Daniel 7 – Mystery of The Ages
I. DANIEL 7 IS THE FOUNDATION OF END TIME PROPHECY
A. The central and important prophetic themes of the End Times are in Daniel 7.
B. Zechariah and Revelation develop the themes introduced in Daniel 7.
II. DANIEL 7:9-10 THE KING IS UPON HIS THRONE
“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; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before
Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)
A. He has all authority over everything. He is called the Ancient of Days. He is our Father. He is seated on a throne.
B. He has all power and all authority. There is fire around His throne. There are thousands of thousands, ten
thousand times ten thousand that stand before Him. The courts are subject to His authority. The books are present.
C. He is totally in charge and He has a mysterious plan in His heart.
III. THE FATHER GIVES HIS KINGDOM TO A MAN (DANIEL 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, and they brought Him 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)
A. Daniel 7:13-14 is part one of the plan. He wants to give His kingdom to a man – His beloved Son.
B. Ezekiel 1:26 reveals this glorious plan.
C. Psalm 2 tells the story
IV. THE FATHER GIVES THE KINGDOM TO A BRIDE (DANIEL 7:18, 27)
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever”
(Daniel 7:18)
“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. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey
Him. (Daniel 7:27)
A. He does not want His Son to rule alone. He wants an eternal companion for His Son to share the kingdom. He
wants His Son to rule with a bride, the saints of the Most High.
B. This is not the end of the plan. The plan is more than His desire to give His kingdom to His Son and His bride.
V. THE FATHER RAISES UP AN ADVERSARY TO TRAIN THE BRIDE (DANIEL 7:23-25)
“Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces … he shall be different from the first ones … 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 7:23-25)
A. He is going to allow history to end with a world leader that we call the antichrist. History is going to end in a great
cosmic conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness. The enemy is the man of sin with an evil world empire, a
worldwide false church, standing against the true church the bride of Christ. This evil empire with this evil leader is going
to make war against the saints. He will prevail or overcome them through martyrdom.
B. He is going to allow satan to have enough liberty to bring forth an evil government with sorcery, immorality and great
wickedness.
VI. THE CHRISTIAN HOLOCAUST (DANIEL 7:21, 25)
“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them…” (Daniel 7:21)
“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 7:25)
“Then I heard the man clothed in linen … 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; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered all
these things shall be finished.” (Daniel 12:7)
A. The Father will raise up an adversary who will overcome the church physically through martyrdom.
B. The Father’s plan is to raise up an enemy that must be defeated and must be overcome spiritually by submitting to
physical death.
C. John in the Book of Revelation quotes these very passages and then interprets them through apostolic
understanding.
“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every
tribe, tongue, and nation.” (Revelation 13:7)
“I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Revelation 17:6)
“And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” (Revelation 18:24)
“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot … and He has avenged on her
the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Revelation 19:2)
D. In Revelation 17:6, John declares that the kingdom of darkness will be drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
Revelation 13 and 17 quote from Daniel 7 adding an apostolic interpretation to the visions.
E. Martyrdom will be a key issue in determining the timing of the Second Coming.
“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and
for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You
judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was
said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren,
who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)
VII. MAKING THE BRIDE WORTHY
“Some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end;
because it is still for the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35)
“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall
understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
A. What is going to happen is that God is going to prepare His bride and make her worthy. I do not mean to where
she earns salvation.
B. Worthy means that she is going to be trained to be equally yoked to the King of kings. She will be trained to where
her character is in full agreement with His.
C. He is making His bride ready for the wedding day.
VIII. SUMMARY
The Ancient of Days has all the power. He wants a man to rule His kingdom. That is not enough. He wants this beloved
Man to rule with an eternal companion. Even that is not enough. He wants them to be equally yoked in love so He raises
up an adversary to train her in voluntary love. She overcomes only by being victorious in love. This adversary will
overcome her physically, but she will overcome him spiritually because her love will mature as she sheds her blood for
love.
PLAN:
1. Give His Kingdom to His Beloved Son (v13-14)
2. Wants Son to reign with His bride (v18 & 27)
3. Allows history to end with world leader/an enemy that has to be defeated/ overcome. History will end in cosmic
4. The evil empire will make war and prevail/overcome (martyrdom) for a season:
• God prepares His bride and makes her worthy
• She will be equally yoked and worthy
• Martyrdom is the training – purifies and refines