Bookended in Hope
Daniel 7:15-28
1. Hope and Truth Temper Fear! (Vs. 15-18, Jer 1:8, 2 Thess 2:7-12)
a. Jeremiah 1:8, “Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the LORD’s declaration.”
b. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.”
2. The Antichrist and his Beast:
a. Will Lead a Unique Global Nation of Many Rulers. (Vs. 19-20a, 23-24, Rev 13:1-5)
i. Revelation 13:1-5, “And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names. The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies.”
b. Are Blasphemous and Boastful. (Vs. 21, 25a, 2 Thess 2:4)
i. 2 Thessalonians 2:4, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy, or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord, has come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.”
c. Will Seem to Be Victorious Over God’s People For 3 ½ Years. (21; 25; Rev 13:5-8, 16-17)
i. Revelation 13:5-8, “The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority, for forty-two months. It began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven. And it was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.”
ii. Revelation 13:16-17, “And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.”