Heavenly Father, Lord we
00:00:07.34\00:00:11.31
come here tonight, from
all different walks of life
00:00:11.34\00:00:15.31
Lord but the one
thing we have in common,
00:00:15.34\00:00:19.28
we recognize Jesus
Christ as our Savior
00:00:19.31\00:00:23.32
Lord you have promised that
where two or three people are
00:00:23.35\00:00:27.32
gathered in Your name
that you would be present
00:00:27.36\00:00:31.33
So we wanna ask tonight
that the same Holy Spirit
00:00:31.36\00:00:35.30
that inspired the authors of
scripture would be present here,
00:00:35.33\00:00:39.30
that you would write on our
hearts and mids the lesson that
you want us to hear this
00:00:39.33\00:00:43.30
evening. Most of all
Lord, we pray we want
00:00:43.34\00:00:47.34
to have an experience with Jesus
tonight. We want to see Him in
00:00:47.38\00:00:51.31
the center of this prophecy.
We want to know that we have
00:00:51.35\00:00:55.32
assurance through Him. So
now we pray for Your guidance
00:00:55.35\00:00:59.39
We pray for your understanding,
and we ask that you would help
00:00:59.42\00:01:03.39
us. To see light, to
see your truth. This we ask
00:01:03.43\00:01:07.40
and pray, in Jesus name, amen.
00:01:07.40\00:01:11.37
It was January 16 of the year
00:01:11.40\00:01:15.34
2009. It was a frigid night
00:01:15.37\00:01:19.37
in northern New Jersey.
The temperature had actually
00:01:19.41\00:01:23.35
plummeted to about eight
degrees. But despite the cold
00:01:23.38\00:01:27.38
weather, there was a nineteen
year old girl who was getting
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ready to go to a party with her
three friends. But that night,
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her three friends
deceived her. No sooner
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did she get into the car,
then they proceeded to drive to
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an isolated part of the county,
pull to the side of the road,
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they grabbed their friend by the
hair, drug her out of the car,
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and then threw into the nearby
woods. Then they drove off
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and abandoned her on what
was a bitterly cold night.
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She was left just wearing
her dress, a thin jacket,
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and one shoe. For the next
hour she walked up and down
00:02:03.25\00:02:07.29
that snowy road
desperately looking for help.
00:02:07.32\00:02:11.29
And during that time, five
motorists passed her way, none
00:02:11.33\00:02:14.76
of them stopped to help her.
Finally there was one man who
00:02:14.83\00:02:18.77
was on his way to work. He saw
the condition that she was in,
00:02:18.80\00:02:22.80
and he stopped and drove her to
the nearby Inglewood hosiptal,
00:02:22.84\00:02:26.81
and medical center. By
the time she got there,
00:02:26.84\00:02:30.81
her feet were already
experiencing frostbite.
00:02:30.85\00:02:34.88
Four days later, her
friends were charged with
00:02:34.92\00:02:38.89
kidnapping, assault,
and conspiracy charges.
00:02:38.92\00:02:42.92
Sources say that were arguing
over a man. But whatever the
00:02:42.96\00:02:46.90
argument argument was about, one
thing is for sure, this girl was
00:02:46.93\00:02:50.90
left traumatized. She
was betrayed and deceived by
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people who were
supposed to be her friends.
00:02:54.94\00:02:58.91
And it left her
asking the question, "Who can
00:02:58.94\00:03:03.01
I trust?" You see, now what does
that have to do with our topic
00:03:03.04\00:03:06.98
tonight? All of us have probably
gone through experiences
00:03:07.02\00:03:11.02
in life, that have eroded our
trust in people. And sometimes
00:03:11.05\00:03:15.02
that issue of trust can even
effect our spiritual life and
00:03:15.06\00:03:19.09
our relationship with
God. Because then we begin the
00:03:19.13\00:03:23.06
question, "Can I trust
God? Can I really trust
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that the Bible is
true? Can I truly believe
00:03:27.10\00:03:31.07
that God is in
control of the future?"
00:03:31.11\00:03:35.08
So tonight I want to open up our
seminar by sharing with you a
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prophecy that answers all three
of those questions. It is a
prophecy that answers all three
00:03:39.21\00:03:43.18
of those questions. It is
actually found in the book of
Daniel Chapter 2. And I would
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like you to turn there in your
Bibles. This is one of the most
dramatic prophecies
00:03:47.22\00:03:51.23
that you will find in
scripture. It covers a span of
00:03:51.26\00:03:55.20
about 2500 years and it
predicts the rise and fall
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of four world
empires. How many did I say?
00:03:59.23\00:04:03.27
Four. It goes from the time
of Babylon and stretches all
00:04:03.30\00:04:07.31
the way to the end of end
of time where we are today.
00:04:07.34\00:04:11.28
This prophecy is going to
do three things. Number one,
00:04:11.31\00:04:15.32
It is going to show us
that we can trust the Bible as
00:04:15.35\00:04:19.32
an inspired word from God.
It is going to show us that
00:04:19.35\00:04:23.32
the future is still
under God's control.
00:04:23.36\00:04:27.36
And it is going to confirm
to us that Jesus is indeed
00:04:27.40\00:04:31.37
coming soon. So I want you to
take your Bibles, and by the way
00:04:31.40\00:04:35.37
you are gonna notice in this
seminar, a lot of times I will
00:04:35.40\00:04:39.37
only the reference on the screen
for you. I will not always spell
00:04:39.41\00:04:43.41
out the verse because I want
you to look it up in your own
00:04:43.45\00:04:47.45
Bibles. I believe there is
something special when people
come together and open up
00:04:47.48\00:04:51.45
the Word of God for themselves,
it does something to the
00:04:51.49\00:04:55.49
heart and to the mind. So a lot
of times I want you to bring
your Bibles with you
00:04:55.52\00:04:59.49
whatever version you have, and
I want you to look it up with me
00:04:59.53\00:05:03.50
so that we are studying
scripture together. So how many
people are in Daniel 2 right
00:05:03.53\00:05:07.50
now, can I see your hands?
Alright, Daniel chapter 2, and
00:05:07.54\00:05:11.51
just as I begin to read verse 1,
I want to give the background to
00:05:11.54\00:05:15.58
this chapter, so that we can
understand this prophecy. You
00:05:15.61\00:05:19.61
are gonna be introduced to a
king known as Nebuchadnezzar.
00:05:19.65\00:05:23.59
In history, he came
to the throne around 604
00:05:23.62\00:05:27.62
B.C. and was the leader
of the Babylonian empire.
00:05:27.66\00:05:31.63
Now the history books tell us,
that Nebuchadnezzar was a great
00:05:31.66\00:05:35.60
military leader. he
conquered many lands
00:05:35.63\00:05:39.60
and took many people
groups captive. And one of the
00:05:39.63\00:05:43.61
nations that he conquered was
actually the city of Jerusalem,
00:05:43.64\00:05:47.61
which he laid siege to
numerous times. He took many
00:05:47.64\00:05:51.61
of the Jewish people captive,
where they lived in exile in
00:05:51.65\00:05:55.62
Babylon. And one of the young
men whom he captured was the
00:05:55.65\00:05:59.69
prophet Daniel. Now
Daniel stayed faithful to
00:05:59.72\00:06:03.69
God even in this pagan
land, and God blessed him with
00:06:03.73\00:06:07.66
talents and with capabilities
and eventually Daniel
00:06:07.73\00:06:11.63
became one of the main
advisors of King Nebuchadnezzar.
