REFORMED CHURCH, BELLVILLE: SUNDAY 17
FEBRUARY 2002: MORNING SERVICE
Our help is in the Name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Beloved, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, through the mighty working of God the Holy Spirit.
AMEN.
Psalm of praise: 47:4.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of
the Father before all the worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God
of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the
Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and
was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was
buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who
proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one
baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of
the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN
The Law : Ex. 20:1-17
Psalm 99:1,4.
Prayer
Psalm 93:1.
Scripture reading: Daniel 7
Text: Daniel 7:7,21-22
"...
and behold, there was a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and
extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed
and trampled down the remainder with its feet ..." (7)
"I kept looking, and that horn was
waging war with the saints and overpowering them, until the Ancient of
Days came and judgement was passed in favour of the saints of the
Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of
the kingdom." (21,22)
Daniel's vision represented the succession of various earthly kingdoms
preceding the second coming. The coming of the kingdom of God will
bring an end to all earthly dominions.
- The last times before the end of the history of the world will be
very difficult. These are times which we may yet experience in our
lives.
- But that is not the last word to be said about the matter. The
final word is that the Lord Almighty will bring an end to it and
transform everything so that we shall reign as kings with Christ
for all eternity.
Today we shall consider especially the following matters in this sermon:
1. The fourth beast: who is he?
2. The fourth beast: his activities.
3. The coming of the Lord.
4. Kingship is bestowed upon the
faithful.
1. The fourth beast: who is he?
In a dream Daniel saw the four winds of heaven burst forth, stirring up
the great sea into turmoil.
- This sea was not a specific sea, it was merely a very extensive
tract of water. A tremendous storm then tossed the waters with its
turbulence.
- The sea which was brought into such a commotion by the four winds
of the earth represents the turmoil and continual movement occurring
among the peoples of the earth.
A portion of the Bible which describes the situation clearly, is Isaiah
17:12-13:
Alas,
the uproar of many peoples
Who roar like the roaring of the seas,
And the rumbling of the nations
Who rush on like the rumbling of
mighty waters!
The nations rumble on like the
rumbling of many waters ...
(Compare also Jeremiah 46:7)
The image of many waters representing the peoples of the earth is also
found in the New Testament, e.g. in Revelation 17:15, where the
following is written:
"And
He said to me, `The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are
peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues...'"
Daniel saw various animals emerging from this turbulent sea.
- The fact that the creatures emerged from the sea, shows that they
were of mortal origin. They were neither gods nor omnipotent.
- The four creatures Daniel saw emerging represent four kingdoms or
kingly powers - powers arising from the chaos of the history of the
nations.
Let us consider especially the fourth beast. This fourth creature was a
strange monster.
- It was not given a name or typical description like the first
three creatures.
- All that is told about this creature is that its appearance was
dreadful and that it was extremely strong.
- It had iron teeth with which it devoured all that it came upon,
and had great feet with which it trampled everything it did not devour.
The Lord also allowed the apostle John to see this creature. Listen to
what he saw:
And
the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming
up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns
were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the
beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a
bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him
his power and his throne and great authority. (Rev. 13:1-2).
The fourth creature represents the empire in power when the Lord Jesus
appears on the clouds.
- The Bible depicts that empire as having complete dominion over
all the earth.
- Its expansion will be driven by a desire for conquest aimed
literally at dominion over everyone on earth.
- All people will then eventually be forcibly subjected to the rule
of this beast.
The beast seen by Daniel and John was different from the other three,
because it furthermore had ten horns. These horns were purely
ornamental, by which means he would emulate the fullness of God.
- He received all his power and authority exclusively from the
devil.
- The fact that he was called a beast, was to signify symbolically
that this ruler had the characteristics of an animal - so bad and base
had he sunk.
The empire of the fourth animal would at first have no single ruler.
- The ten horns on the head of the fourth beast represent ten
figures of power who would rule together over this empire.
- This empire would come into existence from political
relationships. The fact that these figures of power numbered ten,
symbolises their wish to act as though they had as much power as the
Lord.
A perfect government it will not be. The text conveys the fact that
these leaders will also experience internal tensions. A completely new
leader will come to power who will oust the other three. Thereby a new
situation will arise among the nations of the world. This is the empire
which the book of Revelation states will still be in power when the
Lord Jesus Christ comes (Rev. 13:5,6,7, 17; 2 Thessalonians 2:4,8; Rev.
