HopeLives365

Mark Finley: For those who are alive, it's instantaneous. They're caught up to meet Jesus in the air. No more sickness or sorrow or heartache or suffering or death. The judgment is not bad news, it's good news.

Guest (Female): This is HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message, a study in the book of Daniel, week three, part one. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with HopeLives365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Babylon falls. Babylon ruled from 605 to 539. In 539, Cyrus and Darius attack and Babylon falls. You look here at Daniel chapter 7, verse five: "Suddenly another beast, a second like a bear. It raised up on one side and had three ribs in the mouth of it between its teeth. And they said thus to it: Arise, devour much flesh."

The second empire, Medo-Persia, overthrows Babylon. This second empire is like a bear, raises itself up on one side. The Medes and Persians attacked. The Persians became dominant over not only Babylon but over the Medes. So the bear raises itself on one side with Persia, the dominant power under Cyrus.

Bible prophecy is so incredibly accurate. For Babylon, it used this very symbol of Babylon, the lion with eagle's wings, accurate. For Medo-Persia, it uses a bear and the bear raises itself up on one side. The Persians dominated the Medes, but also three ribs. To be the dominant power, Medo-Persia had to overcome Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt—the three ribs.

Medo-Persia would not dominate forever. Certainly not. Verse six: "After this I looked and there was another like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast was given four heads and dominion was given to it." If you wanted to describe rapid conquest, what animal would you use? A leopard. If you want to describe rapid-rapid, rapid-rapid conquest, what would you do with your leopard? You'd put four wings on it.

The rapid conquest of Alexander the Great, who conquered the world by 33 years old and there were no more worlds to conquer, is described by the leopard. Bible prophecy does not guess; it knows. Bible prophecy is accurate and the leopard describing rapid conquest is fitting for Alexander the Great.

Alexander dies in a drunken stupor, probably, but weakened by alcohol certainly and probably by malaria. Incidentally, Alexander wanted to rebuild Babylon and make it one of his provincial capitals. God said that Babylon would never be rebuilt. Alexander took 10,000 men there to rebuild Babylon, but Alexander died. After Alexander died so quickly, they abandoned the project. Bible prophecy again was true. Babylon would never ever ever be rebuilt.

Alexander dies. Four generals, rather than destroying one another and going to war—although some of them did—divided the empire up in four major places. These four generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus. Cassander, Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus divide up the empire. Bible prophecy is so incredibly accurate.

A lion with eagle's wings, exactly the symbol of Babylon. A bear raising up on one side with three ribs, exactly the description of Medo-Persia. A leopard, rapid conquest, exactly the description of the Greek Empire. Greece doesn't rule forever. 168 BC, the Romans attack. Verse seven: "After this I saw in the night visions and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth. It was devouring, breaking in pieces and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it. It had ten horns."

Here is another beast. It had iron teeth, devoured, broke all the feet before it, different from all the beasts. This beast is described as being ferocious. The Roman Empire overthrew the Greek Empire. When some of the ancient writers wrote, they said like a vicious beast, Rome strode across the landscape with its iron monarchy, crushing everything before it. If you read the book *The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire* by Edward Gibbon, he uses some of the very symbols of Bible prophecy. Rome rules 168 BC to 351 AD.

Verse eight: "I was considering the horns and there was another little horn." What happens to the Roman Empire? Is it four empires and then a fifth empire, a sixth empire? If I were describing it and didn't know anything about the prophecy, I might say there's a lion with eagle's wings, there's a bear that raised itself up on one side, there's a leopard that has wings and four heads, and there's this fourth beast that's like a dragon-like beast breathing out fire, it has iron teeth, and then I might say there's another beast and another.

What happens to Rome? It says this has ten horns—the divisions of the Roman Empire. Ten is often in the Bible a symbol of kingdom, an earthly kingdom setting up in counterfeit to God's eternal everlasting kingdom. Verse eight: "I was considering the horns and there was another horn, a little one." A horn symbols power or kingdom. A little one coming up from among them. Before three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and speaking pompous things.

We actually have so much material in Daniel chapter seven, we're going to study about this little horn next week. We'll have a whole session on it. Suffice it to say today, there would be Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Rome would be divided into ten divisions. Another power would rise after the fall of Rome, but it would not be a political power. It would be a religious-political power that would dominate through the Middle Ages, that would attempt to crush the truths of the Bible.

