Session Thirteen: Daniel God s Triumph over the Nations Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New King James Version. I. TWO KEY PASSAGES IN DANIEL: A. In studying eschatology, it is vital that we understand chapters 7 and 9 of the book of Daniel. 1. These passages involve the unfolding of God s plan for: a. The victory of the saints over the evil kingdoms of man, which will be orchestrated by the Ancient of Days; b. The fruit of that victory the saints being established as the ones who will govern the earth alongside God s chosen Messiah; and c. The ultimate completion of God s redemptive plan for mankind and His preparation of them for this destiny. 2. Many theologians call these chapters the two most important chapters in the Old Testament. Together they form the big picture of what God intends to do on the earth and explain how each person fits into that big picture. II. VISION OF THE FOUR BEASTS AND THE ANCIENT OF DAYS DANIEL 7 A. This vision took place in 553 B.C., the first year of Belshazzar and nine years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was approximately sixty years old. B. The four Beasts represented the four kingdoms of the earth that had achieved the pinnacle of human power and might, and that ruled over the majority of the earth s population: 1. The First Beast: the winged lion represented Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler who was humbled by God, and who, in response, ruled with a true heart and received honor from God as a result. 2. The Second Beast: the devouring bear was Medo-Persia. After Medo-Persia devoured the three ribs of Media, Lydia, and Babylon (the three major empires of the day), it went on to engage in greater conquest and dominion, and eventually possessed more territory than any empire in history.
Session 13 Daniel and the End of the Age Page 2 3. The Third Beast: the leopard with wings, four heads, and divine authority to rule represented Greece. With unprecedented swiftness, Alexander the Great conquered what some consider to have been 90 percent of the known world at that time. This empire stretched from Greece and Egypt to as far east as India, and was eventually broken up into four parts after Alexander s death. a. Antipater and Cassander ruled Greece/Macedonia. b. Lysimachus ruled Thrace and most of Asia Minor. c. Seleucus ruled Syria, Babylon, and most of the Middle East. d. Ptolomy ruled Egypt and Palestine. 4. The Fourth Beast: the terrifying beast that was unlike any of the others in scope, power, longevity and cruelty was Rome. 5. The ten horns/little horn stood for the empire that emerged from the fourth beast, which was dominated by the little horn (Daniel 7:8) the Antichrist. The horn had eyes, which indicated it represented a man of great intelligence, perceptiveness and insight; the mention of its mouth referred to the frightening blasphemies that that man would speak against God. C. The Ancient of Days is the One who is seated on the true throne and who effortlessly exercises His dominion over the events taking place on earth: 1. The four winds of heaven (Daniel 7:2) churn the seas (the nations of the earth). God orchestrates and oversees the volatile events unfolding on Earth because of sinful people and demonic rage. 2. Even as the Antichrist speaks his pompous words, the Ancient of Days is seated on His throne, confident and in control. God is unaffected by the boasts of this earthy king. He will patiently wait until everything is set into place, and then He will judge and destroy the Antichrist s counterfeit kingdom and give true dominion to Jesus. 3. The Ancient of Days hair is described as being pure white like wool, which symbolizes His eternal holiness. 4. His throne is described as being aflame with fire and having wheels that are ablaze, which symbolize His judgments.
Session 13 Daniel and the End of the Age Page 3 5. The river of fire that comes from His throne speaks of His judgments proceeding from His throne and being poured out over the nations of the earth. 6. The books represent God s memory of the actions, thoughts and words of every person who has ever existed. Each person will be judged according to what is written in these books. For believers, what is recorded in these books will determine their eternal reward; for the wicked, what is recorded in these books will provide the evidence for judgment. D. Dominion will be taken away from the beast empires, yet their lives (their influence) will be prolonged (verse 18). Each empire absorbed the culture and characteristics of the previous empire. Alexander absorbed Persian traditions and cultures, much to the consternation of his Macedonian generals. Rome absorbed Greek thought, culture and government and integrated these elements into its empire.god s plan will be revealed as the evil kingdoms of man are exposed as pompous, blasphemous and cruel. Judgment will be passed against these evil kingdoms and dominion will be given to the saints of God, who will have suffered unjustly under their rule. E. The Antichrist was described to Daniel as a world figure who will emerge with great power, intellect and arrogance, and who will prevail over the saints of the Most High. It is noteworthy that all of the prophetic visions given to Daniel in chapters seven through twelve dynamically involve the coming Antichrist. 1. Daniel was fascinated with this figure represented by the fourth beast. He was persistent in seeking to discover the truth about this evil ruler and his horrible kingdom. 2. Antichrist will emerge as world leader from a ten-nation coalition. The tennation coalition itself will emerge from the fourth beast, the Roman Empire, and will be the natural expression of its predecessors that came before it. As John stated, the final world empire will be of the ones that preceded it (Revelation 17:11); though dominion will be taken away from the beast empires, their lives (their influence) will be prolonged (Daniel 7:18). Each empire absorbed the culture and characteristics of the previous empire. Alexander absorbed Persian traditions and cultures, much to the consternation of his Macedonian generals. Rome absorbed Greek thought, culture and government and integrated these elements into its empire. 3. Through the other visions Daniel would receive in the years to come, Daniel was given even more key information about Antichrist. Daniel was given the truth he sought: that this creature would devour everything around it with dreadful and terrible strength. What will this fearsome creature do to the saints of the Most High?