00:06:11.67\00:06:15.67
And one night, God
gave Nebuchadnezzar a
00:06:15.70\00:06:19.67
dream or a vision about
the future of the world.
00:06:19.71\00:06:23.71
And God used Daniel to
give Nebucahdnezzar the
00:06:23.75\00:06:27.68
interpretation. So let us begin
and get the background here
00:06:27.72\00:06:31.72
beginning in
verse one. Daniel 2:1,
00:06:31.75\00:06:35.72
the Bible says, "Now in the
second year of Nebuchadnezzar
00:06:35.76\00:06:39.73
reign, Nebucahdnezzar had" what?
00:06:39.76\00:06:43.70
Oh come on I need to hear you
more than that so I know that
you're there. Nebuchanezzar had
00:06:43.73\00:06:47.70
what? Dreams. "And his
spriti was so troubled,
00:06:47.74\00:06:51.71
that his sleep left
him. Then the King gave
00:06:51.74\00:06:55.71
the command to call the
magicians, the astrologers, the
00:06:55.74\00:06:59.71
sorcerers, and the Chalideans
to tell the King his dreams."
00:06:59.75\00:07:03.72
So they came and they
stood before the kIng.
00:07:03.75\00:07:07.72
The king said to
them, I have had a dream
00:07:07.76\00:07:11.73
and my spirit is
anxious to know the dream.
00:07:11.76\00:07:15.70
Now I am gonna stop there before
we get too far into it. The
00:07:15.73\00:07:19.70
Bible tells us that one night
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that
00:07:19.73\00:07:23.74
disturbed him. Now in our modern
world today, we do not take
00:07:23.77\00:07:27.74
dreams all that seriously. We
just figure, I ate too much
before I went to bed
00:07:27.78\00:07:31.75
and my stomach just got
upset. But in the ancient
00:07:31.78\00:07:35.78
East, dreams
were very significant.
00:07:35.82\00:07:39.75
Because for a pagan king,
it was believed that perhaps,
00:07:39.79\00:07:43.79
his gods were
trying to contact him.
00:07:43.83\00:07:47.76
That maybe the gods were trying
to communicate some important
00:07:47.83\00:07:51.77
peace of information, like
whether or not he should go to
00:07:51.80\00:07:55.77
war. Or whether there was some
sort of intrigue or deception
00:07:55.80\00:07:59.81
within the palace. So when a
pagan king had a dream, it was
00:07:59.84\00:08:03.78
taken quite seriously. And
what disturbed Nebuchadnezzar
00:08:03.81\00:08:07.78
is he could not remember the
details of that dream. now is
00:08:07.82\00:08:11.82
that ever happened to you? Can I
see your hands? You know you
dream something at night, you
00:08:11.85\00:08:15.82
know it was scary, but the next
morning when your wife asks why
00:08:15.86\00:08:19.79
you were flailing around in
bed, you could not remember the
00:08:19.83\00:08:23.80
details. That is what happened
to Nebuchadnezzar. And so the
00:08:23.83\00:08:27.80
Bible says that he called
all of his advisors. You know,
00:08:27.84\00:08:31.81
astrologers, wizards, sorcerers,
and he brought them to his
00:08:31.84\00:08:35.81
throne. and he wanted them
to tell him the dream. And,
00:08:35.84\00:08:39.81
the interpretation. Now
you and I in the 21st Century,
00:08:39.85\00:08:43.82
we would think that is rather
strange, for a king to expect
00:08:43.85\00:08:47.82
his advisors to tell him
the details of a dream that he
00:08:47.86\00:08:51.83
himself could not even remember.
That sounds crazy to us.
00:08:51.86\00:08:55.80
But you have to remember
something. Babylon was heavily
00:08:55.83\00:08:59.80
involved in spiritualism
and these advisors, these
00:08:59.83\00:09:03.84
astrologers, and sorcerers,
they claimed to have special
00:09:03.87\00:09:07.88
knowledge, not
available to ordinary men.
00:09:07.91\00:09:11.88
They claimed to be able to know
the secrets and mysteries of the
00:09:11.91\00:09:15.85
universe that they could contact
the pagan gods and speak with
00:09:15.88\00:09:19.89
them. And let me tell you,
they were paid well to do so.
00:09:19.92\00:09:23.89
And so Nebuchadnezzar figured,
if the pagan gods gave me a
00:09:23.93\00:09:27.86
dream and if my
astrologers can access the
00:09:27.86\00:09:31.87
secrets of the universe, they
should be able to tell me what
00:09:31.90\00:09:35.90
it is that I dreamed. And
when Nebucahnezzar realized
00:09:35.94\00:09:39.87
that his advisors could
not do it, when he realized
00:09:39.91\00:09:43.88
that all these years they
had been just lying to him and
00:09:43.91\00:09:47.88
making things up, when he came
to the conclusion that he has a
bunch of con artists
00:09:47.92\00:09:51.89
on the payroll he is
utterly furious. And he puts
00:09:51.92\00:09:55.89
forth a rash decree that all
his advisors should be executed.
00:09:55.92\00:09:59.93
You gotta
understannd, in a pagan
00:09:59.96\00:10:03.87
kingdom in ancient near east,
you don't go through a senate or
00:10:03.90\00:10:07.90
a house of representatives.
There is no veto power. What the
00:10:07.94\00:10:11.91
king says goes because he is a
dictator. And as the story goes
00:10:11.94\00:10:15.91
on, the Bible tells us that
eventually the soldiers went to
00:10:15.94\00:10:19.91
Daniel to execute him.
But Daniel made a request,
00:10:19.95\00:10:23.92
to see the king. And he
told King Nebuchadnezzar that
00:10:23.95\00:10:27.92
"I know that my God
00:10:27.96\00:10:31.93
the true God of heaven can
reveal to you the dream and
00:10:31.96\00:10:35.90
its meaning." He asked
the king to give him time
00:10:35.93\00:10:39.90
to go home and to pray. And
what does Nebuchadnezzar do.
00:10:39.93\00:10:43.97
Remember? He grants
that request. Now folks,
00:10:44.01\00:10:47.98
that is significant. Before we
even get to the details of this
00:10:48.01\00:10:51.98
vision, there is also practical
lessons in the books of Daniel
00:10:52.01\00:10:55.98
and Revelation. Nebuchadnezzar
did for Daniel, something
00:10:56.02\00:11:00.06
he would not even do for
his own advisors, he gave Daniel
00:11:00.09\00:11:03.99
extra time,
because Nebuchadnezzar knew
00:11:04.03\00:11:07.96
that Daniel was a righteous
and trustworthy man. Amen?
00:11:08.00\00:11:11.97
He watched how Daniel
conducted himself in daily
00:11:12.00\00:11:16.00
life. He knew he acted
with integrity and with
00:11:16.04\00:11:20.01
compassion. he knew something
was different about this man
00:11:20.04\00:11:23.98
who followed the God
of Heaven. And as a result
00:11:24.01\00:11:28.02
Nebuchadnezzar granted
him a favor. Now folks,
00:11:28.05\00:11:31.99
that says something about you
and me. As disciples of Jesus
00:11:32.02\00:11:35.99
Christ, the way we
live our lives everyday,
00:11:36.02\00:11:40.03
matters. The way I
conduct myself in the workplace
00:11:40.06\00:11:44.00
makes a difference. The
way I act in my neighborhood
00:11:44.03\00:11:47.97
the way I treat people in
my own home is always a witness
00:11:48.00\00:11:52.01
to others for
either good or for bad.
