The End of the War

Series on Daniel

II. The Conflict

A. Visions of the Ages

2. The Saints

c. The Judgment, Text: 7:15-28

Title: The End of the War

Introduction

Chapters 2 and 7 present Daniel’s prophecies of the course of human history. Chapter 7 goes beyond chapter 2 in not only exposing the destiny of earthly kingdoms but by showing the outcome of that conflict which is clearly seen to be a conflict between the will of man as expressed through human government and the will of God as expressed through his people. Chapter 7 also carries us further along to the consummation of history and the final victory of the saints of God. We have seen therefore in our study of chapter 7, first, the jungle where we saw the forces of lawlessness and opposition to the kingdom of God which were prevalent in Babylon and in the kingdoms which followed and continue down to this very day. Secondly we saw a vision of the judge whose sovereign wisdom and purity will prevail in the end, and now today we see the final scene. As Daniel inquires about the interpretation of the details of his dream he is allowed to see the final judgement of those forces of Godlessness which were so much a part of his day to day existence. We are going to be looking at four things, the scene, the struggle, the schedule and the success of the saints of God.

I The Scene

Little needs to be said about this because it has already been established. When Daniel shows his concern over the meaning of these visions he is given an overall explanation in verses 15 and 16, “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things. Don’t miss this because it is the main point of the whole passage. It is not the obscure details but this point which was to encourage Daniel and us as set forth in verses 17 and 18, ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ The emphasis is on the transitory and passing nature of the earthly kingdoms, awful though they may be, and on the eternal promise of God’s kingdom. It warns us all not to hitch our star to anything earthly. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness because it lasts. It is more important than anything here below. Nothing absolutely nothing else is more important than that you know Jesus and be part of his eternal kingdom.

II The Struggle

Beginning at these same tho verses,17 and 18, we see the struggle. The adversative “but” is used. in verse 18. One of the biggest little words in the Bible. When the Scripture describes our painful lost condition, it adds, “But God who is rich in mercy has saved us by grace.” This is the same kind of “but.” It looks like the ravenous beasts of the vision will succeed in destroying the Church of God and demolishing his kingdom, but as we have seen in chapter 2 that is not the case. The persecution and the failure of the persecution to destroy the work of God is found in verses 19-22, “Then I wanted to know the true 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. 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. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. This is a very big “but.” This theme is carried through as the explanation of the vision unfolds, the little horn, the antichrist, the successor to these kingdoms wages war against the saints, and he is apparently defeating them. This does not mean true children of God are lost, but if you look at Soviet Russia or Communist China and the persecution of Christians you may get some idea of what it is talking about. In Russia and China and Uganda and elsewhere it has certainly looked like the little horn has defeated the saints, but we know better. And there is another small word with a big meaning, “until.” Until  the Ancient of Days came and that’s that as they say. The war is over because judgement is pronounced. The same theme continues in verses 23-27 where the blasphemies of the little horn are noted together with his oppression of the saints, “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. The 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. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. “ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ Here comes that but again with some of the most innocuous, benign, harmless words that ever took the day, “But the court will sit.” It signifies our victory and total defeat of God’s enemies. “The court will sit,” let us be sure of it. this is the struggle which goes on all around us. i am always afraid when i speak of this struggle of the ages that it will pass over our heads as something we are not involved in, or that we will become so involved in the process of trying to identify who these historical figures are that we will miss the point. i have read extensively and it is almost impossible to find two commentators who agree on who these kings are. However, I am sure that the little horn is in your TV among other things. I told you a few weeks ago he was in your state schools. He is in your TV too. There is clear evidence that the brain is unwittingly influenced by TV. Ad agencies employ neurophysiologists. It is literally hypnotic. and as Joel Nederhood of the Back to God Hour has pointed out, we have had shows on TV putting children in authority over parents and leaders like “Camp Candy.” We have had others teaching children how to be gross like Beetlejuice, a lesson by the way that some hardly need, and still others instructing children how to be obnoxious like Rude Dog. As for adults they are not told the truth at all about national and international events because the news is totally slanted to an anti-Christian political viewpoint. And it is hard to find anything that isn’t sold using sex. If you don’;t think this is the struggle then you are blind and deaf. There is a judgment coming, but those who prevail are those who follow the Lamb now and keep themselves steeped in the truth that sets men free, rather than the truth of TV which enslaves.

