A Different Kind of King
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Introduction
1. Isn’t this out of sequence?
The events in chapter 7 took place in 553 BC the first year of Belshazzar’s reign. Chronologically, chapter 7 fits between chapters 4 and 5.
2. Before the Bible was completed, God spoke to human beings in a variety of ways.
Hebrews 1:1-2 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…
3. The visions in chapter 7 are describing the same events as depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2, simply from two different perspectives.
4. The visions in chapter 7 are like a split screen TV – with the kingdoms of men on earth on one side, and the throne of God in heaven on the other.
Daniel wants us to compare the conditions, compare the leaders, compare the results--and then make a choice.
5. Both Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2, and Daniel’s visions in chapter 7 are visions of the history of man.
Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was from the perspective of man, Daniel’s was from the perspective of God, but they are talking about parallel events.
6. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue with four parts:
a. the head of gold
b. the breast and arms of silver
c. belly and thighs of bronze
d. legs and feet of iron, and iron mixed with clay
7. The four parts of Nebuchadnezzar’s status represented four kingdoms:
a. the head of gold - Babylon
b. the breast and arms of silver - Medo-Persia
c. the belly and thighs of bronze - Greece
d. the legs and feet of iron and clay - Rome
8. In chapter 7, we have world history from God’s point of view.
On one side of the screen, we’ve gone from an impressive looking statue to animals--violent, cruel, destructive, power-hungry beasts.
But on the other side of the screen you see a powerful, eternal God who will someday coronate His own holy Son with an everlasting kingdom.
3 principles from Daniel 7 to help us choose and subsequently live for the right king
I. Be Impacted by the Creativity, Specificity, and Reliability of Predictive Prophecy in the Word of God
A. Ways these details were fulfilled in history
1. Babylon, depicted as a lion with eagle’s wings
2. Medo-Persia, depicted as a bear that was raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth
3. Greece, depicted as the leopard with four wings as a bird, which eventually grew four heads
4. Rome, depicted as a final beast so ruthless and cruel that there is no one comparable animal in nature
B. Which means you can great confidence that the promises that God has made to you can and will come to pass
1. You have to decide what you’re trusting for your eternal destiny
Romans 10:9, 13 - …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved…for "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
2. As a Christian, you have to decide whether you will listen to and act on the deception of the beastly kingdom of man, or believe and act on the inspired Word of the Ancient of Days
Colossians 1:13-14 - …rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Peter 1:23-25 - …for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
II. Be Thankful that We Can Have a Personal Relationship with this Kind of God
III. Find Ways to Submit to the Lordship of Christ Here and Now
Outlined Manuscript
I’d like to begin our time this morning with a few questions.....
1) Do you want a God who is predictable, bland, boring, and everything that you as a human being would have expected Him to be, or do you want a God who’s thoughts are not always your thoughts, and who’s ways are not always your ways....and therefore is at times very surprising, very different than what you would have expected, and at times even makes you have to think hard in order to understand His ways.....
- would you want the former, or the latter?.....[the latter]
[if you feel like you’re being set up...you are.]
Question # 2) Do you want a Bible that sounds the same on every page.....with the same style of writing....the same approach.....the same images....the same tone.....or do want a Bible that is filled with variety.....on one page you have short proverbs, on another you have beautiful Psalms, on another you have long stories, on another you have clear commands, on another you have prophecies and visions....
- would you want the former, or the latter?.....[the latter]
- you want a book that is creative as the Person who wrote it, even if at times that stretches our minds?
Question #3) Do you want a Bible that puts you to sleep, or keeps you up at night?
- Do you want a Bible that is easy to forget, or easy to remember?
- Please keep in mind that throughout history, and even today, many people could not read....or they did not have a copy of the Bible in their own language....
- therefore, if God was going to communicate with them through words.....they were going to have to be words that were memorable.....
- that were unusual enough that they would be seared in the hearts of the person who wanted to know God....
- which kind of Bible do you want?
