I want to encourage you to turn to Daniel chapter 7. Providentially, we're here in Daniel chapter 7.
! There was supposed to be another message, another person preaching on this day, and we weren't going to actually cover Daniel chapter 7.
Quite honestly, I was trying to avoid all of the apocalyptic literature. That is just a confession.
I wanted to stay in the spaces that were a little bit easier, but here we are. We're in Daniel chapter 7, and we're going to try to kind of bring the theme of Daniel 7 to 12,
which really speaks about this coming kingdom, this eternal kingdom of God, kind of bringing it home to us and provide some implications.
What does it mean that the Ancient of Days is establishing his throne? Why does it matter that the Son of Man is the one who is receiving this kingdom?
What does that do for us in the here and now?
And really, providentially, this is the theme that kind of runs its way through the entire book of Daniel.
Daniel, and so here we are. We're at Daniel chapter 7, and it will be, I trust, a blessing to all of us as we come to remember who God is
and what God plans to do in establishing his kingdom on the earth.
You know, the world has been fascinated by the future. It's always been fascinated with what is coming, what's going to happen,
what do we know is going to be taking place in the future here?
Every age has been marked by those who have had, or at least assumed to have, some ability to forecast the future.
From ancient Greece, it was a priestess who prophesied at a place called Pytho.
In the 1500s, it was a man named Nostradamus who seemed to predict the London fire or the French Revolution.
In the 1900s, a woman rose to prominence. Her name was Jean Dixon.
And she is said to have been able to predict the JFK assassination.
She advised President Roosevelt during World War II and also Richard Nixon.
Oprah says that she was instrumental in forecasting her rise to fame.
But the question is, was she really the kind of forecaster that is worth trusting?
In 1964, she assured her readers that the war in Vietnam would be over in 1965, just a year later.
When it wasn't over in 1965, she predicted it was going to happen and finish in 1966.
When it didn't happen in 1966, she gave up.
And 10 years later, in 1975, the Vietnam War finally came to conclusion.
In 1958, she predicted that in that year, Red China and the United States would be at war with each other.
And here we are, some 60 plus years later, and still not at war.
In 1959, she predicted that Red China would be admitted to the United Nations.
That wouldn't happen for another 12 years until 1971.
In 1964, she predicted that Walter Ruther would be the candidate for president.
Well, he didn't even run for president.
In February of 1968, she predicted that the Democratic nominee for president would be Lyndon Johnson.
It was actually Hubert Humphrey.
In 1968, she predicted that before the election, Dean Rusk would resign as Secretary of State.
He didn't.
In 1967, she predicted that there would be a cure for cancer in that year.
And on and on it went.
I suppose that you make enough predictions, eventually one of them will come true.
But we are a people who are fascinated by the future.
Weather, in particular.
We want to know what this coming week is going to be.
Is it going to be cooler or is it going to continue to be warm?
We have things like the Farmer's Almanac that seeks to predict weather patterns.
And what will this next season look like?
We have things like Groundhog Day to predict whether winter will last longer or spring will come sooner.
Of course, we have predictions about investments or predictions about sports.
Many of you probably are part of things like March Madness.
We really want to know what the future holds.
Some of us even really enjoy those fortune cookies at Chinese restaurants.
What does my fortune have for me today?
We want to know what's coming.
We want to anticipate this future.
We want to make sense of the uncertainty.
And what we're going to find in our passage today in the book of Daniel is that God will lay out,
once again, this pattern of future events for Daniel that are history for us.
And he lays them out in such specificity that it is without question the word of God.
And God has come to demonstrate his integrity of not only knowing what the future holds,
but being able to work out the details of the future.
It is this single fact that helps to establish and to distinguish God from any other supernatural being.
In Isaiah chapter 46, verses 9 and 10, God says this of himself.
He says,
Remember the former things of old, for I am God.
There is no other.
I am God.
There is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying,
My counsel shall stand.
I will accomplish all my purposes.
It is God's predictive power,
his knowledge of the future,
and his ability to work those details out
that helps to establish,
once and for all,
that God is who he says he is.
