the greatest danger that we face in 2025 is the action of doubting or disbelieving that God is with and for us. Our greatest temptation is to evaluate God’s word with our feelings.
What do you do when what you see in the world is hard? What do you do when you can’t make sense of what God is doing in your life?
1. Trust God’s word 2. Resist God’s enemies 3. Wait on God’s son.
God is the true and reigning king over all of the earth despite it all.
Verses 17 and 18 !!!!!
Despite all that you see, trust what God has said. Though God would discipline his people, he would not desert them.
Though Daniel’s visions were similar, they were all under different kings and contexts. God’s word will not fail.
All that God has promised, He will bring to fruition.
We must not evaluate God based off of our circumstances but based off of His Word.
Do we believe that God is faithful to do all that he has promised? Will we continue to trust him even when we can’t see him working in our lives?
The word remains forever.
Lion in ch 2 - Babylon (?) the restoration of Nebuchadnezzar
Bear - meads and Persian empire
Leopard - Greece
The fourth is *most likely* Rome (the context provides that the empire would continue to grow and it would have a ruler that compared himself to God.)
^Rome is a partial fulfillment of this prophesy but there is a greater one to come. This beast could also be Rev 13. The spirit that dwelt in these beats and countries still dwells in this world today - it is fueled by satan. He still has very real influence in the world. Until Christ returns, satan will continue to make war against God and his people.
Though it is not certain what this passage means, it is not a place where we need to hard press the details. If the Bible is silent on certain details, then we should be careful about those details. The emphasis is not on who the enemies will be but what they will do and what we should do in response.
Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world.
Consider Daniel’s life and seek to imitate his faith. What Daniel experienced is the exact same as we will face. The strategies of Rome and Babylon and the world are one in the same.
Do not be led astray by false teaching.
Any teaching that is contrary to the word of God is demonic.
Listen carefully to the teaching of the church, not to be suspicious and cynical but to absorb the truth and faithfulness of the Lord.
The strategies of this world are to lead us into false worship - bowing down to the god of self.
When we withhold our obedience to God, we are rebelling against him and bowing down to the god of self.
If you guard your heart and worship God alone, this will not be a lofty threat in the slightest.
When you labor for God alone, you will rather lose your life than your faith.
The Bible is helping to prepare us to both suffer and die.
Do not be deceived by the evil kingdoms of this world for their aim is to steal, kill and destroy.
Wait on God’s son.
There is calm in heaven despite the chaos of the world.
Daniel 7:9 - 11
God is in heaven and does all that he pleases even though kingdoms rise and fall. He is control of all.
God is not anxious for he is guiding and governing all of the world.
The books referenced in Daniel are the book of life and the book of judgement.
The reason that verses eleven and twelve happen is because thirteen and fourteen happens.
The son of God became like us so that we would become like him.
Daniel seven is the reason that Jesus was born in a manger so that man no more may die. He was born to give us second birth.
Where will I be found on judgement day - as an enemy or a friend?
We need lenses to see the world how it is.
We must have an eye on the earth and an eye on heaven to make sense of what is going on in the earth.
We live in the already and not yet.
Though satan and his beasts may harass our bodies they will never be able to touch our souls. We can overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
When you can’t make sense of what God is doing in your life, rely on him.
Whatever comes your way in 2025 cannot stop or hinder what Jesus is doing in heaven.