19:20)
2. The fourth beast: his activities.
While Daniel was observing the beast, a little horn appeared among the
other horns. Three of the other horns were pulled out by the roots to
make room for it.
- This little horn engaged the dreamer's attention, for it was not
just an ordinary horn. It had eyes and a mouth like a man.
- From this description we can gather that in or behind this beast
there was a person uttering terrible things against the Lord and the
faithful.
When Daniel asked the angel what all this meant (verse 16ff), the angel
told him more about the fourth creature - especially with regard to the
little horn with the human eyes and the large mouth which blasphemed so
terribly - than was written in verse 8.
- He now said, for instance, that its claws were of bronze.
- He now, for the first time, revealed that the little horn which
had appeared would eventually grow larger than all the other horns.
That explains why three other horns had to be removed to make room for
this one.
- This new horn, which had in the beginning been so small, and
which had eyes and a mouth, represents the antichrist.
- In the anti-god empire, relentlessly hostile to God, which will
emerge in the last days, the antichrist will assume ultimate authority.
That is why the Bible states that he is different from the other rulers.
- The greatest difference between him and the others is that he,
above all, blasphemed against the Highest One.
- He made it his business to oppose God at every turn and to
attack the Lord wherever he could (cf. vs. 8,11,20,25).
- He wanted to assume God's place in the temple of God in heaven
and act as if he himself were God.
It was then also disclosed for the first time that this horn would wage
war against the saints and overpower them.
- Those times will not be easy, for other passages in the Bible
reveal that the tribulations of the saints in the last days will be
protracted and harsh.
- The saints who will undergo these tribulations are the same
people who will reign with the Son of Man after the judgement of the
world.
- The Lord Himself will plead their case in the coming judgement
and let them triumph in Jesus Christ.
- These tribulations will be unlike any that have been experienced
since the beginning (see: Mark 13).
- It is also mentioned of the antichrist that he will attempt to
make alterations in times and in the law.
- The word "times"
indicates that the antichrist will attempt to obtain control of the
entire course of world history.
- He wishes to assume the place of God (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and
seize control of world history from the hand of God and direct it
himself:
- "....who opposes and exalts
himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he
takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God"
(2 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB).
- The word "law" here
refers to literally all forms of laws: e.g. religious laws (the Law of
Moses) as well as all laws enacted by the secular governments of
countries.
- The antichrist will thus attempt to change all existing rules in
respect of culture, religious faith and the fundamental principles of
the society in which the Christian faith operates. He will make it
uniform for all people in accordance with his will.
The Lord reveals that the faithful will be given into the power of the
antichrist for some time.
- The Lord, however, has determined a specific period for this
tribulation: "...time, times and half a time".
- To us believers this means two things:
- In the first place, there is the consolation that the Lord
retricts the antichrist within a specified limit, so that he can do
nothing which the Lord does not permit him to do.
- But the second inmplication is not very comforting.
- It means that the antichrist will for a given period of time
rage with terrible harshness against Christians.
- That is followed by a new period of tribulation which will be
more protracted and bitter than the first. It will be a time in which
all forms of sorrow and pain will be doubled. It lets one
understand why the Lord Jesus said that the last days would be so
terrible that the Lord will shorten the days for the sake of the
faithful.
- Then there remains a third period. The Bible calls this "half a
time".
- This is also a time of tribulation and persecution, but it is
also the period in the course of which the turning-point is reached.
- The Lord puts an end to the raging of the enemy. The
antichrist therefore does not have sufficient time to carry out fully
the evil he has planned.
- His time is halved.
3. The coming of the Lord.
While Daniel was contemplating this vision, the scene changed before
his eyes.
- In his dream he saw preparations being made in heaven for a great
session of the court of judgement.
- In a throne chamber a number of thrones were arranged in
preparation for the session of judgement.
- In the middle of these, One, who has eternal life, the Ancient of
Days, took His seat.
- There is no indication of who sat on the other thrones.
The Lord appeared as the Eternal One. In closely translated Bibles He
is called "the Ancient of Days",
the literal translation.
- The image of age is to show reverence towards the Person, and
also to represent the tranquillity of God's majesty.
- It furthermore conveys that the Lord lives eternally: He does not
die.
- The majesty of the Lord was still further emphasized by the
presence of the angels before the throne of the Ancient of Days, the
Eternal One:
"Thousands
upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were
standing before Him (v.10).