00:11:52.04\00:11:55.98
See, when people look at
your life or mine obviously they
00:11:56.01\00:12:00.08
aren't gonna see that we are
perfect, we make mistakes. But
00:12:00.12\00:12:04.05
they should see something about
the character of Jesus Christ in
00:12:04.09\00:12:08.02
us. They should see something
that makes the Christian
00:12:08.06\00:12:12.03
attractive to them.
Nebuchadnezzar saw that in
00:12:12.06\00:12:16.00
Daniel. That's what God
calls his people to do today.
00:12:16.03\00:12:20.00
So Daniel goes home,
and he and his three friends
00:12:20.04\00:12:24.01
pray like they have never
prayed before. I just find this
00:12:24.04\00:12:28.08
interesting instead of
complaining against God,
00:12:28.11\00:12:32.08
instead of saying "Oh God you
let Jerusalem be destroyed, my
00:12:32.11\00:12:36.05
family was killed, I have been
living in exile for years, I
will never be able to go home
00:12:36.08\00:12:40.09
and now you let this
happen? Why God!" That is
00:12:40.12\00:12:44.09
what they could've done.
But instead of complaing, they
00:12:44.13\00:12:48.03
just kneel down and
pray. What would happen
00:12:48.06\00:12:52.07
if when
difficulties came into your life
00:12:52.10\00:12:56.07
when I go through hard times,
instead of always asking God
00:12:56.10\00:13:00.14
why, and
complaining and blaming Him,
00:13:00.18\00:13:04.08
what might happen if I
just kneel down and I pray?
00:13:04.11\00:13:08.12
I came into his presence
and handed it over to Jesus.
00:13:08.15\00:13:12.09
We may find that
God will deliver us
00:13:12.12\00:13:16.09
just as he would
eventually deliver Daniel.
00:13:16.12\00:13:20.10
Eventually as they pray, God
gives Daniel the same dream that
00:13:20.13\00:13:24.07
was given to Nebuchadnezzar. So
now I wanna pick up the prophecy
00:13:24.10\00:13:28.10
or the story, in verse 31
because Daniel is now standing
00:13:28.14\00:13:32.07
before the king and he is
describing to the king the
00:13:32.11\00:13:36.11
vision that he saw so let
us pick it up in Daniel 2. I
00:13:36.14\00:13:40.12
am gonna start reading
in verse 31. The Bible says,
00:13:40.15\00:13:44.12
and this is Daniel speaking,
00:13:44.15\00:13:48.12
You oh king were
watching and behold a great
00:13:48.16\00:13:52.13
image, this great image
00:13:52.16\00:13:56.10
whose splendor was excellent
stood before you. Its form
00:13:56.13\00:14:00.24
was awesome. This
images head was of fine gold
00:14:00.27\00:14:04.17
, its chest and arms of
silver, its belly and thigh
00:14:04.21\00:14:08.18
of bronze, its legs of
iron, its feet partly of
00:14:08.21\00:14:12.18
iron and partly of
clay. Verse 34. You
00:14:12.21\00:14:16.15
watched while a stone was
cut out without hands, which
00:14:16.18\00:14:20.16
struck the image on its
feet of iron and clay and broke
00:14:20.19\00:14:24.19
them in pieces.
Then the iron, the clay,
00:14:24.23\00:14:28.16
the bronze, the silver, and
the gold were crushed together,
00:14:28.20\00:14:32.20
and they became like chaff from
the summer threshing floors.
00:14:32.23\00:14:36.17
The wind carried them away so
that no trace of them was found
00:14:36.20\00:14:40.18
and the stone that
struck the image became
00:14:40.21\00:14:44.21
a great mountain and it filled
00:14:44.25\00:14:48.18
the entire earth. Now I
want to stop there for a second.
00:14:48.22\00:14:52.19
As Daniel is describing
this image, Nebucahdnezzar
00:14:52.22\00:14:56.19
must have jumped out of
his seat. Daniel was describing
00:14:56.22\00:15:00.30
something similar to what
you see on the screen here. Now,
00:15:00.33\00:15:04.20
obviously none of us were there,
we don't know what it
lookedlike, but according to the
00:15:04.23\00:15:08.20
Bible's description, this
is an artist's conception.
00:15:08.24\00:15:12.21
It was an impressive image that
caught Nebuchadnezzar's
attention immediately.
00:15:12.24\00:15:16.21
It was made of four different
metals. A head of gold,
00:15:16.24\00:15:20.22
chest and arms of
silver, midsection of bronze,
00:15:20.25\00:15:24.22
legs of iron, and
feet part iron part clay.
00:15:24.25\00:15:28.29
And as Nebuchadnezzar watched,
a great stone came out of
00:15:28.32\00:15:32.29
the heavens, struck that image
in the feet, smashed it into
thousands of pieces,
00:15:32.33\00:15:36.26
so that nothing was left. Then,
that rock grew as big as whole
00:15:36.30\00:15:40.27
earth. I
imagine, that is exactly
00:15:40.30\00:15:44.27
what I dreamed. But
now, here is the question.
00:15:44.31\00:15:48.28
What was God trying
to tell Nebuchadnezzar?
00:15:48.31\00:15:52.28
What was God trying to reveal
00:15:52.31\00:15:56.28
to the most
powerful man in the world.
00:15:56.32\00:16:00.39
And more
importantly, what is God trying
00:16:00.42\00:16:04.33
to tell you and me today.
00:16:04.36\00:16:08.30
What we are going to discover
is this, Those four metals
00:16:08.33\00:16:12.30
represent four super powers that
would rise to world dominance.
00:16:12.33\00:16:16.30
And this prophecy is going
to walk us through history from
00:16:16.34\00:16:20.31
Babylon, until the time of
Argae. And by the time we finish
00:16:20.34\00:16:24.31
this prophecy, we are going to
see that God has been in control
00:16:24.35\00:16:28.32
of the past. And if God is
in control of the past, I know
00:16:28.35\00:16:32.32
he is in control of the present.
If he is in control of the
present, then I can trust
00:16:32.35\00:16:36.32
Him to be in control of the
future. And if he is in control
00:16:36.36\00:16:40.40
of the future, that means I can
trust him to be in control of my
00:16:40.43\00:16:44.37
life today, with my
decisions and the path that he
00:16:44.40\00:16:48.37
wants me to follow.
00:16:48.40\00:16:52.34
We can trust Jesus.
So let's pick it up now
00:16:52.37\00:16:56.38
as Daniel begins to
give us the interpretation of
00:16:56.41\00:17:00.45
the different parts of the
image. Now we wanna go to verse
00:17:00.48\00:17:04.39
36, of Daniel 2. The Bible says,
00:17:04.42\00:17:08.39
This is the dream. Now we
will tell the interpretation.
00:17:08.42\00:17:12.43
You Oh King.
00:17:12.46\00:17:16.36
And who is he
talking to? Nebuchadnezzar.
00:17:16.40\00:17:20.40
You oh king are a king of
kings. For the God of Heave has
00:17:20.44\00:17:24.41
given you a kingdom,
and power, and strength,
00:17:24.44\00:17:28.41
and glory and wherever the
children of man dwell, or the
00:17:28.44\00:17:32.41
beasts of the field and the
birds of the heavens, he has
00:17:32.45\00:17:36.42
given them into your hand
and has made you ruler over them
00:17:36.45\00:17:40.46
all. You are this head.
