Dan 7:13-28, Beast’s kingdom vs Son-of-Man’s kingdom

Dan 7:13-28, Beast’s kingdom vs Son-of-Man’s kingdom

4-8, 13-28,
 4“The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
6“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7“After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
8“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15“I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
17‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
19“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23“He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.†
26“ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
28“This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

(Sermon Summary)
  The book of Daniel has six historic stories in chs. 1-6 and four visions in chs7-12. We see through 6 chs the wonderful faith and life of Daniel and his three friends. Chs7-12, ch. 7 shows the whole, and chs. 8-12 partly show God's reign in human history. Ch. 7 is important. Let's see the four beast’s kingdom. Vs. 4-8, the lion is Babylon, the bear is Medo-Persia, the leopard is Greece, and the fourth beast is the Roman Empire. The nations of the world are ferocious like beasts & engage in violence and oppression. They value money & power as supreme. The Lord focuses on the fourth beast. One horn of the beast opposes the Lord(25) & persecutes the saints(19-21), but God judges him. The great problems with the rulers and our environment make us frustrated and desperate. But God rules & judges the world(9,10). The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) comes and reigns. His kingdom is eternal. He will come again from heaven with clouds (13,14, Mt.26:64). Then sin & suffering, death & darkness will all disappear. The Lord is a comfort and hope to the Jews who are suffering in captivity and to us who are struggling with hardships large and small.

  Let us apply What is the reality? We live between the kingdom of the beast (the world) and the Son-of-Man’s kingdom. How should we live? The worldly kingdom becomes like an animal when it has power. If you focus on the world, there is no hope, only frustration and discouragement, and only anger. We must focus on the Son-of-Man’s kingdom and live. If we focus on the Son-of-Man’s kingdom, we see Jesus shed on the cross. The Lord wipes away our tears and makes us overcome death and problems. He is building a country of love and peace.
 
  Dear saints, is Jesus yuor King/Master? Let's look to the Lord and live to rule over you, your family, your church, and your country. Ch. 7 shows that all problems will be resolved when the Lord returns. Let's study the Bible diligently. Let's live by prayer & the power of the Word. How is the world going? Today's words show it all. Don't get discouraged, give up, or get discouraged by the world. Although we live in the beast’s kingdom, let us live with the power of the Son-of-Man’s kingdom. Let's pray for our neighbors. Jesus will come again. We will enter the new heavens and new earth and enjoy eternal life. We pray that we all lift up our eyes of faith & look to the Lord who is life & the eternal kingdom, saving our neighbors & living. Amen.