City Life Church San Diego
Welcome to the City Life Church Podcast, where faith meets action in the heart of Mt. Hope. We are a diverse family of God, united by Jesus, led by Scripture, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to caring for both the spiritual and tangible needs of the lost and hurting. Through inspiring messages and practical lessons, we seek to equip and encourage you to live out God’s calling in everyday life. Join us as we grow in faith, serve our community, and share the hope of the Gospel with the world.
City Life Church San Diego
Three Things to Remember When the World Seems Out of Control
In this eye-opening exploration of Daniel 7, we dive into one of scripture's most powerful apocalyptic visions—four terrifying beasts rising from a chaotic sea, representing kingdoms that seemed unstoppable in their time.
The vision pulls back the curtain on human history, revealing what's happening behind the scenes from heaven's perspective. These beasts—representing Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome—appear supreme and unconquerable. Yet Daniel watches as each one is humbled, subdued, or destroyed by the true King. The pattern continues throughout human history, from Hitler's "thousand-year Reich" that lasted only twelve years to modern dictators who went from palaces to hiding places overnight.
But the vision doesn't end with the beasts. The scene shifts dramatically to a heavenly throne room where the Ancient of Days takes his seat in blazing glory. Books are opened, judgment is pronounced, and a mysterious figure—"one like a son of man"—receives an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed. This is Jesus, who through his death and resurrection defeated the greatest beast of all: sin and death itself.
For believers living in what often feels like modern-day Babylon, this vision offers profound hope. When politics, finances, health concerns, or cultural decay trigger anxiety, Daniel 7 reminds us to lift our eyes to the throne that never moves. The beasts may howl and appear unstoppable, but they're actually on a leash held by the Ancient of Days.
The central truth echoes throughout: corrupt kingdoms don't last, but God's perfect kingdom never ends. This isn't just future hope—it's present reality. If you belong to Christ, you aren't defined by your struggles or successes. You belong to Jesus, and his victory is already yours. Which kingdom will you live for today?
The stories of the prophet Daniel are riveting, full of adventure and the miraculous. But what if we're telling these stories the wrong way? Yes, god saved his people and shut the mouths of lions, rescued those thrown into the scalding furnace. But maybe it's less about stopping wild beasts and power-hungry, egomaniac kings and it's more about humbly following our God when the world around us laughs. Maybe it's more about being faithful and kind when not promised deliverance from every king and executioner who threatens us, because our God never leaves us when the heat is turned up. He will never forsake us when the world demands we deny him.
Speaker 1:Daniel was obedient when he expected to die for his faith. Jesus obediently chose death for us. Today, the word of God challenges us to humbly follow our good and loving God, no matter what happens next. You may already be in the lion's den, but God will always be with his children. Join us, for Daniel and the Upside-Down Kingdom Obediently chose death for us. Today, the word of God challenges us to only follow our good and loving God, no matter what happens next. You may already be in the lion's den, but God will always be with his children. Join us for Daniel and the upside down kingdom.
Speaker 2:Amen. Well, good morning again, friends. It's good to be with you guys again. You know it's hot today, so there's something that's just off about that. It doesn't seem right. We were in New York and it was humid, similar to how it felt today, maybe a little bit more humid, and you step outside and you're just drenched.
Speaker 2:And so, like I said, I was in New York this past weekend. It was a really great time. It was my wife and a few of my friends. I have a buddy who does apologetics, so we went to go support him. And so New York, if you've ever been, is a really buzzing happening. Things are always moving city really fast pace, and so we went to a Broadway play. We took one day and we went to Philly. I'm an Eagles fan, go Birds.
Speaker 2:We lost a preseason game but enjoyed time down there, and our hotel was in the middle of Manhattan. So you step outside and there's thousands upon thousands of people. You walk down the street and you're bumping into at least 10 people. Some of them might say, excuse me, most of them don't. You walk across the street and cars are not stopping. It's madness New Yorkers do this weird thing. Where traffic is completely stopped, you can't go anywhere. There's a thousand cars, and they're like laying on their horn, and I'm like what do you expect the person in front of them to do? And so, like I said, I really enjoyed my time.
