Segment 3 - Daniel 7
God is Sovereign
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All Authority?

Notice Daniel 7:14 again: “And there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (KJV) This verse confuses many people. How can Jesus be given complete dominion (or sovereign power, NIV) more than once? According to Webster, the word “sovereign” means, “having all authority.” At face value, this verse in Daniel 7 seems to contradict the words of Jesus in Matthew 28. Notice the following text: “Then Jesus came to them [His disciples] and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28: 18-20, insertion mine)  How can Jesus say in Matthew 28 that He has all authority in Heaven and on Earth when Daniel 7 indicates that Jesus is given dominion (and sovereign authority) after the Ancient of Days takes His seat? The answer to this apparent conflict is found in the scope of authority.

On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus returned to Heaven, and with the help of His angels, drove Lucifer, the prince of this world, out of Heaven. (Revelation 12:7-9; John 12:31) Lucifer lost his seat as Earth’s governor at the table of God’s government. On the basis of His shed blood and the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16), Jesus physically removed Lucifer from Heaven and cast him to Earth. (Revelation 12:13) The kingdom that was stolen from Jesus by Lucifer (the deceitful prince of this world, John 12:31) was returned to Jesus by right of redemption. (John 16:33; Revelation 12:10) As the Crown Prince of Earth, Jesus has been Earth’s representative at the table of God’s government ever since Resurrection Sunday. After Jesus ascended to Heaven on that Sunday morning and cast Lucifer out, He was given authority over all matters in Heaven pertaining to Earth. Forty days later, at the time of His ascension, He declared this authority to His disciples in His parting words recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.

Daniel saw an even higher exaltation of Jesus than the exaltation given on Resurrection Sunday. In 1798, Jesus was ceremoniously exalted to a position equal to that of the Father. Jesus was found worthy to receive power over all of God’s creation. The Father transferred His authority to Jesus so that Jesus could righteously conclude the sin problem. The Ancient of Days convened this convocation so that all the angels could observe the actions of Jesus. The Father wanted all the angels to know that Jesus was equal to the Father in every way. (John 5:23) Of course, the Son is not greater than the Father, but neither is the Father greater than the Son! Jesus was exalted before the angels and the elders because He did something that no one else in the universe could do. He paid the penalty of sin for man. After He was found worthy to take over the universe, He took the scroll sealed with seven seals. In His new role as Commander-In-Chief of the Universe, Jesus began the process of deciding who will participate in His kingdom. He also began a process that will fully vindicate the government of God against the false claims of Lucifer. At the end of the 1,000 years, everyone will behold that God is love that God’s laws are righteous and His government is based on the principle of love. We have already examined 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, where Paul says that at the end of sin’s drama, an exalted Jesus will return all that the Father has given Him. Jesus will return the authority and the throne to the Father because He wants to be free to live among this creation as one of us! What Gods of grace and love!

Part Eight:

“I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall rise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” (Daniel 7:15-18, KJV)

Comments on Part Eight

Daniel wanted to know the meaning of everything he had seen, so he asked for an explanation. A nearby angel informed Daniel that these great beasts are four kingdoms. Some translations like the LXX say “four kingdoms” while others say “four kings.” But, verse 23 removes any doubt about the intended meaning because it says, “the fourth beast is the fourth kingdom that will appear on Earth.” Then, in the same breath, the angel asserts, “But, the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” The angel chose deliberate language to make this statement. The angel is emphasizing a profound point to those who suffer for their faith. This world was created for the children of God. Temporarily, the devil has gained control of Earth, BUT at an appointed time, there will be an end to sin and the devil. The saints will inherit the Earth. God has decreed it! (Matthew 5:5)

Part Nine:

“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 the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” (Daniel 7:19,20, KJV)

Daniel wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the little horn. If we are going to determine the truth about the fourth beast and the little horn, we must consider all of the specifications given to Daniel because the Bible is about to identify a world power that is corrupt and offensive in God’s sight. This is a good time to apply Rule Two, which states, “A fulfillment of apocalyptic prophecy occurs when all of the specifications within that prophecy are met. This includes the order of events outlined in the prophecy.”

