Final Reckonings
08/05/2025
Daniels Prophecy 7:19-28
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
We are describing this fourth beast again; please forgive me, for it is not my doing. I know it is a dreadful beast and even worse to have to be discussed again. Let us try breaking this beast down for a minute like we did with Nebuchadnezzars statue dream. There are iron teeth and brass nails seen here. King Nebuchadnezzars dream of the stump bound in the ground with iron and brass and the holy seed remaining resembles this picture. I was not, however, saying this fourth beast is Christ. It may be that the iron and brass arose from the binding and the cutting down of the tree from whence the holy seed came. This beast did three things: devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet. Matthews Gospel 10:14 associates shaking the dust off from the places you have been as a testimony against them. This beast is not concerned with the testimony; rather, its nature comes against those who offended it. The little horn that arose was stouter than the others and before it three other horns fell. Now look at something with me for a minute. Joseph interpreted Pharoahs dream of the skinny cows and the fat cows recorded in Book of Genesis 41:1-7. The skinny cows ate up the fat cows and were still lean. Here, the little horn as it were eats up the three big horns and is fat or stout. It is stout because of what it has eaten. Now how come the seven years of tribulation are lean and yet their ruler is stout? This beast boasts of a great deal, and it sees much more. So, the cows foretold of the years that followed in Pharoahs dreams. Is even this a deception? I have a lot of questions and even fewer theologians and church leaders have the answers. This is why I cannot ask my husband at home nor keep silent in the church.
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Is it not interesting that this a situation continued until the Ancient of Days came to take his place. This is news to me. I had no idea that he had been missing. It is very likely that such was news to Daniel also. We will see in the latter verses that he is very astonished and deeply disturbed by all that he has heard. Is that not how some of Christians do the Lord though. We behave as the disciples who think Jesus is asleep and cares not about the storm as in Marks Gospel 4:38. Or we are like the servants left in charge of Matthews Gospel 25:14 whose ruler went to the far country. Then tragedy, atrocity, and adversity strikes, and we loudly proclaim that had God only been there this or that would not have happened. If this is how you see him, certainly, you were entitled to your opinion. But is it any wonder that the little horn made war with the saints for viewpoints such as this. For had the servants and children only known what time the thief was coming in Matthews Gospel 24:43, the house would not have been broken into. It made war with the saints and subdued them for a time because of the eyesight it had been given. This beast had creature eyes that are ever watching, ever trusting, always ready to do the command of man and the Lord. Unless of course such dominion is taken away from man and given to the creature. Here we see the human eyes, given in the last passage, precede making war with the saints. This beast has a human mind and can understand theology and military strategy a lot better than all the millennialists and survivalists in the world.
Because it has a human eye, it serves a human point of view. If the eye is dark the whole body is dark and how great is that darkness. However, if the eye is light the whole body will be full of light. Who is the judge of what is light and what is dark? You see, neither the Almighty has come nor has judgment been given to the saints at this time according to this certain interpretation. You might be saying to yourself when would such a time be? When it was time, the saints possessed the kingdom. God will not trust you with something you cannot handle. Therefore, there are some things he must do to prepare and equip you for every good work before you can walk in your victory. According to Satan this time will not be yet nor any time soon; is he not as Revelation of Jesus Christ 12:10 describes the accuser of the brethren. So, it is with some of Gods children.
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Oh, there is a little word bothering me known as diverse. Matthews Gospel 24:7 speaks of famine, pestilence, and earthquakes being found in divers places. These divers places are seen at the beginning of sorrows spoken of in Matthews Gospel 24:8 are they not? In fact, some translations use the word various instead of divers. Thus, the diverse spoken of here in the text in relation to the fourth beast, fourth kingdom and the little horn that arose seem to be connected. The phrase three kings seems to mean something here as well. According to Matthews Gospel 2:11, three wisemen come to present their treasures unto Jesus at his birth. In the Eastern culture, from whence they came, those wise men were regarded as kings. There appears to be some difference in interpretations. The preceding verses say that the Most High will take the kingdom. Daniel served the king and thereby God; so, when the saints take the kingdom, rest assured God will be ruling there right along with them. Therefore, it is his kingdom also is it not. Unless you believe in him not, which in that case, say what you would.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Here it comes. He will speak against the Most High and his people. There is an explanation given to Daniel here and again in another vision. So, unless God has given you another interpretation, this is the one that he would like us to hold onto. From the beginning of time, the story has always been about God, man, and their adversary the devil. God may understand what you were going through, but he is not bipolar like you. The tares among the wheat told in Matthews Gospel 13:28-30 were sown by an enemy. The interpretation given to Daniel is that of an enemy presence. This is why this time calls for patient endurance on the part of Gods people. You do not know what has gone on behind the scenes. God may seem absent or missing, but trust me, he is not. Now the mouth speaking great things may proclaim on the mountains that our God reigns when in fact the fullness of time has not yet come. This is why, the command is given throughout Daniel to worship God. If you remember in Revelation of Jesus Christ 19:20 the punishment is given for the worship of the beast, the false prophet, and their image rather than the name of the Lord. Throughout the ages the test has always been to create another god in our own image. Finally, this is what is done for such people. After hearing these things, I can imagine why the saints must feel rather tired indeed.
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time refers to what Jesus will do to bring such things to an end. The judgment shall sit at which we have already seen. You might think it is over, God has won, and all has been destroyed. But the kingdom and dominion of God will be given to his saints who will rule and reign with him as in Revelation of Jesus Christ 5:10. All dominions will serve and obey him. Daniel is very troubled here. His thoughts and his face look down. He plainly does not like what he has heard. Unlike some of us, we hear one thing we do not like and go tell it on the mountains. Like Matthews Gospel 24:15-16 states, we want to tear through the fields, down the roads to the mountain, and run away from home screaming. If listening and watching is all you can do, better you do that then and work this thing out as God has commanded you. Soon the time will come for him to take his seat. Daniel, as we see, has a much more appropriate reaction considering everything that is happening. He is serving in a court under a man who is particularly unlike king Nebuchadnezzar. This ruler seems to be base and vile driven by his instincts. He will soon incur the judgment from the Lord for his disregard for him and his people. After everything Daniel has seen, I can well imagine he felt troubled. Can someone please tell me how good God is. He has such preparations made as in 1 Corinthians 2:9 not only for himself but for those who truly love him. You might find he not only went away but he also came back and moved the whole house just for you.