Unmasking the Antichrist - Daniel 8
ANTICHRIST: WHO IS HE? IS HE ALIVE TODAY OR WILL HE BE RESURRECTED???
Matthew 24:1–3 (NKJV)
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:4–8 (NKJV)
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:15-16
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Daniel 7 spoke prophetically of 4 beastly kingdoms (Babylon – lion, Medo-Persian – Bear, Greek – leopard, 4th – terrible beast, iron teeth, 10 horns and little horn – Islamic caliphate and the antichrist)
Daniel 8 – chapters 2-7 written in Aramaic (common language of the nations), 8-12 in Hebrew (speaking to the Jewish nation)
Daniel 8:1-2 (NKJV)
1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me—to me, Daniel—after the one that appeared to me the first time. 2 I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.
Shushan (Susa) - small little town during Babylonian kingdom (200 miles east of Babylon), but will become capital of Persian empire (Iran)
Daniel 8:3-4
3 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.
Daniel 8:5-7
5 And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. 7 And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.
Daniel 8:8
8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
Greek empire – divided among 4 generals
North Seleucid (Syrian) vs. South Ptolemy (Egypt)
Daniel 8:9-12
9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
1 Maccabees 1:41–53
And the king wrote unto his whole kingdom, 42 that all should be one people, and that every one should give up his [religious] usages. And all the nations acquiesced in accordance with the command of the king. 43 And many in Israel took delight in his (form of) worship, and they began sacrificing to idols, and profaned the sabbath. 44 Furthermore, the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah (to the effect that) they should practise customs foreign to (the traditions of) the land, 45 and that they should cease the (sacrificing of) whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and drink offerings in the sanctuary, and that they should profane the sabbaths and feasts, 46 and pollute the sanctuary and those who had been sanctified; 47 that they should (moreover) build high places, and sacred groves, and shrines for idols, and that they should sacrifice swine and (other) unclean animals; 48 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcized, and make themselves abominable by means of (practising) everything that was unclean and profane, 49 so that they might forget the Law, and change all the (traditional) ordinances. 50 And whosoever should not act according to the word of the king, should die. 51 In this manner did he write unto the whole of his kingdom; and he appointed overseers over all the people; and he commanded the cities of Judah to sacrifice, every one of them. 52 And many of the people joined themselves unto them, all those [namely] who had forsaken the Law; 53 these did evil in the land, and caused Israel to hide in all manner of hiding-places.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Antiochus, God Manifest) – Antiochus Epimanes – Antiochus the mad man
Killed 80,000 Jews and sold 40,000 into slavery
Outlawed Torah, burned every copy he could find
Forbade circumcision
Mothers committed to Judaism did it anyway, when found out, Antiochus killed the babies, hung them around the mothers’ necks and marched them through town. Another
Replaced Jewish holidays with Greek Holidays (Bachanalia – celebration of wine and pleasure)
Forbade Sabbath
REMEMBER LAST TIME – CHAPTER 7 CHANGING TIMES AND SEASON
Daniel 8:10-11a
10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host;
PICTURE: COIN - Theos Antiochus Theos Epiphanes = Antiochus the Great, God Manifest”
Daniel 8:11b-12
and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
Daily sacrifice taken away –
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
Daniel 11:30–31 (NKJV)
30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
167 BC (Dec 16)
Sacrificed a pig on the altar in the temple and sprayed the pigs blood all over
Pigs unclean, not sacrificed by priest – desecrate the temple
Abomination of Desolation
THEN set up an image of Zeus in the temple – WHY BAD?????
Daniel 8:13-14
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
Chanukah – 8 day festival
The commemoration of this event is called the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah. September 6, 171 b.c.—when Antiochus came to power—to December 25, 165 b.c. is exactly 2,300 days.
FUTURE?
Need to look into next chapter of Daniel
Daniel 9:27 (NKJV)
27 Then he [Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [seven]; But in the middle of the week [seven] He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Antichrist covenant, treaty for 7 years
Middle of covenant – end sacrifice (temple apparently in place)
Offer sacrifice desecrating the temple
2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Temple of God -
READY TO BUILD - SLIDE
Temple Institute
Temple Mount Faithful
Location in question – could build to the north or south
Daniel 8:13-14
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” 14 And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
2300 DAYS – future interpretation is time from opening of the temple and beginning of sacrifices until temple cleansed
2300 days = 6 years, 140 days (360 day years)
120 days +2 leap months+ 15 days (6 months and 15 days to construct)
"Who opposes [against)
and exalts himself above [in place of] all that is called God"
(2 Thess. 2:4). When Satan rebelled against his Creator, he sought
to be both against and in place of God (Isa. 14:13-14).
