The Fourth Beast of Daniel 7 (part 2)
Daniel was given a huge portion of end-time information. The entire book of Daniel is an end-time book. Many mistakenly think that just the last few chapters contain end-time information, but the entire book was written for our generation...for our benefit. The fasting story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is what led to the young men standing strong when the golden statue was set up by Nebuchadnezzar on the Plain of Dura. This is a prophetic picture of what will happen at the start of the Great Tribulation, when antichrist sets up a statue of himself in the soon to be built Jewish temple. Believers are supposed to resist worshiping the statue at the threat of death. Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, believers get ready for that moment in time by going hard after the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle, which includes separating yourself from the culture of the day: giving away your time and money generously and secretly, praying and fasting secretly, resisting offense by your enemies, serving even those who resist you...Daniel and his friends were a perfect, intentional, picture of what it will be like for believers in a hostile world system in the last 7 years. Although we are opposed, we will be the ones the world turns to for answers as they are groping with what God is releasing. Just like Daniel and his friends were sought out to interpret dreams for Nebuchadnezzar and the other kings of Babylon.
Daniel isn't just a collection of good kids stories! Look at Daniel's life: promotion mixed with attempts to execute him and his friends, all resulting in the final testimonies of the kings that had attempted to kill them:
Daniel 2:13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
Daniel 2:47-48 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel 3:1, 6 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.... and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
Daniel 3:12-13 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:24, 29-30 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ........Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar's second dream:
Daniel 4:8, 34 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him... ...And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
The lions den, Belshazzar's feast...there is so much information about God's end time plan for his family in Daniel alone. Daniel was given the most information of anyone in the Bible about the antichrist, what he would arise out of, what his character would be like...and Daniel's life, and the life of his friends is a prophetic picture of how to relate to the antichrist. Daniel's life was marked by prayer, fasting, and then standing strong in the face of earthly power. Daniel had angelic help, he saw the mouths of lions shut, encountered Jesus, His friends danced with Jesus in the fiery furnace...the most glorious time of power, intensity, and encounter with the groom awaits this generation, but dullness, fear and self interest literally blinds the vast majority of Jesus' church from seeing what is main and plain in the word: get ready and pray because the most intense transition from the old age of sin to the new age of righteousness is coming at you like a Mack Truck and if you do not know the plan, have confidence in the plan, and get ready for the plan in advance, you will bow before the statue when the music starts. Many will be offended by the intensity of Jesus' plan simply because rather than fast and pray like Daniel and his friends...they waited to see what would happen. Don't wait for all of your teachers to get this, if you do, it will be too late to press in for greatness:
Daniel 1:12, 17 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.... As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
They were ready for the intensity before them because they got ready!
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
If you don't get ready now...the hour is at hand...you run the risk of being offended and falling away...bowing to the last golden statue:
Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Matthew 24:9-13 “Then they will deliver you (Jesus was speaking privately to his disciples) up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
II Thessalonians 2:1-5 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the FALLING AWAY comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
Paul taught this often, according to his last sentence...Paul knew that the intensity of this truth required instruction...preparation. We see all the signs now, yet dullness isn't lifting from the eyes of God's people...many think it will be more and more obvious as time goes on, this is not true. It will always require faith to believe the events of revelation are happening. As the intensity increases, Jesus promised CONFUSION would increase, NOT CLARITY. It will never get easier than it is today to connect with Jesus' plan that is being executed right now! Now is the time to search the word, find out the plan, and settle your heart on what to do.
That is what the BIBLE says:
I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
John wasn't wrong....and how much more so now...
Daniel isn't just a collection of good kids stories! Look at Daniel's life: promotion mixed with attempts to execute him and his friends, all resulting in the final testimonies of the kings that had attempted to kill them:
Daniel 2:13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
Daniel 2:47-48 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel 3:1, 6 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.... and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
Daniel 3:12-13 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:24, 29-30 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ........Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar's second dream:
Daniel 4:8, 34 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him... ...And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
The lions den, Belshazzar's feast...there is so much information about God's end time plan for his family in Daniel alone. Daniel was given the most information of anyone in the Bible about the antichrist, what he would arise out of, what his character would be like...and Daniel's life, and the life of his friends is a prophetic picture of how to relate to the antichrist. Daniel's life was marked by prayer, fasting, and then standing strong in the face of earthly power. Daniel had angelic help, he saw the mouths of lions shut, encountered Jesus, His friends danced with Jesus in the fiery furnace...the most glorious time of power, intensity, and encounter with the groom awaits this generation, but dullness, fear and self interest literally blinds the vast majority of Jesus' church from seeing what is main and plain in the word: get ready and pray because the most intense transition from the old age of sin to the new age of righteousness is coming at you like a Mack Truck and if you do not know the plan, have confidence in the plan, and get ready for the plan in advance, you will bow before the statue when the music starts. Many will be offended by the intensity of Jesus' plan simply because rather than fast and pray like Daniel and his friends...they waited to see what would happen. Don't wait for all of your teachers to get this, if you do, it will be too late to press in for greatness:
Daniel 1:12, 17 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.... As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
They were ready for the intensity before them because they got ready!
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
If you don't get ready now...the hour is at hand...you run the risk of being offended and falling away...bowing to the last golden statue:
Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Matthew 24:9-13 “Then they will deliver you (Jesus was speaking privately to his disciples) up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
II Thessalonians 2:1-5 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the FALLING AWAY comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
Paul taught this often, according to his last sentence...Paul knew that the intensity of this truth required instruction...preparation. We see all the signs now, yet dullness isn't lifting from the eyes of God's people...many think it will be more and more obvious as time goes on, this is not true. It will always require faith to believe the events of revelation are happening. As the intensity increases, Jesus promised CONFUSION would increase, NOT CLARITY. It will never get easier than it is today to connect with Jesus' plan that is being executed right now! Now is the time to search the word, find out the plan, and settle your heart on what to do.
That is what the BIBLE says:
I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
John wasn't wrong....and how much more so now...
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