Jesus Wins
May 29, 2016

Scripture: Daniel

I. At the end of the world Jesus will defeat monstrous beasts.

A. In Daniel 7:1 Daniel begins to write about his vision of these 4 beasts. These rebellious monsters looked like lions, bears, and leopards – all fierce predators. These monsters are all evil, opposed to God, and the agents of chaos and destruction. And the final monster in vs. 7 is said to be more terrifying and dreadful than the other beasts. In vs. 28 Daniel said “my thoughts greatly alarmed me.” Daniel’s nightmare is telling us that our world is being run by a succession of monsters that will go from bad to worse, each one more frightening than the one before.

B. In the Bible the number four can be a symbol to represent completeness. For example in the book of Revelation, you have the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the four living creatures, and the four angels. I think Daniel is saying then that there will always be monsters like these four monsters until the end of the world. Until Jesus returns we Christians are going to be living in a world of terrifying beasts. It is only when Jesus, a stone cut from a mountain by no human hands (Daniel 2:45), returns that the kingdoms and beasts of the world will be broken to pieces.

II. At the end of the world Jesus will judge evil as the Son of Man.

A. In vs. 9 and 10 Daniel sees in his vision the Ancient of Days, God Himself. Since God has been around for eternity He can be called the Ancient of Days. God’s clothing in vs. 9 is white as snow – He is completely pure and holy. And his throne is fiery flames (vs. 9). God is a warrior with fearsome power to destroy His enemies. Jesus also says God is the judge we should fear. Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

B. Another character is introduced in Daniel’s vision in vs. 13 of the judgment scene. He is called one like a son of man. He looks like an ordinary man. But as Daniel goes on to describe Him you realize that this man also has characteristics that are only true of God. The Son of Man in vs. 13 comes with the clouds of heaven. And the Son of Man’s dominion is an everlasting dominion. He is also worshiped by all peoples. This Son of Man is not then just a man. He must also be God. Jesus, the Son of Man, will be part of the judgment of the world at the end of time.

III. At the end of the world Jesus will win for His people an eternal kingdom.

A. The angel says to Daniel in vs. 17-18, “Jesus wins. And because Jesus wins you win. You are going to be part of a kingdom of peace that will last forever under King Jesus.” The cross is our guarantee that Jesus will win final victory over evil. Colossians 2:13-15: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Application:
Look up and look forward to your great inheritance in heaven.

Sources:
The prophecy of Daniel
Commentaries on Daniel by Iain Duguid and Tremper Longman III