God's Plan to Establish His Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven

God’s Plan to Establish His Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven

I. GOD’S PURPOSE: TO BRING HEAVEN AND EARTH TOGETHER IN JESUS

Having made known to us the mystery

(hidden plan)

of His will, according to His good pleasure which He

purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times

He might gather together in one

ALL things

in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

A.        The centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose is for Jesus to come back to fully establish His Kingdom rule over all the
earth as He joins the heavenly and earthly realms together. God’s purpose has always been for God and His people to
live together in this way. This is the interpretive key to understanding the End-Times. Without this foundational revelation,
confusion is inevitable when studying the End-Times.

B.        Heaven speaks of the supernatural spirit realm where God’s power and presence are openly manifest. It includes
the realm of angels and is the place that believers go as a 2,000 year (from the cross to the Second Coming) “temporary
holding pattern” as disembodied spirits. The saints do not have a resurrected body in heaven because do not need one
to relate to the environment of heaven. Heaven is glorious but it is not the fullness of God’s plan.

C.        Earth speaks of the material physical realm where human emotions and physical sensation may reach their fullest
expression. The materiality of the Millennial earth then the New Earth will consist of concrete reality. The earthly realm
requires a resurrected body on the earth, saints will need a resurrected body to fully relate to it. Demons seek the greater
expression that comes in possessing (dwelling in) humans.

Dan. 7 Predicting World History: 4 Great Empires

In this vision, Daniel sees 4 winds stirring the Mediterranean Sea bringing great upheaval to the nations. These winds
symbolize spiritual forces (angels, demons). From this sea, 4 wild animals arose, each representing an empire (in
Mediterranean area) that persecuted Israel (Revelation 12).

A. LION: Babylonian Empire 605-538 BC (Iraq).

B. BEAR: combined empire of Media and Persia 538-331 BC (Iran).

C. LEOPARD: Greek Empire 331-146 BC, broken into 4 empires.

D. DREADFUL BEAST: ancient Roman Empire 146 BC-476 AD, a prophetic picture in Scripture of the Antichrist’s
End-Time empire (Revived Roman Empire) made up of 10 nations from Europe and the
Middle East as symbolized by its 10 horns (Daniel 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16).

The first year of Belshazzar’s reign (553 BC): was 14 years before Israel was freed from Babylon. This was vision help
give them assurance and patience in suffering.

Daniel 7:1-14 Details of the Vision Predicting World History (2 parts)

v.1-8 Daniel’s vision (Part 1): Four wild Beasts each symbolizing World Empires

v.1-3 Introduction: this is the first of 4 visions in the book of Daniel (see Daniel 8; 9; 10-12)

v.1 Date of the vision: 553 BC (encouraging the captives 14 years before their release)

Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream...

v.2 Four winds stirring the Mediterranean Sea: turmoil (combining God, Satan, man’s sin)

Daniel 7:2 saying, "I saw in my vision...the four winds of heaven

(angel, demon activity)

were stirring up the

Great Sea

(Mediterranean).

v.3 Four wild animals causing great turmoil in the Mediterranean area (anti-Semitic; Rev. 12)

Daniel 7:3 Four great beasts

(4 world empires)

came up from the sea.

v.4–6 First 3 beasts symbolize the 3 dominant Empires in the Mediterranean area (605-146 BC)

v.4 First beast (Lion with eagles wings): Babylon Empire (605-538 BC) – Iraq

Daniel 7:4 The first

(Babylonian Empire)

was like a lion

(strong, majestic

), and had eagle's wings

(military speed)

..its wings were plucked off

(humbled)

; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like

a man

(lion on

2 feet cannot conquer)

, and a man's heart was given to it

(losing its lionhearted courage being

domesticated/weakened)

v.5 Second beast (Bear with 3 ribs in his mouth): Persian Empire (538-331 BC) – Iran

Daniel 7:5 Suddenly another beast

(Medo-Persian Empire)

, a second like a bear

(fierce, slow military progress

It was raised up on one side

(Persian dominance over Media),

and had three ribs in its mouth

(nations

conquered as it rose up:

Babylon, Turkey, Egypt)

...They said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!