God is the God in heaven.
He is the one true God.
The only God.
And as we'll see in our passage today,
these predictions,
these promises that God makes
will begin to come to fruition.
Things that were predicted 2,500 years ago
and hundreds of years before they actually occurred
help to demonstrate that God is who he says he is.
As we come to our passage this morning in Daniel chapter 7,
we're going to begin to see this rise and fall of empires.
The rise and fall of empires
that will begin here in verse 1
and kind of sets the context for us.
I'm not going to read all of these verses
but help to describe them for us
as we move along the way.
The rise and fall of empires.
First, in verse 1, it says this,
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon,
Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head
as he lay in his bed.
Then he wrote down the dream
and told the sum of the matter.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.
Now, right here at the very beginning of our time together,
we need to kind of pause mentally
because as we were in Daniel chapter 6 last week,
we were now in the Persian empire
and Darius was the king.
Now, all of a sudden, we're going back in history
and Daniel's beginning to spell out this promise,
this vision that he receives
during this first year of Belshazzar.
We're back in the Babylonian empire.
We're back underneath the reign of Belshazzar.
Nebuchadnezzar would reign from 605 to 562,
about 42, 43 years.
And the subsequent kings that would come after him,
finally leading to Nabonidus,
who was Belshazzar's father,
Nabonidus would reign for about 17 years in total,
but in his third reign,
Belshazzar would become his co-regent.
So we're about 14 years away
from Daniel chapter 6 moving back in history,
about 14 years into history.
The book of Daniel is silent
about what Daniel has done during this time.
We do get a glimpse of the fact
that he was a part of some sort of
administrative responsibilities.
We look at Daniel chapter 8, verse 27,
and it suggests that he was about the king's business.
But for all intents and purposes,
Daniel has faded into the background.
Daniel has almost been driven into obscurity.
His faithfulness to serve the king's business
is still evident,
but he is not in the forefront as he was before.
This is important for us to consider
right at the outset of our time together.
It's important for us to recognize
that God has other plans for Daniel
during this at least 14-year stretch,
and probably as long as 23 years.
It's been 23 years since Nebuchadnezzar
ceased from power.
But it's important to note
that while Daniel is removed from position,
Daniel is not removed from usefulness.
Daniel might not be in the forefront,
but God has plans for Daniel,
how to use Daniel instrumentally
during this season.
Daniel in chapter 7 to 12
will have a series of visions
that will be significant
to kind of paint the timeline
of future kingdoms that will rise and fall.
And what we find from chapter 7 to 12
is these visions and interpretations
that spell out these subsequent kingdoms
leading ultimately to the kingdom of God,
this eternal kingdom that is in view.
God sends this confirming word to Daniel
regarding God's future reign,
a reign that he has already revealed
in some measure to Nebuchadnezzar
back in Daniel chapter 2,
this vision of this image
that is glistening in the sun
with all of these metallic properties.
Now confirming this testimony
to Daniel here in chapter 7
using different symbols.
The timing of this vision is significant.
About 180 years before this vision,
the northern ten tribes
were essentially decimated
and captured and absorbed
into the Assyrian Empire.
And now here are the remaining two tribes
of Judah and Benjamin in captivity
now in Babylon.
It would have been very easy
for those living in exile to think,
has God's promises to his people failed?
Is God able to make good on his word
to Abraham and to David?
Has God forgotten about us?
Does God really care about our situation?
And God will reveal this vision to Daniel
not only to confirm his word from the past,
but to help encourage and establish
this continuing promise
of God establishing his kingdom
sometime in the future.
His word has not failed.
Daniel 2 will describe
the various kingdoms that will rise and fall,
Babylon being the head of gold,
Media Persia being the arms and chest of silver,
Greece being the waist and thighs of bronze,
and Rome being the legs of iron.
And now transitioning to Daniel chapter 7.
Those same kingdoms in the same order
are now described in a different way.
We find in verse 4 of chapter 7,
notice Babylon that's described
as the lion with eagle's wings.
In verse 5, Media Persia
is described as a bear
raised up on one side
with ribs in his mouth.
