Uncertainty
Hope in the Midst of Chaos
Daniel 7:1-28
Daniel is going back and reflecting upon his time with King Belshazzar. Why is he reflecting back? Well, the book of Daniel transitions from narrative to apocalyptic language. There is still narrative left, but you will see more mention of end times type language. Some of these kingdoms mentioned have come to fruition, some have not. What a time in history to see some of this unfolding right before our eyes! Christians will be emboldened to share Christ, non-believers will either remain blind or have the scales removed from their eyes! May this give us great courage today and for the rest of our days until Christ returns!
I. The Appearance of Terror (Daniel 7:15-21)
The Beast
1. Lion with eagle’s wings (v. 4) Babylon 626-539 BC
2. Bear (v.5) Medo-Persia 539-330 BC
3. Leopard with four wings and four heads (v.6) Greece 330-63 BC
4. Beast with 10 horns (vv.7-8, 21) some believe that the 10 horns symbolize the Roman Empire and that the little horn mentioned in verse 8 is possibly the Antichrist. We see this leading us to Revelation 13:7 “Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.” As a side note Rev. 13:16-18 talks about the mark of the beast. I do not believe the vaccine is the mark of the beast.
II. The Appointed Trial (Daniel 7:22-26) The Antichrist will be allowed to reign for a time period, but finally there will be an appointed trial. Listen to Revelation 19:20 “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
a. Ancient of Days (vv.13, 22) – God on His throne of judgment (vv. 13, 22)
b. The Son of Man (vv.13-14) – is used sixty-nine times in the synoptic Gospels and 12 times in John referring to Christ. Jesus used this title to refer to himself. (vv.13-14) Matthew 16:13 “…Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
c. The kingdom and dominion (vv.14, 27) – God’s Eternal Kingdom through Christ
Three main views of when the rapture will take place for the Church 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
Matthew 24:36-42, John 14:3
Millennial Reign– Some see this as a future earthly theocracy by which Christ will rule over the nations for a thousand years. Others see it as a time during which Christ will rule earth from heaven through the life-changing power of the Gospel. Still others look at it in another way. The different interpretations are based off of Revelation 20:1-10.
Four Main Views of the Millennial Reign of Christ
1. Dispensational Premillennialism– that Christ will come before a seven-year period of intense tribulation to take His church (living and dead) into heaven. After this period of fulfillment of divine wrath, He shall then return to rule from a holy city (i.e., the New Jerusalem) over the earthly nations for one thousand years. After these thousand years, Satan, who was bound up during Christ’s earthly reign, will be loosed to deceive the nations, gather an army of the deceived, and take up to battle against the Lord.
2. Premillennialism– place the return of Christ just before the millennium and just after a time of great apostasy and tribulation. After the millennium, Satan will be loosed and Gog and Magog (Ezek) will rise against the kingdom of God; this will be immediately followed by the final judgment. Most premillennialists divide the rapture and second coming into two events.
3. Postmillennialism– believes that the millennium is an era (not a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from an literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives. After this gradual Christianization of the world, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked. This is called postmillennialism because, by its view, Christ will return after the millennium.
4. Amillennialism– believes that the Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ’s resurrection at which point he gained victory over both Satan and the Curse. Christ is even now reigning at the right hand of the Father over His church. After this present age has ended, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked.
The Best Verse about End Times Prophecy
Ecclesiastes 3:2 “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
III. The Absolute Truth (Daniel 7:27-28)
The absolute truth is that we know who will reign forever, Christ! This is hope in the midst of Chaos!
Revelations 22:6-21