Question #4) Do you want a Bible that confirms that everything that you are already doing is right or do you want a Bible that encourages you to change?
- On the other hand, do you want a book that simply condemns what’s wrong or do you want one that holds out a positive and life-giving alternative?
5) Lastly, do you want a Bible that has nothing to do with everyday life....or one that is breathtakingly relevant?
- If you answered those questions the way I think that you did, then the upshot of that is....
- we have to be prepared to study literature that is at times a lot different than the newspaper or the latest novel.....
- and we have to be prepared to work at understanding what God is trying to communicate to us by that kind of literature......
- and we have to hang in there long enough to then make the appropriate applications to where we’re living today.
- I’m assuming that that’s exactly where you are....and if it is, do we have a book for you!
- let me invite you to open your Bible to Daniel chapter 7…page 634 of the front section…
- we’ve been studying the book of Daniel verse by verse and chapter by chapter.
- we are about to enter a very different part of this book.
- the first six chapters are primarily historical in nature, the last 6 chapters are prophetic.
- there are exceptions to that which we will discuss in a minute.....but you’ll see as we read that this is different.
- for those who are new, here’s the bottom line of the book....
- Daniel was a Jewish teenager....who was deported to the country of Babylon along with some other choice young people by King Nebuchadnezzar around 605 BC.
- This book is all about how Daniel and his friends were able to faithfully live for God, even though they were in a pagan culture, far away from home, and far away from parental authority and influence.
- and I hope that theme would be of great interest to us, because we too live in a very worldly culture, and the question we ought to be asking is, how can I live faithfully for God, in a very troubled world?
- let’s see how Daniel 7 can help us.....
Introduction
- read Daniel 7:1 [through “dream”]
- we need to stop there for just a minute....if you’ve been studying with us, you might say...wait a minute - 1. Isn’t this out of sequence?
- yes, it is…
- Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon ---- and we read about him back in chapter 5 --- he was the “handwriting on the wall” guy.
- so, The events in chapter 7 took place in 553 BC -- because the verse says --- it was the first year of Belshazzar’s reign. Chronologically, chapter 7 fits between chapters 5 and 6.
- now, if you ask, why?...no one knows for sure....but Daniel is very straightforward about what he is doing...he tells us the dates…
- some think that he chose to give the information in chapters 5 and 6 to demonstrate that his character was faithful....to help us be prepared for chapter 7, being confident that his word was faithful.
- read 7:1-2 [through “by night”]
- we probably need to stop again for a minute.....
- we are about to read about a vision God gave Daniel about the future.....
2. Before the Bible was completed, God spoke to human beings in a variety of ways.
- he spoke to Moses in a burning bush, he revealed himself in visions and dreams, he gave a number of different people predictive prophecy.....
- that’s why the book of Hebrews begins with the words, Hebrews 1:1-2 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…
- then much of God’s revelation came through the ministry of Christ on earth…and at the completion of that period of time, Jesus told His disciples that when He left the earth---the Holy Spirit would come, and guide them in all truth.....
- they in turn, wrote the books that we know as the New Testament, which God says were inspired by Him....or breathed out by Him.....
- and once the Bible was completed....there was no need for dreams or additional revelation...which is why the Bible ends with the command not to add anything to it, or take anything from it.
- point is --- we don't expect to receive revelation today the way Daniel received it in this text.
- let’s read a little further -- read 7:2-3
- as soon as we hear the number four, a light ought to go on.....
- why?
- because back when God gave king Nebuchadnezzar a vision of the future in chapter 2, it was a large statue...which was divided into how many parts? [four]…
3. The visions in chapter 7 are describing the same events as depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2, simply from two different perspectives.
- read 7:3-9
- let’s stop there for a minute, because a critical transition was just made......
- picture like a spilt screen on the TV
- you may have watched the presidential debate on Monday night where you could not only see the face of the person answering the question...but also the facial expression of the other candidate...
4. The visions in chapter 7 are like a split screen TV – with the kingdoms of men on earth, and the throne of God in heaven on the other.