Greece is described in verse 6
as a leopard with four wings and four heads.
Rome, in verse 7,
is described as a beast with iron teeth
which devoured and broke in pieces
and crushed everything with its feet.
The section concludes with verse 8.
In verse 8 of chapter 7,
we find,
I considered the horns
and behold there came up among them
another horn.
One little horn before which
three of the first horns
were plucked up by the roots.
And behold,
in this horn
were eyes like the eyes of men
and a mouth speaking great things.
This horn represents this future leader.
A future leader
of this future kingdom
who has eyes of a man
which helped indicate his wisdom,
helped indicate his intellectual superiority,
his genius, as it were,
and his mouth that speaks great things.
His ability to influence with words,
to articulate and to capture attention.
His ability to wow the crowd, as it were,
to gain a following
so that the entire world
seems to be under his sway.
Meanwhile,
while all of this is taking place
on the earth through these kingdoms,
we find this hurry
and activity
on the earth
is now contrasted
by this calmness
and activity
that's taking place
in heaven.
And that's our next major point
this morning
where we're going to spend
the bulk of our time.
We're going to see now
the glorious king
and his coming kingdom.
The glorious king
and his coming kingdom
beginning
in verse 9.
Notice,
As I looked,
thrones were placed
and the Ancient of Days
took his seat.
His clothing was white as snow.
The hair of his head
like pure wool.
His throne was fiery flames.
Its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him.
A thousand thousands served him
and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him.
The court sat in judgment
and the books were opened.
As we make our way through
these next several verses,
I want to just draw attention
to the various features
of this king
and the various features
of his kingdom
moving through them
one by one.
We see there
at the beginning of verse 9
his throne.
His throne.
As I looked,
thrones were placed.
It says right there
at the beginning.
These thrones that were placed
is in the intensive form
of the grammar.
This action that has happened
in the past
that has present
and future results.
Immediately we come to understand
that whatever is taking place
in heaven
seems to be independent,
seems to be removed
from the things
that are taking place
on the earth.
That whatever kingdom
is taking place
and being established
in heaven
is not built upon
the kingdoms
of the earth
but is separate.
It's removed.
It's not built
on the previous kingdom.
It's not a throne
that had been
previously occupied.
It's not a kingdom
that has been overthrown
in any way
and a new power
has come.
This kingdom
is being established
separately.
this kingdom
and this throne
that's set up
seems to always
have been waiting
for the right time
and the right place
and now
in Daniel chapter 7
the time
is right.
you get the sense
that whatever
is happening here
is happening
independent of the situations
that are taking place
on earth
but as those things
are happening
now the right time
has come
for this king
to establish
his throne.
The throne
is being put in place
and the ancient of days
will take his seat
as we find
in the next part
of verse 9.
First his throne
and now his name
the ancient of days.
As I look
thrones were placed
the ancient of days
took his seat.
This title
has obvious implications.
Refers to his
eternality
of this king.
It refers
to only God himself
as the ancient
of days.
Before the beginning
of the world
his pre-existing
quality
his authority
this king
now comes
into the forefront.
Of course we know
that God's authority
his reign
on the earth
has been established
since the beginning
of creation.
that God
has always
been the one
to oversee
and to provide
authority
over all the earth.
We find that
throughout the entire
Old Testament
but especially
in the Psalms.
Psalm 45
verse 6
will point
to the enduring
quality
of God's throne
and he says
your throne
oh God
is forever
and ever
the scepter
of your kingdom
is a scepter
of righteousness.
righteousness.
In Psalm 47
verse 8
it says
God reigns
over the nations
God sits
on his holy
throne.
In Psalm 93
verses 1 and 2
the Lord reigns
he is robed
in majesty
the Lord is robed
he has put
on strength
as his belt
yes
the world
is established
it shall
never be moved
your throne
is established
from of old
you are
from everlasting.
