast
Daniel is especially interested in the fourth beast, which was different than the first three. He says this in verse 19.
19 “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that looked bigger than the others.
Here is this picture of the fourth beast:
Different from all the others
Extremely terrifying, iron and bronze, terrifying
Ten horns, little horn
We discussed last week that this beast is the empire of Rome.
Romans conquered Alexander’s empire through what became known as the “iron legions” of Rome.
Author HC Leupold states, “The Roman legions were noted for their ability to crush all resistance with an iron heel.”
John’s description in Revelation shows this beast as having parts of the first three, which Rome assimilated the areas of the first three empires into its large empire
We learn about the ten horns that they represent ten kings/kingdoms that will arise out of the fourth beast. We did not see that happen with Rome. I believe that is because of the time period we are in.
Where are we in relation to the fourth beast? - The time of the Gentiles
The Bible describes the period we are in as a mystery. Christianity is a Jewish religion. It is the fulfillment of everything that was promised to the Jews. It centers on a Jewish Messiah, who came to bring the promised kingdom of God to the Jews.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time in Acts. We saw in Acts that the Jews are surprised by what they are seeing. Gentiles are embracing the King of the Jews, the Messiah! Take a look at how Paul describes this in Romans 11:25:
25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
“The fullness of the Gentiles”: We are in this prophetic gap in time, the church age. This age started in Acts 2, at the birth of the church, and it is this gap where Gentiles, people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, are coming to the King of the Jews, the Messiah.
Jesus uses a term in Luke 21:24 where he says, “the times of the Gentiles.” Peter says in Acts 15:14: God is taking “from the Gentiles a people for his name.” Jesus says in John 10:16 that he has other sheep not from this sheep pen, “I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
This is a special time in God’s plan. The gates are open. It is a time for people to come to Jesus, the Messiah, and to be a part of his kingdom. It is the time of the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit is working in the church to bring people everywhere to Jesus, the promised Messiah.
The Bible is clear that this age will end. The time to go through the door is now, because this time is coming to a close.
The nature of the revived Roman Empire
The world will see some form of a revived Roman Empire with worldwide dominance and an evil ruler that comes to power. Look at verses 23 to 24.
23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24 The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.
This tells us a bit of the fourth kingdom, some things which have not happened yet, but will happen in the future.
“Devour the whole earth”: There will be some form of a one world government. This may have seemed technologically impossible in the past, but the speed of information is making this more likely.
Conglomeration of ten kingdoms: This one world government will have a conglomeration of ten kingdoms that rise up.
A final evil ruler will arise and subdue three of these kingdoms.
The Bible clearly lays a map for us of what is to come. Whenever you are dealing with prophecy, you let the text mean what it means. You don’t attempt to add to it, and don’t take anything away from it. God says exactly what he intends to say.
People get in trouble when they attempt to speculate and read the current headlines into the text. But when Jesus came, he fulfilled quite literally what the Bible said hundreds of years before him. When he came, people could then see and say, “God predicted all of this years ago in the prophets!”
The prophecies of the Bible are true. The only ones left to show as true are the ones dealing with the future. As world events unfold, there will once again be that point where people say, “Look, the Bible predicted this years ago!”
Heading: Prophecy is kind of like a telescope looking out into the distance. Last year, they launched the James Webb Telescope. This telescope is stronger than any telescope that has been launched into space. It’s infrared and position in space allows it to see things farther away and with more clarity than ever before!
I remember reading about it in the news, and was excited to see the pictures that it would bring. So far, we’ve gotten a few pictures from that telescope that are incredible. I have one of the pictures as the wallpaper on my computer. It has these beautiful reds and oranges, through this mist, and you can see all of the stars glowing through this mist. It’s incredible.
Prophecy is kind of like a telescope. We couldn’t see with the naked eye these things that are far away. But prophecy allows us to see things that are still a distance away. Now, these things could be near or far. But the point is that God is telling us what is just ahead, so that when it happens, we will know that God is true and he has all things in control.
We know that a final evil ruler, whom the Bible calls the Antichrist, or man of lawlessness, will come at the end of the church age. This next point is key.
The final evil ruler will be defeated by the return of Christ.
The final evil ruler will be defeated by the return of Christ.
State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point
Text: Dan. 7:25; 2 Thess. 2:3-4; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; Rev. 13:5-7; Dan. 7:22, 26; 2 Thess. 2:7-8; Dan. 7:27; Rev. 20:4-6
Filler.