- Daniel wants us to compare the conditions, compare the leaders, compare the results--and then make a choice.
- read 7:9-18
- now, I realize that this may seem a bit overwhelming....but the truth is that this is pretty straightforward, when you compare it to Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2.
5. Both Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2, and Daniel’s visions in chapter 7 are visions of the history of man.
- Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was from the perspective of man, Daniel’s was from the perspective of God, but they are talking about parallel events.
6. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue with four parts:
a. the head of gold.
b. the breast and arms of silver.
c. belly and thighs of bronze....
d. legs and feet or iron, and iron mixed with clay.
7. The four parts of Nebuchadnezzar’s status represented four kingdoms:
a. the head of gold - Babylon
b. the breast and arms of silver - Medo-Persia
c. the belly and thighs of bronze - Greece
d. the legs and feet of iron and clay - Rome.
- so the kingdoms of man were decreasing in value [they were going down], but the image was still pretty impressive.
- and you remember that Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he kind-of forget the deteriorating part...because in chapter 3, when he had a statue like this actually made so people could worship him, he just had the statue overlaid with all gold.
- the point is ---- when he saw a vision of the history of man.....he was still pretty impressed.
8. In chapter 7, we have world history from God’s point of view.
- On one side of the screen, we’ve gone from an impressive looking statue to animals--violent, cruel, destructive, power-hungry beasts.
- but what happens when you look at the split screen...when you look at the scene in heaven?
- But on the other side of the screen you see a powerful, eternal God who will someday coronate His own holy Son with an everlasting kingdom.
- the contrast could not be more pronounced.....
- the differences could not be more obvious.....
- and the option you are given is.....you can serve the good king, now.
- you can establish a personal relationship with the true God now.
- yes, these are scenes that will eventually take place in the future.....but you can establish advance placement in the kingdom of God by choosing to know Him, and live for Him, and glorify Him now.
- in a real sense, the question becomes....who would you like to have as your king?
- will you give your allegiance to the city of man, or to the city of God?
- now, here’s another very important piece of the puzzle before we attempt to apply this to our lives today....
- studying prophecy is very much like driving out west near the mountains.
- some of you have experienced this where you are driving across the plains, and way off in the distance.....you see a mountain peak.
- from that vantage point, it appears like a solitary mountain peak.
- but then when you get closer, you say.....no, it’s more than one peak, packed together.
- but then when you get over the first one, you realize....no, there’s actually a long distance between the first one and the next.....
- so at first they appeared to be one....and then they appeared to be close.....
- but the truth is, there were many, and they were separated by long distances.
- that’s true of Bible prophecy.....
- we know that there were significant periods of time between when Babylon fell, and then Medo-Persia fell, and then Greece fell, etc.
- now, you might say, well, PV, where are we today.....
- on the fourth peak.
- you might say --- news flash, PV, Rome fell, too.
- yes, and no.
- because the book of Revelation tells us that, in the last days, there will be a revived Roman empire ... that is both a religious and economic conglomerate....that will war against Jesus Christ.......
- so there is a real sense in which we are on the fourth peak.
- but our understanding of the last days in a nutshell is this....
- the next event in the prophetic timetable is the rapture of the church...[cf. 1 Thes 4]
- those who know Jesus Christ will not have to experience the last days of judgment on this earth...
- our presence, and our influence will be removed.....as will the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit...[cf. 2 Thes 2]
- then there will be a 7 year period of tribulation on this earth.....Daniel 9 discusses that in incredible detail…[as does the book of Revelation…]
- after that, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man in Daniel 7, will return and establish his Millennial Kingdom on this earth, seated on the throne of David, in direct fulfillment of His promises to the nation of Israel.
- at the end of that millennial kingdom, Christ’s reign will be merged into the eternal state.
- now, a good question to ask at this point is --- what’s the purpose of all of this? [God telling us about these four beasts]…
- what practical value is it?
- think about how this would have affected the people in Daniel’s day [that’s the way we learn how it should impact us...first think about the impact on the original hearers.....]