Psalm 99
1
the Lord reigns
let the peoples
tremble
he sits
in throne
upon the cherubim
let the earth
quake
Isaiah
chapter 6
verse 5
this is the scene
where Isaiah
is standing
before the throne
and the cherubim
cry
holy
and Isaiah
in response
says this
woe is me
for I am lost
I am a man
of unclean lips
and I dwell
in the midst
of a people
of unclean lips
for my eyes
have seen
the king
the Lord
of hosts
the prophet Isaiah
will say
in chapter 33
verse 22
for the Lord
is our judge
the Lord
is our lawgiver
the Lord
is our king
it is he
who will
save us
God's kingdom
has been
from ancient
of days
from the very
beginning
the enduring
quality
of his reign
has always
existed
he rules
heaven
and earth
his authority
and power
have been
from before
the world
even began
now the
ancient of days
will take
his place
on his throne
the time
has come
for him
to exert
his authority
in a real
intangible
way
he is the
ancient of days
in the next
couple verses
will see
several
of the
features
of his
kingdom
his features
verse 9
it says
I looked
the throne
were placed
and the
ancient of days
took his seat
his clothing
was white
as snow
the hair
of his head
like pure wool
his throne
was a fiery flame
its wheels
were burning
fire
a stream
of fire
issued
and came
out from
before him
a thousand
thousands
served him
and ten
thousand
times ten
thousand
stood before him
the court
sat in judgment
the books
were opened
these features
of the
ancient of days
that we'll touch
on just
briefly
first his
clothing
that points
to his
perfection
to his
righteousness
his clothing
was white
as snow
symbolizing
his purity
signifying
his justice
signifying
his perfection
his purity
white
as snow
we're familiar
with this phrase
lifted out
of Psalm 51
verse 7
that speaks
to purity
purge me
with hyssop
and I shall
be clean
wash me
and I shall
be whiter
than snow
all
that God
does
is right
all that God
does
is good
all that God
does
is righteous
and pure
and one of the
key components
of his kingdom
in contrast
with the kingdoms
of this world
is he is
righteous
his righteousness
stands as a
core component
of his kingdom
in Psalm 89
verse 14
it says
righteousness
and justice
are the foundations
of your throne
steadfast love
and faithfulness
go before you
God's rule
is marked
by purity
by righteousness
and perfection
there is no hint
of immorality
of corruption
of immorality
he is pure
his hair
now points
to his wisdom
also purity
is coming through
but
it's amplifying
the significant
point of his wisdom
as well
the hair of his head
like pure wool
the image
of this ancient
of days
having pure
white hair
is similar
to the picture
that we get
in Revelation
chapter 1
verse 14
speaking of Christ
so that Christ
in the ancient
of days
shared this quality
the hairs of his head
were white
like wool
like snow
his eyes
were like a flame
of fire
and throughout
the Proverbs
we come to understand
the significance
of a white
or a gray
head
that resembles
this elderly
individual
and the wisdom
that they have
and all throughout
the book of Daniel
we see attention
that is drawn
to the wisdom
and knowledge
and understanding
of the God
of Jacob
Daniel chapter 2
verses 20 to 22
this is in response
to Daniel
Daniel has asked
for the interpretation
of Nebuchadnezzar's dream
and when God reveals
this interpretation
Daniel praises God
with this prayer
notice he says
he answers and says
blessed be the name
of God forever and ever
to whom belong
wisdom and might
he changes times
and seasons
he removes kings
and sets up kings
he gives wisdom
to the wise
and knowledge
to those who have
understanding
he reveals deep
and hidden things
he knows what is
in the dark
and light
dwells with him
God's wisdom
and knowledge
again are one
of the foundations
of his throne
one of the foundations
of his rule
he is not limited
in understanding
he is fully informed
so that every decision
that God makes
every action
that he puts
into place
is informed
by the information
his foreknowledge
of all the events
everything is exposed
nothing is hidden