III The Schedule

Now we come to the question how long? nobody knows, but if we look back at verse 25 this passage says for a time, times and a half time, He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. Obviously this is the duration of the little horn or antichrist and his war against the saints. I could like many interpreters simply say this is a definite period. That is unlikely. This designation can easily be seen to be a time, one year, times, two years, and a half time, one half year or 3 1/2 years. This is a number taken up in the book of Revelation and is used as 1260 days, 3 1/2 years, 42 months, or a time, times and a half time. Its prevalence in Daniel and especially in Revelation makes it impossible for me to dismiss it as a meaningless period. it describes the reign of antichrist. some think of it as a short period at the end of  history, i cannot be dogmatic, but if it is the period of the anti-christ, it is between Christ’s first and second coming and i believe it is more than a short period at the end. The apostle John writes in i John 2:18, Little children, it is last hour, and, according as ye have heard that antichrist comes, even now there have come many antichrists, whence we know that it is last hour. Even on the day of Pentecost as Peter explains the miracle of speaking in other tongues, we read in Acts 2:14-18, But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them, Men of Judaea, and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words: for these are not full of wine, as ye suppose, for it is the third hour of the day; but this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel, And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your elders shall dream with dreams; yea, even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. So Pentecost begins the last days. Now on the  face of it, this is the period of the Christ so it is natural to assume that it is also the period of the anti-christ. The three and a half, as the period of the duration of the circumstances into which the people of God are brought by the world power through the divine permission, indicate a testing period, a period of judgment which Jesus speaks of in Matthew 24:21-24, For then shall there be great tribulation, such as has not been from beginning of world until now, nor ever shall be; and if those days had not been cut short, no flesh had been saved; but on account of the elect those days shall be cut short. Then if any one say to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or here, believe not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall give great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Some may not agree, and, many will continue to debate this, but i will have more to say about the derivation of this number when we come to Daniel 9 which i believe is the key. until then we shall have to be content with being watchful for surely the essential characteristics of this period of tribulation are with us now.

IV The Success

My last point shall serve as a summation. Daniel is told that this is the end in verse 28, but the end of what? “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.” As the end of the vision is stated, the impression is left on Daniel. that hitherto, to this point, is the end of the history; i.e., thus far the history, or, with this the matter it is at an end. The matter is not merely the interpretation of the angel, but the whole revelation. There is a war, we are in it, and, the victory is certain for the saints who persevere. But what is that victory? it has features. It is permanent according to verse 27, and it is the possession of the saints according to verses 18,21,and 27. Ironically, first the saints are “handed over” to the antichrist, but when they have endured, the kingdom is “handed over” to them. And, finally, it is a permanent possession of power according to verse 27, Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. This is the same glorious power given to Jesus after His resurrection, the power he speaks of in the great commission in Matthew 28 when he says, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and earth.” His power and authority become the saints’ power and authority. Brute force cannot permanently conquer. Every political dictator will be replaced by another—usually a more cruel and ferocious one. God’s people, however, will outlast all their enemies. God made the world for righteous people and in His time they will inherit it. Since God is on the side of his people, they cannot afford to become impatient. In closing this meditation I appeal to all. This is the course of history. its outcome is not in doubt. Where do you stand? Is it with the crucified one who ultimately triumphs? Is it meekly at the feet of the one who died for you? Is it submissively before him who is Lord of all? Only such inherit the earth in the age to come. are you one of them?