- whether it was still oral tradition or whether it had been written down.....
- to the Jews of Daniel’s day......
- they had every reason.....as they compared these ruthless kingdoms, characterized by beasts.....with this righteous kingdom ruled in holiness and truth.....
- they had every reason......
1) To forsake their false gods.....
2) To cultivate a relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph....this one called the Ancient of Days
3) To look forward to the coming of this Messiah, the Son of man.....
4) And to live a holy life, like this faithful servant Daniel…[who had maintained his allegiance to the Ancient of Days for over 70 years…]
- and the good news is.....some of the Jewish people responded to the message of the book that way.....
- and you’ve studied the Bible before, you know.....that some of those people went back to Jerusalem now that the 70 year Babylonian captivity is over......and they began to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and the rebuild God’s temple...because of their love for and allegiance to God…
[you can read about that in what OT book?.....the book of Ezra]
- some faithful people later returned and rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, in an incredibly short period of time, against significant opposition....and you can read about that in what OT book?......the book of Nehemiah......
- so Daniel 7 was not some archaic and bizarre prophecy that impacted no one’s life......
- God gave human beings this overview of history in the future so it would have an impact on the choices they made in the present......
- now, where does that leave you and me?
- maybe I should ask....do you still agree with the answers to the questions that we discussed at the beginning?
- do you want a God whose ways of communicating are not exactly what we’d expect?
- do you want a God who gives us His truth in a variety of means?
- do you want a God who will challenge the way we’re living?
- do you want a God who will offer you a positive and life-giving alternative?
- and do you want a God who gives truth that impacts daily living in the present?
- if the answer is still yes, let’s spend the rest of our time thinking about how to live in the kingdom of God in the here and now.
- yes, it’s true that someday Christ will establish His kingdom on this earth.....
- that’s why the disciples were taught to pray.....thy kingdom come...[when?--in the future], thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- the bottom line --- believers in Jesus Christ can choose to live in such a way that could be called “advance standing in the kingdom of God”
- kingdom living here and now.......unlike the conditions represented by these four beasts, but instead like the one who’s dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and who’s kingdom will not be destroyed.
- Three principles from Daniel 7 to help us choose and subsequently live for the right king.
I. Be Impacted by the Creativity, Specificity, and Reliability of Predictive Prophecy in the Word of God.
- I realize that’s a mouthful, but I hope we’ll all sit back for a moment and be amazed by the kind of literature the Lord has given us here…and then consider…
A. Ways these details were fulfilled in history.
1. Babylon, depicted as a lion with eagle’s wings.
- when archeologists found the Ishtar gates leading into the city of Babylon.....guess what creature was depicted as guarding the city gates?....a winged lion....
- there are replicas of those gates in the Berlin Museum today…
- [2 pics]…
- well, what about verse 3 and the wings being plucked off the lion, but then it was lifted up and allowed to stand like a man with a new heart?
- well, what did we learn that happened to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 3?
- because of his pride, he was humbled for seven years....his wings were plucked big time.....but then he repented and his kingdom was restored.
2. Medo-Persia, depicted as a bear that was raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth
- guess how many nations the Medo-Persians conquered?....three.....
- the nations of Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt....that’s a historical fact.
- it’s also well known that in their empire, the Persians were always stronger than the Medes....which may be why the bear was tilted to one side in this particular prophecy.
3. Greece, depicted as the leopard with four wings as a bird, which eventually grew four heads.
- well, what do we know about Alexander the Great and Greece?
- they conquered the world with incredible speed.....as fast as a leopard.....
- after Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided up and given to his leading military generals....into how many kingdoms?.....four.
4. Rome, depicted as a final beast so ruthless and cruel that there is no one comparable animal in nature.
- according to verse 7, it was dreadful, and terrifying, and incredibly large, with great teeth made of what?.....iron.
- It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder.....
- just like......Rome.....
- the nation that beheaded Paul, and crucified Peter, and banished John to isle of Patmos.....
- this is the nation that brutalized Christians.....whether they were male, female, old or young.