Daniel 8:15-17
15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
“Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”
Daniel 8:18-22
18 Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. 19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. 20 The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. 22 As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
Daniel 8:23-25
23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
Charisma, “fierce features, who understands sinister schemes” –
SHREWD, diabolical
Destroy the mighty AND the HOLY PEOPLE (Jews and Christians)
GET A HOLIDAY
'As a matter of fact, every time someone wanted to destroy the
Jewish nation, the Jews added another holiday. Pharaoh tried it,
and God gave them Passover. Haman tried it in the book of Es-
ther, and they celebrated Purim. Antiochus tried it, and it resulted in Hanukkah, or "the feast of the dedication" (John 10:22). In our own day, Hitler tried it, and his failure eventuated in the rebirth of the Jewish nation and its independence day.- from Pre-wrath Rapture by Marvin Rosenthal
Daniel 8:25b
But he shall be broken without human means.
Antiochus – died of disease – after Jupiter idol cast out of the temple he vowed to turn Jerusalem into a cemetery for all of the Jews. But got sick and body putrid, awful smell – died “without human means”
ANTICHRIST _ be defeated by Jesus – not humans!
Daniel 8:26-27
26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” 27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.
TIMELINE
Antichrist Covenant – Beginning of the Tribulation
Temple rebuilt
Seals Opened (4 Horsemen:
What to look for?
Revelation 6:1–2 (NKJV)
1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 13:1–17 (NKJV)
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Muslim 12th Imam (Mahdi)
When asked directly by ABC reporter Ann Curry in September 2009 about his apocalyptic statements, Ahmadinejad said, “Imam ... will come with logic, with culture, with science. He will come so that there is no more war. No more enmity, hatred. No more conflict. He will call on everyone to enter a brotherly love. Of course, he will return with Jesus Christ. The two will come back together. And working together, they would fill this world with love.”
There are a few other parallels between the Bible and Shiite theology that we should note. First, the Bible says that the tribulation will last for seven years, and Islam claims that the Twelfth Imam will rule the world for the same amount of time. Second, Muslims anticipate three years of chaos before the revealing of the Twelfth Imam, and the Bible speaks of three and a half years of tribulation before the Antichrist reveals his true nature by desecrating the Jewish temple. Third, the Bible describes the Antichrist as a deceiver who claims to bring peace but who actually brings widespread war; the expectation of the Twelfth Imam is that he will bring peace through massive war with the rest of the world.
Antichrist and the Mahdi Both:
* Both Deny Trinity And Cross
* Both Deny The Father And The Son
* Both Are Blasphemous
* Both Are Called Deceiver
* Both Claim To Be Messiah
* Both Kingdoms Suffer A Head Wound
* Both Work False Miracles
* Both Ride A White Horse
* Both Attempt To Change The Law
* Both Deny Women’s Rights
* Both Rule Over Ten Entities
* Both Are the Source of Death and War
* Both Use Military Force
* Both Honor Their God with Gold and Silver
* Both Honor a God of War And Advance His Glory Through War
*
* Both Usher Seven Years Peace Treaty
* Both Deceive And Destroy By Peace
* Both Break Treaties
* Both Desire World Domination
* Both Lead A Turkish-Iranian Invasion
* Both Exalted As God
* Both Ascend To Heaven
* Both Are Described As Beautiful And Wise Bird
* Both Are Light Beings
* Both Are Pride Filled
* Both Are Lords of This World and the Underworld
* Both Are Called the “Son of the Dawn”
* Both Are Afflicters
* Both Are Cast Out Of Heaven
* Both Are “The Lords of Demons”
* Both Are Possessed
* Both Practice Beheading
* Both Desire Israel’s Destruction
* Both Occupy the Temple Mount
* Our Messiah is their Antichrist—Their Antichrist is our Messiah *
WE DON’T EXPERIENCE WRATH OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 John 4:1-4 NLT
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 15-17 NIV
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Blessed & Broken
Ezekiel 37:1-7 NLT
“The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.”
Psalms 38:8 NKJV
“I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.”
Psalms 31:12 NKJV
“I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.”
Job 17:1 NKJV
“My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.”
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED, TO BE BROKEN, TO BE GIVEN OUT….
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Lamentations 3:1-4 NKJV
“I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He has led me and made me walk In darkness and not in light. Surely He has turned His hand against me Time and time again throughout the day. He has aged my flesh and my skin, And broken my bones.”
BROKEN:
The removal of dead faith in self, making room for a living faith in God.
John 3:30 NKJV
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30 NLT
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
Psalms 22:16-17 NKJV
“…They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones.”