Speaker 2:One of the things that I noticed, though, was how much more expensive things were when we're out there, and so I'm a coffee drinker, got to have coffee in the morning, and sometimes, on a good day, I'll go to Starbucks and, for those listening, if you want to write down my order and bless me one day, I get the same thing. I get a brown sugar, shaken oat milk espresso. I have one down there. It's $5.50. Here we went, and I ordered that in New York, and it was like eight bucks, and I was like yo, this is wild.
Speaker 2:And so this isn't unique to New York, though. This is like big touristy cities, or if you're in a, if you go to Disneyland or you're at a movie theater whenever you have a captive audience, the best practice is to try to take advantage of the people that are there, and so I was just thinking about that. I was like that's kind of weird. Why do systems like that exist, and why do we just accept that that's just a thing we expect to pay more for things when we're in places like this that are built to take advantage of us. Something seems off about that, and that's because it is. There's systems that exist in this world that are meant to take advantage of us. There aren't many human systems in general that don't require something from us or don't want something from us. Think of politics or social media. They either demand our time, our money, our attention. There's no wonder that we're often so anxious.
Speaker 2:Growing up, my favorite book series was the Chronicles of Narnia. I spent a lot of time on punishment as a kid a little mischievous, and so punishment in my house meant that the only thing I could do was read, and so I read. My house meant that the only thing I could do was read, and so I read the Chronicles of Narnia, and it wasn't a punishment. I see the Huntingtons. They're like that's not punishment, that's a reward.
Speaker 2:And so the Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy, a children's book series written by CS Lewis. He's like one of the people on my Mount Rushmore, a real patriarchal theologian, if I can say that and so it's about these four children who stumble into a wardrobe and find this magical land of Narnia, and we quickly come to find out in the book that Narnia isn't exactly as it should be. No, it's being run by the cruel rule of the white witch. She's a tyrant who's made it so. It's always winter, but never Christmas. She's been in power for over 100 years and her reign feels inescapable. The creatures of the land have kind of all but lost hope. She has some followers who implement her will amongst the folks, and it's just a dreary, sad scene that you get. Fear grips the land and all hope seems to be buried underneath the snow. But then, at the appointed time, comes Aslan. Now Aslan is the true king and he's the creator of Narnia. His return breaks the witch's power and the snow that was on the land begins to melt. The ice begins to crack, and what felt permanent seemed to actually be temporary, and what seemed to be defeated was about to rain forever. So this morning our story is going to be similar to this. We're going to be in Daniel 7. We're looking at verses 1 through 28. We'll see how the kingdoms of this world can kind of look like the witch's winter cold, corrupt and unshakable. But they're only temporary. The true king has an everlasting kingdom that cannot be overthrown, and so, if you're with me, we're going to be in. Daniel 7, verses 1 through 28.
Speaker 2:I skipped a part, just so you know we do have Bibles available. So if you need a Bible, a good Bible, we have Bibles available in the back. Tenemos Biblias Bilingües disponibles al costado de Salón. I promise I practiced. Was that good, all right? Well, don't clap. Yet I got to do this next part. Bon genio, no gen bib creo. I say in. I don't know, you guys clap for the first part. The second part, you guys real quiet, all right. So, daniel, chapter seven, we're looking at verses one through 28. This is a long chapter. Bear with me, we're going to break it down, I promise after. So try to stick with me and we're going to do this together. Cool, all right.
Speaker 2:In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, daniel had a dream with visions in his mind. As he was lying in his bed, he wrote down the dream and here's a summary of his account. Daniel said In my vision that night, I was watching and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man and given a human mind. Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth. Between its teeth. It was told get up, gorge yourself on flesh.
Speaker 2:After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. Its head had four heads and it was given dominion. After this, while I was watching in the night vision, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful and incredibly strong, with large teeth. It devoured and crushed and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the other beasts before it and it had ten horns.
Speaker 2:While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of human in a mouth that was speaking arrogantly. As I kept watching, thrones were set in place and the ancient of days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow and his hair, the hair of his head, like the whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire. Its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing coming out of his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him. Ten thousands upon ten thousands stood before him. The court was convened and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words of the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the fire, to the burning fire. For the rest of the beast. Their domain was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.