00:17:40.49\00:17:44.49
Now you see the first thing
God wants Nebuchadnezzar to
00:17:44.53\00:17:48.43
understand is that he
might be a powerful ruler,
00:17:48.46\00:17:52.47
he might have political
dominance, and everyone may
00:17:52.50\00:17:56.47
bow to him, but God wants
Nebuchadnezzar to know that the
00:17:56.50\00:18:00.54
only reason he has those things
is not because he is a great
00:18:00.58\00:18:04.48
military leader, only because
God in his providence allowed it
00:18:04.51\00:18:08.52
to happen. And he wanted
Nebuchadnezzar to know that even
00:18:08.55\00:18:12.52
he will come to a time when
his life will stand before God.
00:18:12.55\00:18:16.49
Those of us that may have power,
or influence and authority, God
wants us to realize that
00:18:16.52\00:18:20.53
he wants us to use
those things for good.
00:18:20.56\00:18:24.50
To lift other people
up and draw them closer to
00:18:24.53\00:18:28.50
the Lord Jesus. God eventually
says, you Nebuchadnezzar
00:18:28.54\00:18:32.51
your kingdom of Babylon,
you are this head of gold.
00:18:32.54\00:18:36.51
This part is pretty easy to
understand, it is not a complex
00:18:36.54\00:18:40.55
one. Clearly God is representing
the head of gold as Babylon.
00:18:40.58\00:18:44.59
Now to help us understand
another part of this prophecy,
00:18:44.62\00:18:48.56
I gotta share with
you a little of Babylon.
00:18:48.59\00:18:52.56
Babylon was the superpower
of its day. Rising to power
00:18:52.59\00:18:56.56
somewhere around 605 BC.
00:18:56.60\00:19:00.64
Babylon was considered to
be absolutely indestructible
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.57
and invincible. It
was believed that Babylon
00:19:04.61\00:19:08.61
woul dnever fall,
that it would last forever.
00:19:08.64\00:19:12.61
I want you to notice how
this commentary, Daniel and the
00:19:12.65\00:19:16.58
Revelation I want you to notice
how the author describes the
city of Babylon. The author
00:19:16.62\00:19:20.62
writes, the city of Babylon
was laid out in a perfect
00:19:20.66\00:19:24.63
square said to be 60
miles in circumference,
00:19:24.66\00:19:28.60
15 miles on each
side, surrounded by a wall
00:19:28.63\00:19:32.60
estimated to have
been 200-300 feet high and
00:19:32.63\00:19:36.64
87 feet thick
with a moat, or ditch,
00:19:36.67\00:19:40.68
around this and
provisions on hand
00:19:40.71\00:19:44.65
for 20 years. Now I
want you to think about that
00:19:44.68\00:19:48.68
We are talking about the ancient
world here. A city 60 miles
00:19:48.72\00:19:52.72
in circumference
at that time was huge.
00:19:52.75\00:19:56.73
That might be a smaller midsized
city today. Back then it was one
00:19:56.76\00:20:00.70
of the biggest in the world
probably. It goes on to say that
00:20:00.73\00:20:04.67
they had a wall 200-300
feet high, 87 feet thick
00:20:04.70\00:20:08.70
SO if you are gonna conquer
Babylon, if Babylon is gonna
00:20:08.74\00:20:12.71
fall you either gotta go through
the wall, and you are not going
through 87 feet of stone
00:20:12.74\00:20:16.71
or whatever it was. No battering
ram would be able to do that.
00:20:16.75\00:20:20.72
You say well maybe they
would go up the wall. Possibly,
00:20:20.75\00:20:24.72
but that is gonna be awfully
hard when there are archers on
top the wall shooting arrows
00:20:24.75\00:20:28.79
down at you and throwing
boulders down on your head. That
00:20:28.82\00:20:32.76
is nearly impossible. Now if you
wanted to lay siege to Babylon,
00:20:32.79\00:20:36.77
and surround it? That is fine
you would cut off their food
00:20:36.80\00:20:40.80
supply. Except for one thing.
Babylon had provisions on hand
00:20:40.84\00:20:44.77
for how long? 20
years. That means an enemy
00:20:44.81\00:20:48.78
would have to have money enough
for their army to surround
00:20:48.81\00:20:52.81
Babylon for 20 years.
An utter impossibility.
00:20:52.85\00:20:56.82
I want you to notice
what God says. in verse 39
00:20:56.85\00:21:00.82
God says the impossible is
00:21:00.86\00:21:04.89
going to happen.
Verse 39 the Bible says,
00:21:04.93\00:21:08.86
"But after you Nebuchadnezzar,
00:21:08.90\00:21:12.87
shall arise another kingdom,
00:21:12.90\00:21:16.87
inferior to yours."
Now we are gonna stop
00:21:16.91\00:21:20.91
after that half sentence. I
am sure that when Daniel uttered
00:21:20.94\00:21:24.91
those words, Nebuchadnezzar
didn't like that. Another
00:21:24.95\00:21:28.92
kingdom after me? And not only
did God say that Babylon would
fall and another kingdom would
00:21:28.95\00:21:32.92
come what kind of kingdom?
00:21:32.95\00:21:36.93
An inferior kingdom!
00:21:36.96\00:21:40.96
Now I would imagine that the
guards, the soldiers, whoever
was in the palace at that
00:21:41.00\00:21:44.97
time had heard those
words probably in their heart
00:21:45.00\00:21:48.97
ridiculed and scorned Daniel and
his God. Like Babylon is gonna
00:21:49.00\00:21:53.01
fall the superpower to a
weaker and inferior nation.
00:21:53.04\00:21:56.98
That is what Bible
prophecy says. So here's the
00:21:57.01\00:22:01.02
question. If God
can be trusted, if
00:22:01.05\00:22:05.02
Bible prophecy is true and
accurate, does history tell
00:22:05.05\00:22:09.06
us that Babylon was
conquered by an inferior nation.
00:22:09.09\00:22:13.09
All you have to do is open
up the history books, and the
00:22:13.13\00:22:17.07
answer is absolutely yes.
For those of you who remember
00:22:17.10\00:22:21.07
history class. Tell me,
what nation came on to the scene
00:22:21.10\00:22:25.07
and defeated Babylon and rose to
worldwide dominance. Remember?
00:22:25.11\00:22:29.11
This is your quúfor tonight.
That is right, Medo-Persia.
00:22:29.14\00:22:33.11
Medo-Persia, or some textbooks
just call them the Persian
00:22:33.15\00:22:37.12
empire. They are represented
by the chest and arms of silver.
00:22:37.15\00:22:41.19
They defeated
Babylon and began ruling much
00:22:41.22\00:22:45.19
of the then known world. The
question you might have is this,
00:22:45.23\00:22:49.16
if Persia was an inferior
kingdom, and they were they were
made up of two people,
00:22:49.20\00:22:53.20
the Medes and the Persians. The
Persians were a little stronger
00:22:53.23\00:22:57.21
than the Medes, that is why it
is called the Persian kingdom.
You see well how did they defeat
00:22:57.24\00:23:01.34
Babylon? How did they go over
that wall or through it? What
00:23:01.38\00:23:05.25
happened? Well i don't have time
to go through all the details
tonight, I'll just give you a
00:23:05.28\00:23:09.28
little summary. If you want
to read about it, read Daniel
00:23:09.32\00:23:13.32
chapter 5. it tells you it
happened. You won't even have to
the history books for that.
