Welcome friends to Books
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of the Book.
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We have embarked upon an
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exciting study of the book
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of Daniel and we have
now come to Daniel Chapter 7.
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I'm Ty Gibson and I'm
James Rafferty and we are in
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an incredible Chapter Ty.
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I have to say that this
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Chapter is one you approach
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with fear and trepidation.
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There is so much here, a lot
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of symbolism and it is going
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to be quite an
adventure to move through this.
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It is a dream and it is symbolic
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The symbols are identified
partly in the context of the
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Chapter, so we need
to get right into it.
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So far the book of Daniel,
he hasn't received any visions
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or dreams himself.
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Nebuchadnezzar had received
two dreams that had been
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interpreted by Daniel.
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But now in Chapter 7 Daniel
in verse 1 says, he received
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a dream and a vision and
proceeds to tell the main facts,
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or main points of this
vision that he received.
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As the vision unfolds,
he says that he saw 4 winds
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stirring, or
striving upon the great sea.
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He said that he saw 4
great beasts in verse 3, come up
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out of the sea and each of
the beasts was different from
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the other and then delineates
these beasts in particular,
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James, he says in verse 4,
the first beast was like a lion,
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and with eagle's wings.
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Then down in verse 5 he says,
he saw a bear, raised up on
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one side with
three ribs in its mouth.
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Then he says in verse 6
then he saw a leopard and the
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leopard had four wings on
its back and 4 heads and then
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he sees in verse 7, a
fourth beast, which is not like
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any of the others, it is
not like anything in the animal
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kingdom, he says it is dreadful
and terrible, exceedingly
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strong, with huge iron
teeth and it was different from
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all the other beasts.
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So these are the four
creatures that he sees.
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They represent 4
kingdoms that move through
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history in succession.
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The lion represents Babylon.
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The bear, Media Persia.
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The leopard, the
kingdom of Grecia.
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And then the terrible
dreadful beast, the non-descript
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beast represents
the Roman empire.
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So that is the basic outline
of the symbols that he sees
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in his vision, and the
beast and what they represent.
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We know this Ty because in
a very context of the prophecy
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an
interpretation is given Daniel.
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In verse 16, Daniel
comes near to one of the people
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he sees in vision and he
asks him about this vision.
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This being, this heavenly
being tells Daniel the truth,
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and the
interpretation of these things.
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Then in verse 17 he says,
these great beasts, this is the
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Angel, the messenger, speaking
to Daniel, to tell him the
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truth of the
interpretation of these things.
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He says these great
beasts, which are 4, are 4 kings
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which shall
arise out of the earth.
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So right there you have a
very clear interpretation.
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These beasts actually
represent Kings and kingdoms.
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In fact, the Bible here,
even though it is talking and
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symbolic language, it is
talking the same language that
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we use today, in our world.
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For example, we use
beasts to represent countries,
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or kingdoms, or Kings.
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If you think for
example, of an eagle.
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What country do you
think of? America of course.
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If you think of a bear? Russia!
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The lion? England!
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The Dragon? China!
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So God is using the very
language that He saw we would
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use as a people, He is
not trying to confuse us here.
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But He is talking
in symbols for reason.
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That reason is going
to become evident later.
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Right now the main thing
we need to recognize, for our
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viewers sake, is that these
4 beasts are kingdoms that have
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risen in the earth and
take us down the stream of time.
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It is fascinating to notice
that all of these kingdoms
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are represented by
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predatory beasts.
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These are powerful animals
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that are symbolizing powers
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in human history that used
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force, that used coercion,
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that depend on military power
and might in order to advance
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themselves, by contrast, just
for interest sake if we fast
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forward to God's kingdom as
it is represented in Scripture,
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we discover that God
chooses for His symbol, a lamb.
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A lamb represents
the kingdom of God.
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A docile, meek and
humble animal that is led to the
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slaughter, God does
not use the same principles
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that human powers use.
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God is not engaged in force
and manipulation in order to
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bring people to their
knees and worship before Him.
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But we see in the
Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
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We see in the cross of Christ,
we see the power that God
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depends on and that is
the power of truth and love.
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That is a really good point
Ty, in fact it is so powerful
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when you look at that because
the Lamb, of course being the
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sacrificial beast of the Old
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Testament, the sanctuary
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service, and Jesus Christ
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being typified by the Lamb,
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the Lamb of God takes away
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the sins of the world.
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Yet, there is more power in
that animal, or in the meaning
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behind that, the principle
of self-sacrifice, the principal
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of love is more powerful
than all the power combined in
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all of these beasts.
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How powerful? Jesus says,
"and I, if I be lifted up,"
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from the earth, from the
cross, "will draw all to me. "
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In other words the power of
the cross, the power that is
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embodied in the symbol of
the Lamb is the power of God's
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love to draw sinners to
Himself without the use of force
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and coercion.
