The Ending Has Been Written

Dan 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.’

 When you don’t know everything, trust the One who does.

• Daniel was anxious and alarmed by the visions that he saw. So, his limited understanding created an anxiety and dread within him. I think that is true of most of us. The fear of the unknown.
• In his vision Daniel approached one of the angels gathered around the throne of the Ancient of Days and asked him to explain the truth of what he was seeing. God graciously permitted the angel to make known to Daniel the interpretation. But, as we are going to see, it was an incomplete interpretation because Daniel still did not understand everything he was seeing.
• The initial interpretation serves as a summary. I believe we need to lean into these two verses because when we can’t fully understand everything else that is revealed in places like Daniel or Revelation or Ezekiel, we can grasp the truth of what we’ve been told in these verses.

 The Point: (Because Jesus rules and reigns, those who belong to Him will win!)

• These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
• But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.
• The lion, bear, leopard, and fourth beast are all temporary earthly kingdoms that God raises up for specific purposes.
• The kingdom that was given to the “one like a son of man” (Jesus) is given t0 the saints of the Most High to receive and to possess.
• Just as in Adam we all inherit a sin nature and death and live in a worldly kingdom, so in Christ we will inherit a righteous nature and life and an eternal kingdom.
• Col 1:9-14 (ESV) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Dan 7:19-22 [19] “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, [20] and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. [21] As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

• 7:19-22 is Daniel’s summary of the vision of the fourth beast and the little horn
• Daniel wanted to dig in a little more. He needed to know the truth about—
• The fourth beast:
  • Different from all the kingdoms
  • Exceedingly terrifying
  • Teeth of iron and claws of bronze (new feature not described earlier)
  • Devouring (the whole earth) (v. 23)
    • Breaking it to pieces
    • Stamping out what was left from the other three kingdoms
  • With ten horns
  • An eleventh horn rises that three of the original horns fall before:
    • A kingdom with eyes and a mouth that speaks arrogant, boastful, blasphemous things.
    • This kingdom becomes greater than the other kingdoms.
    • This kingdom makes war with the saints (persecution) and prevails over them (is victorious for a time).
  • Until the Ancient of Days came!
    • Judgment was given for the saints of the Most High
    • The time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

Dan 7:23-28 [23] “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. [24] As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. [25] He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. [26] But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. [27] And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ [28] “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

The Interpretation:

• Highlighted within this chapter is the reality of two kingdoms. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world.
• The kingdom of God will be victorious.
• The kingdom of this world will be destroyed.
• Every interpretation must be firmly fixed on that reality. Do not get sidetracked on other things that we might not be able to fully understand.
• The fourth beast:
  • Which shall be different from all the kingdoms.
  • It shall devour the whole earth.
  • Trample it down.
  • Break it to pieces.
• The ten horns:
  • Out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise.
• The eleventh horn:
  • He shall arise after the ten.
  • He will be different from the other kings.
  • He will put down three of the previous kings.
  • He will speak words against the Most High (blasphemy)
  • He will wear out the saints of the Most Hight (persecution)
  • He will think to change the times and the law (suppression of religious worship)
  • They (the saints) will be given into his control for a period of time (possibly 3 ½ years)
• The Ancient of Days:
  • But the court shall sit in judgment.
  • (judgment will be given for the saints of the Most High)
  • His (little horn) dominion shall be taken away to be consumed and destroyed to the end (forever).
  • The kingdom and dominion of the Most High is eternal and universal.

What are the implications of this passage for us now?

• Because the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man reign—we are victorious!
• The saints receive and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever!
• There is a connection made throughout this passage between the Lord and his saints. Those who are in Christ stand forgiven, redeemed, rescued, and righteous. The Lord reigns. All authority belongs to Jesus in heaven and on earth—now and in the future. Our sins have been judged at the cross and one day Satan and his kingdom will be judged.
• Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the throne room of God, the Lord and judge of all the earth.
• Because we live in the kingdom of God we must expect suffering.
  • Sinclair Ferguson “the forces of hell will not prevail against it (kingdom of God), but they will do all in their limited power to overwhelm the saints. Suffering of one kind or another is integral to being a Christian.
  • We can expect suffering and we can endure suffering because we know that suffering is not worth comparing to the eternal joy that is ours now and forever.