Beast of Power 06.18.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Daniel, please read Chapters 7-9 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207-9&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Daniel's vision of 4 beasts; the vision of the ram and goat; his prayer for his people; and the vision of 70 weeks. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that no matter how powerful we are we can not escape the judgement from God. All who do not repent and ask Jesus to come into their lives will be judged.

Through Daniel God reveals another vision, "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." (Daniel 7:1-3). The four winds represents man's selfish ambition and their use of cruel power to get what they want. The great sea represents a fallen, godless, and insecure civilization, and the four beasts represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Daniel continues with his vision and describes the beasts, "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it." (7:4). The lion represented the kingdom of Babylon, which was the king of all nations. "And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh." (7:5). The bear represented the kingdom of Medo-Persia who later conquered Babylon. "After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it." (7:6). The leopard represented Greece and Alexander the Great who conquered Medo-Persia.

The last beast was one that was horrible looking and unidentifiable, "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." (4:7-8). This beast represents Rome who cruely and ruthlessly conquered all the nations that remained. The ten horns represent a confederation of ten future world rulers. The little horn represents the Antichrist who will speak against Jesus. (4:23-25).

However, Daniel's vision also sees Jesus who will one day be the ruler of all nations, "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (7:27)

Today, we face much opposition as this vision becomes a reality, but no matter what we face we can not back down from our belief's. We must take a stand for Jesus and keep telling the lost about Him because there will be a time when all who do not accept Him will face judgement, but those who have accepted Him will enjoy the everlasting kingdom of God. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:19-25).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14). This vision was confirmed by our Lord as He spoke of His promised return. (Matthew 24:30).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help me to remain faithful to You and Your calling upon my life, Strenghten me and increase my faith as I learn Your Word and help me to apply them in my daily walk here on earth. As I face trials and temptations that try to take my eyes off You help me to stay faithful and seek You above all things, holding on the the truth that You died for me and saved me from an eternal life of hell. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God Bless You,
Christina

Learn About Salvation.
Visit A Spiritual Guide
aspiritualguide.net