Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.gracespringfield.com/sermons/64642/20241020_daniel/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] All right, let's turn to the book of Daniel, chapter 7. You know, as we get into this, and if you've opened up the newspaper this week or watched television this week, it might seem that this time is really happening as we speak with all the stuff that's going on in this world today, especially over there in the Middle East. [0:34] My goodness, you've got Iran actually putting rockets into Israel, Israel actually firing rockets back. You've got, what will happen, Lebanon fired rockets that actually hit the, what's his name? [0:55] Now, who? Yat-Nu. He hit his house yesterday. So things are really getting hot over there. And, you know, it seems like since 1948, you know, Israel has been doing nothing but fighting these countries around them. [1:15] Now, Iran, you know, when they first came there in 1948, Iran was for them. It wasn't until, what, 1997? That war, and then, what's the guy's name that took over? [1:31] Anyway, he started making Iran a terrorist-type country. And they've hated Israel ever since. But it's funny, they don't actually go at Israel. They go to these countries surrounding Israel to get them to go to Israel. [1:46] But now it seems like they're getting to the place where they're going to start doing some of their own stuff. So, you know, it's getting close. It's getting closer is all we can say to the things that's going on, and we see it every day. [2:00] So, it's interesting times. So, let's get back into chapter 7. I'm going to start with, go back to verse 2. [2:21] Daniel said, I was looking in a vision at night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea, and four beasts were coming up. For them to see different from one another. [2:34] What Daniel sees in this dream is highly poetic. These images are not recordings of literal events. These are prophecies about nations that will arise in the future. [2:46] And we've seen that, and we also are still seeing it. Daniel's visions include four animal-like creatures representing kingdoms. From the Mediterranean area, Babylon was represented by the lion, Medo-Persia by the bear. [3:04] Greece was depicted by the leopard. These correspond to the nations we've seen in Nebuchadnezzar's dream back in chapter 2. So, today we're going to start looking at the fourth beast. [3:15] We covered the other three the last time we spoke. So, verse 7 and 8. After this, I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible and extremely strong, and it had large iron teeth. [3:36] It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with his feet, and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and the three of their previous horns were plucked out before it. [3:56] And behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boast. I'll go ahead and continue with the rest of the verses. [4:08] Verse 7 and 9. I kept looking until the thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. [4:21] His throne was ablaze with flames. Its wheels were burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands were serving him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before him. [4:37] The court convened, and the books were opened. Verse 11. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking, and I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. [4:56] Verse 12. As for the rest of the beast, their domain was taken away, but an extension of time or life was granted to them for an important period of time. [5:08] Now these verses have a... They're going to start out with this fourth beast, who is very different from the rest of them, and then have this little horn coming out, and blasphemy and all the kind of things that's going to happen then, which we're probably going to see at the end times also. [5:28] And then we see the heavens opened up, and God coming about, and then eventually we're going to see Jesus Christ coming. [5:39] And in Revelation we see that the beast is taken care of. And so it's great times. So the fourth beast. [5:50] Verse 7 again. After this I looked in the night visions, and behold the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible and extremely strong. The fourth beast, dreadful and terrible. [6:01] This beast is different from the preceding three, and so terrible in appearance that Daniel hardly could find the words to describe it. The distinguishing feature of its power which it possesses of breaking and stamping out all that it meets. [6:18] In this way it corresponds to the iron that breaks. And we see that also in Daniel chapter 2. And it should be noticed that the horns imply strength, while the ten horns correspond to the ten tongues of the image, or the toes of the image of the dream also in chapter 2. [6:39] So you see how all these visions and dreams, all this stuff all ties back to Alexander and the dreams that he had about the future things that was going to happen. [6:51] The fourth creature is not associated with any specific animal. It is wholly unique and unlike the others. Daniel will provide more details about this as we go on. [7:03] The fourth beast, we can come to the conclusion, is probably the Roman Empire, which came in two parts. The first Roman Empire was represented by the legs of the iron there in chapter 2. [7:17] And we've seen that. It was hysterically true. We've seen Rome and it went about until A.D. 27, years after that. And the revival of the Roman Empire is represented by the clay and the iron. [7:31] And it is as yet still future