008 Choosing Your Kingdom

Daniel 7:1-28

June 19, 2016

Tonight we turn the page a bit in the book of Daniel.

We are actually moving backward chronologically.

In chapter 6 we examined that famous story about how Daniel trusted God and escaped the lion’s den.

In that we saw how God can use the humble submission of one of His children to bring glory to Himself in the eyes of the world.

But if you notice tonight the chapter begins with “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream…”

That means that this vision took place before the lion’s den account.

This story even took place before

The incident of the handwriting on the wall.

That means that first 6 chapters existed to help us see

That God is sovereign over all kings and kingdoms.

· We saw God subdue Nebuchadnezzar

· We saw God subdue Belshazzar

· We saw God subdue Darius

God did all three in different ways

But God proved Himself sovereign each and every time.

It was a great form of encouragement to us to know that

Regardless of how things appear, God is in control.

There is no one whom He can’t humble.

He always has and He always will accomplish His purposes.

Take comfort in that.

BUT TONIGHT WE START A BIT OF A NEW SECTION

(It certainly feels different as you read it)

We are backing up chronologically

And we are watching DANIEL NOW RECEIVE ALL THE VISIONS.

· Previously Daniel didn’t receive any visions, he only interpreted them.

· Now Daniel is getting the visions and ironically enough he can’t interpret them so he often asks for help.

What is the purpose then?

Well let me ask you…

Were you impressed by the cool and calm demeanor that Daniel displayed while facing the lion’s den?

Were you impressed that Daniel didn’t even flinch at the king’s edict?

Were you amazed that he just continued on praying with his windows open without the slightest hint of fear or concern?

I was…

I’m wondering where he got that courage.

I’m going to submit to you that it was from

The things he saw in these next 3 chapters.

Chronologically you can actually put chapters 7-9 in between chapters 5 and 6.

These three chapters do a tremendous job of explaining to us

Where Daniel received such courage

So as to not flinch at the threat of the lions.

And this is important to us.

· We’ve all read the story in Revelation 13 about the requirement to take the mark of the beast or the threat of death…

· We’ve all read current stories about ISIS terrorists and how believers are being beheaded for not denying Christ…

Somewhere in the back of your mind

You must wonder if you could stand or if you would stand.

Let me give you an unfailing principle.

YOUR ACTIONS ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR BELIEFS

It is the truth that gives strength in the difficult day.

And that is true for Daniel as well.

Let’s look at the truth God gave Daniel

In order that we might see where Daniel found his conviction.

1 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.

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 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 '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.

27 'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'

28 "At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself."

And I actually love this point from Daniel.

At the end of this revelation Daniel wasn’t necessarily comforted.

“my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale”

In short, Daniel was not overly excited about what he just learned.

There was going to be a lot of hardship and difficulty

For him and God’s people ahead.

He just learned that the current kingdom of Babylon was only the beginning and it was going to get a lot worse before it was over.

The only consolation was that

Daniel knew which kingdom would eventually win.

I liken his response to that of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 3:16-19

“I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.”

Habakkuk wasn’t excited about it either, but based on the truth he made a decision to continue to worship God.

WHAT DECISION DID DANIEL MAKE?

Daniel 6:10

“Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”

Daniel decided to trust God no matter what may come.

THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE WE MUST HAVE

IN AN EVER DETERIORATING WORLD.

At the time when Daniel received this vision all was well in his world.

He had been loved by Nebuchadnezzar

And by all accounts Belshazzar was leaving him alone.

But Daniel was warned that other kingdoms were coming

And it could get worse.

He had to make a decision regarding where he would stand

And he obviously did.

That is the same for us.

· Today it’s not hard to be a follower of Christ.

· It may certainly be tomorrow.

This is where we must take the truth we are learning from Daniel

And remember to choose the kingdom that prevails in the end.

TURN TO:

Hebrews 12:18-29