Session 13 Daniel and the End of the Age Page 4 4. We learn in Daniel that Antichrist s persecution of the saints will last for a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:25). This is the three-and-a-half-year period known as the Great Tribulation; it will constitute the major portion of his rule on the earth, which he will maintain until Jesus returns from Heaven with His angels and passes judgment in favor of the persecuted saints. III. VISITATION OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL DANIEL 9 A. Twelve years after his second vision, Daniel, as an 82-year-old man, was praying and fasting unto extreme weariness (verse 21, NASB). He was praying and fasting, based on God s promise made through Jeremiah; he was asking for Israel to be delivered from a seventy-year desolation. B. In response to Daniel s fasting and praying, God spoke to him though the messenger Gabriel. God s response addressed much more than the immediate circumstances Daniel was praying about. God showed Daniel the ultimate plan, the Lord s plan for the End Times and the Second Coming of Christ. Some have called this the divine program for the ages; it is one of the greatest prophecies in the entire Bible. C. The key passage, Daniel 9:24 27, gives insight into what God will do and reveals the time frame in which He will do it: 1. God had determined seventy weeks (literally, sevens ) for Daniel s people 490 years were firmly established in God s sovereign timetable to restore and establish both the Jewish people and Jerusalem, the city that is dear to God s heart. D. This restoration will happen at the end of this prophetic timetable (verse 24) when: 1. The transgression will be finished. Israel s rebellion against God will be brought to an end and the nation will serve Him wholeheartedly. 2. The end of sins will come. The great disagreement with God s authority, the hidden hatred of God that compels men to separate themselves from Him, will be brought to an end. It will be sealed, removed from the sight of God forever. 3. Reconciliation for iniquity will be made. While reconciliation was made in the atoning work of the Cross, this atonement will not be fully realized for all of the Jewish people until the return of Christ. All those of Israel who see Jesus will mourn for Him, the One they pierced, and receive Him as Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).
Session 13 Daniel and the End of the Age Page 5 4. Everlasting righteousness will be brought to the nations. The righteousness of God will be manifested throughout the entire earth to a greater extent than we presently experience it. Righteousness will pervade every level of society and government through the establishment of God s kingdom. 5. Vision and prophecy will be sealed up. All that God has spoken and promised will be fulfilled literally, every word. 6. The Most Holy will be anointed. God promised Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40 48) that the millennial temple would be rebuilt and established, and that the Most Holy Place would be set apart and consecrated for service in the age to come. E. There are three time periods that have been established prophetically: 1. Seven weeks: forty-nine years, which is the number of years between the issue of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25) and fulfillment of the command. Streets and walls will be built in those troublesome times, constructed under great pressure and persecution from both Persia and the neighboring Samaritan governors. 2. Sixty-two weeks: 434 years, which is the number of years between the rebuilding process being completed and the Messiah being cut off (Jesus crucifixion). Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed again later during a time of war. 3. One week: seven years the final seven years of history that will precede Jesus Second Coming. This seven-year prophetic time frame has not happened yet. Jesus spoke of it as being a future event linked with the Great Tribulation. This seven years will be marked by: a. Israel signing a peace treaty, or covenant, with an ungodly prince (Antichrist), which will allow for the Temple to be rebuilt and the practice of sacrifice and offerings to be restored. b. The breaking of that covenant in the middle of the week (verse 27), or the three-and-a-half-year mark. At this time, Antichrist will set up the abomination of desolation and the Great Tribulation will begin. c. This will continue until the consummation of the plans of God, as His judgments are poured out on the desolate ones (the wicked) of the earth.