kingdom coming. And we'll be talking more about that. The New Testament and other records attest to the Romans' merciless persecution of Christians. [7:46] And Peter's referenced to the fiery trial that lay ahead for the Christians, like it refers to the emperors of Rome. Burning the Christians at stakes, the empire was known for its merciless conquest. [8:00] Rome conquered the whole breadth of the Mediterranean world. And all the territories ruled by the former empires. And we can see, if you had a map up here, the Mediterranean area, Alexander the Great, they had this small area. [8:21] And then the Medes came in, they grew. And then the Greeks came in, it even grew more. And now with Rome, they took over that whole Mediterranean area and even parts into Europe. [8:34] So the areas that we're talking about has grown. And now we're talking about the big area that Rome had. And now we're talking about Europe. [8:47] And if we go into the end times, the European Union, and I think we can see that probably Rome will become part of this end times scenario again. [9:00] Daniel chapter 7, 8. While I was thinking about the ten horns, behold, another horn, a little horn, came up among them. And three of the previous horns were plucked out before it. And behold, his horn possessed eyes like human eyes and a mouth uttering great boast. [9:16] Daniel can only get to describe it as horrifying and powerful. Daniel sees this little horn emerge from the other ten with the eyes and the mouth and the boasting and the big talk. [9:31] And later, this is going to turn into blasphemy against God. And as it arises, three of the existing horns are torn out and uprooted. And the human eyes imply human intelligence and also the speaking. [9:48] So their human eyes indicate the sharpness, foresight, and the cunning of this power. And the mouth speaking great and preposterous things. [10:00] What does that sound like? Back then, Daniel was looking at all this stuff and just going, Wow, what in the world is going on? I think today, we can tie this all back to Revelation and all the things that's prophesied that's going to happen when the Antichrist comes and Satan and all the stuff that's going to happen in the future. [10:22] So, if we look at 2 Thessalonians 2, we can see that it reads, That this, the one who's coming, is in accord with the activity of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders. [10:47] The little horn emerges from the fourth beast, a fact that suggests that at the end times, there will be a revival of the old Roman Empire again. This restoration, whatever form it takes, will feature in correlation of the ten world leaders. [11:04] The Antichrist will make his move to the top of the, at the expense of the three of those leaders, and he will eventually yield global authority, a true tyrant. [11:16] The Antichrist will seek to control every aspect of life. He will even demand to be worshipped. And this is the same things that Daniel's seeing here in his dream about the little horn that comes out of the ten horns. [11:33] So, this little horn is the same as the first beast in Revelation 13. The beast in Revelation also has ten horns, and like the little horn of Daniel's fourth beast, John's beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies. [11:49] It opens its mouth to blasphemy God and to slander his name. Let's turn to Revelation. Kind of keep your hand between Daniel and Revelation, because we're going to go back and forth today. [12:01] Go to Revelation 13. And we're looking at verses 5 and 6. [12:16] Revelation 13, 5 and 6. So, the Antichrist of days, Daniel has seen the vicious beast rising from the sea, and the little horn that uproops others. [12:46] Now he sees a vision of God in his heavenly courtroom. God is in control, and far above the beasts and the powers of the earth and the sea. So, now Daniel chapter 7, verse 9. [12:59] Now I looked up until the thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like a pure wool. [13:12] His throne was ablaze with flames, and the swells were burning with fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from him. Thousands upon thousands were serving him, and marriage upon marriage were standing before him. [13:26] The court convened, and the books were opened. Now as we watched the scene change, he found himself looking into another world, the very throne room of the universe, into heaven itself. [13:41] It's an awe-inspiring, lofty sight as he watched the imposing figure of the Ancient of Days taking his place on the throne that looked like a blazing fire. Wow. [13:52] Wow. This stuff in the End Days is just amazing, the pictures that they're painting here. The imagery used in this passage is rich with symbolism, each detail carrying profound meaning. [14:08] The title Ancient of Days highlights God's eternal nature and wisdom, emphasizing his timeless existence and infinite knowledge. As thrones are set in place, we see the establishment of divine authority judgment and a reminder that God's reign is supreme and his justice unwavering. [14:30] Nothing is going to happen that God's going to let happen. He's in charge. He's in control. All the things we've seen past and coming future is in his control, and he is unwavering in his. [14:45] The description of God's clothing as white as snow symbolizes his purity and his holiness, underscoring the flawless nature of his character. [14:57] The scene unfolds as the court is seated and the books are opened, signifying the commencement of divine judgment and a detailed review of human deeds. This imagery evokes a sense of