Daniel 21st session RAS

Daniel 21^st session RAS

July 02, 1997 Joni’s Mkt.

Today we’re talking about Daniel again The Book of Prophesy and tonight we have another interesting session in Chapter 7 of Daniel where we begin the visions of God. Last week we read Daniel 7, let’s go to Daniel 7 again and very quickly let’s read again Daniel 7:1-28, In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. [2] Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. [3] "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. [4] "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. [5] "And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!' [6] "After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. [7] "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. [8] "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts.

[9] "I kept looking

Until thrones were set up,

And the Ancient of Days took His seat;

His vesture was like white snow,

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne was ablaze with flames,

Its wheels were a burning fire.

[10] "A river of fire was flowing

And coming out from before Him;

Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,

And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;

The court sat,

And the books were opened.

[11] "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. [12] "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.

[13] "I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

[14] "And to Him was given dominion,

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.

[15] "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. [16] "I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: [17] 'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. [18] 'But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.' [19] "Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, [20] and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. [21] "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

They will always be one hundred percent correct. Never any mistake.

They have a unique purpose.

What’s the purpose, bakit natin pinag-aaralan ang prophesy? It strengthen your faith. Everything in this bible is designed for that purpose, everything has been written according to Romans for our benefit and the way that it will benefit you is it should strengthen your faith that this is indeed God’s word. Put your hands in Daniel 7, let us see what God has to say about other prophesy, turn to Isaiah 41:22, This is God talking okay, basically God is challenging the pagan gods represented by lifeless idols. Anong sabi ni God sa kanila? Isaiah 41:22-23

Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;

As for the former events, declare what they were,

That we may consider them, and know their outcome;

Or announce to us what is coming.

[23] Declare the things that are going to come afterward,

That we may know that you are gods;

Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

You know one of the greatest marks about God is that only God can see the future. So did you understand what the bible is saying? sabi niya sa v. Declare those things that are going to come that we pati si God might know that you are god if you are able to predict what will happen in the future then you are god and that’s why some of this appear and says, "Oh, this will happen, that will happen." as if they were god. No! that’s an insult to God anybody who comes up and says, "Etong mangyayari.."anong mangyayari sa kanila jump to Isaiah 41:28-29

"But when I look, there is no one,

And there is no counselor among them

Who, if I ask, can give an answer.

[29] "Behold, all of them are false;

Their works are worthless,

Their molten images are wind and emptiness.

It is really amazing that a lot of people believe sari-saring kuro-kuro but basis of biblical prophesy is singular only God can tell the future not even satan. Turn to the fifth book of the bible Deutronomy 18, and it warns us and the warning is good for modern day people. Deut. 18:9-12

"When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. [10] "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, [11] or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. [12] "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.

Sari-saring mga tao po are interested in the future because if you can see the future because if you can see the future do you know how much control do you have in this world? If you could just predict what will happen tomorrow or the next day, do you know how powerful you would be? Go to Deutronomy 18, what would they do? v. 20, Deut. 18:20-22

'But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' [21] "And you may say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' [22] "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. That’s why being a prophet was a very dangerous profession kasi pag nag prophecy ka tapos mali hinde yun ang nagkatotoo you are in danger kaya si Daniel was he in danger? Eto siya ini-interpret niya yung ano nung king and then tapos siya mismo nakakakita siya ng visions kaya siya sinisiguro niya tatanungin niya dun sa ano, ano ba ang ibig sabihin nito? Kasi hinde niya alam eh even he as the man of God he did not know so he had to ask. So dito as we learn you know for those who ask in the bible basta nasa biblia po salita ng Diyos you can be sure it is accurate otherwise it is not be there. So tonight given that as background I hope there are no more questions there, we will discuss that some other time. Let’s go to Daniel 7, How many beasts? Four Beasts and last week we took a look at some of them to quickly review, so yung four beasts they basically represent four earthly kingdoms and we want to focus a little bit on this and go to the next one. It is very parallel to the chapter 2, you’ll bring me king Nebuchadnezzar where he saw this big statue, and the same four kingdoms were outline. Now when we compare the two ano ang kaibahan bakit yung king statue ang nakita bakit si Daniel mga mababangis na hayop ang nakita niya bakit? Any thoughts on that? Okay, they are all pagans but you know one of the things that said, yung kay king Nebuchadnezzar yung kanyang dream while it is very parallel it is seem from a human point of view that’s why nakikita niya maganda, malaki yung statue made of gold etc. yung kay Daniel that’s now God’s perspective so mababangis na creatures ang ginagamit ng Panginoon to communicate basically the same truth and the important truth that we said last, last week was notice all of this they are all historical already. If read history books they’re already happened therefor nasaan na tayo ngayon if you’ll just use a statue as a comparison tapos na ba itong silver, yung bronze, tapos na ba yung paa, nasaan na tayo? We are now back here down here tapos ang susunod merong malaking bato that will hit this statue. What are we saying? One of the first truths that we can learn looking at chapter 7 and looking back at chapter 2, the first conclusion that you can make is what?