Speaker 2:I continued watching in the night visions and suddenly one, like a son of man, was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the ancient of days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. As for me, daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me and the visions in my mind terrified me. I approached one of those who were standing by me and asked him to clarify all of this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things. The huge beast, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth, but the Holy One of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, forever and ever.
Speaker 2:Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast, the one different from all the other ones, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing and trampling with its feet whatever was left.
Speaker 2:I also wanted to know about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell. The horn that had eyes and a mouth, that spoke arrogantly and looked bigger than the others as I was watching the horn. This horn waged a war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the ancient of days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the most high, for the time had come and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom. This is what he said the fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down and crush it. The 10 horns are 10 kings who will rise. Another, another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the Holy One of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws and the Holy Ones will be handed over to him for a time, times and a half a time. But the court will convene and his dominion will be taken away to be completely destroyed forever. The kingdom, dominion and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all of the rulers will serve and obey him. This is the end of the account.
Speaker 2:As for me, daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly and my face turned pale. I kept the matter to myself. All right, that was a lot. We're going to break it down together though, because I know Daniel can kind of be confusing. So just some background.
Speaker 2:So chapter seven, for us, marks a shift in the book of Daniel. Up until now, daniel has been a narrative. We've heard stories about Daniel's life in Babylon. We're now shifting to what we call apocalyptic literature. Another way to put it is this is God is unveiling, or pulling back the curtain to show us what's happening in the world, but from a heavenly perspective. So we're getting what God is doing behind the scenes. The purpose of this was to inspire hope in the kingdom to come. If you recall, Israel has kind of lost its national independence and has been forced to live in a foreign culture of Babylon. Daniel at this point is likely in his 70s and he's been in exile in Babylon for decades, but he's lived faithfully. In his older age he's seen many kings come and go, but he's been faithful. He's seen God work miracles on his behalf.
Speaker 2:This dream that Daniel receives chronologically is out of order within the book. So this actually happens during the reign of Belshazzar, which was in chapter five. In his dream, daniel sees these four beasts, as we read, that represent a kingdom In scripture. When the beasts come out of the sea, the sea represents disorder, danger, rebellion and chaos against God. Scholars agree that these kingdoms each represent a specific kingdom at a point in period in time. So the lion with the eagle's wings is thought to represent Babylon, because the lion was Babylon's national symbol, often carved into their gates, and it's a picture of the empire's speed and pride under Nebuchadnezzar. And if you'll remember when we read Nebuchadnezzar, was humbled a few chapters prior and made to be like a bird. The bear that was raised on one side with three ribs in its mouth was believed to be the Persian empire, powerful and devouring. The bear that was raised up on one side kind of showed the imbalance of the Persians and the Medes. The leopard is thought to be Greece. It's four wings, symbolizing Alexander the Great's conquest. The fourth beast, unlike any other animal Daniel knew, is thought to be Rome. Rome had unmatched military power and it crushed and consumed everything in its path.
Speaker 2:So if we're watching chapter seven as a movie, it break down into three scenes. So the first scene Daniel has a dream and sees the four beasts. The second scene we shift and we were moved into a heavenly throne room of God where we see the ancient of days, which is a beautiful name for God. He's sitting on the throne and he's giving an eternal judgment, and then he gives authority to one that's going to come and he says it's one like a son of man whose reign will never end. Scene three would be the angel interpreting the dream for Daniel, where Daniel's told that the kingdoms will wage war against God and God's people, but only for a time where, ultimately, the kingdom will be given to the saints to share forever.
Speaker 2:So the main idea I'm going to lay my cards out on the table If you don't hear anything else that I say for the rest of the day is that corrupt kingdoms don't last, but God's perfect kingdom never ends. I'll say it one more time Corrupt kingdoms don't last, but God's perfect kingdom never ends. So what I want us to see is that this isn't just a fact for us or an idea for us to just store or hide away. You and I, we're living in Babylon right now. We are living in exile in a world that is filled with corruption and as we wait for Jesus's return, how can you and I remain faithful like Daniel in Babylon, babylon? So my goal is to show us how we can begin to shift our perspectives and allow our hearts to transform, to change and take place. When we realize and internalize this truth, when we understand that the kingdoms of this world are under God's control and will only be in authority for a short period of time, we can be as faithful as Daniel. So today we'll unpack three things how corrupt kingdoms can seem supreme, how God's kingdom is supreme and how, through Jesus, we inherit God's supreme and eternal kingdom. All right, this brings me to point number one. So this is a paraphrase okay, paraphrase, not the Bible. This is, as Dell would say, the new Dell translation. This is the new Isaiah translation.