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It is a powerful thing
to realize James, the Bible
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throughout is communicating
to us the awesome fact that
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God does seek our salvation
and our worship, but only on
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the premise of a
returning current of love to Him
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because of the great
love He has had for us.
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You can see that this
Chapter, Chapter 7 is in a very
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real sense a
parallel of Daniel Chapter 2.
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There you had 4 parts
of an image representing
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different kingdoms, and
it came down to the feet and
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that feet divided into 10 parts.
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Here you have 10 horns on
this last beast, and those 10
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horns would be parallel with
those 10 toes in that image.
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Then, like in the
image, you have this rock,
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this stone, that
came and smote the image.
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That hit the image at the feet.
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Same here you have this
vision continuing on until the
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judgment and the
return of Jesus Christ.
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Until there is a judgment
that takes place and the beast
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is given to the burning flames.
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You have some parallels here
between these two prophecies.
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That is powerful, so we have
this succession of kingdoms.
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We have 4 kingdoms that
are mentioned and then Daniel
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in verse 8 sees something
that is very interesting and a
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turn of events occurs
with the fourth beast.
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The 4th beast we have identified
as the Roman empire in it's
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secular form, in it's pagan form
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Then he says that he
sees a little horn come up out
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of that fourth beast.
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That little horn power is
then the focus of the remainder
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of Daniel Chapter 7 and there
are specific characteristics
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that identify it so that
we know who this power is.
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First of all we just need
to realize that if you look at
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the history books, it is
obvious that there is only one
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power that grew out of,
and was the continuation of the
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pagan Roman Empire and
that was the papal Roman empire.
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That is why there's
only four beasts represented.
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In fact the papal Roman
empire was a Christianized
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continuation of
the pagan Roman empire.
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The characteristics that are
outlined are very fascinating.
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They are, in fact we see
this in relation to the first
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verse, verse 8.
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It plucked up three by
the roots, it had the eyes
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of a man, it came up among them.
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That gives us a location
and a little bit of the history
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of the rise of this power.
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It continues on until the
judgment and that tells us that
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this power that will come
out of pagan Rome, will continue
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on to the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
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So it has to be
present day power.
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Daniel, as he goes through
the first part of this vision,
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he is asking, verse 15,
he's troubled and doesn't
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understand the visions.
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An angel comes near, a messenger
comes near and Daniel wants
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to know more about the
interpretation but notice
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what he says in verse 19.
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He says, "then I would know"
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"the truth of the fourth beast,"
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"which was different from"
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"all the others, exceeding"
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"dreadful, whose teeth were of
iron, and his nails of brass:"
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"which devoured, brake in pieces
and stamp the residue with"
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"his feet; and of the 10 horns
that were in his head, and of"
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"the other which came
up, before whom three fell"
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"even of that whole
horn that had eyes,"
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"and a mouth that
spake great things,"
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"whose look was more
stout than his fellows. "
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Daniel here is asking for
more information, specifically
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about the little horn,
about the fourth beast.
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That seems to be what the
rest of Daniel 7 focuses in on.
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There is another characteristic
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of this power is
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brought to view in verse 8
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and also down in verses 20-22.
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You have the fact that
this power will speak, in my
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version it says, "pompous
words against the most high,"
00:10:05.22\00:10:08.79
this is the New
King James version.
00:10:08.82\00:10:10.54
The King James Version
renders that characteristic will
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"speak great words
against the most high".
00:10:14.46\00:10:17.23
Another translation would
indicate that this is "defaming"
00:10:17.26\00:10:23.08
"words against the most high. "
00:10:23.12\00:10:24.71
If you go and compare Revelation
Chapter 13, another word is used
00:10:24.75\00:10:28.79
to fill out the meaning
here and that is that this power
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would speak " blasphemous
words against the most high. "
00:10:31.44\00:10:34.74
All of these translations
indicates simply that the
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little horn power will
focus its attention on defaming
00:10:38.88\00:10:42.98
the character of God, will
focus it's attention on assuming
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divine prerogatives and
power, and will set itself up in
00:10:47.74\00:10:52.84
a capacity that brings blasphemy
upon the character of God.
00:10:52.87\00:10:57.93
So this is another one
of the characteristics.
00:10:57.97\00:10:59.41
Notice in verse 21 that it
says that this, "Daniel beheld,"
00:10:59.45\00:11:03.31
"and the little horn
made war with the Saints,"
00:11:03.34\00:11:06.47
"and prevailed against them;"
00:11:06.50\00:11:08.86
so it is a persecuting power.
00:11:08.89\00:11:11.18
Then it says in verse 22 this
will continue on "until the"
00:11:11.21\00:11:15.83
"Ancient of days came,
and judgment was given to the"
00:11:15.86\00:11:20.23
"Saints of the most high; and
the time came that the Saints"
00:11:20.27\00:11:22.97
"possess the kingdom. "
00:11:23.00\00:11:24.16
This is really interesting,
I read also in the New King
00:11:24.19\00:11:27.53
James and it says, "judgment
was made in favor of the"
00:11:27.57\00:11:30.87
"Saints and the most high. "
00:11:30.91\00:11:32.76
So you have a power that is
warring against God's people,
00:11:32.80\00:11:36.19
the Saints, as they
are identified here.
