“Who Has Your Loyalty?”

Introduction. A. Story listening. B. The book of Daniel.

I. Daniel Chapter 6. A. King Darius gives Daniel an honored position in his kingdom: Daniel 6:1-3.

“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the

other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

B.Conspiracy against Daniel. 1.Jealousy among other officials: Daniel 6:4. “Then the presidents and satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom; but they

could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.”

2.Attack on Daniel’s religion: Daniel 6:5. “Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’”

3.Law established restricting prayer: Daniel 6:6-9. “Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, ‘O King Darius, live for ever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the

governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed,

according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.”

C.Daniel’s response: Daniel 6:10. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem; and he got down upon his knees three

times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”

D. Daniel’s punishment. E. God delivers Daniel: Daniel 6: “Then Daniel said to the king, ‘ O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me,

because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.”

II. Daniel’s Dream in Chapter 7. A.Four great beasts: Daniel 7:2-7. “Daniel said, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts

came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand upon two feet like a man; and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast,

a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side; it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and lo, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads; and dominion

was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the

beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”

1.Lion with eagles’ wings: ____________ Babylon 2.Bear with three ribs in its mouth: _____________ Medo-Persia 3.Leopard with four wings and four heads: ________ Greece

4. Terrible beast with ten horns: ______ Rome 5. Parallels King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream found in Daniel ch Daniel’s dream focuses on the _________ by providing more ________. end-time details

B. The ten horns: Daniel 7:8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

1. Ten horns: ________________ __________ Divided kingdoms of Europe 2.Another horn rises up, plucking up _____________. three horns 3.Horn has _____ like a man and a mouth speaking __________. eyes great things

C.Judgment scene in heaven: Daniel 7:9, 10. “As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire.

A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.”

D.God’s kingdom established: Daniel 7: “I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.

As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

III.Focus on Fourth Beast and Horn: Daniel 7: “Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrible, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze; and which devoured and broke in pieces,

and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up and before which three of them fell, the horn which had eyes and mouth that spoke great things, and which seemed greater than its fellows.

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom.”

A.Dream’s interpretation given to Daniel: Daniel 7: “Thus he said, ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.

As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change

the times and the law; and they shall be given into his had for a time, two times, and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under

the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’”

1.Different from former ones: decree by Emperor Justinian in ________. 533 A.D. 2.Put down three kings: _________________________. Heruli, Vandals, Ostrogoths (538 A.D.)

3.Speaks great words against the __________. Most High 4.___________the saints of the Most High. Persecutes 5.Thinks to change ______ and _____. times laws

6.In power for a time, two times, and a half a time: __________ time = year 7.3½ years = 1260 days/years; 538 – 1798 A.D.

IV. Crucial Issues in the End Time. A.Authority of human beings vs. authority of God. B. Worship controlled by human law. C. Who has your loyalty?