Speaker 2:So Daniel dreams of a stormy sea, restless, chaotic and dangerous. But it's not random. He says the four winds of heaven stirred the sea up. In other words, god is behind the storm. He's sovereign over the chaos that gives rise to the kingdoms of man. First Babylon arises, a lion with eagle's wings, fierce and proud, but Daniel watches as its wings are torn off and it's made to look like a human. Given a human mind, even Babylon can be humbled by God.
Speaker 2:Then comes Persia. This is a bear, raised up on one side, with ribs in its teeth. It devours flesh. Persia rules with brute force, but only God had let it rise. Next we see Greece, quick as a leopard, with four wings and four heads. Authority was given to it, alexander the Great. He dominated the world in record time, I believe by the time he was 30. But the authority that he had was given. It wasn't earned and it belongs to God.
Speaker 2:Finally, we see Rome so dreadful Daniel can't compare it to any other animal. It had iron teeth, bronze claws and it crushed and trampled. Ten horns crown it and a smaller horn rises, boasting arrogantly as though it ruled the world. I can think of a lot of leaders who boast arrogantly when they come to power. Each kingdom looks supreme in its moment, but from the very start, we see, even the mightiest is humbled by God and all of them only exist because God allows it. See, these beasts are brutal, but they're still just beasts under God's sovereign hand. And as the vision unfolds, we'll see how. They all have one thing in common their rule ends.
Speaker 2:It's true that history often repeats itself. In the last hundred years we've seen plenty of beastly rulers. Right Hitler, he convinced a large portion of Germany that he'd reign for a thousand years he controlled armies and propaganda and the lives of millions. People lived in terror, yet his empire collapsed after 12 years. Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with fear. For decades. He made himself out to be like the modern-day Nebuchadnezzar man Modern-day Nebuchadnezzar, that's a tongue twister, but in the moment his power was stripped away and he went from palaces to hiding in a hole in the ground.
Speaker 2:The point of all these kingdoms was power and control through fear and anxiety. The pattern is always the same Human kingdoms rise like beasts, we see in Daniel, but no matter how supreme they seem, god decides their limits. I think as Christians we can become too focused and overwhelmed with our current circumstances. The world is guaranteed to throw things in our path that aren't always fair or always right. The Bible tells us that this is bound to happen. Kingdoms without God always turn beastly. Power and authority outside of God always ends up corrupt. So we shouldn't be shocked when life feels unfair, when the bills don't line up, when the sickness doesn't go away, when the weight of our burdens feel crushing. But here's what I think it does reveal for us. It's often our anxiety is tied into places, tied into the wrong kingdoms. It always amazes me that God spoke these words thousands of years ago and they're still relevant today. It's, it's almost like he knows humans or something. Uh, jesus knew that corrupt kingdoms would would never cease to exist. There would always be this dichotomy that you and I can choose from, choose to believe in it's either the kingdoms and the systems of this world or the heavenly kingdom of God that'll last forever.
Speaker 2:Jesus himself warns us in Matthew 6. He says no one can serve two masters. You can't serve both God and money. He goes on to say don't worry about your life, what you'll eat or drink or what you'll wear. He says look at the birds your father feeds them. Look at the wildflower your father clothes them. Aren't you worth so much more? Jesus isn't saying that your needs don't matter. He's saying that your father already knows.
Speaker 2:See, worry for us exposes where our hope lies. Anxiety reveals which kingdom we're seeking. If our hope is in money, politics or comfort, we'll always be afraid of losing it. But if our hope is in God's kingdom, we can trust that he provides, he rules and he lasts forever. So exactly what are we supposed to do? Jesus says it plainly at the end, where he says seek first the kingdom of God.
