WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandProquay.org. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:24.000 Father, when we sing great songs like that, we're reminding ourselves that this doesn't depend on us. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:29.039 It didn't start with us, it won't go forward because of us, and it never depended on us. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:30.640 It depends on you. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.359 The Bible says that Hugh began a good work in you. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:35.759 We'll continue it to the day of Christ Jesus. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:41.600 If this is just our idea, it'll get as far as we have energy for, which is about three days. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:50.000 But because God began this good work in us, we come to faith because of God, reveals himself to us, draws us to him. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.280 Despite all the circumstances that challenge our conversion, you see to it that it happens. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:01:07.359 So, Holy Spirit, God, teach us today from your word and by your spirit, enlighten and illumin, illuminate, bring light to bear on the truth so we can speak truth to people tomorrow. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:09.920 Not condemnation, not guilt, not shame. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:11.359 There's enough of that in the world. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.799 But we want to speak truth because the truth is what sets us free. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.640 And so it gives us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:21.040 So help us, God, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:22.879 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:23.359 Amen. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:24.079 You could have a seat. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.920 If you've got a Bible, I invite you to take it and open it up to Daniel chapter 7. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.400 If you're our guest, we've preached through books of the Bible here. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.719 We're preaching through the Old Testament book of Daniel right now. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:33.599 We're in chapter 7. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:35.280 I'll start reading verse 15. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:39.120 Uh, and if you're joining us online, I want to encourage you to grab your Bible. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:48.560 Whether you're Cheryl up in Minnesota, or you're my golf buddy in North Carolina, or you're our friends out in Montana that watch our podcast, uh, you're welcome to grab a Bible and dig in. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:53.599 If you're one of our people that's not yet comfortable worshiping in person, want you to know that we've not forgotten about you. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.719 You are an integral, vital part of our congregation. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:57.519 We love you. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:02.239 We're praying for you, uh, and we look forward to welcoming you back when you're comfortable to worship in person. 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:07.359 In the meantime, get your Bible, open it up, and I want to talk to you this morning about the power of perspective. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:08.800 The power of perspective. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.960 Or if you don't like that title, here's another one. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:13.280 And it's this How do you believe the world will end? 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:15.199 How do you believe the world will end? 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:19.599 Because we have a lot of people nowadays, they're a little dysregulated, they're a little concerned about things. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:29.039 And when I'm in a grocery store or a restaurant, if people find out I'm a preacher or people know that I'm a preacher, like I was in Rudy's other day, and the guy was serving me, he went, You're a you're a pastor, aren't you? 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.199 And I was like, Yeah, why? 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.719 He goes, Because I've been to your church before. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:34.240 I said, Oh, well, thanks for coming. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:35.759 He goes, Yeah, I enjoyed it. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:41.280 Uh uh, and so when I say the power of perspective, what I mean is this perspective doesn't mean we sit around and do nothing. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:46.080 It does mean that we live lives that convey to everyone around us that we trust somebody. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:51.439 Perspective is not uh fatalism, uh this passive sense of fatalism. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.919 Uh, but no, it is that we see the world through a different lens because of our faith. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:09.120 And what we see in Daniel chapter 7, like if you have an iPhone and you picked up your pulled up your camera, you could take photo, you could, you could, you, you, you could kind of enhance the photo, but also they have a little button on there, a little thing you can push for a panoramic photo. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:19.360 A panoramic is a picture that takes kind of a sweep and you kind of hold the camera and it just kind of takes a big, wide, uh, all I mean long, skinny view of everything. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.360 Daniel chapter 7 is the the ultimate in panoramic pictures. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:27.439 It is the guy named Daniel has a dream, and in the dream, catch this, okay? 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:31.919 Because he's basically gonna say, I kind of freaked out when I woke up from this dream. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:39.599 In the dream, God reveals to Daniel everything from the time he's living right now to all the way to the end of the world. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:41.599 Talk about pressure, okay? 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:44.479 And so it's this ultimate panoramic view of everything. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:48.319 So if you're a guest today and you're kind of like, Are you gonna tell me how the world's gonna end? 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:48.879 Not at all. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:57.840 God stopped me in a restaurant the other day, some news show was on the little waiting area on the TV, and it was, you know, gloom and doom and stock markets down and blah, blah, blah. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.240 And he goes, Hey, preacher, is the world ending? 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.520 And I said, No, not yet. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:02.639 And he goes, What do you mean? 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:04.719 I said, Oh, it's gonna get much worse. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:06.639 And he said, What do you mean? 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:16.240 And I said, The Bible says it's gonna get so bad that people are gonna ask the rocks to fall on them and kill them, and God's not gonna let it happen because they're gonna be punished for their di for their unbelief. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:20.480 And so it's gonna get a lot worse before this all ends, but it is going to end. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:24.639 And about that time the hostess said, on that happy note, I got your table ready. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:33.279 And we walked over there, we sat down, and I said, I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, I'm just trying to be honest because we're prepared for everything except what is coming. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.639 And she's like, uh, I don't want to think about that. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:40.079 I said, Yeah, you don't have to live in fear of it, but also don't live in ignorance. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.480 See, here's my concern about us as a culture. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:46.399 What we lack in knowledge, we try to make up for in authenticity. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:47.920 I'm just keeping it real. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:48.639 I'm just being off. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:49.600 No, no, no. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:50.879 You you you you can know. 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:53.839 So there's this panoramic that gives us a power of perspective. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.279 I want to start reading in Daniel chapter 7, verse 15. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:03.439 Daniel says, As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:07.360 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all of this. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.800 So he told me and he made known to me the interpretation of the things. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.560 These four great beasts are four kings who shall rise out of the earth. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.800 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:39.199 And then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, which devoured and broken pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, and before which three of them fell. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:55.920 The horn that had eyes and a mouth, and spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions, as I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:07.199 Thus he said, As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the other kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down and break it in pieces. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:12.959 As for the ten horns, out of the kingdom, ten kings shall rise arise, and another shall arise after them. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:16.879 He shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:29.920 He shall speak words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and shall think no and shall think to change the times and the law, and they shall be given into his hands for a time, times, and a half a time. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:35.759 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:42.720 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:48.240 His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.920 Here is the end of the matter. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:56.480 As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.439 Which that last part is what I find really fascinating. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:01.839 He says, This was a little disturbing. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.959 My color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.000 Can you imagine having a dream like this and keeping it all to yourself? 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.040 I mean, your wife wakes up and you're screaming and sweating. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.600 You sweated through your pajamas and she goes, Everything okay? 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:14.480 And you're like, I'm good. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:15.600 Is the coffee ready? 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.480 This is what happens in Daniel chapter 7. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:23.519 I mean, he says right there in verse 28, hey, this this my thoughts greatly alarmed me. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.639 My color changed. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:29.839 I was ashen white, basically, but I kept the matter in my heart, which is what he did. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.879 Because God reveals things to people that he can entrust with that. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.639 Now, let me acknowledge something. 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:38.240 This is one of those parts of the Bible, it's called apocalyptic literature. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:41.279 It's kind of telling you about the future, and it can sound crazy. 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:44.480 It's kind of like, see, I don't understand things when I go to church. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:45.199 Just relax. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:46.319 It's my responsibility. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.120 And I'm gonna go back and explain to you what we just read. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:50.319 It's like eating an orange. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:52.319 You peel it and then you section it out. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.879 There's like four sections of what happens here. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:08:00.879 And then I give you three things to take away to say, hey, this is what this should mean to us in 2021, okay? 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.199 The power of perspective, four things that we see. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:04.879 Number one, we see concern. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.000 When we see concern, it's in verse 13, verse 15. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.560 Look at it. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:14.959 As for me, Daniel, uh, with my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.639 Understatement of the year, okay? 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:17.839 Let me ask you a question. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:26.639 If you looked over the past year, global pandemic, political unrest, very volatile election, people storming the Capitol, people looting and burning this summer. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:31.120 If any point this over the past 12 months, you've gotten a little concerned about our country. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.240 Say amen. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.399 Yeah, now the reason I say that is because some people are like, man, I'm kind of concerned. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:37.440 Should I have more faith? 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.480 No, I think because you have faith, you are concerned. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.240 Now, that doesn't mean we're fearful. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:48.320 When I say concern, well, let me just say this: our concern has to be tempered, tempered with perspective. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:51.679 Otherwise, we misrepresent ourselves and the gospel. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:58.159 So if you're here today and you're concerned or you're watching at home and you're concerned, uh, don't beat yourself up and think, man, if I had more faith. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.480 No, no, it's people of faith that we should see things more clearly than anybody around us. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.919 And so we carry just a little bit of this weight of concern. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:13.600 Don't let that weight of concern, though, kind of dip down into depression or hopelessness, because then we lose sight of the gospel, all right? 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:18.240 And so what we see, first of all, is concern in the Bible and in us. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.960 Second thing I want to point to is what I call clarity. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:21.679 Clarity. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.519 It's verse 19 to 22. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.879 He says, and I desire to know the truth about the fourth beast. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.559 Now, if you're if you're just jumping in today, you're kind of like, what is he talking about? 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.519 Well, in the first part, a couple weeks ago, there was a guy here named Brent. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.360 He wore these hip hugger skinny jeans. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.879 Did you notice those things he was wearing? 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:38.799 I was like, dude, are those women's pants? 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:39.759 Where'd you get those? 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.519 Uh but he he doesn't care. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.039 By the way, he's our new teaching pastor. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.639 We hired him, and this past week they bought a home in Pecan Grove. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:54.559 So if you live in Pecan Grove, uh, again, and the plan is they're trying to get here by March the 1st, and they got to finish things up in Florida and get here, they're very excited. 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.240 He said, We got a house with a pool. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.080 I'm like, we ain't paying you that much, bro. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:00.559 Uh, you must have some equity on that last house. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.840 But anyway, I digress. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:05.519 Uh, and so they got a beautiful home in Pecan Grove, and we're excited about that. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:13.600 But he said, Hey, I took the first part of the chapter, I left you the hard part with the 10 horns and the one horn and the time and times and a half time. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.519 I said, Yeah, I'll get you for that. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.200 Okay, well, it's fine. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:28.960 But the Bible speaks in apocalyptic literature in a way it because it wants to kind of not just to capture our imagination, but harness our attention and say, hey, do not miss this. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:35.039 But in the first, the reason I bring up Brent is because in the first part of the chapter, uh, he explains the dream that Daniel had. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:43.200 Now, back in chapter two, he had a vision of this statue made out of these different kinds of precious metals, representing the four kingdoms that were going to conquer the earth. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:47.840 They're Babylon, they're Greece, the Medes and Persians, and then the Romans. 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:49.679 In that order, I believe I got the order right. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:56.720 Now, in this in chapter 7, which this happened back at the same time as chapter 2 is written, uh, in this chapter, it's not a statue. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:00.320 It's it's these kingdoms uh are symbolized by beasts. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:03.759 One of them is like a leopard that has wings, it's all this animated stuff. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.360 So he talks about beasts. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.559 That's what he's talking about. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:18.879 And he says right there in verse 19 that I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with his teeth of iron, its claws of bronze, which devoured and broke in pieces, and all this stuff. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.519 Daniel asks an angel to explain these things to him. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:23.600 He goes, Hey, bro, what is up with this? 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:26.399 This is what he's talking about up there in about verse 16. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:30.799 He said, I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all of this. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:34.960 Can you imagine having an angel explaining to you the future of the world? 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.679 This is what happens here. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:41.600 And Daniel's just asking him, said, Hey, can you kind of clarify what I'm seeing here? 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:48.799 Now, this is two things that should mark the life of a Christian: concern, not fear, but concern and clarity. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:49.919 Okay? 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:55.120 Now, here's the third thing we see, and this is where I want to kind of put the shovel in the ground and dig a little bit. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.320 It's severity. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:58.639 Severity starts in verse 23. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:04.559 And because then the angel kind of really sharpens the focus and says, Let me tell you what all is going to happen. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:10.159 He says, As for the fourth beast, this fourth kingdom that's gonna rule the earth, talking about the Roman Empire. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:20.000 He says, As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down and break it in pieces. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:25.840 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.840 He shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:42.720 He shall speak words against the most high, he shall wear out the saints of the most high, and shall think to change the times and the law, and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:48.799 Now, when I talk about severity, let me just back up and say, let me just establish this as a baseline understanding. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:54.000 When what you see, these four kingdoms or these beasts, this is the manifestation of evil, okay? 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:59.279 When I say evil, evil is not some cosmic force out there that just exists like the boogeyman. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:04.720 Evil exists because of sin, and none of us has escaped the reality of sin. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.080 Let me say that again. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:19.200 This is the manifestation of evil, not just as a uh of an individual, but but but of a group of individuals, okay, who are ruled by sin, who get together and say, you know what, we're we're going to agree to do this. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:22.320 And when you get people, you see it all over the history of humanity. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:27.759 Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, people are capable of this incredible evil. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:28.240 Why? 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.840 Because they're ruled by sin. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:36.399 Now, by the way, everybody, let before we get all self-righteous and point the finger at those people and go, yeah, those are bad people. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.159 You and I were born just as sinful as all those people I just mentioned. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.360 Did you know that? 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.080 12 of you. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.879 The rest of you are like, I am not that bad. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:54.000 The Bible talks about it's universal guilt or human depravity, is another phrase you may hear for it, but it talks about a lot of different places. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.240 Here's one in the book of Romans, chapter three. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.639 I'll start reading in verse nine, it'll come up on the screen. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:00.799 Listen to what the Bible says about everybody. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.080 He says, What then? 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.399 Are we Jews any better off? 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.600 No, not at all. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.159 For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks are under sin. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.279 Jews were religious people, Greeks were very smart people. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:17.679 They prided themselves on their intellect, logic, reason, philosophy. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:23.600 And so this guy named Paul, that's recording the book of Romans, he says, Hey, we Jews, we religious people, okay? 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:27.039 And these smart people, we're all under sin, okay? 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.159 As it is written, none is righteous, no, not one. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:32.720 No one understands, no one seeks for God. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:36.000 All have turned aside together, they have become worthless. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.240 No one does good, not even one. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.240 Their throat is an open grave. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.919 They use their tongues to deceive. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.559 The venom of asp is under their lips. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.480 Have you been on Facebook lately? 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:52.080 Because I know sometimes it's possible to read the Bible and go, what is that talking about? 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.320 The people just torch each other. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.519 This is what it's talking about. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:15:00.159 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness, their feet are swift to shed blood. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:04.559 In their path are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.799 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:16.639 Now we know that whatever the law sp law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.919 Hear that again. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:24.799 Basically, what he's saying is the Bible builds a case against all of us because we're all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:33.360 He says, Where the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.000 Why? 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.600 For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.919 In other words, by trying to do more good than bad, that's works of the law. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.639 No one will be justified in God's sight. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:47.600 Since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.279 Now hear that last phrase again. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:51.600 Since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:56.559 It's the reason every time you see a policeman when you're driving, you get off the gas and hit the brake instinctively. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.840 Because since through the law, the first thing you do is, am I sinning? 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.799 Am I speeding? 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.519 Oh, I'm good. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:04.559 And then you're kind of you're kind of like, Whew, all right. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.519 Thank you. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.519 Got a little tense there for a minute. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.159 Why? 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:10.960 Because through through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.240 Now you say, what's this got to do with the uh of severity? 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.440 Let me get there, okay? 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:23.840 Uh this is talking about when he talks about, I mean, Romans 3 is talking about individuals and how we all build a case so we're all under sin. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:29.679 Now just imagine what happens when a bunch of sinners get together and combine their efforts into corporate rebellion. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.799 You know what happens? 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:33.679 The price of GameStop goes through the roof. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.159 Yes, yes. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:44.960 I thought it was hilarious when a bunch of guys on Reddit stuck it to hedge fund people and the hedge fund people wouldn't cry, oh, this isn't fair, they're doing what we do. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.840 Yeah. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.519 Isn't that awesome? 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.919 The little man getting over on you. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.679 And then guess what? 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:55.919 Sinners banded together and said, you know what? 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.000 You heard this phrase big tech? 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.360 We're talking about big tech, like big tech is this force out there. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:05.920 There's evil and and the truth fairy and big tech. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:17.119 No, big tech is just a phrase they use on whatever show you, on whatever news channel you watch, uh just to describe the manifestation of sin that permeates our culture. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:23.359 Jack Dorsey, the pot-smoking guy that started Twitter, who's a gazillionaire, he's just a sinner. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:27.680 And I'm not mad at the guy, it's just like, oh, he's gonna get us and take us off Twitter. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.319 So what? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.720 Most people on there have nothing to say anyway. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:35.599 You all act like, oh, if I get kicked off social media, it might be mercy. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:41.519 Take a box of puppies to a nursing home, do something positive in your life before you die. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.640 Stop just weighing in your opinion on everything. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.440 Why? 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.039 Because no one cares. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:50.079 Except you and your grandkids, but I digress. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:18:01.200 Here, just imagine what happens when a bunch of sinners get together, they combine their efforts into corporate rebellion or political movements, which they have the power to make decisions. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:06.160 See, this is when evil begins to manifest. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:14.160 Evil is not this cosmic force, it's a bunch of people who are ruled by sin, and they all get together and say, Let's do this. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.079 I love what Tremper Longwin says. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:24.000 He says individual sinners are harmful, sometimes deeply, but sinners bound together behind a group cause can cause great devastation. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:36.480 Nationalism, racism, sexism, denominationalism, factionalism, great evil can arise when sinners come together with a common purpose against someone outside the group, the other. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.720 We can depersonalize the other. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.240 They aren't quite human. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:44.880 And so to harm the other is not quite the same as hurting one of our own. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:51.119 This is why when you turn on the TV, you see people that want to pass laws that make it illegal to disagree with them. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.000 I'm going to prison any day now. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:58.640 I mean, because I don't want to turn on the TV, I'm just like, these people are allowed to talk? 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.319 Are you kidding me? 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.240 This is the most vapid opinion on anything. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:09.200 By the way, evil can never make enough glue to keep itself together. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.960 This is why evil by nature implodes upon itself. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:17.440 And all these kings and kingdoms that have pranced across the stage of history. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.519 Hitler ended his life in a bunker by committing suicide. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:25.039 Because evil can never make enough glue to keep itself together. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.359 Now, when I talk about severity, what do I mean? 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.640 It's what I said in the restaurant. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:34.079 Oh, yeah, the world is ending, but not anytime soon, because it's not near as bad as it's going to be, okay? 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:37.440 Now, I'm not saying, oh, it's gonna get bad tomorrow. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.559 Uh no, I think in the West we have a lot of religious liberty, a lot of religious freedom we take for granted. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:46.799 Other countries presently experience persecution that we don't. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.319 That doesn't mean that we're not going to. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:53.839 Matter of fact, uh, there's a couple things I want to point to in verses 23, 24, and verse 25. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:20:02.640 And the first one is this when he says in verse 23, as for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the other kingdoms, shall devour the whole thing. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.759 He's talking about Rome. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.599 Now, now, what's the big deal there? 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:10.960 The fourth kingdom is the last kingdom before the kingdom of God replaces all human kingdoms. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.759 You're like, wait a minute, man, you said kingdom a lot. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.480 I lost you. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.119 Hang on. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:20.640 The fourth kingdom is the last kingdom before the kingdom of God replaces all kingdoms. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.839 Now let me explain that to you. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:28.559 When Jesus comes on the scene, he's born, okay, in the gospels and he and he grows up and he has an earthly ministry. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:30.559 Who is ruling the earth at that time? 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.640 What country ruled the earth? 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.440 Rome. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.480 That's exactly right. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.039 Rome. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:41.680 And so the kingdom of God was inaugurated when Jesus was born, and when Jesus comes, it'll be consummated when he comes again. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:47.599 And so it started when Jesus first is incarnated, first comes to the earth. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:57.519 And so when I say the fourth kingdom is the last kingdom, before the kingdom of God replaces all kingdoms, it's inaugurated by Jesus when he comes, and it'll be consummated when he comes again. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.200 So he's talking about this fourth kingdom. 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.400 This is what he's talking about. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.079 Here's the second thing I want you to understand. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.839 Look at the next verse, verse 24. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:09.200 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.720 Here, verse 24 again. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:14.400 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom, ten kings shall arise. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:17.359 Now, a lot of preachers try to figure out who these ten kings are. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.240 Look at me. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.920 I have no idea. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:23.440 But I do know this in the Bible, 10 is the number of completion. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:30.559 And the Bible doesn't tell us, and here's who these ten people are, look for them to show up on your CNN live feed any day now. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.680 Uh no, no, no. 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:36.240 What the Bible is saying to us is that when all the kings, these out of this kingdom, ten kings will arise. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:38.480 In other words, it's the number of completion. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:47.839 When all the people that are going to rule the world or different parts of the world are being political power, uh, when they've kind of run their course, and they all do, they all do. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:48.640 Okay? 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:52.000 And so I just want to say 10 is the number of completion. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:57.279 So instead of trying to figure out who these people are, just realize that there's gonna come a day when they're gonna go away. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.880 And then the Bible says this. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:13.440 And another shall arise after them, and he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings, he shall speak words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and shall think to change the times and the law. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:20.400 And they, the people of God, shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and a halftime. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:24.079 Now, this is a reference to what you've heard this phrase before if you went to church. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.119 This is a reference to what's known as the Antichrist. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:30.319 The little horn is the leader of the earth's final kingdom. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:34.160 He's the person that the Apostle Paul refers to as the man of lawlessness. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:38.640 In 1 John chapter 2, the Apostle John refers to him as the Antichrist. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:47.839 He is the last ruler of the earth that's going to oppress the thing, the people of God, and it's going to speak blasphemies against the person of God. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:57.680 And so I remember back when I would visit church every once in a while, back in the 80s when I was a little kid, and it scared me to death because everyone's trying to figure out who the Antichrist was. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.000 And oh my gosh, when's the world going to end? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:08.400 The Bible says that there's a lot that has to transpire between now and then, but it does spell out, hey, this is how it's all going to go down. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.680 Now, here's the last thing I want to point to in the last part of verse 25. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.839 He says, They shall be given into his hand. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.119 Now you got to ask yourself, why would God allow that to happen? 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.400 Two reasons sin and purification. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:25.200 One of the reasons that we experience persecution is because of sin in our life. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:26.799 It's the way God gets our attention. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:30.400 But also, these people are going to ultimately receive the kingdom of God. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:32.480 And you cannot live in sin. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.119 Just consistently live in sin and experience everything God has for you. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:42.480 And so, God, this is the way God purifies his people and gets them ready to receive this kingdom. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:48.000 But I want you to know that next sentence, he says, for a time, times, and a half a time. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.960 Now, that you're like, well, what in the world? 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.079 What is he talking about? 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.960 It's very simple. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:57.039 In the Bible, time, that just the word time is not referring to time itself. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:59.680 He says, a time is a year. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.079 Times is two years. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:04.480 And a half a time is half a year. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:07.279 Add that together, you got three and a half years. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:14.799 If you've studied much of Bible prophecy, you realize there's going to be a seven-year period referred to as the Great Tribulation. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.240 It's the last half of that. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:20.079 The last three and a half years is when it really, really gets difficult. 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:25.599 And it's hard for me to communicate to a waitress in a restaurant or the guy I'm having lunch with, he's like, I think you scared her. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.279 You want to go back and kind of clarify? 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.039 And I'm like, hey, man, live your life. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.160 Don't live in fear. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:37.920 Again, be concerned, but have the perspective and the power of perspective that says, hey, by the way, God controls all of this. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:40.319 God is sovereignly in control of this. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:44.960 It's not like the world's just willy-nilly out of control and things are flying everywhere. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:48.640 Here's the last thing the Bible teaches us this morning: certainty. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.000 Certainty. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:52.160 Look at verse 26. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:56.960 But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:05.279 The Antichrist, his dominion, his power to influence people and things shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:08.240 Now he says in verse 26, but the court shall sit in judgment. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:09.599 What's he talking about? 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.200 Look over if you would. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.240 Same chapter. 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:14.720 Look at verse 9, chapter 7. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:20.319 He says, Daniel in this dream, he says, And I look, and thrones were placed in the ancient of days. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.559 This is God took his seat. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:26.559 His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:34.160 His throne was what was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire, and a stream of fire issued and came out from before him. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:38.960 A thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:43.039 The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:52.000 I looked in because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking, and as I looked, the beasts were killed, and its body destroyed, and given over to be burned with fire. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:57.680 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, and their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:00.720 So he says in verse 26, the courts are set in judgment. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:02.720 Here's one thing I want us to understand. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:09.200