accountability and underscores the importance of a living in alignment with God's standards. [15:18] Now, you've got to remember, this is Daniel is seeing this vision, and he's talking about future events. He's not really talking about what's happening at this time with Daniel. [15:30] He's talking about something that's way in the future, and we can see all this happening as we unfold it, as we go into Revelation. The throne had wheels that were on fire, and a river of fire flowed out of it. [15:44] No attempt is made to describe the one on the throne. We are simply told the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. [15:55] The throne's head wheels that were on fire, and a river flowed out of it. Hebrews 12, 29 says, For our God is a consuming fire. [16:07] Consuming fire is a theme of God's holiness from the time of his appearance to Moses and the people of God in the wilderness. We see in Exodus 3, an angel of Jehovah appeared to him in a flame, a fire out of the midst of a bush, and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. [16:28] So there was nothing that God cannot do. His throne is the place of an awesome justice. Flowing from him is that river of fire. His court of advisors and the servants who wait on him is numbered in the millions. [16:43] Revelation now, chapter 5, verse 11. Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders, and the number of them was myriads upon myriads, and thousands upon thousands. [17:05] This is no earthly court. It is the court of the heavenly king. His chiefs of visors are seated on the thrones that have been placed. The books were opened for judgment to take place according to what is written concerning the kingdoms represented by these beasts years and years past. [17:27] The literary set in judgment, the books are records of what people have done or good that they have done. We'll see the scene reflected all this in Revelation. [17:38] The presidents of the prime ministers and princes of the world may think that they are accountable to no one, and we've seen this all through history also, haven't we? But Daniel 7, we glimpsed the awesome judgment of these seemingly invincible powers. [17:56] I think it's amazing that Daniel saw this vision way back when he does, and now we're talking 2,000, 3,000 years later, and these things have still not taken place, and he's talking about all these empires that was there, and now he's talking about this current situation and world that we live in today, which includes the Middle East, the Europe, and us, and all the things that's going back and forth. [18:23] It's amazing. Daniel 7, 11, and then I looked because of the sound of the beast, boastful words, which the horn was speaking, and I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. [18:42] Verse 12, as for the rest of the beast, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an important period of time. This directly associates the judgment mentioned in verse 10 with blasphemy. [18:58] These corrupt words were spoken by the little horn, which came from the fourth beast in Daniel's vision. Daniel sees this fourth beast incinerated. [19:08] The others are spared temporarily to continue their allotted, limited time on earth. So I think this part of Daniel more likely points to the judgments recorded in Revelation 19. [19:24] There the beasts of the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. This judgment will mark the end of times of the Gentiles that began with Nebuchadnezzar. [19:38] We're coming to these end times here. As concerning the rest of the beast, they had their dominion taken away. They were superseded or they no longer experienced power. [19:49] They no longer appeared exerting control over the nations. They still existed, but they were subdued and quiet. They were not cut down or destroyed as the fourth beast will be. [20:03] Now, if you look back to 713, I kept looking in the night vision and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like the sun of days was presented before him. [20:17] And to him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom that all the people's nations and populations of all languages might serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. [20:37] So now we come to one of the most important passages in the book of Daniel for Christians since it's the source of Jesus' own self-title as the son of man and underlines Jesus' understanding of the kingdom of God, one of the major themes of his ministry. [20:55] This son of man who reigns over the kingdom of God is also the climax of Daniel's vision of the destruction of the beast nations. What Daniel sees next becomes a crucial imagery for Jesus' ministry in the New Testament. [21:12] The vision displays a heavenly figure approaching God, the Father. The newly arrived person is described as one like the son of man. This was understood as a reference to the Messiah that would be coming for the nation of Israel. [21:30] A promised one who would rescue Israel. During his earthly life, Jesus often referred to himself as the son of man, evoking this very prophecy. [21:42] The son of man is endowed with absolute power and authority over the entire earth. He is established as a ruler of an eternal, permanent kingdom. And we're going to see that happening now. [21:55] We know that Christ came. We know that he died on the cross. And now we know we're in this period between. But we will see him take the rule in the coming future. [22:09] So, as we go on, from this vision, Daniel has watched four beasts rise out of the stormy sea, each beast representing a kingdom that will rise