1. The end is near. Why? Kasi lahat ito tapos na tayo, nandito na tayo sa paa. In chapter of Daniel sinadabi niya dito na inu-ulit niya basically yung mga beast, they were the same kingdoms that the king had seen and then there was a fourth one we know that this is basically yung fourth beast has two basic faces and the first one was Julius Ceasar came way back during the times of Christ. Anong sabi ni Ceasar? "I came, I saw, I conquered." Do you know of all the kingdoms yung mga ibang kingdoms they were all conquered eh but the Roman kingdom was never conquered by any other kingdom. Ng dumating si Jesus Christ the prophesy would have been nicely and neatly fulfilled and Jesus Christ came and knock the Roman Empire out tapos na but He did not. When Jesus came 1997 years ago he could have easily topple the Roman Empire to became king but He did not kasi meron pang phase 2 yung mga Romans. Today we don’t realized it but the Julius Ceasar, "I came, I saw and I conquered," the influence of the Romans are still very much with us today. Look at Daniel 7:7-8

"After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. [8] "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts.

Itong fourth was so bad you could not even put an animal associate with it, it was really so bad and the key characteristic… since alam na natin lahat yung unang tatlo Daniel 7:19-25

"Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, [20] and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. [21] "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

[23] "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. [24] 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. [25] 'And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. When you look at the other kingdoms how is the forth one different, what were all the other kingdoms? Even the Roman kingdom when it came what was its major characteristics? There would be one king, one dictator who would then be the rulers. Now do you think that’s easy or difficult to ten rulers all at the same time. Is not strange that there will be ten? Ten of these guys? So it says here v.23, 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth and it will be different and sabi dito sa v. 24 Daniel 7:24 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; You know if you do a study when will we find this? Saan natin makikita ito? How many of you have seen the world?. Why is prophesies extremely important? If you will notice in the world you see God saws this as the promise land bakit? This is the most strategic place on earth, it’s the most statigic piece of property in the entire earth. Why?. What’s the significant of the middle east? God put 2/3^rd of the oil of the world here, right here yan ang pinag-aawayan nila langis. The most valuable things of property sabi nila is ni Tokyo pero really it is down here in the middle east. Do you know that si Daniel because God wrote it right before our very eyes a kingdom is coming up and that kingdom believe it or not has ten kings. What is it? The European Economic Community, what is happening is all these guys are bonding together. Now let me give you an exciting piece of news that was given to us five years ago by Mr. Paul Lee Tan, he’s one of the key experts in biblical prophesy ang sinasabi ni Paul Lee Tan, amazing. How many of you know where Brazil is? Anyway, you know the most amazing thing when they first began in 1983, 14 years ago maliit na maliit yung EEC nung araw eh, they were very, very small and their headquarters was in Brazil even until today and believe it or not itong si Paul Lee Tan, he took a photograph of the headquarters of the European Community in 1983, there were only six member nations at that time but you know the amazing thing that he discovered? In front of the building anim lang silang members, you know how many flag poles there were? Ten but there were only six of them in 1983. Now there are how many? Ten, can you believe that, how many horns? Ten horns there is something going on. Then did you that in the past, did you know that all of a sudden Germany was a very east and west nag-aaway na ganon anong nangyari bigla, nawala yung pader, the world just boom woke up on the the world was gone, nobody was doing anything, God was doing it, lots of thing God’s doing. So binabantayan natin ang mga tao ngayon and how it relates to the middle east yun ang pinaka key diyan. In other words we’re closer than close and the prediction of Daniel is that out of this ten will come one, he will devour three so we are in midst of exciting time. Basically the key conclusion that you can get is very simple. What is it? The end is near. There will be a phase to revival of the Roman Empire. If you studied Daniel 7, very carefully see this hall that will get the three he starts out as a little horn, he will surprise everybody, he will be a small player with big ideas. I’ll leave you with that thought about who it is because I don’t want you to focus on that. What I want to focus on tonight ang sinasabi po dito malapit na yung fourth kingdom nandiyan na siya, Daniel 7:21-22, "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them and then what will happen? [22] until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. You like that, you understand what this is saying? this is what they call the anti Christ, he will come but you know after he comes while he over power the saints one day his time is very limited and one day what will happen in v.18, 'But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.' What is his saying is 1) The end is near and what will happen in the end? The anti Christ will come but after him what will happen? The ancient of days will come and then what? Who are the saints? Us so there will become a judgment day, Daniel 7:25-26, 'And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. [26] 'But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.