from his sight
so that in Psalm
139 12
the psalmist says
even the darkness
is not dark to you
the night is bright
as the day
for darkness
is light
with you
next we find
his throne
which points
to his right
to judge
his throne
which points
to his right
to judge
his throne
he says
was a fiery flame
its wheels
were a burning fire
fire is often
a picture
of either judgment
or purification
and so
God is after
the purity
of his people
and he promises
to judge
those who are wicked
those who stand
outside
of his law
Hebrews chapter 12
verses 28 and 29
in speaking about
the kingdom of God
says therefore
let us be grateful
for receiving
a kingdom
that cannot be shaken
and thus let us
offer to God
acceptable worship
with reverence
and awe
for our God
is a consuming
fire
God is
the one
to whom
we are accountable
and God
will rightly
judge
those
who disobey
the wheels
that are here
you can imagine
wheels
as if they were
on a chariot
and they
are reminiscent
of what we find
in Ezekiel chapter 1
the wheel
that's spinning
within a wheel
and it is
helps to represent
the action
and the engagement
this living God
who is present
who is active
who is engaged
in life
and affairs
motion
is purifying
and judging
authority
of God
next we see
a stream of fire
which points
to his authority
it says
a stream of fire
issued and came out
before him
this fire
comes out
from before God
it exerts
authority
on the earth
it does not
just remain
with him
this river
of fire
coming from
the throne
describes God's
judgment
as being poured
out upon
the wicked
particularly
upon
the kingdom
of the little
horn
and the beast
when Christ
returns
the ministry
of Jesus
was described
in this way
John the Baptist
will say of Jesus
in Luke chapter 3
verse 16
John says
I baptize you
with water
but he who is
mightier than I
is coming
the strap
of whose sandal
I am not worthy
to untie
he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit
and with fire
that fire
signifying the judgment
that Christ would bring
through his ministry
Paul in writing
to Timothy
will say
in 2nd Timothy
4 1
he says
I charge you
in the presence
of God
and of Christ Jesus
who is to judge
the living and the dead
and by his appearing
and his kingdom
God is the judge
and every one of us
are accountable
to the judge
his authority
next we find
his servants
which point to his glory
and notice
a thousand thousands
served him
and 10,000 times
10,000 stood before him
this innumerable
number of servants
that are standing
and serving
before the ancient
of days
throughout the scripture
we see
this host of heaven
and the angelic
servants of God
standing before him
in service
Revelation 5 11
says
then I looked
I heard around the throne
and the living creatures
and the elders
the voice of many angels
numbering
myriads of myriads
and thousands
of thousands
of course
those angels
will be
accompanied
by a host
of people
who will also
be ushered
into heaven
Revelation chapter 7
verses 9 and 10
I looked and behold
a great multitude
that no one
could number
from every nation
from all tribes
and peoples
and languages
standing before the throne
and before the lamb
clothed in white robes
and palm branches
in their hands
and crying out
with a loud voice
salvation
belongs to our God
who sits on the throne
and to the lamb
the glory of God
the servants
who stand before him
in worship
both from the angelic hosts
and also from
the representation
of peoples
and nations
and languages
who have given
their heart to him
because of faith
in Jesus
for what Christ
accomplished on the cross
his death
his resurrection
and the invitation
that is available
to us
salvation
belongs to our God
this morning
do you know
the God of heaven
do you know
the ancient of days
have you come
to a place
in your life
of recognizing
your sin
asking for forgiveness
and understanding
that salvation
only belongs to him
will you be part
of the company
of those
who on this day
in Revelation chapter 7
stand before
the ancient of days
and worship
before his throne
next we find
his courts