Matthew 26:26 NLT
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”
BLESSED
BROKEN
& GIVEN OUT….
Luke 24:30-35 NKJV
“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.”
Psalms 51:8 NKJV
“Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.”
Mark 6:30-36 ESV
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
Mark 6:7-9 NKJV
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
Mark 6:27-29 NKJV
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Mark 6:37-44 ESV
“But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.”
Mark 12:41-44 ESV
“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
Psalm 34:18-19 ESV
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
How to Be Delivered Part 2
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 NLT
“Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:1-5 NIV
“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Romans 7:15-25 NLT
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
Luke 9:23 NKJV
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23 NLT
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
John 12:24 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
THE PLACE CALLED GOLGOTHA
A place of:
Pain
Humiliation
Rejection
Abandonment
Promise
THE 7 SAYINGS OF THE CROSS
1. FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
Luke 23:33-34
Psalm 22:16-22 NKJV
“For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.”
I AM FORGIVEN
Ephesians 4:30-32 NKJV
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
2. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE
Luke 23:39-43
"I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN”
Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
3. WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON; BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER
JOHN 19:25-27
Psalm 69:7-9 NKJV
“Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children; Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”
I AM A CHILD OF GOD
Psalm 27:10 NKJV
“When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.”
John 1:12-13 NKJV
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
4. MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
Matthew 27:45-46; Psalm 22:1-2
I AM NOT ALONE
John 14:15-18 NLT
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
Matthew 28:20
“…be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
5. I AM THIRSTY
John 19:28-29; Psalm 22:15
I AM SATISFIED IN GOD
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
John 4:14
“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Isaiah 58:11
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
6. IT IS FINISHED
John 19:30a; Luke 23:44-45
I AM SAVED BY GRACE
Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
7. FATHER INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
Luke 23:46
I AM HELD IN THE HAND OF GOD
John 10:28-29 NKJV
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:13 NKJV
“I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”
PSALM 18:19
“He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me”.
Psalm 139:8-10 NKJV
“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”
COUNSEL AT THE CROSS
I AM FORGIVEN
I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
I AM A CHILD OF GOD
I AM NOT ALONE
I AM SATISFIED IN GOD
I AM SAVED BY GRACE
I AM HELD IN THE HAND OF GOD
Daniel 7: The Courtroom of Heaven
It all begins with an idea.
A Light in Today’s Darkness
Daniel 7:9-10
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 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.Daniel 7:1 (ESV)
1 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.
Review
Daniel 1-6 are historical, autobiography of Daniel (although written in 3rd person).
Chapters 7-12 are visions and dreams Daniel personally had about the future, most of which have been fulfilled and some being fulfilled now
CHAPTER 7 – most complete picture of Gentile History in the Bible….
Dream takes place nearly 50 years after Neb.’s dream in Daniel 2
Timing of the dreams – this would have taken place between chapters 4 and 5 – remember the profane grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar – this dream came during the first year of his reign.
Daniel 7:2-4
2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
The dream will parallel the 4 kingdoms of Chapter 2:
Gold headed statue – Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar)
Silver arms and chest – Medo-Persian empire
Bronze belly and thighs – Greek Empire
Iron legs – Islamic Empire
Toes – Iron mixed with clay – Revived Islamic empire
THIS DREAM
4 Beasts (man sees kingdoms as precious metals; God seems them as savage beasts)
First beast like a lion and had eagle’s wings – if remember both were symbols of Babylon
The great wall had both eagle’s and lions on it.
Wings plucked and made to stand like a man and mind of man given to it.
Speaks of Neb, his humbling and 7 years in the field as an ox (wings clipped), then – repents and given the mind of a man – NO LONGER A BEAST
When we come to Christ – we are given a new heart and mind
Daniel 7:5
5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’
Medo-Persian – Bear – one side raised up (Persian greater than Medes – this also highlighted in the next chapter as well)
The three ribs speak of the three empires immediately devoured by the Medes and Persians: the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Lydians
Daniel 7:6
6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Greek empire – leopard – fast (4 wings of a bird) – Alexander the Great was the king – became king at age 20, and was undefeated. In 5 years conquered from Greece to Northwestern India.
His army of 35,000 beat the Persian army of 2-300,000!
Because he was so smart? NO! Because God said so, “Dominion was given to it.”
He died at the young age of 32
4 heads – after Alexander Great died, kingdom given to his 4 generals (4 heads)
Daniel 7:7-8
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Crazy dream! 4 beasts with the 4th beast very intimidating and strange
We will get the interpretation of this 4th beast at the end. BUT REVIEW
Many think it was Rome, but Rome didn’t crush their enemy, they conquered and blended, syncretistic (conquered the Greeks and kept their gods)
ISLAM – conquered and destroyed – ISIS destroying ancient shrines,, churches, etc.