The truth that will unfold from this prophecy is neither pleasant nor politically correct. In fact, people have denied the truth about the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the little horn for centuries, because the truth is offensive. The actions of the little have been offensive to God for centuries! God is the author of prophecy, and people who love the truth, regardless of what the truth says or where it leads, is the kind of people whom God loves. (John 4:23) Daniel provides a dozen specifications about the fourth beast, the ten horns, and the little horn that grew out of the fourth beast. Look at these specifications:

1.      The monster beast is the fourth world empire.

2.      The monster beast has unusual strength and it stomps its enemies.

3.      The monster beast is different; it has crushing teeth of iron.

4.      Out of the monster beast, ten horns (or kings/ kingdoms) arise.

5.      After the ten horns appear, a little horn rises. As it rises to power, it uproots three of the original ten kings leaving a total of eight.

6.      As the little horn grows and becomes great, it exhibits the same fierce qualities of its parent, the monster beast.

7.      Eventually, the little horn dominates the other seven horns.

8.      The little horn blasphemes God by usurping His authority.

9.      The little horn wars against the saints of the Most High for a specified period of time.

10.  The little horn “thinks” it can change God’s times and laws.

11.  The little horn endures until the end of the world; in fact, it speaks boastfully during the time of the end.

12.  The monster beast and the little horn are burned in the fire at the Second Coming.

History allows no wiggle room regarding the identity of the monster beast. The fourth beast represents Rome, which followed the fall of Grecia in 168 B.C. History allows no wiggle room on the identity of the ten horns or the little horn that came out of Rome. The ten horns represent the ten ethnic nations that caused the breakup of the Roman Empire. The little horn represents the powerful entity that grew out of the empire of Rome, namely, the Roman Catholic Church.

History has faithfully documented the course of the Catholic Church through the centuries. The following is a brief summary of what happened to Christians as they moved farther and farther away from Following God’s Word. The history of the Christian Church is a parallel to that of ancient Israel. Both religious systems displaced God’s Word with manmade traditions and doctrines and ended up in apostasy. Many wonderful people can be found within Judaism and Catholicism. Both groups love God and their religion, and they faithfully adhere to their respective beliefs. Many Jews and Catholics have not had an opportunity or sufficient reason to consider the Protestant view of Church history. Even further, many Catholics have little or no knowledge concerning the origins of Church doctrines or teachings. Upon close examination, many Catholics are shocked to learn that many of their doctrines have no biblical basis or authority whatsoever.

The Monster Beast Is the Roman Empire

Protestants have identified the Roman Catholic Church as the little horn of Daniel 7 for more than 700 years. This conclusion was reached by comparing Scripture with history. History says Rome is the fourth kingdom from Babylon to appear on Earth. The prophetic matrix and abundant historical records indicate the lineage of kingdoms is Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia and Rome. History confirms the fall of Rome is not the fall of other nations before it. For example, in Daniel 2 a different metal, the chest of silver, displaces the head of gold. However, the legs of iron of the fourth kingdom are displaced by feet of iron and clay. Look at the transition from Daniel 7’s perspective. The leopard displaces the lion, but another beast does not displace the monster beast. Rome does not disappear as Babylon disappeared. Instead, the ten kings that brought down civil Rome in A.D. 476 grew out of the Roman Empire. History says the ten horns pulled the Roman Empire apart from within. Rome disintegrated into ten kingdoms, some which were strong (like iron) and others that were breakable or weak (like clay).

Two Sets of Ten Horns

Many commentators teach that the ten horns of Daniel 7 are a future union of ten kings who are yet to rise out of a revived Roman Empire (thought to be the European Union.) This conclusion is contrary to several statements given in Scripture and the prophetic matrix. The prophetic matrix reveals the ten horns in Daniel 7 have come and gone, and history confirms the ten horns of Daniel 7 have come and gone! History also confirms the little horn ruled over the nations of Europe for 1,260 years before it was wounded in 1798.

Some people make the mistake of thinking the ten horns of Daniel 7 are the same ten horns found in Revelation 13 and 17! The ten horns in Daniel 7 appeared around A.D. 476 at the fall of the Roman Empire, and three of the original ten horns were uprooted within 60 years of A.D. 476 by the Church of Rome over a religious dispute on the eternal co-existence of Jesus with the Father.

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