and books
that point
to his impartiality
the books
in court
that point
to his impartiality
it says
the court
sat in judgment
and the books
were opened
there's not only
a throne
that we see
here in this vision
but we see
in judgment
that's taking place
accountability
that's happening
the judge
will take his seat
on the
and judge
the nations
and throughout
the scriptures
we understand
that God's judgments
are not
arbitrary
God's judgments
are certain
they're based
on facts
he does not
judge on a whim
he does not
judge with partiality
he judges
in a way
that is discerning
and unbiased
he records
the activities
of words
and works
in his book
in his scroll
a number of passages
that we could go to
but the ones
that stand out
the most
are in Revelation
chapter 20
verses 12
and 15
I saw the dead
great and small
standing before
the Lord
or before the throne
and the books
were opened
then another book
was opened
which is the book
of life
and the dead
were judged
by what was
written in the books
according to what
they had done
and if anyone's name
was not found
written in the book
of life
he was thrown
into the lake
of fire
is your name
written in
the book
of life
have you
enjoyed
the forgiveness
and cleansing
that comes
from God
himself
and God
alone
has God
washed you
and blotted
out
though our sins
are as scarlet
they shall be made
white as snow
we find in Isaiah
that's the promise
for all
who place
their trust
in him
now we come
to his power
his power
which is captured
for us
in verses 11
and 12
now it
looks back
at this picture
that was happening
in verse 8
this horn
that is
promoting itself
and notice
in verse 11
I looked
because of the sound
of the great words
that the horn
was speaking
and as I looked
the beast was killed
its body destroyed
and given over
to be burned
with fire
as for the rest
of the beast
their dominion
was taken away
but their lives
were prolonged
for a season
in a time
we don't have time
to go into the details
of this vision
but there are some things
that we can know
for certain
first
we discover
that this chapter
is speaking
about this final
leader
of this final
kingdom
we saw
in verse 8
his unrivaled power
we saw
in verse 8
his ability
to influence
and capture
the sway
the attention
of the peoples
by his articulate
speech
later in this chapter
chapter 7
verse 21
we find
that this
fourth beast
makes war
with the saints
and prevails
over them
notice in verse 21
as I looked
this horn
made war
with the saints
and prevailed
over them
this fourth beast
is also talked
about in Daniel
chapter 11
where we get
a prophecy
of an event
that was still
future for Daniel
but is somewhat
past
and partially
fulfilled for us
in Daniel 11
31
it talks about
this abomination
that makes desolate
Jesus will pick
up on this
prophecy
and build
on it
in Matthew
chapter 24
verses 15
to 18
who is this
final beast
who is this
last horn
Jesus will say
so when you see
the abomination
of desolation
spoken of by
the prophet Daniel
standing in the
holy place
let the reader
understand
let those
who are in
Judea
flee to the
mountains
let the one
who is on
the housetop
not go down
to take
what is in
his house
and let the
one who is
in the field
not turn back
to take his
cloak
Jesus builds
on the prophecy
of Daniel
speaks about
a future
abomination
of desolation
that is still
yet to occur
Revelation
describes
this ruler
it uses
many of
the same
figures
of speech
some of the
same descriptions
that we find
from Daniel
when we look
at Revelation
chapter 13
notice
I saw the
beast rising
out of the
sea
with ten
horns
seven heads
with ten
diadems
on its
horns
and blasphemous
names on
its head
the beast
that I saw
was like a
leopard
its feet
were like a
bear's
its mouth
was like a
lion's mouth
and to it
the dragon
gave his
power
and his
throne
in great
authority
does that
sound
familiar
the very
figures
that were
used
to describe
the
previous
empires
are now
all combined
in this
final beast
and this
final leader
who in
verse 5
of chapter
13
we find
out more
the beast