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The identification of the little horn
Daniel gets curious about the little horn. Who was this person? The angel from God who revealed this to Daniel told him that it was an evil king or ruler who would make other kingdoms submit to him. Look at how the angel describes the final evil ruler in Daniel 7:25.
25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.
This final evil ruler will consider himself like God.
He will speak words against the Most High
He will oppress God’s people, the Jews
He will change religious festivals and laws
He will oppress the Jewish nation for a time, times, and half a time, which we learn in other places is three and a half years.
Paul talks about this final evil ruler in a letter that he wrote to the church in Thessalonica. The church was concerned that the final resurrection of the dead saints of God had occurred, that Christ had returned.
Paul assured them that was not the case. They would know of God’s return because the final evil ruler, who he calls the man of lawlessness, must first appear. He describes this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4:
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.
You can hear the description of the little horn in Paul’s description of the man of lawlessness.
The little horn in Daniel 7:
Speaks arrogant words against the Most High
Changes religious laws and festivals, in essence changing the word of God and his instruction
The man of lawlessness:
opposes and exalts himself above God
sits in God’s temple, proclaiming himself as God
The apostle John warns as well about a coming antichrist. He says in 1 John 2:18:
18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.
He warns that the time is near because of a spirit of antichrist in the world, which still goes on today. Look at 4:3:
3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.
This is a message in the early church: the antichrist is coming. Know that the time is near.
The activity of the antichrist - waging war against God’s people
But what will the antichrist do? We’ve seen some of that already. He will sit in God’s temple, proclaim himself to be God, change religious laws to fit himself, and speak arrogant words against God. Look at what else in Daniel 7:21:
21 As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them
The antichrist will use his worldwide power to attack and wage war against the Jewish people. You see this as well in Revelation 13:5-7:
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
6 It began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven.
7 And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.
This demonic ruler will blaspheme God, have authority for three and a half years, attack God’s people in Israel and conquer it, and he will have authority over all of the earth.
The final evil ruler is defeated by the coming of Christ
The rule and reign of this final evil ruler will seem unstoppable. He will have a world-wide dictatorship. It will seem like no one can defeat him. But he will be stopped. God will step in. Look at Daniel 7:21-22:
21 As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them
22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.
The one he blasphemed will be the one who is his final judge. Look at verse 26:
26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.
His dominion will be destroyed because God is the ultimate authority. No matter what we think or say, there is only one who is on the throne! Look at how God stops the antichrist. It is through the return of Christ to the earth. Turn to 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8:
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,
8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming.
Isn’t that powerful? The Lord Jesus will return to earth with great power and glory. He will stop the antichrist in his tracks and bring him to judgment. When Jesus returns, he returns in judgment, destroying the antichrist, and fulfilling the final promise to God’s people of his kingdom.
The coming of Christ will bring in the millennial kingdom where the saints will reign with Christ.
The return of the Messiah will usher in the millennial kingdom, where Christ will rule and reign on the earth. It will be on earth as it is in heaven. Look at Daniel 7:27:
27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’
At his coming, the promise to Israel of a kingdom is fulfilled. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus when he would restore the kingdom to Israel. At his second coming, the Lord will rule and reign in the millennial kingdom.
Daniel saw that God’s people will reign with the Lord. As it was in the garden, God’s people will exercise the rule they were supposed to have over the earth from the beginning. You also see this in Revelation 20:4-6:
4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
The bodily resurrection of God’s saints will happen will happen at the coming of Christ. The saints of God will serve the Lord in his kingdom.
Heading: This past Thursday, I got to meet with some members from our church and share a vision for this community. We want to reach our community for Christ. We want more people to know God and to be a part of his family through faith in Christ.
God has us in this place for his purpose. There is a service that we have for God right here in Paradise Hills.
How amazing would it be to know that because of the ministry of Catalyst Church in Paradise Hills, because of what God did here through the good news of Jesus, there will be people resurrected at the second coming of Christ because they responded to the gospel at Catalyst Church.
We are living at a time that is coming to an end. The Holy Spirit is working, and he is bringing people to Christ. Because of the cross, we can have a new life in Christ and be ready for him at his second coming. We should be people living in expectancy, ready for his return. Even now, come Lord Jesus!
Conclusion
A final evil ruler will come at the end of the age.
The final evil ruler will be defeated by the return of Christ.
Conclude
Have you heard the message today and realized that you need Jesus? Are you ready to put your faith in Jesus? We want to pray with you, and celebrate your new life. Please see one of our pastors after the service.
Blanks:
Prayer
Last Song
Doxology
24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’
24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.
You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!