In Daniel's vision the throne of the Ancient of Days, the Eternal One,
was ablaze with flames and rested upon wheels of burning fire. From the
throne a river of fire flowed out before Him. It is truly important
that we understand why the throne of the Lord in this vision is ablaze
with flames, because there are other passages in the Bible in which the
throne of the Lord is revealed as consisting of a variety of gemstones,
variously named in different translations. In others (Ezekiel
1:28, Rev. 4:3) it is even described as having a rainbow around it. In
Rev. 4:3 the rainbow is described as resembling an emerald in colour.
The reason is as follows:
- In the other descriptions, the emphasis falls on conveying
the peace and glory of the Lord's governance in the hereafter.
- In this description, the emphasis falls on the judicial power of
the dominion of the Lord in effecting judgement. Fire is the symbol of
justice and of judgement and of destruction (see Ezekiel 1:15-28)
The court session commenced immediately. The court was seated. The
books were opened. The Lord has many and different books. The whole
Bible is full of references to the books of the Lord.
- In Exodus 32:32-33 we read for the first time of the book of
life. We read of books containing the names of people and of books
containing the deeds of people:
"But
now, if You will, forgive their sin - and if not, please blot me out
from Your book which You have written!"
The Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has
sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book."
- The book of Revelation, in particular, mentions a number of the
Lord's books. Daniel's dream probably refers to the book of life (cf.
Psalm 69:29; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:12).
- The books were opened to check the names written it, so that
those whose names are omitted from it can be judged and sentenced
immediately by the Eternal One (cf. Isaiah 65:6; Malachi 3:6; Psalm
56:9).
The very first person on whom sentence was pronounced, was the fourth
beast: more precisely, the little horn who uttered blasphemous and
boastful things against the Eternal One and his saints.
- The Lord now reveals just how it will come about that the
antichrist is checked before fully executing his evil plans.
- The final judgement of the world will intervene in the course of
time, because the end judgement comes during the last phase of earthly
time, the "half of time" referred to earlier.
- It was not revealed just how this would come about.
- All that the Lord very clearly revealed is that the last
judgement would concentrate upon the little horn which would continue
to curse and blaspheme against the Lord.
- Apparently the beast continued to blaspheme against the Lord
until the Lord put him to death and gave his body to the fire.
- Before doing anything else, the Lord completely destroyed this
little horn. This destruction was not temporary, not just for a while.
It was for ever and ever: final. He was sentenced and burnt. No sign of
the antichrist would remain for all eternity.
Daniel watched, speechless, while the Lord's annihilation of the beast
was carried out on account of the terrible things the little horn
uttered against the Lord and against His saints. In this we see the
frightening aspect of the last judgement: the sentence is pronounced
immediately, and carried out forthwith.
4. Kingship is bestowed upon the
faithful.
While Daniel kept looking at these visions, his eye was drawn to the
appearance of Someone else coming upon the clouds of heaven.
- This Being resembled a person, a Son of Man. He came up to the
Ancient of Days, the Eternal One, the Almighty Judge sitting upon the
throne of flame.
- Daniel reports that He was presented to the Ancient of Days, but
does not mention who did so.
There is no doubt whatsoever about Who the One is that came on the
clouds and received the kingship.
- Jesus Christ quoted these words in telling the disciples Who He
was.
- It is clear that the Son of Man in Daniel 7:13 and the Son of Man
in the New Testament are one and the same Person (Matthew 26:64; Mark
14:62; Acts 7:56; Revelation 1:13; Revelation 14:14).
It is striking that the Lord's actions are suddenly loving and kind.
- To the One Who resembled a Son of Man He gave dominion, glory and
kingship over all peoples and nations and men of every language.
- This kingship is everlasting and will never end. All people and
nations and men of every language will serve Him by honouring and
worshipping Him.
- Together with that we will receive grace, because that will bring
to a close the time of tribulation and persecution awaiting us.
- This will indeed be more than merely bringing to a close the
foregoing period, because with the bestowal of eternal kingship on
Jesus, we also enter upon our new home: the Kingdom of God.
Where the opening of the books of the Lord will bring severe misfortune
upon the antichrist, it will bring us, who truly believe, the most
wonderful grace:
- We are pardoned and exempted from the Lord's judgement through
the redeeming merit of the Son of Man.
- The suffering He underwent on earth, especially on the cross,
then comes to full fruition in us: we live for ever with Him.
After the Lord has destroyed the antichrist, He immediately reverses
the roles of all concerned. The saints of the Highest One now reign.
