Study 54
by Charles Tan
Text: Daniel 7:1-28
Dear Young People,
TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD
We have just completed a fairly long study of Daniel 7. This chapter is quite complex. It would be wise to take time to review what we have read.
Daniel was given another vision of what would take place in the future. He saw in a vision four world empires. There was the Babylonian Empire. He lived in that period of time. Daniel lived to see collapse of the Babylonians. The Medo-Persian Empire arose and destroyed the Babylonians.
Two other empires were to arise. These were the Greeks and the Romans. We know from world history that these two empires actually arose and then fell in due course.
What captured Daniel’s attention was not these four powerful empires. He was more concerned about the reign of the Antichrist. He sought understanding of the kingdom of the Antichrist.
Daniel confessed in his book, that he was deeply troubled. He wrote,
“This is the end of the account.
As for me, Daniel, my thoughts
Greatly troubled me, and
My countenance changed;
But I kept the matter in my heart.”
Daniel 7:28
GOD’S ATTEMPT TO REASSURE DANIEL
The Lord of course knew that Daniel was troubled. Thus He sought to turn Daniels’ attention to an even more important truth than the fact that one day the Antichrist would reign on earth.
God sought to turn Daniel’s attention to the fact that one day, He would establish the reign of the Son of Man. His kingdom would be one that would last forever. There would be no kingdom like that of the Messiah!
HOW DO THE GREAT TRUTHS OF GOD AFFECT US?
Daniel 7 ended on a rather sad note. Daniel wrote that he was so troubled that his very face (countenance) changed. What he understood of the visions of God affected him greatly.
Though we would prefer to see Daniel respond more positively, nevertheless we must be challenged by the fact that the visions of God affected him so deeply. This is an important point to ponder over. How much does the Word of God affect us? Does the Word of the Lord impact our lives at all?
Does the thought of the reign of the Antichrist cause us to be fearful? We should be deeply concerned if the Word of God does not affect us at all.