Kanino ibibigay yung kingdom? Sa saints and look at the ancient of days, sino ba ang sinasabing ancient of days? Let’s start reading from v. 9, Daniel 7:9-11

"I kept looking

Until thrones were set up,

And the Ancient of Days took His seat;

His vesture was like white snow,

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne was ablaze with flames,

Its wheels were a burning fire.

[10] "A river of fire was flowing

And coming out from before Him;

Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,

And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;

The court sat,

And the books were opened.

[11] "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful Sino po itong ancient of days? God, how do you know he’s God. If you look at the original Hebrew basically ang sinasabi dito endless, sino ba itong ancient of days na sinasabi? Look at v. 13,

"I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

[14] "And to Him was given dominion,

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Sino yung ancient of days? Ancient of days is what? God the Father sounds like it, most people, here they make a mistake most people their idea of God remember the old idea of God is an old, old grand father parang si George Burns, kasi ganon ang concept, saan nila nakukuha yund? Dito the ancient of days because in the Hebrew it really means yung pinakamatanda then we get a wrong picture of God. We think God is old person no power, nothing. Someone to respect but he has zero power, that is a wrong concept of God. You know we’d like to focus this evening as we close on the ancient of days and on one like a son of man, who do you think that is? Jesus Christ, how do you know, where does it say Jesus? Did you know that chapter 7, is one of the most referred two chapters in the new testament? Daniel 7, and did you know Jesus Himself used it to acknowledge that He was the son of man. Let’s look at some of the things how this is fulfilled in time that passed. Who is ahead? Daniel or si Jesus Christ? Si Daniel. Let us look at the ancient of days, turn to Micah 5:2, there was a prophesy made of Jesus Christ, one of the prophets in Micah 5:2 made a prophesy about where Jesus would be born. Micah 5:2

" But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,

From the days of eternity."

Where was Jesus born? In Bethlehem. Now let me ask you this look at the prophesy very carefully and sabi dito sa prophesy na to manggagaling daw sino? Si Jesus to be ruler, did Jesus become ruler when he was first here, do they call Him the king of the Jews? Yeah, they call Him the king of the Jews in fact the magi called Him the king and yet He did not really rule Israel but one day look at the last phrase His goings forth are from where? long ago, From the days of eternity." How many gods are there? One , ancient of days. Is Jesus Christ God? There’s a mystery we cannot explain, this is the most pinakamalapit na equivalent sa ancient of days. Jesus Christ claimed the fulfillment of the prophesy of Daniel when he was alive on this earth. Turn your bible and I will show you where, Mark 14. How did Jesus used Daniel 7:13, remember Jesus was before who when he was being tried, he was before Pilate. Do remember Pilate was asking him lot’s of questions what did Jesus do? He refused to.., but you know the high priest ask him one question at yung question na yon sinagot niya. What’s the question it’s in v.60, Mark 14:60-62