00:11:36.23\00:11:38.84
That is warring and persecuting
people, a power that is assuming
00:11:38.88\00:11:42.50
the prerogatives of God,
is speaking words that are
00:11:42.53\00:11:45.83
defaming God, defaming His
character, or misrepresenting
00:11:45.86\00:11:49.78
God, and a power that is
identified as coming out of
00:11:49.81\00:11:53.69
the pagan Roman power.
00:11:53.73\00:11:55.22
Yes, and then there is
another characteristic that we
00:11:55.26\00:11:57.94
must mention James,
and that is in verse 25.
00:11:57.98\00:12:00.88
That the little horn power
will be a power that seeks,
00:12:00.91\00:12:06.78
or intends, or thinks
to change times and laws.
00:12:06.81\00:12:13.42
Now this is fascinating
because the context of verse 25
00:12:13.45\00:12:17.32
Isn't just that this power
will think to change times and
00:12:17.36\00:12:21.19
laws as in any times and law.
00:12:21.23\00:12:23.22
It says he shall speak pompous
words against the most high,
00:12:23.25\00:12:26.52
persecute the Saints and
intend to change times and laws.
00:12:26.56\00:12:29.48
The indication here,
grammatically and in the context
00:12:29.51\00:12:33.65
is that we can expect
this power to attempt to change
00:12:33.68\00:12:37.78
the times and
laws of the most high.
00:12:37.82\00:12:40.60
This power is
tampering with the law of God.
00:12:40.64\00:12:44.93
This is so profound because
as you look at the context
00:12:44.96\00:12:48.72
of the book of Daniel,
the theme that you find in the
00:12:48.76\00:12:52.48
book of Daniel is
the New Covenant theme.
00:12:52.52\00:12:54.33
It is the theme of the
00:12:54.36\00:12:55.47
everlasting covenant.
00:12:55.50\00:12:56.54
This theme is vital for God's
00:12:56.57\00:12:59.55
people to understand
00:12:59.59\00:13:00.56
especially in the end of time.
00:13:00.57\00:13:02.15
It is vital for us to recognize
00:13:02.18\00:13:03.69
what the New Covenant is so
00:13:03.72\00:13:05.17
that we can enter into that
00:13:05.20\00:13:06.57
New Covenant, that
everlasting covenant with God.
00:13:06.61\00:13:08.80
One of the main themes
that has been developed so far,
00:13:08.83\00:13:11.59
in the book of
Daniel, its relationship.
00:13:11.62\00:13:13.75
We are going to look at this
further, but God has designed
00:13:13.79\00:13:18.86
from the beginning that
we would have an intimate
00:13:18.90\00:13:20.67
relationship with Him.
00:13:20.71\00:13:22.18
When He created us, He
came to us every day at the cool
00:13:22.22\00:13:26.00
of the day and He met with us.
00:13:26.04\00:13:27.66
He walked with us
and He talked with us.
00:13:27.69\00:13:29.68
Even when we sin, even
when we turned away from Him,
00:13:29.71\00:13:32.51
even when we were
hiding from God in that garden,
00:13:32.55\00:13:35.27
even as we turned from Him,
He still came seeking after us.
00:13:35.31\00:13:39.40
Now the first six chapters
of Daniel are intimately
00:13:39.44\00:13:43.21
directing us to that
relationship experience.
00:13:43.24\00:13:46.32
Time and time again you
see relationship, relationship
00:13:46.35\00:13:49.13
faith in God, understanding
God, being drawn to God.
00:13:49.17\00:13:51.91
You see Nebuchadnezzar
being drawn to God.
00:13:51.95\00:13:53.46
You see Darius
being drawn to God.
00:13:53.49\00:13:54.53
Daniel relying on God and
Daniel's friends relying on God.
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So the very first half of
this book has been developing
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this New Covenant,
everlasting gospel theme.
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So as we've gone
through Chapter 7 so far we have
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identified the basic
symbols, we see the basic powers
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that are identified
through the beast and focusing
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in on the little horn.
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Now we are seeing that
there is a New Covenant theme in
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the book of Daniel that
comes to development here in
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Chapter 7 as this power seeks
to defaming God's character,
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to break relationships
with God, between Him and His
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people, through persecuting
them and blaspheming His
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character, and changing
God's law, which is at the heart
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of the New Covenant.
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Friends as we come back
after the break, we are going to
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explore in greater details
the various features of the
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New Covenant and how it is
that God intends to lead us
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into a relationship with Himself
through that New Covenant.
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So stay with us
because we'll be right back!
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