IS JESUS COMING SOON? Part One

OVERVIEW OF DANIEL SEVEN

Part one

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the Disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3 NIV)

Like the Disciples, many of us have probably asked the same question, “What will be the sign of Christ’s coming and when will be the end of the age?” Are we living in the time of the end? The Bible tells us that of the day and hour, we know not but we will know even at the door. There are prophecies that explain when something is going to happen and yet others that tell what will happen and to whom and why.

DANIEL PRAYS FOR UNDERSTANDING
In Daniel 12:8, Daniel asks God for the understanding of a dream he’d just had. In verse nine, God answers Daniel.

. . .Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

THE BEASTS
In Daniel seven, the first eight verses chronicle his dream, telling us of four beasts one diverse from the other: the lion, a bear, a leopard, and a beast unlike any other.

The first question is, what do these beasts symbolize? I should mention that God writes prophecy in symbols and almost without exception, interprets for the readers what those symbols mean. We don’t have to guess. We only need to read a little further. (Sometimes the Bible explains the symbols beforehand.)

Reading further, notice what the Bible says in verse 17:

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

However, that is not all it says. Read further down to verse 23.

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Verse 23 tells us that the beasts represent kingdoms. These two verses allow us to conclude that the beasts of Daniel seven not only represent kings but kingdoms as well. We know that these kingdoms will be on the Earth at some time.

Since God gave this prophecy to Daniel 2500 years ago, maybe it has already come to pass, making it irrelevant to you and me. We also know that according to the Bible there will be another 1000 years of human occupation coming, so maybe it will come to pass 500 years from now. However, we have to consider the possibility that Daniel's prophecy was meant for today.

TRANSITION
Then, in verse nine the Bible says:

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Verse nine tells us about the transition from human government into the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ, when He casts down the rule of the kings in the kingdoms. The 1000 year reign is called the kingdom of God.

EXPLANATION
Daniel gives this account, in verse number 11:I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Remember now, by reading further, the Bible will define the symbols given previously. Scrolling down to verse 24, we find out that the horns are kings:

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

One will come out of the ten kingdoms and will uproot three of them to become the Antichrist. This will be a clue as to his identity. (Many will not know the significance but believers will know.) Therefore, the horn of verse 11 is the Antichrist. We will learn later who are the ten kingdoms.

The Bible calls the Antichrist many other names in Scripture, one of which is just that, the Antichrist. He is also the man of sin, the son of perdition, the wicked one, and the little horn. Mostly, the Bible calls him the beast.

When Christ returns, He will throw the beast and the false prophet into the lake of fire. You can also read of this in Revelation 19:20.

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

ARE THE END TIMES - NOW
The next verse of Daniel is very important.

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. (Daniel 7:12 KJV)

What this tells us is that Jesus Christ will return to Earth during the lifetime of these kingdoms. If we can prove who these nations are, we can check to see if they exist today. If they do, then that puts us smack dab into the time of the end and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Could it be that we are the chosen generation for His return. How exciting is that?

Verses 13 and 14 of Daniel, records Jesus' second coming when He takes dominion with the saints (His Bride).

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

At the end of the three and a half year tribulation Christ will come and the armies of the world will go against Christ and Israel in the battle of Armageddon.

Jerusalem will be a heavy stone burdening the world. And though all nations of the Earth unite in an attempt to move her, they will all be crushed.

For my plan is to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:3, 9 TLB)

I would not want to be on the receiving end of God's wrath.

Next week, we will learn of an interpretation of the identities of the four beasts. You will be surprised on at least one of them. I certainly was.