(keep

conquering)

v.6 Third beast (Leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads): Greek Empire (331-146 BC) – Greece

Daniel 7:6 "...there was another

(Greek Empire)

, like a leopard

(fierce, agile, fast, cunning)

, which had on its

back four wings of a bird

(double military speed)

. The beast

(Alexander the Great

) also had four heads, and

dominion was given to it

(after Alexander’s death his empire was divided by four top generals).

v.7-8 Fourth Beast: Roman Empire in 3 stages: Ancient; Democracy (10 kings); Dictatorship (Antichrist)

v.7a Ancient Roman Empire (146 BC-476 AD): type of Antichrist’s Empire (Daniel 2; Revelation 13; 17)

Daniel 7:7a I saw...a fourth beast

(Roman Empire in 3 stages: Ancient; End-Time Democracy (10 kings)

then

Dictatorship

(Antichrist)

dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong

. It had huge iron teeth; it was

devouring,

breaking in pieces, and

trampling

the residue

(of nations)

with its feet. It was different

(unique in history in size,

cruelty, power i.e., military,

economics, demonic)

from all the beasts

(empires)

that were before it, and it had ten

horns

(End-Time 10-nation

confederation)

v.7c-8 End-Time Roman Empire under 10 kings later usurped by the Antichrist (Little Horn)

Daniel 7:7c-8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one

(Antichrist starting small as

regional leader)

, coming up among them

(growing in political authority)

, before whom three of the

first horns

(prominent

) were plucked out by the roots

(Antichrist kills 3 kings

). In this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a

man

(intelligence)

, and a mouth speaking pompous words

(arrogance)

.”

v.9-14 Daniel’s vision (Part 2): God’s Leadership in the End-Times (judgment on nations)

v.9-10 God enthroned in Majesty: Divine Court in session as the books are opened (Jer. 23:18-20)

Daniel 7:9-10 "I watched till thrones

(governmental roles in heaven)

were put in place

(established)

, and the

Ancient of Days

(Eternal God)

was seated; His

garment

was white as snow, and the

hair

of His head was like

pure wool. His

Throne

was a fiery flame, its

wheels

a burning fire; 10 A

fiery

stream

issued and came forth

from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; 10,000 times 10,000 stood before Him. The

court

was seated; the books were opened

(Court in session for Revelation 6-19).

v.11-12 Destruction of the Antichrist and his Roman Empire at the Second Coming (Rev. 19:11-21)

Daniel 7:11 I watched because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn

(Antichrist)

was speaking

(deceiving nations)

; I watched till the beast was slain

(killed at Second Coming, Rev. 19),

and its body destroyed

and given to the burning flame

(Lake of Fire)

. 12 As for the rest of the beasts

(other kingdoms)

, they had their

dominion

(political authority)

taken away, yet their lives

(people in their region

)

were prolonged for a season and

a time

(until Matthew 2

31 judgment of nations).

v.13-14 Jesus’ heavenly coronation as King over the Millennial earth (Psalm 2:6; Revelation 5:12; Philippians 2:10)

Daniel 7:13-14 I was watching...behold, One like the Son of Man

(Jesus’ humanity)

, coming with the clouds of

heaven

(His deity)

! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him

(heavenly coronation

as King, Psalm

. 14 To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom

(Millennium, Revelation 20)

, that all

peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him

(Revelation 5:12)

. His dominion is an everlasting dominion

(Millennium then new Earth,

Revelation 21).