It would be a political-religious power that asserted man's authority rather than God's. We're going to study about that next week. After Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, after the divisions of the Roman Empire and the rise of this political power, what is the common theme of them all? Babylon's desire is to rule the world, Medo-Persia's, Greece's, Rome's. When the ten divisions take place, this little horn power wants to have a religious-political confederacy to rule the world.

God then does something surprising. He shifts Daniel's attention from this earth to the throne room of the universe. In one of the most amazing visions in all the Bible, we see that there. Daniel 7, verse 9 through 11: "I watched till the thrones were put in place. And the Ancient of Days was seated. The garment of His head was as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame, His wheels like burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated and the books were opened."

Babylon ruled, Medo-Persia ruled, Greece ruled, Rome ruled, ten divisions of the empire. A political-religious system rises to dominate. Jesus says judgment will come. Daniel looks up into heaven and he sees in the judgment bar of God all things made right. That judgment takes place just before the coming of Jesus to declare the righteousness of Christ, to declare the goodness of God. In that judgment, all things are set right and Christ becomes victorious as He receives the kingdom. It's not the kingdoms of man; it's the kingdoms of Christ.

Let's study a little bit about this judgment throughout scripture. Let's go first to the book of Psalms, Psalm 98. I want to take a brief look at the judgment. In the judgment, the great controversy between good and evil is settled. In the judgment, Jesus is revealed as the worthy ruler of the universe.

Psalm chapter 98, and we're looking there at verse one and verse nine: "O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him victory." We're singing a new song because the powers of earth have been crushed. Because the cruel, despotic empires now are judged and destroyed. Oh sing a new song, for He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. Christ is victorious.

Verse nine: "For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity." The judgment reveals the victory of Christ over all the powers of evil. The judgment reveals the righteousness of Christ. Now you ask, does the Bible teach that before the coming of Jesus there will be a judgment? It does.

Guest (Female): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical, relevant way to people over the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence His life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Take your Bible, please, and turn to Revelation chapter 14. Daniel and Revelation are the two great prophetic books of the Bible. Revelation chapter 14, verse 6 and 7. John writes—he's exiled on the Isle of Patmos: "And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, with the everlasting gospel to dwell upon the earth, every nation, kindred, tongue and people. Saying with a loud voice, fear God (that's obey God), have a mindset to put God first in your life, give glory to God, for the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him that made heaven, earth, sea and fountains of waters."

The hour of God's judgment. Satan has said God is unfair, God is unjust. Satan has said that God is not worthy to rule the universe. Satan has said that Christ is not the one to sit on the throne as the Son of the Father. The divine eternal Christ is not to rule with His Father and the Spirit through the ceaseless ages of eternity. Satan has charged God with being unfair, unjust and an arbitrary dictator.

In the judgment, all things are set right. The hour of God's judgment has come. God reveals in the judgment His graciousness, His righteousness, His love, His mercy, His worthiness. This is an interesting text in Revelation 14 verse 7 because it said the hour of God's judgment has come. Not "it will come," but "it has come." When Jesus spoke about the judgment in Matthew chapter 12, the judgment was still a future event. John sees a present-tense judgment.

Matthew chapter 12, verse 36. What does Jesus say? "But I say to you that every idle word that men may speak—that really is striking, isn't it? Makes us take account of our words. Every idle word that men shall speak, they will give account of in the day of judgment." Jesus said there's a day of judgment that is coming.

Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 10. Again, you're going to find a future judgment. The judgment in Jesus' day was in the future. The judgment in Paul's day was also in the future. Second Corinthians 5:10: "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive things done in his body whether it's good or bad."

The judgment is a future event. What does it mean the hour of God's judgment has come? Is there a judgment before the second coming of Christ to determine who is worthy to enter the kingdom? Well, you go to the book of Revelation chapter 22. We look at the idea that when Christ comes, human probation has already closed. There is no second chance. The judgment has already taken place.

Revelation 22, verse 11 and verse 12: "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him be righteous still. He who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly, My reward is with Me to give everyone according to his work." If Christ is coming to give out the rewards, there must be a judgment previous to His coming to determine who receives what reward when He comes. That's why the Bible says when Jesus comes, there's no second chance.

When John says the hour of God's judgment has come, the divine clock has struck the hour. In heaven's most holy place of the sanctuary, ten thousand times ten thousand heavenly beings gather round. In a divine moment of destiny wherein an eternal judgment takes place, wickedness is destroyed. God's people are exonerated. The devil says you cannot save them, they're sinners. Jesus says they've responded to My grace, they're charmed by My love.