Daniel heard from the angel what the Lord would do with the faithful.
Just before they had been persecuted, then they became rulers in a
much greater kingdom than that which the antichrist had held under his
sway. They receive power over all kingdoms under the whole of heaven
(i.e. on earth).
The kingship is given to the saints of God for all eternity. This
refers back to verse 14. But there is a difference.
- In the first part of the vision Daniel saw that the kingship was
bestowed upon the Son of Man.
- When the angel explained what had happened, he said that the
kingship had been given to the saints of the Highest One.
There is no real contradiction between these statements, because the
New Testament explains the matter:
- The moment when the kingship is bestowed upon Jesus Christ, all
His saints share with Him to all eternity in its governance.
- The saints of the Highest One are the elect who will reign with
Christ for all eternity (2 Timothy 2:12 and Revelation 22:5).
- Together with Christ we will then reign over all of God's kingdom
(vv.13,14,18,26)
- There will no longer be any power offering resistance to the
saints.
- There will be much love and peace, because the entire kingdom
will be willingly and wholeheartedly subject to this government.
What are we to make of all these things in Daniel's vision? We must
interpret world history and evaluate the utterances of spiritual
leaders of our time in the light of this vision. The time of the first
three beasts has already passed. We are now already probably living in
the time of the fourth beast, because the apostle John also saw him
(Revelation 12:18 - 13:2).
- The cunning of the antichrist can easily mislead us into
participating in his world empire - which will, of course, bring upon
us endless miseries at the time of judgement if we fall for his plans.
- That is why these revelations which Daniel received have been
given us not merely to increase our knowledge regarding what will
happen in the end times. It is also to warn us not to become involved
in any way with the forces of the beast.
In our day there are very definitely views which wish to involve us as
believers with such antichristian forces. Think, for instance, of the
question of regarding all religions as equal.
- This is no longer merely a distant possibility. As a result of
laws which have been enacted we are already involved in the process. It
has been established as a reality in our country. How on earth can it
be possible for a believer in the Bible to adopt the view that all
religions are equal?
- The level-pegging of religions can mean only one of the following:
- EITHER all idols are exalted to be equal to the Lord;
- OR the Lord is degraded to be as inconsequential as the idols;
- OR God and idol are made out by man to be identical.
There is a very strong but false religious movement which is gaining
ground in our time. It is the belief that man is part and parcel of
Deity - in fact, that God is constituted of the sum total of everything
we know (holism). This belief teaches the equality of God and man.
- Note how the entire world is in our time being focussed upon the
equalisation of all cultures and traditions.
- Everything which up to the present has existed and has been known
and accepted, must be destroyed to make way for the new world order.
- It is quite clear that views of this kind come from the fourth
beast.
- We are called upon to persevere in the true and honest faith. We
must be scrupulous in our worship of the Triunal God.
This chapter in the Bible shows our congregation the way ahead very
clearly.
- There will be fearful tribulations awaiting us believers. We
could quite easily experience some of these, for we live in the time of
the rign of the fourth beast. We must be so well prepared for this
persecution that we do not lose our faith when pain and suffering come
upon us.
- We must live victoriously, because the Lord reveals clearly that
our future does not lie in pain and defeat.
- Our future lies in the eternal dominion of the kingdom of God.
- This kingdom will come after the Lord has ended the oppression
by the antichrist.
- We have a source of very great comfort: Beyond the earthly life
with all its imperfections and brokenness, such as hatred and blood and
murders, lies the perfect and richly hued kingdom of the Eternal One.
There we will no longer be enslaved by our sins or the sins of others -
such as, for instance, the antichrist.
- There we will reign and be of such perfection that no evil or
misery will ever again be able to establish a grip on us.
NOTE:
That the Lord in Daniel's dream appears in the form of a person on his
throne, is not so strange. There are many other manifestations of God
in which the Lord is depicted as appearing in the form of a person. One
very well known instance is the occasion on which the Lord appeared to
Abraham with two other men just before the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah (Gen. 18:2vv; Compare also Ezekiel 1:26-28; Ezekiel 10:1; 1
Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1; Revelation 4:2).
AMEN.
Closing prayer.
Closing Hymn: 43:4,5,6.
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift His countenance on you,
And give you peace.
AMEN
Rev. Dr. M.J. du Plessis
Reformed Church, Bellville
17 February 2002.
Scripture quoted from NASB