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Series: Signs of the Times. May 1, 2011 Today’s Message: “Vanishing Kingdoms” Daniel 2:1-49. Vanishing Kingdoms. The Legend of Atlantis Island or continent which supposedly existed in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar and is said to have sunk into the ocean
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Series: Signs of the Times May 1, 2011 Today’s Message: “Vanishing Kingdoms” Daniel 2:1-49
Vanishing Kingdoms • The Legend of Atlantis • Island or continent which supposedly existed in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar and is said to have sunk into the ocean • Legendary spectacular civilization- vanished • Imagine a high level, top security meeting in the President’s office
Vanishing Kingdoms • A scene like this did occur in history • The nation was Babylon • The king was Nebuchadnezzar • Daniel’s prophecies are foundational • Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream • Daniel 2:1 • The magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, wizards were summoned
Vanishing Kingdoms • The king’s unreasonable demand • Daniel 2:5,6 • Execution ordered, 2:12,13 • Daniel’s response, 2:16 • Time- 2:16 • Prayer with God-fearing friends- 2:17 • God responds to Daniel- 2:19 • Daniel’s praise- 2:20-23
Vanishing Kingdoms • Daniel’s message to executioner- 2:24 • Before Nebuchadnezzar • Great statement by Daniel- 2:28- “But there is a God in Heaven who reveals mysteries” • 2:28- “What will take place in the latter days”
Vanishing Kingdoms • Content of the dream and its interpretation • The great statue, 2:31 • Head of gold • Breast and arms of silver • Belly and thighs of copper, brass • Legs of iron • Feet, toes of iron and clay
Meaning of the Dream • 1. First World Empire- Babylon • 2:37,38 • Babylon’s chief deity was Marduk • Golden statue • Golden throne • Golden table • Golden altar • Priests- golden lacing on robes
Meaning of the Dream • 1. First World Empire- Babylon • 2:37,38 • Nebuchadnezzar’s own golden statue 90’ high • Gold from Jerusalem temple
Meaning of the Dream • 2. Second world empire- Medo-Persia • 2 silver arms • 2 powers unite- Medes, Persians • Remember Belshazzar? • Daniel 5 • Two hundred years of power- 539 B.C.- about 340 B.C. • King Darius • King Cyrus
Meaning of the Dream • 3. Third world empire- Greece • Bronze/Brass midsection • Helmets, shields, swords of brass • Phillip of Macedon • Famous son- Alexander the Great • 356-323 B.C. • Conquered Europe, North Africa, Asia to India
Meaning of the Dream • 4. Fourth world empire- Roman • Iron legs • Rome’s iron hand, iron grip, iron fist, iron heel, iron rule, iron legions • From about 50 B.C. to 476 A.D. • Galatians 4:4,5 • World’s most precise language • World’s new taxation system • World’s new means of execution
Meaning of the Dream • 4. Fourth world empire- Roman • Roman Empire split- 395 A.D. • Two legs • Rome-Latin (476 A.D.) • Byzantine- Greek (1453 A.D.) • Constantinople, Istanbul Turkey • From Daniel’s viewpoint these kingdoms were all future • From our viewpoint, only two are future
Meaning of the Dream • 4B. Fourth world empire’s future • Statue’s feet and toes • Mixture of iron and clay • Diversity- languages/cultures • Needed- powerful leader- Daniel 7:24,25 • Division of ten • Kingdoms of leaders • This kingdom is future
Meaning of the Dream • 4B. Fourth world empire’s future • We know this as the New World Order • Daniel 6:4-8 (vision 31 years later) • Lion • Bear • Leopard • Bizarre beast- extremely strong • 10 horns= leaders of nations
Meaning of the Dream • 4B. Fourth world empire’s future • Plus a little horn- 4:8 (CF Rev. 13:5,6) • He battles saints- Daniel 7:21 • Little horn overcomes three others to take control • Sudden destruction, 2:45 • Stone crushes silver, gold, iron, bronze- Jesus • Mountain- God’s Kingdom
Meaning of the Dream • 5. Fifth Kingdom- • “The Kingdom of the God in Heaven”- 2:44 • Kingdom- 10 references • Means a king who has dominion or power over a people and territory • This kingdom will last forever • Isaiah 9:7
Meaning of the Dream • 5. Fifth Kingdom- • Who will be a part of this eternal kingdom? • Answer- the saints (Daniel 7:18) • Wealth • Power • Servants of the King of all Kings
Meaning of the Dream • 5. Fifth Kingdom- • All other earthly kingdoms have vanished or will vanish • Only God’s Kingdom will endure forever
Lessons • 1. God has always known everything • Daniel- 2,580 years ago • Romans 11:33-36
Lessons 2. God is totally in control of all things, great and small
Lessons 3. World empires have been built on conquering, war, hatred, violence, oppression, cruelty
Lessons 4. The kingdom of Heaven is built upon sacricial love, peace, security, faith, trust, God’s covenants, loyalty
Lessons 5. The impeccable accuracy of precise prophetic details
Lessons 6. Nothing will happen that has not yet been revealed through God’s prophets
Lessons • 7. Our responsibility • Be alert • Be ready • Be steady- Luke 19:13 • Be grateful