and fall. The fourth beast has grown a horn that is boastful and blasphemous, representing the ruler that opposes the people. [22:27] Now, with all the earthly kings and kingdoms stripped of power and destroyed, God will put a new king and kingdom on the earth. Daniel again records that he continues looking in the night vision. [22:42] He sees an incredible, wonderful sight. And I can't imagine what Daniel is going through at this period. The new king is arriving with the clouds of heaven. [22:53] This king is like the son of man. His subjects are all the peoples of the nations and men of every language who will serve him. This new king is unlike any other king who comes before him. [23:05] While the first three beasts rose and fell on par, the new king will roll over an everlasting dominion and will not be taken away. This kingdom corresponds to the stone that was cut out of the mountain again, all the way back to Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar and his dream there in chapter 2. [23:27] That stone crushed the kingdoms of men represented by the statue and filled the entire earth. This indicates that the seasons of history will pass directly from the Roman era to the kingdom of God. [23:41] The son of man is the final king over the earth. His kingdom will last forever. He is, of course, Jesus the Christ. And we see this implied in Daniel 7 when we talk about the son of man. [23:57] This king will be human yet arrive with the clouds of heaven. This combination of man and God is only found in the person of Jesus Christ, the incarnate son of God and of man. [24:11] So Jesus proclaimed in himself and the mirrored imagery between Daniel 7 and Revelation confirmed that this is Christ coming into the glory of his kingdom. [24:24] And it is a final kingdom with the final king. It will not pass away. It will be enduring. Unlike kingdoms that come before it, it will not be destroyed. [24:36] The kingdom of Jesus will never be conquered and crushed. That's what will happen after this time that we see in Daniel that he's prophesied and what will happen in Revelation. [24:50] Now we turn to Daniel 7.15. Daniel's vision is interpreted. And this is pretty much just a rerun of what we've already covered. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. [25:08] I can understand why. I approached one of those who were standing by and began requesting of him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things. [25:23] So you see here that he is grieved in spirit. Daniel saw all this but did not really understand all that he saw and was troubled because of a lack of his understanding. [25:34] If somebody had just showed me all this stuff I know I would have been completely lost. And I think Daniel was the same way. It was just an amazing thing that he's seen here. [25:49] This being is not identified here. This being that now is going to explain this stuff to Daniel. However, in other parts of Daniel's writing, he has given specific information from the angel Gabriel. [26:02] So I think we can consider that this is probably Gabriel now talking to him also in chapter 7. In Luke 19, or 119 it said, the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. [26:23] Now that's in the New Testament. I think again Gabriel has been used all the way through the Bible as a person that would come when the angels. We're seeing here, we'll see also in Daniel, I think probably, well, I think 8, 9, and 10 and maybe 11 that Gabriel is going to be involved with these images that Daniel sees. [26:48] So though Daniel was given a great skill, he was not all-knowing. Sometimes the meaning of God's word's message was clear. In other cases, such as this, he needed to ask for special assistance. [27:04] This new vision made Daniel uneasy so he asked one of the nearby angelic beings for an explanation and it was explained to him. And I think, you know, today, we need things explained to us, don't we? [27:17] Sometimes we look at scripture and we say, ooh, this doesn't, it just, I can't interpret it. I don't know what it means. And that's why we have churches, that's why we have pastors, teachers, that's why we have teachers, you know, when we study God's word and we get confused, we go to somebody else to get the information, to make it come alive to you. [27:40] And when you study the scriptures, that's exactly what happens. You look at it, somebody else explains it, you go back and look at it, and then it becomes clearer and clearer until you understand what's going on. [27:53] So back to Daniel 7, 17, these great beasts, which are four in number and four kings who will rise from the earth, but the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever and ever. [28:11] So again, this vision and Gabriel was explaining to him what these four kings was all about and what this little horn that came out was all about. [28:23] So these are four kingdoms and they're kingdoms which Daniel saw in earlier dreams. When Daniel saw these creatures, he envisioned them coming out of the great sea. [28:34] The messenger speaking here says the symbols were the kings coming from the earth, and we saw that all the three and four kingdoms. This divine interpreter gives Daniel good news to go with the prior bad news. [28:50] These earthly human kingdoms will not last forever. Yet true believers in God will be given an eternal kingdom when the Messiah turns to the earth to establish a literal thousand year reign, and some of these saints will have survived the tribulation. [29:07] So again, back to Revelation chapter 7 verse 13. it says there, then one of the elders answered