"The Gospel According to Daniel"
Lesson 08 - Judgment in Favor of the Saints
It is important to understand Bible prophecy. Your trust in the Bible and your faith in Jesus will increase when you see how the Bible accurately predicts future events (Isaiah 46:9-10; John 14:29). Daniel chapter 7 is well known to those who study Bible prophecy. Daniel has a vision of four fantastic beasts, representing four kingdoms. One kingdom Daniel was a part of and three kingdoms yet to come.
Let's read Daniel chapter 7 together.
Daniel was very troubled by this vision (verses 15 and 28). He wanted to know more about the fourth beast, whose appearance he could not fully describe. He could only say that it was exceedingly dreadful with teeth of iron, nails of bronze, and ten horns. Daniel was particularly concerned by the actions of one horn that arose from the ten horns, uprooting three of them (verses 21 and 25).
It is very understandable that Daniel was so focused on the fourth beast and the unusual horn that spoke pompous words against God, wanted to change God's Ten Commandments and persecuted God's people. However, Daniel's attention is misplaced. The most significant event in his vision is God's judgment (verses 9-10)!
God the Father is the Ancient of Days seated on His throne to pass final judgment. He has books on hand, what are these books that are being opened? These books detail our deeds (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The most important of these books, though, is the Book of Life (Exodus 32:32-33; Psalms 69:28; Revelation 13:8). If our names are blotted out of the Book of Life, we will die the second death (Revelation 20:12-15).
How do we keep our names from being blotted out of the Book of Life? All we need to do is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and continue to follow Him to the end (John 3:16; Revelation 3:5; 14:4). Our names are guaranteed to remain in the Book of Life as long as we continue to abide in Christ (John 15:1-27).
Friend, we have nothing to fear from God's final judgment! God will judge in favor of His people in the very end (Daniel 7:22). God will destroy the evil power persecuting His people. Jesus will then establish His everlasting kingdom and we will reign with Him forever. Daniel chapter 7 tells us again that kingdoms come and kingdoms go. There will be a time where we will face trials, persecution, and even death. However, as long as we cling to Jesus, He will never forsake us. Jesus will redeem us in the end.
Friend, will you endure to the end for Jesus?