..His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:15-28 The Angel’s Interpretation of the Vision (3 parts)

v.15-18 Interpretation (Part 1): Victory Assured (after the crisis of 4 beast empires)

v.15 Daniel grieved/perplexed: over the fourth beast’s power, violence and arrogance (v.7-8)

Daniel 7:15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body

(by Antichrist’s power/violence, v.7-8

), and the

visions of my head troubled

(perplexed)

me.

v.16 Daniel’s 1st question: a request for ‘all the truth’ (implications) of the vision (v.2-14)

Daniel 7:16 I came near to one of those who stood by

(angel),

and asked him the truth of all this

(full

implications)

. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

v.17 Interpretation of the 4 beasts (v.3-8): they are 4 kings (including their kingdoms v.19-20, 23b, 24b)

Daniel 7:17

(Angel’s answer)

'Those great beasts

(empires of v.3-8)

, which are four, are four kings

(Nebuchadnezzar,

Cyrus, Alexander the Great, Antichrist)

which arise out of the earth

(involving sinful processes)

v.18 New info: after the crisis, the beasts are replaced by the saints as world rulers (Millennium v.14)

Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom

(saints replace history’s beast empires in

governing the whole earth)

and possess the kingdom

(govern every area of society with Jesus during Millennium,

v.14),

forever, even forever and ever

(starting in the Millennial Kingdom then extending to the New Heaven and

Earth in Revelation 21-22).'”

v.19-22 Interpretation (Part 2): Purpose of Martyrdom (prepares saints for world government)

v.19-20 Daniel’s 2nd question: 4th beast (End-Time empire), 10 horns (10 kings), Horn (Antichrist)

Daniel 7:19-20 "Then I wished to know the truth

(Daniel’s second question with 3 specific requests

) about the

fourth beast

(End-Time Roman Empire: last evil world empire)

, which was different from all the others,

exceedingly dreadful,

with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which

devoured, broke in pieces, and

trampled

the residue

(of nations

that resist) with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head

(10 nation

confederation)

, and the other horn

(Antichrist)

which came up, before which three fell

(3 kings murdered in the

Antichrist’s process of usurping power v.8, 24)

, namely, that horn which had eyes

(supernatural intelligence)

and a mouth which spoke pompous words

(speech based in satanic arrogance, Rev. 13)

, whose appearance

was greater than his fellows

(mightiest dictator in history).

v.21 New info: Antichrist permitted to kill End-Time saints (Cross necessary for victory, power, 12:10)

Daniel 7:21 I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing

(Antichrist

given

power to kill End-Time saints)

against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days

(God)

came, and a judgment was

made in favor of the saints of the Most High...”

v.22 New info: God suddenly reverses all things: purified saints are now ready to rule the whole earth

Daniel 7:22 until the Ancient of Days

(God)

came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most

High

(God suddenly reverses all)

, the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom

(purified saints now ready

to rule all

nations).”

v.23-27 Interpretation (Part 3): 4th beast (End-Time empire), 10 horns (10 kings), Horn (Antichrist)

v.23 Fourth beast (End-Time Roman Empire): unique in power and cruelty that devours the whole earth

Daniel 7:23 "Thus he

(angel)

said: 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth

(End-Time revived

Roman

Empire), which shall be different

(unique in power, cruelty, size, etc.)

from all other kingdoms

(largest in

history)

, and shall devour the WHOLE earth, trample it and break it in pieces

(its rule and cruelty assaults the

whole earth).

v.24 Ten horns (10 kings): 10-nation power base the Antichrist takes over (he kills the 3 resistant kings)

Daniel 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings

(ruling the second stage of the Roman Empire together as a democracy in

the

-Times, Rev. 17:12-17)

who shall arise from this kingdom

(region of the ancient Roman Empire:

Europe/Middle East).