00:23:13.36\00:23:17.29
But here is what occurred.
When Nebuchadnezzar died, his
00:23:17.33\00:23:21.30
grandson or great grandson
eventually took over the throne.
00:23:21.33\00:23:25.37
His name was Belteshazzar.
Belteshazzar was a very young a
00:23:25.40\00:23:29.37
and foolish king and actually
quite arrogant. And so when the
00:23:29.40\00:23:33.41
Medo-Persian army
came to attack babylon, the
00:23:33.44\00:23:37.41
do you know what he did? If you
were a king and knew an enemy
was coming to attack you
00:23:37.45\00:23:41.42
what do you think you
would do. prepare your armies!
00:23:41.45\00:23:45.42
He decided, Babylon
would never fall he threw a
00:23:45.45\00:23:49.42
party in the city and
palace for his soldiers
00:23:49.46\00:23:53.50
and all his subjects. So while
the enemy was outside the city,
00:23:53.53\00:23:57.47
this arrogant king
is throwing a party.
00:23:57.50\00:24:01.47
So what the Medo-Persian
army did is, they cut off
00:24:01.50\00:24:05.51
the river. The Euphrates
River goes underneath Babylon
00:24:05.54\00:24:09.54
They cut off the
river, got onto the dry river,
00:24:09.58\00:24:13.58
and walked underneath
the wall to the other side.
00:24:13.62\00:24:17.59
Normally you wouldn't be able
to do that because again archers
00:24:17.62\00:24:21.62
would be shooting at you and
throwing boulders down upon you.
Where are the Babylonian
00:24:21.66\00:24:25.69
soldiers? They're at a
drunken party in the palace
00:24:25.73\00:24:29.70
So they walked right
underneath the wall. Well,
00:24:29.73\00:24:33.70
when they came up on the
other side, they still had to go
00:24:33.74\00:24:37.74
through the city gates which
would always be locked. But
because they were in a
00:24:37.77\00:24:41.78
inebriated
stupor, someone left the
00:24:41.81\00:24:45.75
city gates unlocked.
The medo-persian army,
00:24:45.78\00:24:49.82
marched right into Babylon and
even though they were a weaker
00:24:49.85\00:24:53.79
army, and an inferior
nation, it wasn't too hard to
00:24:53.82\00:24:57.79
conquer Babylon when all
their soldiers are intoxicated
00:24:57.83\00:25:01.76
and that night, Babylon
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.80
fell. Was that by chance
00:25:05.83\00:25:09.77
Was that by
circumstance or coincidence? No
00:25:09.80\00:25:13.78
it is because Bible prophecy
said it would happen, they would
00:25:13.81\00:25:17.78
be conquered by an inferior
nation. That is why we can trust
00:25:17.81\00:25:21.78
what Bible prophecy says. Can
you say amen? But we have got to
00:25:21.82\00:25:25.82
move on because we have to
eventually get to our day. Now,
00:25:25.85\00:25:29.82
in the second half of verse
39, notice what God says next.
00:25:29.86\00:25:33.83
Verse 39 the second
half in the Bible says
00:25:33.86\00:25:37.83
"Then another, a
third kingdom of bronze
00:25:37.87\00:25:41.80
which shall rule
over all the earth.
00:25:41.84\00:25:45.81
Well, now God is saying that
eventually Persia will pass from
00:25:45.84\00:25:49.81
the scene, and they will be
conquered by a third kingdom who
begins to dominate the world.
00:25:49.84\00:25:53.85
So if Bible prophecy is
true, we should be able to see
00:25:53.88\00:25:57.89
that in the history books.
Again for those of you who paid
00:25:57.92\00:26:01.89
attention in history class,
and by the way i gotta see how
00:26:01.92\00:26:05.89
honest you are. How many of you
can say, you know Pastor Dave I
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.86
have to admit that in high
school I didn't pay alot of
attention in history it was
00:26:09.90\00:26:13.87
rather boring. Would you be
honest and raise your hands?
00:26:13.90\00:26:17.87
I've gotta admit, of course
I didn't know I was gonna teach
00:26:17.91\00:26:22.28
Bible prophecy one
day, but now that I know
00:26:22.31\00:26:26.31
prophecy of the Bible,
history is fascinating to me.
00:26:26.35\00:26:30.32
Because I can now see
God's overarching hand
00:26:30.35\00:26:34.39
all throughout history. I
can see that things did not just
00:26:34.42\00:26:38.39
happen by chance and even
when it seems like thigns are
00:26:38.43\00:26:42.40
spontaneous and spiraling
out of control, God is still in
00:26:42.43\00:26:46.37
control. I love
history now. So you tell me
00:26:46.40\00:26:50.41
what nation conquered Persia and
became the next dominant power
00:26:50.44\00:26:54.41
do you know? You got it!
The Grecian Empire by Alexander
00:26:54.44\00:26:58.48
the Great. I wanna
share with you something about
00:26:58.51\00:27:02.45
Alexander the Great in just a
minute here. In the commentary
00:27:02.48\00:27:06.52
Daniel and the Revelation,
it says this about the deciding
00:27:06.55\00:27:10.49
battle between Greece
and Persia. The author says,
00:27:10.53\00:27:14.50
"Suffice it to say
that the deciding point
00:27:14.56\00:27:18.57
was reached on the field
of Arbela in 331 BC. where the
00:27:18.60\00:27:22.57
Grecians, though
only 1 to 20 in number,
00:27:22.60\00:27:26.61
as compared with the Persians,
00:27:26.64\00:27:30.58
won a decisive victory.
00:27:30.61\00:27:34.62
I don't want you to miss
that. When is the last time
00:27:34.65\00:27:38.62
you heard of a
nation, outnumbered 20 to 1,
00:27:38.65\00:27:42.62
winning a
decisive victory in battle.
00:27:42.66\00:27:46.70
That ius nearly impossible
according to human terms.
00:27:46.73\00:27:50.67
But that is exactly what
happened in history. Why?
00:27:50.70\00:27:54.67
Is it because Alexander the
Great was a wonderful military
leader and strategist?
00:27:54.70\00:27:58.74
Oh that may be a
little part of it,
00:27:58.77\00:28:02.71
but it is because Bible prophecy
said a third kingdom would come
00:28:02.74\00:28:06.78
on the scene and it did.
00:28:06.82\00:28:10.79
That is why God's
word can always be trusted.
00:28:10.82\00:28:14.82
Now, the leader of Greece
at that time as you know was
00:28:14.86\00:28:18.89
Alexander the great. Now i want
to just stop and bring out a
00:28:18.93\00:28:22.86
practical lesson before we go
on in this prophecy. Do you know
00:28:22.90\00:28:26.90
old Alexander the Great was
when he dominated the world?
00:28:26.94\00:28:30.97
Guess. Yeah he was in his 30s.
00:28:31.01\00:28:35.01
He was about 33 years old when
he died. Could you imagine being
00:28:35.04\00:28:39.01
in control of the world in your
30s, being th emost powerful
00:28:39.05\00:28:43.02
man in the world
at that time. he had
00:28:43.05\00:28:47.06
everything that you would
think a person would want.
00:28:47.09\00:28:51.03
He had power, he had fame,
00:28:51.06\00:28:55.00
he had all the wealth and
money he could want, he had
00:28:55.03\00:28:59.00
any pleasure in life
that he desired to have.