And the high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?" [61] But He kept silent, and made no answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" [62] And Jesus said, "I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." What did you find in Daniel? V.13 again Daniel 7:13

"I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

You know that the Right Hand of the Thrown is a very special place, it is reserved. Go back to Mark 14:62, Ang question, "Ikaw ba ang Messiah?" anong sagot niya? "I am" and what did Jesus say to the high priest? You shall see the son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven Mark 14:63-64, And tearing his clothes, the high priest said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? [64] "You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. What is blasphemy? In the Jewish context it is very simple, tao ka and claiming to be God, kaya when Jesus say this word the high priest knew the bible eh, alam nila yung sinasabi ni Jesus eh that He is the Messiah, He is the one prophecy in Daniel the son of man, He claimed the title. And that’s why sabi nila blasphemy yan, dinig na dinig nating lahat because ikaw Jesus Christ tao ka lang you are claiming to be God, that’s the claim. And nakakalula but let me just give you some other verses Matthew 16:27

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and WILL THEN RECOMPENSE EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. It was one of the favorite titles of Jesus Christ and He always used it in connection with the second coming. Jesus always used the title in the son of man connection with the second coming. When He was going to come in the crowd not as a little baby but as ruler as Messiah yun po ang ginagamit ni Jesu Cristo’ng title, he was claiming to be the Ancient of Days the Son of man and it is very interesting to see, look at the description of the Ancient of Days. How is the Ancient of days describe in Daniel 7? Daniel 7:9

"I kept looking

Until thrones were set up,

And the Ancient of Days took His seat;

His vesture was like white snow,

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne was ablaze with flames,

Its wheels were a burning fire.

Remember the description, describing who? And then you now turn your bible to Revelation just to show you something that is very, very nice. Let us read Rev. 1:1-7

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, [2] who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. [3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

[4] John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; [5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, [6] and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [7] BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.

Did you see that? that’s not a baby in a manger that’s Jesus coming with the clouds and ang description ni John of this Jesus Christ was like this, look at v. 12. Rev. 1:12-15

And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; [13] and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. [14] And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; [15] and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. Who is he describing? Jesus Christ. Is it the same description that you see in v. 9, Daniel 7:9

the Ancient of Days took His seat;

His vesture was like white snow,

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

Sino si Ancient of Days? The son of man is clear. Some says God the Father, sabi ni Jesus, I am the Father are one. What’s the point that we want you to take away, with all of this prophesy, Jesus is coming soon, the anti Christ is coming. What we want you to take away tonight, the second coming of Christ is certain just like the Babylonians happened just like the midst and the Persians came, just like the Greeks came, just like the Romans came, Jesus Christ is coming after the anti Christ and He’s coming soon. So, Jesus Christ is certain to come, He’s coming soon than most of us think. Therefore what’s the third certain thing to do, when He comes there will be judgment, the second coming of Christ is compelling us to be ready. Are you ready, are we ready for the coming of Jesus? We will look in detail at the coming of Jesus but the anti Christ and so forth and so on but the question is all the earthly kingdoms what happen to them? They disappear and yet most of us if we now come to application you look at your life most of us are still trying to build our own little kingdom, if will never be like be the Babylonians, we will never be like Alexander the Great, we will never be like Julius Ceasar. You know they are all try to conquer they could never make it. Question. Are you ready, what kind of kingdom are you building? How can we be ready? Ladies and gentlemen it’s a terrifying thought to think that Jesus is coming because you know why? He will bring judgment. And do you know He will not only judge the Pagans, who will He judge? He will start with us, unfortunately. Are we trying to be ready? Let me give you two very simple suggestions. How can I be ready, as I close tonight there are many applications that we can but I just like to give you, we can preach a whole sermon here, How can you be ready? Mathew 6:33, tells us how can we be ready? Seek first the kingdom of God and all this things shall be added on to you. In Matthew 6, basically ang context nito is ganito, Most people they’re laying their treasure on this earth and Jesus very clearly said, Store not your treasures here on this earth, where should you store it? In heaven. Are you storing in heaven, are you getting ready for heaven?