The Book of Daniel

Our Sunday Bible class is engaged in an expository study of the Book of Daniel. A young man when he was taken to Babylon, Daniel lived for 80 years to serve his God in the midst of paganism and everything against his faith. God elevated him to the highest government positions and used him to speak God's truth to those who lead the nation. God spoke to him in dreams and visions and gave him an outline of Gentile world dominion and history.

This last Sunday, we studied chapter seven describing his vision of four major kingdoms that would rise to power. The fourth and final beast had ten horns, and out of those horns arose a little horn. Many commentators feels that the present age is the 10-horned era of the fourth beast. Sometimes after the rise of the 10 horns, this little horn arose. In his rise to power he subdues three of the ten nations in his initial rise to power. This world leader will speak against the Most High (God). He will oppress His saints. He will introduce an entirely new era in which he will abandon all previous laws and institute his own system. In Daniel 9:27, we are told he will first appear as Israel's friend but will become Israel's persecutor. He will occupy Jerusalem for three and one half years. At the end of that time (spoken of in the Book of Revelation) as the Great Tribulation, God will judge this leader (beast-Antichrist) and will destroy him with the brightness of His coming. The conclusion of this battle will usher in a Kingdom of God Almighty which Scripture teaches is a 1,000 year reign of peace on the earth.

That brings me to a meditation for us today. Does anyone doubt that we are living in the closing moments of the "times of the Gentiles"? At the conclusion of this age, God will once again turn to restore His earthly people, Israel. All the events, wars, and rumors of wars circulating about the Middle East tell us with clarity that Jesus will return as He promised and the signs of the times speak to us that it could be soon.

Are your prepared to meet Him as your Saviour or as your Judge?