Daniel’s prophetic vision of four future empires concludes with a transition from the fourth human empire, Rome, and its reconstitution using modern-day descendants, to the future installation of God’s kingdom on earth. Towards the end of the final human empire, a person known as the Little Horn, or Antichrist, will be permitted to draw upon demonic powers to unify, rule over, and ultimately trouble the entire globe. He will be allowed to blaspheme and defy the very goodness of God, misleading many, but only for a season. After three and a half years, a heavenly court will convene to rule against him. Presided over by God the Father, the Ancient of Days, this court will put a permanent end to all the powers of evil on the earth, and a glorious new era of peace led by Jesus Christ will begin.
9 “While I was watching,
thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His garment was as white as snow,
and the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was ablaze with flames,
its wheels a burning fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him.
Thousands of thousands attended Him
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened. Daniel 7:9-10 (TLV)
Daniel’s vision continues to tell of the final days when ten world leaders, corresponding to the ten toes of iron and clay in the Daniel 2 vision of the statue, will align to rule the world. A little horn, the Antichrist, will then rise up to overthrow three of these leaders and assume global power and domination. He will especially attack the “kedoshim of the Most High”, Hebrew for the believers who have chosen to follow and worship God.
23 “Thus he explained: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, and trample it and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise. Another will arise after them, but he will be different from the previous ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High, and will continually harass the kedoshim of the Most High, and will try to change the appointed times and law. The kedoshim will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. 26 But the court will sit and he will be stripped of his power to be destroyed and abolished for all time. 27 Then the kingdom, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven will be given to the people of the kedoshim of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’ Daniel 7:23-27 (TLV)
Like the pains of childbirth, this final demonic push to destroy the human race, will lead to a new birth, the eternal kingdom of God on earth. This is the fifth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the stone cut out, not by human hands, but by the hands of God:
34 While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from summer threshing-floors that the wind blows away. Not a trace of them could be found. Then the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:34-35 (TLV)
In a parallel passage from the New Testament book of Revelation, God’s people will rejoice and praise Him as the new, divine eternal kingdom is installed.
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
For You created all things,
and because of Your will
they existed and were created!” Revelation 4:11 (TLV)
The kingdom of God was preached by Jesus Christ, or Yeshua in Hebrew, when He came to earth the first time. Jesus’ authority was attested to by countless miraculous healings and widespread freeing from spiritual bondage. Jesus also provided the way for us to join Him eternally – a complete forgiveness of our sins through faith in Him, His sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.
The New Testament book of Hebrews also attests to Jesus’ global authority and splendor.
7 For a little while, You made him
lower than the angels.
You crowned him with glory and honor.
8 You put all things in subjection
underneath his feet.”
For when He put all things in subjection to him, He left nothing outside his control. But for now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we see One who was made for a little while lower than the angels—namely, Yeshua. He is now crowned with glory and honor, because of the death He suffered so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:7-9 (TLV)
When Jesus returns to earth a second time, He will rule and reign over this wonderful new kingdom. Having completed His first mission on earth, His kingship and glory have been firmly established by the heavenly court of Almighty God. Let us join with Jesus in faith, and be there with Him through Jesus’ own righteousness, which has been freely bestowed upon all believers.
Reflection
Jesus loves each one of us, and cares about even the smallest detail in our lives. May He help us to surrender our worries and shortcomings to Him, receive His comfort, and share this same love with those He has placed around us.
Lord Jesus, we surrender to You today. Forgive us for all of our sins and shortcomings, and help us to make amends to others for our failures and poor decisions that have impacted them. We choose to follow You and to walk in Your light, by faith. Bring us with You as You rule over God’s eternal kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 