Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Thursday, November 20, Daniel 7, part 5

Still contemplating this verse:

"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth, it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it and had ten horns."

Some may wonder, why are you spending so much time on this Old Testament Prophet?

When you really take the time to study the prophets, you cannot help but believe! It is no wonder, on the road to Emmaus that Jesus rebuked the two disciples in this way: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" (Luke 24:25-26)

So, what did He do? "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (27) And, in case you don't know, that is the terminology for the whole of Jewish Scripture.

This has hit me deeply in this last year, and it took seven decades to get it through my head, how important the understanding of the Law and Prophets are to helping us grow in the knowledge of His Word! For here God establishes the Foundation. We see the depth of our sin, how rebellious we are, how we foolishly succumb to darkness. We learn from the examples of old.

In one of the great "3:16" verses it is written: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy)

And if you read the teachings of the Apostles, you see them defending their words by the words of the Old Testament, for they had a solid foundation established from the time they were children. They ushered in the New Covenant, for the Old Covenant was passing away.

For the Hebrew Scriptures are not only about the regulatory necessities given Israel to refine them and reflect the glory, or attributes of God throughout the world. It is filled with the full purpose of God which includes not only His elect Israel, but in preparation for another elect which were grafted in: His church. And there is yet another elect with the Tribulation saints, where the eyes of the nation Israel will open, and will turn to Him whom they had pierced and the rest of the nations judged, which is yet in the future. This kingdom will continue throughout the Millennium until all of His elect will be complete and we will all serve together on the New Earth as described in Revelation 21-22.

And from what I read, each chosen in this mortal period for specific purposes, and all display the magnificent glory of God. There is a tendency to box every "elect" into one big conglomeration, but God has had specific purposes for each dispensation, and every one of them was to help us understand the depth of the Salvation that Christ was to bring, did bring, and will continue to bring. A King that was to come, a King who came, and a King who will return to rule.

For the purpose of God is to establish His Kingdom, and He has called us as "diplomats" to give notice to the world that the King is coming!

And in these periods, we have seen many antichrists. Many "beasts". Of course, we were informed beforehand. John wrote right after "And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever":

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come." (1 John 2:17-18) We've seen the Pharaohs, Belshazzars, the Hamans, the Antiochuses, the Neros, the Tituses, the Hordes, corrupt "church", the false teachers and their religions, the atheistic evolutionists, the Hitlers, the Stalins, and the professors of our once prestigious colleges and the antichristian spirit they are forming in the minds of our youth as well as vehemently antichristian politicians both in our country and in the "united nations" of world leaders.

And they are, with the influence of the "Serpent" grooming one Beast, who is to come as the Antichrist himself. He will rule the world, possessed by this serpent. And looking ahead, the serpent itself will be released for one last effort to bring all those foolish enough to reject the reigning Christ during the Millennium, and then be permanently thrown into the Lake of Fire, making way for the New Heaven and New Earth, where the Trinity makes residence in the New, you guessed it, Jerusalem.

And in Daniel, as well as all the Prophets, we are learning that God is quite interested in that Land—the glorious Land that is the focal point of prophecy. We are learning that for some reason, God has chosen this spot to be the center of the Universe.

Jesus inserted Himself there and prophesied about the End on the Mount of Olives. Then, in Resurrected form, He left from that very Mount of Olives, with the sure promise to return exactly as He left. And, maybe soon, we will see His foot touch the Mount of Olives once again.

But first, there is a Beast.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*

Memory Helps:

Again, here is chapter 7:

Chapter 7: "First HEAVEN-LY Vision:

The Four Beasts,
The Ancient of Days: King of HEAVEN, and
The Son of Man comes from HEAVEN"