- the point is --- God’s Word came to pass....exactly like God it would.
B. Which means you can great confidence that the promises that God has made to you can and will come to pass.
- the kingdom of the beasts are characterized by lies and deception....the kingdom of Jesus Christ is characterized by truth that can be trusted.
- now, that affects people today in two ways....
1. You have to decide what you’re trusting for your eternal destiny.
- and I know that some of you are wrestling with that issue right now.....
- friend, would you allow Daniel 7 to help you?
- His Word has come to pass with incredible accuracy and we have every reason in the world to believe that the promises that He has made to us about the future will come to pass as well....
- like this one.....God so loved the world, that He gave His only.....
- and like this one....Romans 10:9,13 - if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved…for "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
- if you’ve never believed in the Bible’s message of salvation by grace through faith, on the basis of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ....if you’ve never claimed the gift of eternal life in Christ that is promised in His Word, we would invite you to do that today.
- this also affects those who have already come to Christ.....
2. As a Christian, you have to decide whether you will listen to and act on the deception of the beastly kingdom of man, or believe and act on the inspired Word of the Ancient of Days.
- we’re talking about two warring kingdoms.....
- that’s why Col. 1:13-14 describes coming to Christ as being ...Col. 1:13-14 – rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- and for those who have made that transfer, we should want to know, and more importantly we should want to act on the Words of the Ancient of Days....because we believe His Words are true, that they will come to pass.
- like Peter would later say…(quoting in part from Isaiah) 1 Peter 1:23–25 - for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
- a second principle that flows from these verses is....
II. Be Thankful that We Can Have a Personal Relationship With this Kind of God.
- the contrast between these beasts, and the ancient of days is stark and clear.
- any person in their right mind would say, I want my God to be the Ancient of Days.....
- I want to have a personal relationship with this One whose vesture is like white snow, and whose hair is like pure wool, whose throne is characterized by power and glory.
- friend, can I ask you to look over verses 9-14 and then answer the question.....are you rejoicing in the possibility of having a personal relationship with this kind of God?
- are you working at cultivating your relationship with Him?
- are you making the most of the opportunities you have to know Him, and to love Him, and to serve Him?
- you know, sometimes these split screens come together, don’t they.
- [pic of Coptic Christians being beheaded] -- this was taken from a video released last year by ISIS of them beheading 21 Coptic Christians…
- whose kingdom would you want to be in….
1) The one with the knives, and the hoods.....but also hate-filled hearts...
- the ones behaving in an absolutely beastly fashion....
2) or these Godly men...who were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ...
- children of the Ancient of days.....
- who died, not like beasts...but like martyrs....who’s testimony is making a difference around the world.
III. Find Ways to Submit to the Lordship of Christ Here and Now.
- Daniel’s readers wouldn’t have known near as much about this “Son of Man” as we do.
- they knew He was the Messiah.....
- they knew His kingdom would be an everlasting Kingdom.....
- but think about how much more we know.....
- He was the perfect Lamb of God....
- He was born of a virgin....
- He was tempted just like we are, yet without sin....
- He modeled for us what godly living was like.....
- he died on the cross for us....
- He was raised from the dead....and now He is building His church with men and women whose lives have been changed and energized by the message of the empty tomb.
- and we have opportunities to choose which kingdom we’re going to function in every day.
1) You can either be threatening, and intimidating, and violent, and oppressive, and explosive....like one of these beasts.....
- or you can be a peacemaker, and a person who’s gentle, and kind.....like the Prince of Peace.
2) You can have a life that dominates others, and uses others, and discards others.....like one of these beasts.....
- or you can choose to love others.....like the loving Savior.
3) You can demand that people serve you, and bow down to you, and do your bidding.....like one of these beasts.....or you can be like the Son of Man....who didn’t come to be served....but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many.
- when you chose to follow to follow the Son of the Ancient of Days…beautiful things can happen…
1. Illus of e-mail you received from stranded man served by one of our church members…
2. Illus of recent message from public school admin