The Ancient of Days Sermon


Video

The Ancient of Days

Daniel 7

The study of end times or the end of the world is called eschatology; it comes from the Greek word eschaton and means “end.”

There are two warnings here.

First, don’t become obsessed with Bible prophecy.

Warning number two: Don’t be afraid of Bible prophecy.

God’s definition of prophecy: (Isaiah 46:10)

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

 

  1. FOUR WORLD KINGDOMS or MODERN GOVERNMENTS (7:1-7, 17)

First, Daniel dreams of four world kingdoms or modern governments.

Daniel 7:1-3. “In the first year of Belshazzar [the king who saw the writing on the wall], Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of the dream. Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the other came up out of the sea.”

The wind, symbolizes the constant turmoil that surrounds military conflicts.

We aren’t going to look at the details of each animal in vs 4-7, but what a nightmare!

Thankfully God explains it.

verse 16, “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints [that’s us] of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever–yes, for ever and ever.”

I HAVE GOOD NEWS!!! We win!

  1. Lion/Eagle
  2. Bear
  3. Leopard

Now some scholars disagree with what these animals represent. Some say they represent ancient empires and some say modern governments that will lead up to the end times.

Some have identified the lion as Britain, the bear as Russia, and the leopard as Israel or even China.

  1. Scary Beast: Roman

The fourth beast is identified as having iron teeth (military power) and conquering all the territory of the previous Gentile powers.

There is a second stage to this kingdom and the ten nations are symbolized here as ten horns.

But Daniel notices there is a “little horn” that rises up and takes control of all ten.

 

  1. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ANTICHRIST (8, 11, 21-25)

Daniel 7:8, 11, 21-25. “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully…Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire…As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will arise, different from the earlier ones; he [now the “it” has become a “he”] will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.’”

That means “one year, add two years, add a half a year, the result: three and a half years.” That’s exactly 42 months,

This is exactly the same person spoken of in Revelation 13, the Antichrist.

Keep that three-and-a-half years (or 42 months) in mind as I read a portion of it from 

Revelation 13:5. “The beast [Antichrist] was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.”

Verse 7 says, “He was given power to make war against the saints to conquer them.”

Jesus is going to come to rapture those of us who are born again.

Arising out of the turmoil following that event, a one-world government will be established.

It will originate from the old Roman Empire area, the European community, which is roughly ten nations.

 

This time of political turbulence is often called the Seven-Year Tribulation.

I do not know if the Antichrist is actually alive today, but I do know this 1 John 4:3 says, “The spirit of antichrist …even now already is in the world.”

III. THE RETURN OF JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM (13-14, 26-27)

Daniel 7:13. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

That is also reported in verses 26 and 27, the interpretation.

“But the court will sit, and his power [that’s the little horn, the antichrist] will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints [that’s us when we reign with Christ on the earth for 1,000 years], the people of the Most High. His Kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”

Standing on this side of the New Testament, who do you think the son of man is? It’s Jesus!

Daniel 7 says the Son of Man will return in the clouds and will defeat the Antichrist.

  1. THE FINAL JUDGEMENT (9-10)

verse 9. “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.”

This description of God sounds exactly like what the Apostle John saw in Revelation 1:14, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.”

Keep reading in Daniel 7:10 to see what’s happening in this vision: “A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him [probably angels]; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court [or literally “judgement”] was seated, and the books were opened.”

This is a vision of the Final Judgement linked to Revelation 20:11-15. “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”

  1. Books of Works

Matthew 12:36, “But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken.”

  1. The Bible

 John 12:48 Jesus said, “There is a judge for the one who rejects me–the very words which I have spoken will condemn him at the last day.”

  1. The Book of Life

“Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven… Depart from me, I never knew you.” (From Matthew 7:21ff)

I fall to my knees and say, “Okay, I was wrong. I thought religion was enough. Now I confess that Jesus is Lord!”

But by then it’s too late, for the Bible says, “One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)