Setting – Daniel’s vision of the beast and their raise and fall of power
Content – The four beasts, the lion, the bear, the leopard and the strange beast represents Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Roman. The little horn on the strange beast represents the anti-Christ. The Ancient-One represents God and Chris is (v. 13 NLT) “someone who looked like a man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.” The final kingdom in which Christ will rule last forever (v. 14 NLT) “He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal--it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”
The little horn will rage war with Israel (v. 21 NL) “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them” They will be under his control during the end of the tribulation for 3-1/2 years (v. 25 NLT) “He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.” But his end will come (v. 26 NLT) “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed” The saints will then rule with Christ forever (v. 27 NLT) “Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. They will rule forever, and all rulers will serve and obey them.”
Application – Daniel is a book about who truly rules. We see that God wants those he puts into power to acknowledge Him. This continues to the end with Christ, whom God gives power to finally rule forever. Christ is the only one who is a righteous ruler. All kingdoms from Daniel’s time raised and fell.
God is sovereign and He wants His creation to acknowledge this. We see this occurring in the book of Daniel with Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. We only exist because God decided it to be. It only makes sense that we humbly acknowledge this reality. But God gave his creation the freedom to acknowledge this or not. Furthermore, God gave His creation a way to be redeemed from their wrong decisions, that is, their sin. So not only did God create mankind, He provided a way for mankind to be redeemed from their incorrect decisions they make - sin, which means, missing the mark. So not only is God sovereign, He is merciful.
Content – The four beasts, the lion, the bear, the leopard and the strange beast represents Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Roman. The little horn on the strange beast represents the anti-Christ. The Ancient-One represents God and Chris is (v. 13 NLT) “someone who looked like a man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.” The final kingdom in which Christ will rule last forever (v. 14 NLT) “He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal--it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”
The little horn will rage war with Israel (v. 21 NL) “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them” They will be under his control during the end of the tribulation for 3-1/2 years (v. 25 NLT) “He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.” But his end will come (v. 26 NLT) “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed” The saints will then rule with Christ forever (v. 27 NLT) “Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. They will rule forever, and all rulers will serve and obey them.”
Application – Daniel is a book about who truly rules. We see that God wants those he puts into power to acknowledge Him. This continues to the end with Christ, whom God gives power to finally rule forever. Christ is the only one who is a righteous ruler. All kingdoms from Daniel’s time raised and fell.
God is sovereign and He wants His creation to acknowledge this. We see this occurring in the book of Daniel with Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. We only exist because God decided it to be. It only makes sense that we humbly acknowledge this reality. But God gave his creation the freedom to acknowledge this or not. Furthermore, God gave His creation a way to be redeemed from their wrong decisions, that is, their sin. So not only did God create mankind, He provided a way for mankind to be redeemed from their incorrect decisions they make - sin, which means, missing the mark. So not only is God sovereign, He is merciful.
Comments