was given
a mouth
uttering
haughty
and blasphemous
words
there's our
description
from Daniel
chapter 7
verse 8
it was
allowed to
exercise
authority
for 42
months
it opened
its mouth
to utter
blasphemies
against God
blaspheming
his name
and his
dwelling
that is
those
who dwell
in heaven
also 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
and all
who dwell
on the
earth
will worship
it
everyone
whose name
has not
been written
before the
foundation
of the
world
in the
book of
life
of the
lamb
who
was slain
this
same
figure
from
Daniel
chapter 7
and Daniel
chapter 11
shows up
again for
us
in
Revelation
chapter 13
and we
see this
continuing
promise
of this
future
ruler
that is
going to
come
but all
of this
culminates
in the
next chain
of events
which Daniel
describes in
verses 13
and 14
for all
of the
strength
for all
of the
power
for all
of the
unrivaled
influence
that this
leader
seems to
have
we come
to understand
that it
is nothing
in comparison
with the
power of
God
verse 13
and 14
we find
the son
of man
I saw
in the
night visions
and behold
with the
clouds of
heaven
there came
one like
a son
of man
he came
to the
ancient
of days
he was
presented
before him
and to
him was
given
dominion
and glory
and a
kingdom
that all
peoples
nations
and languages
should serve
him
his
dominion
is an
everlasting
dominion
which
shall
not
pass
away
in
his
kingdom
one
that
shall
not
be
destroyed
in
this
vision
that
Daniel
has
the
son
of
man
is
presented
to
the
ancient
of
days
who
is
this
son
of
man
none
other
than
Jesus
Christ
himself
this
is
Christ's
favorite
designation
of
himself
throughout
the
gospels
used
some
82
times
30
times
in
Matthew
14
times
in
Mark
25
times
in
Luke
13
times
in
John
Jesus
will
take
this
designation
this
identity
this
title
son
of
man
he
will
place
it
on
himself
to
allow
and to
help
those
living
during
the
first
century
to
know
that
he
in
fact
is
the
Messiah
that
he
in
fact
is
this
son
of
man
son
of
David
son
of
God
who
will
rule
the
promises
that
were
given
to
Israel
will
be
fulfilled
in
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
takes
this
title
used
of
him
in
Daniel
and
applies
it
to
himself
throughout
his
ministry
the
Jews
including
the
religious
leaders
could
not
conceive
of
God
coming
this
way
and
while
Jesus
would
come
in
humility
during
his
first
coming
ultimately
he
will
come
in
power
in
some
future
day
we
expect
the
authority
and
might
of
the
son
of
man
coming
to
exert
his
power
and
judgment
on
the
earth
he
will
take
his
throne
he
will
have
his
place
in
psalm
chapter
2
verses
7
and
9
it
speaks
of
this
future
day
I
will
tell
the
decree
the
Lord
said
to
me
you
are
my
son
today
I
begotten
you
ask
of
me
and
I
will
make
the
nations
your
heritage
and
the
ends
of
the
earth
your
possession
you
shall
break
them
with
a
rod
of
iron
and
dash
them
in
pieces
like
a
potter's
vessel
Jesus
the only
begotten
son
of
God
son
of
man
is
this
one
who
will
take
his
throne
who
will
take
his
seat
will
exercise
authority
over
the
earth
the
angel
Gabriel
when
delivering
this
message
of
Jesus
conception
to
Mary
says
this
of
Jesus
in
Luke
chapter
1
verses
31
to
33
behold
you
will
conceive
in
your
womb
and
bear
a
son
you
shall
call
his
name
Jesus
he
will
be
great
and
will
be
called
the
son
of
the
most
high
the
Lord
will
give
to
him
the
throne
of
his
father
David
he
will
reign
over
the
house
of
Jacob
forever
!
chapter
2
this
stone
that
was
carved
out
of
the
mountain
with
no
human
hand
it
was
cast
at
the
image
it
shatters
the
image
into
pieces
breaks
it
into
dust
and
then
this
stone
will
grow
and
fill
the
earth
not
only
is
it
a
kingdom
that
is
strong
and
powerful
it
is
a
kingdom
that
will
fill
the
entire
globe
finally
we
see
in
verse
14
his
eternal
kingdom
it
is
an
eternal
kingdom
the
very
last
part
of
this
says
his
dominion
is
an
everlasting
dominion
which
shall
not
pass
away
and
his
kingdom
one
that
shall
not
be
destroyed
this
word
kingdom
is
used
57
times
throughout
the
book
of
Daniel
more
than
any
other
book
in
the
Bible
Matthew
the
gospel
of