saying to me, these who are clothed in white robes, who are they, and where have they come from? [29:26] I said to him, my lord, you know, and he said to me, these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. [29:37] For this reason, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They will hunger no more or thirst any more, nor will the sun beat down on them nor any heat. [29:53] For the lamb is in the center of the throne and their shepherd and will guide them to the springs of water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. [30:09] God will be resurrected when the Messiah returns to earth, and God has temporarily set aside Israel as people until the fullness of the Gentiles have come. [30:21] We see this in Romans 11. We're in a time now where Israel is not in the picture. God is not with them. They've set them aside. [30:32] But as we go through history and we start going towards the future, we're going to see God will come back to the nation of Israel. But they've got a lot of things facing them before that happens. And a lot of the stuff that's facing them right now is all this stuff going on in the Middle East. [30:49] Every one of those countries over there hate Israel. And they're doing everything in their power to destroy Israel. And the wars that's going on, this war with Hasmas has been going on now for almost what, a year? [31:04] And now we see these other countries attacked in Israel, throwing rockets at them. You know, what's amazing to me is the technology we have today. [31:17] Iran and Lebanon fire all these rockets. And they have the technology that can knock these rockets out of the air before they even get there. So they are getting damaged, but they're not getting the damage that you would think would be there from all these rockets that are being fired. [31:35] So there's very interesting things going on in the world today, especially with the nation of Israel. Let's see where we're going to go here. [31:49] Daniel 7, 19. Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, was it different from all the other beasts, exceedingly dreadful with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured and crushed the temple down to the remainder with its feet. [32:07] And 7, 20, the meaning of this ten horns that were on its head, and the other horns which came up, and we've talked about those, and all he's doing here is explaining to Daniel, giving him more insight into what all these things meant. [32:23] So I'm just going to kind of skip through all those. We get down to verse 28 again. At this point, the revelation ended. [32:35] As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me, and my face became pale, and I kept the matter to myself. Through gift, gifted in dreams and vision, Daniel was fallible. [32:53] His recent vision made him unsettled and nervous. So he wisely asked one of the angelic angels to explain this thing that he has just been doing. The first three animals of Daniel, we saw about that. [33:05] The beast history, the final kingdom, conquers the previous Gentile kingdoms and shows no mercy as it does so. It mauls and crushes them with its bronze feet. [33:18] Imperial Rome, dominated as an empire, it showed no mercy as its powerful armies march across the country in the Mediterranean area. [33:29] Yet the government ruling during the end times will somehow be ever crueler. Its leader, one of the beasts, the Antichrist of the book of Revelation, will be empowered by Satan. This tyrant will demand absolute submission and worship and whoever refuses to worship him will not be allowed to buy or sell. [33:49] And that's the things that we see coming in the future. a story is told about a frantic call from a woman who had rented a house. She was screaming so loudly the owner could hardly understand her. [34:01] Get over here right away. There's swarming all over the place. It's horrible. It's just horrible, she wailed. When he arrived, he found this strapped woman sitting on the kitchen floor, surrounded by food that she was placing in containers in the cabinets. [34:16] She was near hysteria and kept pointing at the base of the cupboards and crying there are millions of them swarming all over my groceries. Then I turned on the light and it disappeared. [34:29] The exterminator was called and immediately to rid the place of the cockroaches. Now that's kind of a gross story to be telling, but it's like Satan. [34:41] Satan is like those cockroaches. He doesn't like to be revealed. When the light comes on and reveals him, he vanishes. And whenever someone turns the light on, on him exposing, he disguises, he takes cover, but he will also try to attack the people, reveal his tactics and his motives. [35:04] Even a bold man like Daniel was disturbed by what he saw in his dream, the fourth beast. And he comes right down to it. This fourth beast is nothing but the Satan and Antichrist that we're going to see in the future. [35:20] So Daniel 7, 20, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on his head and the other horns which came up before him, and the three horns fell, namely the horn which had the eyes and the mouth under a great boast which was larger in appearance than its associates. [35:37] And here we're thinking about Satan and the Antichrist and the things that's going to be going on there. Daniel's dream was distressing and needed explanation. [35:48] He asked for the interpreter to get his things and he observed all these things. Not surprisingly, Daniel was especially interested in that fourth beast which is Frightening Horn. [35:59] And it was most frightening