When we look at the judgment, the judgment says the hour of God's judgment. In the judgment, Jesus reveals that He's done everything He can to save every human being. That there's nothing more that Christ could have done to save human beings. Here in Daniel chapter seven, we find why the judgment should not be a scary event for the people of God.

If we are in Christ, if the righteousness of Christ covers us, if the power of Christ has transformed us, if we are in Jesus and Jesus is our savior and our Lord, our guarantee of eternal life, we need not fear judgment. Look at what it says. Daniel chapter 7, verse 13 and onward: "I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the Son of Man"—who's that? Jesus—"came with the clouds of heaven." What are they? The angels.

He came to the Ancient of Days. So here you have Jesus coming before the Father. Then to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom. It was given to Jesus. That all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away. His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Babylon rises and falls, Medo-Persia rises and falls, Greece rises and falls, Rome rises and falls. The Roman Empire is divided and a little horn power rises—a political-religious power. We'll study about that next week. It establishes human laws rather than accepting God's law. These powers pass away. In the judgment, the eternal everlasting kingdom is given by the Father to Jesus Christ. Jesus will reign forever and ever.

Why is the judgment good news for the people of God? It's good news first because Christ is exonerated. The Father is exalted. The Holy Spirit is revealed as the third person of the Godhead, as the mighty one. The judgment reveals that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are worthy to rule the universe forever. In the judgment, the kingdom is given to Christ. Through the cross of Christ, Jesus bought back this world.

The judgment's good news also. Drop your eyes here in Daniel chapter seven and look at verse 21 and 22. I was watching, the same horn made war with the saints. That's this little horn, this religious-political power who tries to destroy the people of God. He's prevailing against him until the Ancient of Days came. Judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High God and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

Judgment is so incredibly good news for us because judgment is made in favor of the saints. The evil oppressors can no longer harass or persecute or torment us. What happens? The court seated, verse 26, and they shall take away the dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms.

The judgment's going to take away the kingdoms of evil. But the kingdoms and dominion, the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom's an everlasting kingdom and all dominion shall serve and obey Him. The kingdom is given to the saints of the Most High.

The judgment's good news. When your name comes up in judgment, when my name comes up in judgment, Jesus says, "This man, this woman is one of Mine." Judgment is passed in favor of the saints of God. As sons and daughters of God, we inherit the kingdom with Christ. It's ours forever and ever and ever. John chapter 5 teaches the marvelous news of the judgment.

John 5, we're looking there at verse 24. The scripture is very clear. We'll read verse 23 to start and then we'll go over to verse 24 and 25: "Most assuredly"—I love the word assuredly, that's certainly, definitely—"Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death unto life."

The word for judgment there is the word *krisis* in Greek and it is better translated condemnation. You will not come into the condemnation of the judgment. Most assuredly Jesus says, definitely, certainly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who has sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but's passed from death to life.

"Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of God, the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, He has granted the Son to have life in Himself and has given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man."

Jesus will come again. Before He comes, there is a judgment. For those that have accepted Christ, for whom Christ is their eternal Lord and Savior, favor is passed in behalf of the people of God in the judgment. When Jesus comes, probation has closed and His people are resurrected. Or they're alive to receive glorious immortal bodies, resurrected or receiving those immortal bodies.

For those who are alive, it's instantaneous. They're caught up to meet Jesus in the air. No more sickness or sorrow or heartache or suffering or death. Favor is passed in behalf of you. God declares, "This man is My son, this woman is My daughter." We live with Him forever and ever and ever.

Guest (Female): You've been listening to HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, a final prayer from Pastor Mark.

Mark Finley: Our Father in heaven, how we thank You with all of our hearts that we need not fear the judgment if we are settled with Christ. But if we're not settled with Christ, if we haven't fully given our hearts to Christ, there's no way Jesus can save us in the judgment and we need to tremble then. Oh Lord, help us now be sure we are settled in our hearts with a total commitment to Christ forever and ever and ever.

Father, I pray too that there's somebody here that hasn't made that full decision. Let them know that the only way to pass the judgment is a complete surrender to Christ, a confession of our sin, a repentance and a changed life. Then we can approach the judgment in Christ and through Christ and by Christ with confidence. We thank You for that and look forward to that day that You will come soon. In Jesus' name, amen.