Speaker 2:It plainly at the end where he says seek first the kingdom of God. In other words, lift your eyes away from the beast, from the bills, from the loneliness, the sickness, the anxieties that consume you and fix them on the throne that never moves. Broken systems, injustice and politics that fell us. They're guaranteed. They're going to happen. Political leaders and parties might growl and howl like their ultimate, but their power is temporary. Success and comfort can feel like victory. But Babylon looked majestic too before its wings were plucked off.
Speaker 2:And when the chaos of our world feels like a storm that won't stop, daniel reminds us that it was heaven's winds that was stirring up the sea. God is in control of even the storm. Yes, the beasts are real, but they're not final. They roar, but they're on a leash, which means no matter where you live, how much you have or what culture you come from, your hope is not in the kingdoms of this world, but in the God who rules them. All Beasts don't get the last word. Corrupt kingdoms may seem supreme and this brings us to my second point but God's kingdom is supreme.
Speaker 2:So now we're in scene two of our movie here. So while the beasts are still roaring, the sea is still churning. Suddenly the scene shifts. The chaos fades into the background and Daniel is standing in a courtroom unlike anything we've ever seen on earth. The throne is set in place, there are empty chairs, but these chairs are reserved as seats of judgment. They're ready for verdicts that will stand forever. And then he enters and takes a seat the ancient of days, god himself. His hair is white, his clothing shines brighter than snow. It's a picture of his holiness and his purity and his wisdom that know no end. His throne isn't made up of wool or stone. It's made up of fire, blazing and alive, unstoppable. The room isn't empty.
Speaker 2:Daniel continues to illustrate his dream and he tells us that there is 10,000 times 10,000 that fill it. It's a sea of angelic attendance witnessing the courts of heaven and not feel it. It's a sea of angelic attendance witnessing the courts of heaven. Then the court is all to order. The books are open. The record of every deed, every word, every motive is read. No mistrials, no hung juries, no corruption.
Speaker 2:Each beast is judged accordingly. And in that moment you know the beasts were never in control. Daniel keeps watching and their arrogant little horn is boasting. But suddenly the fourth beast is killed, destroyed, thrown into the fire. All the other beasts lose their power and authority. Friends, human kingdoms rise and fall, but only one verdict stands.
Speaker 2:After the beasts have been sentenced, daniel sees something new Coming from the clouds of heaven, is one like a son of man. This is foreshadowing. I wonder who that could be. And unlike the beast that rise from the sea, this figure comes from heaven and he looks human. He looks familiar, he looks like us, he approaches the ancient of days and is escorted right before his throne. And to him the son of man is given all dominion and all glory. Every people, every nation, every language will serve him and, unlike the kingdoms of the beast, his dominion is everlasting. His kingdom will never pass away. It cannot be destroyed, friends. All human corruption will be judged and sentenced.
Speaker 2:Growing up, my mom had this saying. She would say what's done in the dark will come to the light, and what she meant was that I couldn't hide anything from her. She was human, so of course I did. But this truly applies to God. He sees everything. He sees our thoughts, our hearts, our actions. He sees us when nobody is around. We might think we can escape, but we can't.
Speaker 2:In Psalms 139, david asks where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to heavens, you're there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. David's point is you can't hide from God. He is everywhere. His hand is always on you.
Speaker 2:And if you recall from our series in Jonah, jonah tested that, didn't he? God called him to Nineveh and Jonah tried to run the other way. He tried to pay for his ship to escape God's call on his life. God sent a storm, the sailors panicked and threw him overboard. He ended up in the belly of a fish and he prayed to God there and he said from deep in the realm of the dead, I call for help, and you listen to my cry.
Speaker 2:Jonah proved what David already knew you can't outrun the reign of God, you can't flee from his presence. Even in the deepest waters, he is there. Even in the darkest kingdoms, his throne still rules, and that's exactly what Daniel 7 is trying to show us here. The beasts may howl and growl, their kingdoms may look unstoppable, but friends, corrupt kingdoms don't last, but God's perfect kingdom never ends. The ancient of days is still on the throne and his dominion reaches everywhere, and so this is good news for those that belong to him, and it's bad for those who want to rule on their own. You're either in or you're out. You're with him or you're against him. There's no half commitment, half following God, and for those that choose to commit and follow him, what a great joy and a privilege it is for us that we can be called son or daughter by the one who created all things and sees all things and knows all things. He knows you that you sinned this morning and he still loves you and still calls you his. He knows what I did last week, he knows what we all did last week and he still loves us.