prospect. The fourth beast with all its horrific power would not only fight but overcome the saints at that time. So far in the book of Daniel, when the statement threatened Daniel, or when the state threatened Daniel or his friends with death, God supernaturally intervened and delivered them. [36:23] And God reveals to Daniel that the three friends had been right in chapter three when they were thrown into the fiery furnace when they said that God may not always deliver his people from suffering or oppression. [36:36] powerful and ruthless enemies would arise one day, wage war against God's people to kill them. And that's what we see that's going on right now and we're going to see that in the future. [36:49] Those type of things going on. The Bible predicts no peace-loving world ruler for the last days. We can expect nothing more than greedy commercialism and political domination under the most beastly and bare body. [37:08] Right, I can't even pronounce that word. Anywhere, we're going to see warfare. All the countries concerned about is commercial Asian politics all over the place. [37:22] So explain verses 22 to 26. Earlier in his vision, Daniel saw God and referred to him as the ancient of days. He observed Jesus Christ being given power and authority by God the Father. [37:35] Through Daniel's dreams meant that God's people would be oppressed and persecuted. This would only be temporary condition. Describes the downfall of this leader and his followers. [37:48] The world leader symbolized by the little horn of a strange beast will not win ultimate victory in this fight for believers. Revelation 17.14 in case that the beast and his force forces attempt to make war against the Lord Jesus Christ and he will be conquered. [38:10] Psalm 2 predicts that the kings of the earth will declare war on God's son but God will laugh at their arrogant ambition. He will present the ends of the earth to his son and his possessions and his son will destroy the rebellious nations. [38:29] Now we get down to the end of this chapter and verse 27 then the sovereignty and domain and the generations of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the highest one. [38:43] His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all the empires will serve and obey him. all this bad news that we heard it's now finally coming down that the saints will live in peace because of what Jesus will do at that time. [39:02] Jesus promised that the saved Jews and Gentiles will inherit the kingdom of earth. Revelation 21 20 verse 1 this is kind of the end of the story here. [39:24] Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold of the dragon the serpent of old who is the devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years. [39:38] And we can take that back to Daniel meaning that little horn that came out. Revelation 23 and he threw him into the abyss shut it up and set it over him so that he would not receive or deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were complete. [39:55] After these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw the thrones and they sat on them and the judgment was given to them and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hand and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [40:21] The rest of the dead did not come to life until a thousand years was complete. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part the first resurrection and these the second death has no power but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. [40:42] The final verse and at this point their revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming. Me and my face became pale and I but I kept a matter to myself. [40:58] So although Daniel was deeply faithful to God, he was also human. His dream left him shaken and troubled and flushed both signs of emotional stress. [41:09] this had to be some kind of a thing for Daniel to go through. And really, this chapter seven, if you get into that and start reading, it becomes very confusing. [41:23] So you really got to look at it and I had a lot of trouble with it to come up with this. So it's a complicated chapter and we're going to see chapter eight. [41:36] Next week we'll get into chapter eight and it's kind of complicated too. It's going to be talking about some guy that's going to come along and do all these things to Israel. But it's also going to point back to the end times and what we see with the Antichrist coming. [41:51] So where else in the Bible can read anything like this in chapter seven? Well, Revelation. It's all there. [42:04] So we've seen that in Revelation. We can go back, flip back and forth between Daniel seven and Revelation. You can see the similarities there. So any questions or comments about what we've covered today? [42:19] We've covered a lot. like I say, this stuff is kind of confusing as we go through it. But basically it comes down to the fact that during the end times that Daniel was prophesied, this small horn, Satan, is going to bring across and the Antichrist is going to come and we're going to be in that time of the seven years and we're going to see desolation upon desolations. [42:51] We're going to see the Antichrist destroying the temple just like we'll see next week in chapter eight of what going on there. And we get in chapter nine, we're going to see when all this time frame, the timings for it. [43:06] We're also going to see Psalm 83 and all the nations surrounding Israel and what we're seeing today. and so I look forward to doing some of that. [43:18] So any questions before we close? If not, have a good week. Paul. Cool.