00:28:59.03\00:29:03.07
You what you
discover? He wasn't happy.
00:29:03.10\00:29:07.08
He struggled with need in life
00:29:07.11\00:29:11.05
because some sources
of history conjecture
00:29:11.08\00:29:15.08
that Alexander the Great
died because he drank himself
00:29:15.12\00:29:19.09
to death. History
tells us quite lightly he had
00:29:19.12\00:29:23.09
an alcohol problem. that
these other things were not
00:29:23.12\00:29:27.10
giving him a source of joy and
happiness, that he had to turn
00:29:27.13\00:29:31.07
to alcohol and alcohol
conquered him at the age of 33
00:29:31.10\00:29:35.10
when he had all these things
you would think that a person
00:29:35.14\00:29:39.07
would possibly desire.
You know what that tells me?
00:29:39.11\00:29:43.08
I can spend all my life
00:29:43.11\00:29:47.08
trying to build my
business to fortune
00:29:47.12\00:29:51.12
I can spend my
life trying to climb
00:29:51.15\00:29:55.12
the corporate
ladder and become powerful,
00:29:55.16\00:29:59.13
I could spend my life
trying to build my bank account
00:29:59.16\00:30:03.10
spending 40 hours a
week in front of my televison
00:30:03.13\00:30:07.10
and Bible prophecy tells us the
only thing that really matters
00:30:07.14\00:30:11.11
is do I have a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:30:11.14\00:30:15.14
The center of all prophecy.
You see when I have Jesus
00:30:15.18\00:30:19.18
as my savior, and I am pointing
there because they have the sign
00:30:19.21\00:30:23.15
there that i really like. The
center of all prophecy. When you
00:30:23.18\00:30:27.19
have Jesus Christ, as you savior
that means that the perfect life
00:30:27.22\00:30:31.19
that Jesus lived, counts for
you. that he is willing to give
00:30:31.23\00:30:35.20
you and I His righteousness,
and so when God looks
00:30:35.23\00:30:39.20
in the record book of your life,
he does not see all your sins
00:30:39.23\00:30:43.17
and mistakes and short comings,
he sees the perfect life of
00:30:43.20\00:30:47.21
Jesus that now counts for
you. That is why the Bible
00:30:47.24\00:30:51.18
calls Him out substitute.
What would it be like,
00:30:51.21\00:30:55.18
to think that God
could look at you,
00:30:55.22\00:30:59.19
as though you are perfect.
00:30:59.22\00:31:03.26
That's what it means to have
Jesus Christ as a savior. That
00:31:03.29\00:31:07.23
is really the only
thing that matters.
00:31:07.23\00:31:11.20
That is why Jesus
himself said in Mark 8:36,
00:31:11.23\00:31:15.20
"What does it profit a man
if he should gain the whole
00:31:15.24\00:31:19.21
world, yet lose his own soul."
00:31:19.24\00:31:23.21
Eternal life through Jesus, is
00:31:23.24\00:31:27.28
worth more than
anything we may try to gain
00:31:27.32\00:31:31.29
in this world. That is
what I learned partly from this
00:31:31.32\00:31:35.29
prophecy and from the life of
Alexander the Great. Let us move
00:31:35.32\00:31:39.26
on we have got farther to go in
this prophecy. Now after Greece,
00:31:39.29\00:31:43.23
in verse 40 God says another
kingdom is going to come.
00:31:43.26\00:31:47.30
Now let's begin to pick it up
here because in verse 40 things
will eventually become
00:31:47.34\00:31:51.27
a little more detailed.
Verse 40 the Bible says,
00:31:51.31\00:31:55.31
"and the fourth
kingdom shall be as strong as
00:31:55.34\00:31:59.28
iron. In asmuch
00:31:59.31\00:32:03.28
as iron breaks in
pieces and shatters everything,
00:32:03.32\00:32:07.32
and like iron that crushes, that
kingdom will break in pieces
00:32:07.36\00:32:11.33
and crush all the others.
00:32:11.36\00:32:15.30
Now we're gonna pause here for
a second. Bible prophecy says
00:32:15.33\00:32:19.30
Greece would fall, a fourth
kingdom would come onto the
00:32:19.33\00:32:23.30
scene, God desribes this fourth
kingdom, whoever it would be,
00:32:23.34\00:32:27.31
as being strong
like iron, and crushing
00:32:27.34\00:32:31.31
everything in its
path. So if Bible prophecy
00:32:31.35\00:32:35.35
is true, if God can be trusted,
00:32:35.38\00:32:39.39
that means I should be able to
see that in history, and when I
00:32:39.42\00:32:43.39
look back indeed,
Greece was conquered by another
00:32:43.43\00:32:47.36
stronger empire. Do
you know who that was?
00:32:47.40\00:32:51.40
it was the roman
empire. Rome ruled the world
00:32:51.43\00:32:55.37
almost 600 years. I
want you to think about that.
00:32:55.40\00:32:59.37
600 years. That
is a strong empire.
00:32:59.41\00:33:03.38
And what is amazing to me. They
are obviously represented by the
00:33:03.41\00:33:07.42
legs of iron on the statue.
00:33:07.45\00:33:11.42
But if you read the secular
history books, many that are
written by non-Christians, folk
00:33:11.45\00:33:15.42
who are not believers in
God, do know what nickname
00:33:15.46\00:33:19.43
they have given the
Roman empire? Take a guess.
00:33:19.46\00:33:23.43
Well I know my wife
knows, they have been called
00:33:23.47\00:33:27.44
the iron kingdom. I find it
00:33:27.47\00:33:31.47
astounding that historians
who knew nothing of the prophets
00:33:31.51\00:33:35.48
of Daniel 2 have
given Rome a nickname
00:33:35.51\00:33:39.51
that perfectly correlates with
what God said hundreds of years
00:33:39.55\00:33:43.52
ago and it is true.
Rome conquered everything
00:33:43.55\00:33:47.49
in its path. They ruled the
world when Jesus walked this
00:33:47.52\00:33:51.53
earth. So here is what we
see thus far in this great image
00:33:51.56\00:33:55.50
4 super powers.
Babylon, Persia, Greece
00:33:55.53\00:33:59.50
Rome. But now we are at a point
00:33:59.53\00:34:03.51
where the pattern of world
history is going to change.
00:34:03.54\00:34:07.51
God is going to utter a prophecy
that is rather amazing. Because
00:34:07.54\00:34:11.55
at this point the next
verse is going to tell us
00:34:11.58\00:34:15.58
that it is not going to be a
fifth world ruling empire that
00:34:15.62\00:34:19.59
comes. Because so far it has
been one super power conquering
00:34:19.62\00:34:23.59
another and ruling the world.
God says that pattern stops
00:34:23.63\00:34:27.60
after Rome, after the fourth
kingdom. And the prophecy is
00:34:27.66\00:34:31.57
going to reveal the fourth
kingdom is simply going to
00:34:31.60\00:34:35.60
divide from within
into many smaller nations.
00:34:35.64\00:34:39.61
Let's pick it up in verse 41 I
want you to notice what God says
00:34:39.64\00:34:43.61
here. Verse 41.
The Bible says, "
00:34:43.65\00:34:47.68
Where as you saw the feet
and toes partly of potters
00:34:47.72\00:34:51.69
clay and partly of
iron, the kingdom shall be
00:34:51.72\00:34:55.69
divided. Yet the strength of
00:34:55.72\00:34:59.69
the iron shall be in it
just as you saw the iron mixed
00:34:59.73\00:35:03.67
with ceramic clay.