Speaker 2:Do you guys know who Bernie Madoff was? Has anyone heard of Bernie Madoff before? Bernie was one of the most powerful men on Wall Street. At one time. He had a net worth of $65 billion. He was the chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange. He was trusted by CEOs and politicians. Bernie lived like a king, as you can imagine with anyone who has $65 billion. He had penthouses, yachts. He had unlimited money at his fingertips. People thought he was untouchable. He thought he was untouchable until the curtain was pulled back and we found out that he was running the largest Ponzi scheme in history. His entire fortune was stolen from investors that trusted him. For years it seemed like he could get away with it, but in 2008, the truth came out. He was arrested, tried and was sentenced to 150 years in prison. The man who once ruled finance died behind bars in 2021. Not a king, not untouchable, just another man stripped of his power.
Speaker 2:It's a glimpse of Daniel 7, where the courts were convened and the books were opened, madoff's empire fell. And if that can happen in an earthly courtroom, how much more can it happen in God's? Happen in an earthly courtroom? How much more can it happen in God's? Every kingdom that seems supreme, every arrogant ruler, every beast, all one day will stand before the ancient of days. Friends, only one kingdom lasts forever.
Speaker 2:Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones says history from the standpoint of earth is what newspapers record beasts rising and falling, empires climbing and crashing. But Daniel shows us behind the scenes. History moves differently. There is a divine courtroom, the beasts are on a leash and the eternal kingdom of the son of man prevails. The chaos that we see around us is not ultimate. It will not last forever.
Speaker 2:There is a judge, there is a throne, there is a king above every landlord, every gang leader, every government, every disease, every addiction, every dollar, every abusive spouse and every job of heaven has already been called into session. That means, for those that are struggling and wondering if God sees you yes, he sees. For those that are sick and feel forgotten God has not forgotten you. For those that are battling the demons of addiction. Your fight matters to the judge who rules over every beast.
Speaker 2:God's kingdom isn't just coming later it's coming and it's here. Right now, when we worship together, when we pray together, when we love our neighbors, when we forgive the person that wronged us, we're tasting the reign of Jesus today. That means that there's reasons to rejoice right now. The beasts don't own your joy. The ancient of days does All. Right, I'm quick, so this brings me to my third point. Through Jesus, we belong to his supreme and eternal kingdom. I don't know how Del does this. All the time I hear my baby crying. I hear my wife laughing. I'm trying to keep it here. My baby crying and my wife laughing. I'm trying to keep it here.
Speaker 2:Daniel was troubled by his vision that he saw, and an angel explained it for him. The four beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth, but in the end, the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom forever. Daniel acts especially about the fourth beast, the one who was more terrifying than the rest, with iron teeth and ten horns, and about the little horn that rose up, boasting arrogantly, waging war against God's people. The angel said the fourth beast is a kingdom that will devour the earth. The ten horns are ten kings and another one will rise after them, overthrowing three. The ten horns are ten kings, and another one will rise after them, overthrowing three. He will speak against the Most High, oppress his people and try to change, set times and laws. God's people will be handed over for a time, but then the court will sit, his power will be taken away and destroyed forever, and the kingdom and authority under heaven will be given to the holy people of the most high. The vision ended and Daniel was left shaken and pale, and he kept it to himself.
Speaker 2:I don't know about you, so again, that was a paraphrase. Read the text. You read it together. Go back and read for yourself. But it's encouraging to me when I see that Daniel himself was shaken by all that he had saw, because for anyone this would be terrifying. It's a lot to take in. Daniel knows the Lord intimately, has been walking with the Lord for decades and still he's shaken. To me, as a younger believer, that's encouraging. There's something that's true about that the reality of evil is terrifying and so, like Daniel, we live in this tension.