Matthew
will
also
use
this
word
55
times
and
Matthew
which
emphasizes
Jesus
as
the
king
this
eternal
kingdom
which
has
been
the
theme
throughout
the
book
of
Daniel
we
see
this
in
chapter
2
in
chapter
4
and
then
in
chapter
6
we
see
it
time
and
time
again
this
theme
of
this
eternal
everlasting
kingdom
so that
Nebuchadnezzar
will say
in Daniel
chapter
4
verse
34
and
35
he
says
at the
end
of my
days
I
Nebuchadnezzar
lifted
my eyes
to heaven
my
reason
returned
to me
I
blessed
the
most
high
and
praised
and
honored
him
who
lives
forever
for
his
dominion
is an
everlasting
dominion
and
his
kingdom
endures
forever
we
see
we
see
we
see
the
son
of
man
who
takes
his
throne
so that
all
peoples
nations
and
languages
will
serve
king
Jesus
the
Abrahamic
covenant
will
finally
come
to
fruition
it will
finally
be
fulfilled
where
God
has
promised
Abraham
in
Genesis
chapter
12
he says
in verse
2
I
will
make
of
you
a
great
nation
I
will
bless
you
and
make
your
name
great
so that
you
will
be
blessing
I
will
bless
those
who
bless
you
and
him
who
dishonors
you
I
will
curse
and
in
you
all
the
families
of
the
earth
shall
be
blessed
and
God's
promise
to
Abraham
will
finally
be
realized
in
the
son
of
man
who
is
given
the
throne
by
the
ancient
of
days
the
king
reigns
the
ancient
of
days
God
reigns
and
because
of
his
reign
there
are
certain
implications
I
just
want
to
end
with
a
couple
of
implications
of
this
truth
why
does
it
matter
for
us
that
the
king
reigns
and
the
king
is
coming
first
the
future
has
been
written
and
God
wins
the
future
has
been
written
and
God
wins
so
as
we
look
around
ourselves
around
this
world
as
we
see
the
uncertainty
and
we
understand
the
turmoil
we
see
the
chaos
that
consumes
our
everyday
and
we
wonder
if
all
of
this
is
going
to
spiral
out
of
control
and
we
come
to
this
passage
and
we
come
to
understand
that
Jesus
is
king
and
his
kingdom
will
be
established
and
the
future
is
written
and
God
wins
second
we
know
the
nations
will
come
and
go
but
God
remains
nations
will
come
and
go
but
God
reigns
and
so
as we
come
to
evaluate
our
lives
as we
come
to
evaluate
our
hearts
we
must
ask
ourselves
the
question
who
are
we
putting
our
confidence
in
who
are
we
putting
our
trust
in
where
does
our
security
come
from
does
it
come
from
man
who
will
fail
his
power
will
fail
or
will
come
from
God
whose
word
and
power
is
sure
do
we
trust
in
God
who
remains
third
God
who
raises
up
and
brings
down
he
does
this
for
the
sake
of
his
purposes
and
for
his
glory
and
so
wherever
you
fit
in
the
flow
of
the
rising
and
the
falling
of
God
pushing
you
into
the
front
like
Daniel
was
pushed
into
the
front
to
serve
or
pull
into
the
backdrop
is
there
a
security
in our
heart
to trust
that God
is over
all of
that
in a
willingness
to be
faithful
and useful
wherever
God
places
us
fourth
we need
to understand
that God's
coming
is imminent
the
judge
is
coming
and his
coming
is imminent
are
you ready
to meet
the king
are you
ready
to stand
in
judgment
before
the king
by having
placed
your faith
in
Jesus
Christ
is the
only
means
of
salvation
so that
you can
stand
with
those
servants
before
the
throne
and
worship
and
honor
and
glorify
and
praise
the
king
of
kings
and
the
lord
of
lords
is
your
heart
ready
to
meet
the
king
let's
pray
Lord we
praise you
for this
truth
this
morning
thank you
that the
ancient of
days
is
preparing
to
place
his
throne
and
that
the
son
of
man
will
have
his
day
of
power
and
authority
and
establishing
once and
for all
his
kingdom
on this
earth
Lord may
we not
be
unsettled
help us
to be
ready as
your
people
ready for
the return
of the
king
may
the
expression
of our
lives
day by
day
reflect
and
anticipation
and
a joy
and
a
confidence
and a
hope
in your
future
coming
that you
are in
control
of what
happens
today
and that
you
ultimately
will come
and reign
as king
on this
earth
God
thank you
for this
truth
may our
lives
demonstrate
a
security
a
perseverance
and a
faithfulness
because of
what we
know to
be true
about
who you
are
in
Jesus
name
amen
God bless
you
have a
great
week