And as the toes of the
00:35:03.70\00:35:07.70
feer were partly of iron
and partly of clay, so the
00:35:07.74\00:35:11.71
kingdoms shall be partly
strong, and partly fragile.
00:35:11.74\00:35:15.71
Or some versions say partly
brittle now we are going to stop
00:35:15.74\00:35:19.78
here. God clearly says that this
fourth kingdom which woul dbe
00:35:19.81\00:35:23.79
Rome would be divided.
That is would not become
00:35:23.82\00:35:27.79
conquered by another superpower,
the pattern is going to change.
00:35:27.82\00:35:31.79
And so if Bible prophecy
is true, if it is accurate
00:35:31.83\00:35:35.80
if God can be trusted, I
should be able to look back
00:35:35.83\00:35:39.80
in history and see if
that actually happened, and you
00:35:39.83\00:35:43.87
discover that it did.
Rome was not conquered by
00:35:43.91\00:35:47.88
anotehr power. They were
invaded by many of the barbaric
00:35:47.91\00:35:51.88
tribes from the north and over
the centuries they eventually
00:35:51.91\00:35:55.88
divided into many
smaller nations. Some were
00:35:55.92\00:35:59.92
strong, some
were weak like clay.
00:35:59.95\00:36:03.93
And over the centuries they
became the nations of western
00:36:03.96\00:36:07.96
Europe that we have today. That
is the divided Roman empire.
00:36:07.96\00:36:11.93
SOme were strong
like iron, some were weak
00:36:11.97\00:36:15.97
like clay. In fact, the
traditional date for the fall of
00:36:16.00\00:36:19.97
Rome is 476, but you realize an
empire does not fall in a day.
00:36:20.01\00:36:24.01
These things happened
many years over a century
00:36:24.05\00:36:27.98
but since 476, these
are some of the people
00:36:28.02\00:36:32.02
groups that came out of the
dividing of Rome. Now I don't
want to go into a lot of detail
00:36:32.05\00:36:36.09
here because I do not want
us to miss the main point. For
00:36:36.12\00:36:40.13
example. the Alamanni people
group they became the Germans,
well guess what country
00:36:40.16\00:36:44.07
they founded. Germany. The
Burgundians became the Swiss
00:36:44.10\00:36:48.10
what country did they found?
Switzerland. The Anglo-Saxons
00:36:48.14\00:36:52.11
they were the English
00:36:52.14\00:36:56.14
who founded England.
So you have all these
00:36:56.18\00:37:00.25
people groups over the centuries
that eventually founded the
00:37:00.28\00:37:04.22
divided nations of western
europe, that is the time period
00:37:04.25\00:37:08.22
that we live in today.
The days of divided nations
00:37:08.26\00:37:12.23
in Western Europe. But then
00:37:12.26\00:37:16.23
God says something
astounding in verse 43
00:37:16.26\00:37:20.27
God really sticks his neck
out here, and I don't want us
00:37:20.30\00:37:24.31
to miss this. Verse
43, now keep in mind
00:37:24.34\00:37:28.38
God is speaking about the
nations of western Europe that
00:37:28.41\00:37:32.38
came out of Rome.
Verse 43 the Bible says, "
00:37:32.41\00:37:36.38
As you saw iron mixed with
00:37:36.42\00:37:40.46
ceramic clay, they
00:37:40.49\00:37:44.49
will mingle with the seed of men
00:37:44.53\00:37:48.46
but they will not
adhere one to another
00:37:48.50\00:37:52.47
just as iron does
not mix with clay.
00:37:52.50\00:37:56.50
" Now if you have
the King James Version
00:37:56.54\00:38:00.64
it actually uses the phrase
"they shall not cleave one to
00:38:00.68\00:38:04.58
another" Do you
realize those seven words,
00:38:04.61\00:38:08.55
they shall not
cleave one to another,
00:38:08.58\00:38:12.62
they have stood the test of
time for over a thousand years
00:38:12.65\00:38:16.59
because in this
prophecy God is saying
00:38:16.62\00:38:20.63
these nations that will come
out of rome, that would form the
00:38:20.66\00:38:24.57
nations of western Europe, theyw
ould try to mingle with the seed
00:38:24.60\00:38:28.60
of men in other words, they
would intermarry, they would try
to unite together again.
00:38:28.64\00:38:32.57
And all through the middle
ages, this king seeks to amrry
00:38:32.61\00:38:36.58
this queen. This prince hooks
up with this princess. They make
00:38:36.61\00:38:40.58
all the different alliances to
try to bring Euope back together
00:38:40.62\00:38:44.59
into one world
power. But Bible prophecy
00:38:44.62\00:38:48.62
clearly said they shall not
00:38:48.66\00:38:52.63
cleave one to another and
00:38:52.66\00:38:56.60
ever since the fall of
rome in 476, that prophecy
00:38:56.63\00:39:00.67
has stood true
for almost 1500 years
00:39:00.70\00:39:04.61
In fact there have been many
leaders that have tried to defy
00:39:04.64\00:39:08.61
that prophecy I am just gonna
show you a few. Cherlemagne
00:39:08.64\00:39:12.61
in the middle ages. He tried
to unite Europe, he failed.
00:39:12.65\00:39:16.65
Stalin tried it.
He failed. Hiteler
00:39:16.69\00:39:20.69
just a few generations
removed from us, he tried it.
00:39:20.72\00:39:24.69
In world war 2 and he failed.
00:39:24.73\00:39:28.63
You know the leader that
got the closest was Napoleon.
00:39:28.66\00:39:32.63
During the french revolution if
you know anyhting about history
00:39:32.67\00:39:36.67
Napoleon was conquering
countrya fter country and
00:39:36.71\00:39:40.68
actually looked like he might
defy this prophecy. Now it is
00:39:40.71\00:39:44.68
said that someone
once went to Napoleon and
00:39:44.71\00:39:48.72
shared with him
what Daniel 2 said
00:39:48.75\00:39:52.72
but Napoleon continued on
anyway. But God did something so
00:39:52.75\00:39:56.69
simple as Napoleon's
armies marched to battle,
00:39:56.73\00:40:00.73
God sent a few snowflakes
00:40:00.76\00:40:04.70
and those
snowflakes diverted Napoleon to
00:40:04.73\00:40:08.74
Waterloo where
he met his defeat.
00:40:08.77\00:40:12.71
Is that by chance?
Is that an accident?
00:40:12.74\00:40:16.71
Is that just a coincidence?
00:40:16.75\00:40:20.72
No it is because Bible prophecy
said they shall not cleave
00:40:20.75\00:40:24.72
one to
another.even our world today
00:40:24.75\00:40:28.72
has tried to defy that.
Europe ahs a common curreccny.
00:40:28.76\00:40:32.79
The Europian
common market, European
00:40:32.83\00:40:36.77
airlines, but the fact remains,
they are still seperate nations
with separate governments.
00:40:36.80\00:40:40.74
Separate leaders,
separate laws because God says.
00:40:40.77\00:40:44.77
They will never from a
worldwide superpower again.
00:40:44.81\00:40:48.78
This is why i can
trust what God's word says.
00:40:48.81\00:40:52.75
But now comes the
last part of the parable
00:40:52.78\00:40:56.79
or prophecy, one that
to me is the most important
00:40:56.82\00:41:00.86
one. The book of Daniel was
written somewhere around 500-600
00:41:00.89\00:41:04.83
BC This was not written
after all these things occurred.