Speaker 2:So it's okay if at times, you have fear about what's to come or you tremble, but what matters is that you cling to the hope of the coming kingdom. Bravery, after all, doesn't mean that you're not afraid. It means that despite your fear, you still try to persevere. Beasts themselves, they don't die quietly. They rage, they fight, they make war, especially against those that call themselves the saints. Some of you might be feeling that right now, but the angel tells Daniel in the end the saints will receive the kingdom. That's a promise, and here's the gospel in that. Jesus is the son of man. Daniel saw, and by his death and resurrection he secured the kingdom and opened the door for you and me to enter. This isn't just a future ticket to heaven, this is belonging right now. If you are in Christ, you're not defined by poverty. You're not defined by addiction or sickness. You're not defined by your comfort or your success either. You belong to Jesus and because you belong to him, his victory is already yours. His peace is already yours. Because of Jesus, the son of man, you belong to the eternal kingdom of God.
Speaker 2:Dr Brian Chappell points to a painting painted by Michelangelo. It's called the Supper at Emmaus, painted in 1601. It shows the moment from Luke 24, when the risen Jesus sat at a table with his disciples, who didn't recognize who he was. They were sitting with Jesus, who had been crucified three days prior and for a while he had been explaining the scriptures to them. He had explained that the Old Testament was all about him and how it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer. But it wasn't until he broke bread at the table when their eyes were opened and they finally saw Jesus for who he was. They recognized who Jesus was In the painting. When they realize the disciples aren't just sitting back, they're leaping out of their chairs. Their eyes are wide open, their muscles are tight, they're filled with sudden hope. Out of their chairs, their eyes are wide open, their muscles are tight, they're filled with sudden hope. In that instant they realized that all of history had led to this moment and they were a part of it. The men who were hopeless then now had hope. The ones who were discouraged now found courage. The ones who were trapped by fear suddenly saw the bigger picture. Christ is alive, the victory is his, and they were caught up in his plan. Friends, when we realize that Christ is king and we belong to him, it should make us leap for joy and live in boldness too. Where's Pastor Mark at? I need him here as I close in the lie and the witch and the wardrobe.
Speaker 2:The moment comes where Aslan confronts the witch. The witch's greatest weapon, it's her curse of death. One of the children, edmund, had betrayed his family and by the laws of Narnia, the witch had the right to take his life. But Aslan steps in and he offers himself in Edmund's place. The witch accepts, thinking that she's won. That night, she and her followers, they bind Aslan, they mock him, they shave his mane and they kill him on the stone table. Darkness seemed final, winter seemed permanent, but at dawn the stone table cracks and Aslan rises stronger than ever before. The curse is broken, the witch's power shatters and everywhere Aslan goes, the ice begins to melt and life bursts forward. And everywhere Aslan goes, the ice begins to melt and life bursts forward. In the same way, daniel 7 tells us that there's a king whose kingdom cannot be stopped. Jesus defeated the greatest enemy, sin and death itself, and now his reign melts away the icy grip of every corrupt kingdom.
Speaker 2:Daniel saw the beast kingdoms that looked incredible, invincible, powerful, devouring everything in its path. But he also saw the ancient of days, the judge of all the earth and the son of man who was given everlasting dominion. Centuries later, jesus took that very title for himself the son of man and at the cross. When it looked like the beast had finally won sin, satan and death seemed supreme as the son of man was struck down. But three days later, the tomb was empty, the beasts were dethroned, the curse was broken, the son of man took his rightful seat at the right hand of the ancient of days, crowned in glory and power. Rightful seat at the right hand of the ancient of days, crowned in glory and power.
Speaker 2:Here's the good news His kingdom isn't just eternal, it's invitational. You don't get in by defeating the beast yourself. You get in by trusting the king, who already has. Through Jesus, you are forgiven, you're set free and invited to share in his victory. Every other kingdom will crumble. So the invitation today is which kingdom will you belong to? The kingdoms of this world that seem supreme but fall, or the kingdom of God that remains forever? If you'd like to give your life to God today, there'll be a few people in the back that'll be willing to pray for you. With that, let me pray for us, god. We are so thankful that you're nothing like us, that you extend grace and mercy to a prideful and arrogant people who left to our own. We would want nothing to do with you. God, forgive us for chasing empty kingdoms, trusting in broken systems led by broken people. Help us to learn how to lean on you, lord. Life is so hard and I only hope us to depend on you. Help us, lord. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen, amen, amen.