Daniel 7:9-10
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 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.
THRONES – MORE THAN ONE – EVIDENCE OF THE TRINITY IN THE OT.
Throne set up – Ancient of Days – GOD shows up!
Psalm 97:1–5 (ESV)
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.Daniel 7:10
10 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.
BOOKS OPENED
Revelation 20:12–15 (ESV)
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and 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. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Books of works vs. Book of Life – if not in the Book of Life then judged on works.
Daniel 7:11-12
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Judgment on the 4th beast for “the great words that the horn was speaking.”
“lives prolonged for a season” – not concurrent, each continued after for awhile EXCEPT the last – which was totally destroyed (by JESUS!)
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 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, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Jesus shows up – “one like a son of man” – comes to Ancient of Days
THE 5TH KINGDOM – PLEAD THE 5TH!
Now all peoples, nations, and languages serve him, everlasting dominion.
Daniel 7:15-16
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.
Daniel knew interpretations of other dreams but had to ask for this one…
Daniel 7:17-22
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.’ 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.
4th kingdom – has 10 horns – then another horn that supplants 3 others
Horn – antichrist – had eyes and mouth that spoke great things
Daniel 7:23
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.
“devour the whole earth, trample it down and break it to pieces” – worldwide effect
Daniel 7:24
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.
10 kings rise (remember 10 toes of Daniel 2 Statue vision)
10 regions, 10 nations?
Antichrist comes up and replaces 3 kings (could be dissenters…)
Daniel 7:25
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.
Antichrist – Speaks words against the Most High (against God)
Evolution
Blasphemy
Atheism
Islam – “Allah Akbar” – Allah is Greater – greater than what? (god of Islam always trying to prove himself)
NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE!
CHRISLAM – SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST
ISLAM – NOT OUR BROTHERS AN SISTERS
John 8:41–44 (ESV)
41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.John 1:12–13 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Yes, we are all created by God; yes, brothers and sisters through Adam and Eve
BUT BIBLICALLY – only those who are born again are truly “children of God”
Daniel 7:25
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.
“wear out the saints of the Most High” – some translations “harass” but means to “wear out like a garment” – “Wear down” –
“they shall be given into his hand” – Antichrist overcome the saints? Yes!
“for a time, times and half a time.” – 3.5 years
Time = 1
Times = 2
Half a time = ½
TOTAL = 3 ½ years
This is speaking of the first half of the tribulation – the 7 year period of testing to come on the earth at the end times.
Described in the Bible as:
Time, Times and half a time (3.5 years)
42 months (3.5 years)
1260 days (360+360+360+180=3.5 years)
Half a week of years (Daniel 9)
Revelation 13:1–8 (ESV)
1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it 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, 8 and all who dwell on 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.2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.Daniel 7:25
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.
Antichrist will also “think to change the times and the law”
October 23, 1793, French Revolutionary Calendar was inaugurated just nine days after Queen Marie-Atoinette was executed. It was an attempt to de-Christianize the calendar
Goal was to remove Sunday as a day of worship – remove Christianity:
Developed a sort of metric or decimal view of calendar
Day divided into 10 hours, of 100 minutes and 100 seconds each
Months were still 30 days, but divided into 10 day decades - 10 day a day of rest (one of main reasons it didn’t work was they have been used to day 7 off)
360 days in the 12 months, then final 5 days were celebration days not part of any month.
Intentionally trying to remove God from the Calendar.
When Charles-Gilbert Romme, its chief architect, was asked what the main reason for the new calendar was, he emphatically stated: “To abolish Sunday.”6 “The décade [the new “week”] – or, rather, to be more precise, its ‘peak day,’ Décadi – came to be the single most important symbol of the de-Christianization of France.”7 Churches were forbidden to hold services on any day except for Décadi and citizens were not to close their stores on Sunday or acknowledge it by wearing their habits du dimanche, or “Sunday best”.8
Only lasted about 12 years until Napoleon declared emperor and abolished it 2 years later.
Antichrist will try to change the times and seasons – only God can change it
Daniel 2:20–21 (ESV)
20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 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;
But Islam also has its own calendar
Islamic new year is 622 AD Muhammed migration from Mecca to Medina to establish the first Muslim community – therefore it is currently year 1443 AH (Hijra )
Alternating 29 and 30 day months
Daniel 7:26
26 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
The Court of Heaven will judge the Antichrist.
He will be consumed and destroyed “to the end.”
Daniel 7:27
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.’
YAY! We win!
Daniel 7:28 (CSB)
28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”