00:41:04.86\00:41:08.80
And if every part of this
prophecy has been fulfilled to a
00:41:08.83\00:41:12.77
T, then we know that the
last part will be fulfilled
00:41:12.80\00:41:16.77
as well. The last part is
this rock that flies out of the
00:41:16.81\00:41:20.81
heavens. Let us read
about that in verse 44.
00:41:20.84\00:41:24.81
If you are still with me
tonight, can you say amen.
00:41:24.85\00:41:28.82
Alright verse 44. The
Bible says, "And in the days of
00:41:28.85\00:41:32.82
these Kings,
00:41:32.85\00:41:36.83
now what is he talking about,
00:41:36.86\00:41:40.90
the Kings the leaders of western
europe. That is the period we
00:41:40.93\00:41:44.87
live in today.
the God of heaven will
00:41:44.90\00:41:48.87
set up a kingdom which
shall never destroyed. And the
00:41:48.90\00:41:52.87
Kingdom shall not be
left to other people it shall
00:41:52.91\00:41:56.91
break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms
00:41:56.95\00:42:00.88
and it shall
stand forever. And then
00:42:00.92\00:42:04.92
verse 45 end by
saying the dream is
00:42:04.95\00:42:08.89
certain. The
interpretation is sure.
00:42:08.92\00:42:12.89
See the prophecy
says this rock this
00:42:12.93\00:42:16.87
stone that flies out of the
heavens, is simply the second
00:42:16.90\00:42:20.90
coming of Jesus Christ.
The coming of His Kingdom.
00:42:20.94\00:42:24.91
Because all throughout the Bible
even in the old testament Jesus
00:42:24.94\00:42:28.91
us referred to as
the rock, the capstone
00:42:28.94\00:42:32.91
the cornerstone, this
rock that flies out of heaven
00:42:32.95\00:42:36.92
is reminding us that
Jesus Christ is coming soon.
00:42:36.95\00:42:40.99
That all other kingdoms in the
world will be obliterated and we
00:42:41.02\00:42:44.96
can be with Jesus forever.
Somebody ought to say amen
00:42:44.99\00:42:48.96
tonight because if that part of
the prophecy is not fulfilled,
you and I have no hope.
00:42:49.00\00:42:52.97
Because I do not know about you,
I am happy to be alive but I do
00:42:53.00\00:42:56.97
not want to live in this world
forever. I am waiting for Jesus
00:42:57.01\00:43:01.04
to come and this prophecy is
telling us, notice, the rock
strikes the image where.
00:43:01.08\00:43:05.01
in the feet. THe
time period of a divided
00:43:05.05\00:43:08.98
Europe, our time,
is telling us taht
00:43:09.02\00:43:13.02
Jesus is coming very
very soon. We may not know
00:43:13.05\00:43:17.03
the day or the hour, but
prophecy says that it is closer
00:43:17.06\00:43:21.00
than we think. And the point
is it is trying to wake us up
00:43:21.03\00:43:25.00
so that we can get
close to Jesus and pay
00:43:25.03\00:43:29.00
attention to our
relationship with Him.
00:43:29.04\00:43:33.07
Now one honest question we may
ask before we close, is someone
may ask the question
00:43:33.11\00:43:37.08
well if Rome fell in 476,
00:43:37.11\00:43:41.08
and we have had the dividing
Nations of Western Europe around
00:43:41.12\00:43:45.05
for a long time probably a
thousand years, why has Jesus
00:43:45.09\00:43:49.09
waitied to come? Why does it
seema s though he ahs delayed
00:43:49.12\00:43:53.13
his coming. He
could hve come long ago,
00:43:53.16\00:43:57.07
Well i do not claim to have alll
the answers but I do think there
00:43:57.10\00:44:01.14
is a verse in the bible that
gives us just a little clue. It
00:44:01.17\00:44:05.11
is 2 Peter 3 verse 8 and 9. I
have that on the screen for you.
00:44:05.14\00:44:09.11
The Bible says but do not forget
this one thing dear friends
00:44:09.14\00:44:13.15
that with the Lord a day
is like a thousand years and
00:44:13.18\00:44:17.15
a thousand years is
like a day and verse 9
00:44:17.19\00:44:21.16
says the lord is
not slow concerning
00:44:21.19\00:44:25.23
his promise as some count
slowness, He is patient with you
not wanting anyone to perish but
00:44:25.26\00:44:29.16
everyone to come to repentance.
You see, the Bible tell us, God
is not interested in seeing
00:44:37.24\00:44:41.21
people lost unneccesarily.
00:44:41.24\00:44:45.21
he does not enjoy seeing
people perish. So God waits
00:44:45.25\00:44:49.25
as long as he can.
So that people will make
00:44:49.28\00:44:53.29
a decison for
him. But the truth is
00:44:53.32\00:44:57.29
earth's history is
winding down and God
00:44:57.33\00:45:01.26
cannot wait forever.
There will comea time
00:45:01.30\00:45:05.27
when probation will close.
00:45:05.30\00:45:09.30
And so I ahve to ask
myself a ery serious question.
00:45:09.34\00:45:13.31
Is it possible that God
00:45:13.34\00:45:17.31
is waiting dor you.
00:45:17.35\00:45:21.35
Is it possible that
He is waiting for you.
00:45:21.38\00:45:25.39
To make a decision.
00:45:25.42\00:45:29.39
Is it possible that he is
waiting for you to accept Him as
00:45:29.42\00:45:33.43
your savior For
you or me to take Him
00:45:33.46\00:45:37.37
seriously.
00:45:37.40\00:45:41.44
This invitation ot those that
are living at the end of time.
00:45:41.47\00:45:45.41
Revelation 3 20 the Bible
says, behold I stand at the door
00:45:45.44\00:45:49.44
and knock. if
anyone hears my voice
00:45:49.48\00:45:53.45
and opens the door,
I will come in to him.
00:45:53.48\00:45:57.49
Friends that is a
very intimate picture
00:45:57.52\00:46:01.52
that shows Jesus standing at
the door of our heart knocking
00:46:01.56\00:46:05.53
because he wants to come in.
00:46:05.56\00:46:09.50
the only question
that remains is do I hear
00:46:09.53\00:46:13.57
the voice of Jesus in
my life. Or is the voice
00:46:13.60\00:46:17.57
of Jesus being drowned
out by so many other things.
00:46:17.61\00:46:21.58
my business, my sports,
00:46:21.61\00:46:25.58
my pleasures.
Because at some point I
00:46:25.61\00:46:29.62
have to decide to open the door
00:46:29.65\00:46:33.66
and to let Him in.
The Good thing is Jesus
00:46:33.69\00:46:37.69
never stops knocking until time
00:46:37.73\00:46:41.66
is over. TOnight when you
go home I wonder if you might
00:46:41.70\00:46:45.70
pray this prayer in your heart,
that in the provacy of your home
00:46:45.73\00:46:49.70
you might say, Lord Jesus I know
that you are still in control
00:46:49.74\00:46:53.78
of this world. But Lord
I want you to be in control
00:46:53.81\00:46:57.78
of my life tonight I am opening
00:46:57.81\00:47:01.78
my heart to you. He has promised
00:47:01.82\00:47:05.82
he would never
leave us nor forsake us.
00:47:05.85\00:47:09.82
Nor would he
ever turn a soul away.
00:47:09.86\00:47:11.23