And another shall rise after them

(Antichrist comes after the ten kings are in positions of

power to usurp their authority)

; he shall be different

(fully man and fully demon)

from the first ones

(10 kings

and shall subdue three kings

(murders the 3 resistant kings).

v.25 Horn (Antichrist): blasphemy, murder, social domination: fully manifest for limited time (3½ years)

Daniel 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High

(satanic empowered blasphemy)

, shall

persecute

(murder)

the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law

(dominate all social

and spiritual

institutions)

. Then the saints shall be given into his hand

(new international laws that permit killing

the saints)

for a time and times and half a time

(God given time limitation of 3½ years).

v.26-27 Main Theme: God’s plan to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The saints are
prepared (under wicked governments) by suffering (martyrdom) to permanently replace the beast empires through history
(v.3-8) in leading all world government (Millennium, then new Heaven and Earth)

Daniel 7:26-27 But the court shall be seated

(activity in heavenly courts of v.9-12, is related to prayer: Rev. 6:10;

8:1-6; 22:17)

, and they shall take away his dominion

(God suddenly reverses things),

to consume and destroy it

forever

(Antichrist

and his beast-empire will be destroyed at Jesus’ Second Coming)

. 27 Then the kingdom and

dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the

saints of the Most High

(saints replace the

beast empires

(v.3-8)

in leading the world government: Millennial

Kingdom (v.14). His kingdom

(v.14) i

s an everlasting kingdom

(saints’ role of government extends past the

Millennium to the new Heaven and Earth, Rev. 21

), and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

v.28 Daniel’s prophetic response: fully engaged with God’s End-Time purpose

v.28a Daniel is troubled: eschatological revelation grips his heart (absence of passive indifference)

v.28b Daniel kept his heart filled with End-Time truths (7:16; 8:15; 9:3, 20-23; 10:3, 12; 12:8)

Daniel 7:28 "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me

(pained and

stirred with End-Time reality)

, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart

(gripped with the

importance of the End-Time saints being prepared for this hour, so he keeps his heart filled with these truths)

Daniel 7 According To Major Themes

II. DANIEL 7:9-10 THE KING IS UPON HIS THRONE FULLY IN CHARGE

I watched till thrones were put in place, and the

Ancient of Days

was seated; his garment was white as snow,

and the hair of His head was like pure wool.

His Throne

was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery

stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; 10,000 times 10,000

stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

III. ALL EARTHLY KINGDOMS ARE GIVEN TO JESUS AS A JEWISH MAN (DAN. 7:13-14)

I was watching in the night visions, and behold,

One like the Son of Man

, coming with the clouds of heaven! He

came to the Ancient of Days

(Father)

, and they brought Him

(Jesus)

near before Him. Then to Him was given

dominion and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him

. His dominion is

an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

(Daniel 7:13-14)

IV. THE FATHER GIVES THE KINGDOM TO THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:18, 27)

The

saints

of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and

possess the kingdom forever

...(Daniel 7:18 )

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the

greatness of the kingdoms

(world empires)

under the whole heaven,

shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all

dominions shall serve and obey Him.' (Daniel 7:27)

V. THE FATHER RAISES UP AN ADVERSARY TO TRAIN THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:23-25)

The 4th beast shall be a 4th kingdom...which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall

devour the

whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces

…he

(Antichrist

) shall be different from the first ones…he shall...

persecute the saints

…the saints shall be given into his hand (Daniel 7:23-25

VI. THE END-TIME MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINTS (DANIEL 7:21, 25; 12;7; REV. 13:7)

The same horn (Antichrist) was

making war against the saints, and prevailing against them

...25 He shall speak

pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High…Then the saints shall be

given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:21, 25)

I heard the man clothed in linen

(angel)

…held up …his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives

forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time

(3½ years)

; and when the power of the holy people

has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12: 7)

VII. MAKING THE BRIDE WORTHY TO RULE THE EARTH IN BEING REFINED AND PURIFIED

Those of the people who understand

(forerunners

) shall instruct many...35 some of those of understanding shall

fall

(martyred)

, to

refine them, purify them, and make them white

, until the time of the end; because it is still

for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:33-35)

Many shall be

purified, made white, and refined,

but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked

shall understand,

but the wise

(forerunners)

shall understand.

(Daniel 12:10)