Mike Bickle – Daniel Seminar 2013 – God’s Sovereign Leadership Over History

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Session 2 God’s Sovereign Leadership over History (Dan. 7:9-14)

  1. OUTLINE OF DANIEL 7:1-14
    1. Daniel’s first vision: four beasts symbolizing four world empires (7:1-14)  As in the previous session, we do not agree on the identity of the fourth beast, but find its fulfillment in historical Rome.
      1. Introduction (7:1-3)
      2. The first three beasts (7:4-6)
      3. Fourth beast: Antichrist’s empire foreshadowed by the Roman Empire (7:7-8)
      4. God’s leadership in the end times (7:9-14)
        1. God enthroned in majesty (7:9-10)
        2. Destruction of the Antichrist (7:11-12)
        3. Jesus’ heavenly coronation as King over all nations (7:13-14)
  2. INTRODUCTION
    1. Daniel’s vision of God’s throne is one of the most glorious pictures of the throne in Scripture. John’s vision of the throne in Revelation 4-5 expands on what God showed Daniel. When we read both passages together we gain more understanding. They do describe the same place, but this is not the only time in history in which God has sat on His throne for judgment.  Any kingdom would do this regularly, at prescribed or required times.
    2. In the scene right before he saw God’s throne, Daniel saw a dreadful beast, which represents the Antichrist’s empire (7:7-8). What he saw was terrifying. How was he to respond to it? I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast [Antichrist], dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong… [he had] a mouth speaking pompous words. (Dan. 7:7-8)
    3. Later, Daniel sees that the saints were “given” into his hand by God (7:25). The phrase “it was given” (or its equivalent), referring to God, is found often in the books of Daniel and Revelation (Dan. 2:23, 37, 38; 4:16; 5:28; 7:4, 6, 14, 25, 27; Rev. 6:2, 4, 8; 9:1, 3; 11:2; 13:5, 7, 14-15). He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High…the saints shall be given into his hand… (Dan. 7:25)
    4. John saw that God gave the Antichrist authority or influence over every nation (Rev. 13:5-7). God will raise up the Antichrist to great authority for 3½ years to bring the entire earth to a place of decision for righteousness or unrighteousness (Dan. 7-12; 2 Thes. 2; Rev. 13). God will grant authority to allow certain terrible things to occur (Rev. 6:2, 4, 8; 9:1, 3, 5; 11:2; 13:5, 7, 14-15). He [Antichrist] was given…authority [by God] to continue for forty-two months. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Authority was given him [by God] over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Rev. 13:5-7)
    5. All authority belongs to Jesus (Mt. 28:18), who will give the Antichrist a specific sphere to operate in for 3½ years to judge the wicked and to purify His people. This is disagreed with.  As we find these to be historical, there would be no need for Jesus to give the devil any sphere of authority in which to operate in.  In addition, with a revised understanding of Matthew 24’s Olivet Discourse, as described in many other places, we see the Great Tribulation is, indeed, already past, and the Second Coming is yet to come.  In the Great Tribulation the seven seals of judgment are released by Jesus, not the devil (Rev. 5:5; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1). All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Mt. 28:18)
    6. Some ask why the Antichrist’s evil empire will even exist. To understand the answer, we must know that it is God who raises up the Antichrist to accomplish His purpose, and that God will then destroy him. Certainly, Satan and sinful people will also have a role in this.  We believe God already did.  The reason He did so as He did can be traced back to a false prophet who broke a wooden yoke off of Jeremiah’s neck, which God said He replaced with an iron one, and made Nebuchadnezzar head even over the wild animals.  In such a way, Babylon, from head to toe, had its basis in absolute world dominion.  The decline of Rome marked the end of this.
    7. God raised up Pharaoh in Moses’ day as the most powerful man on earth (Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17). God raised up an evil Assyrian leader named Sennacherib to judge Israel in 721 BC (Isa. 10:5), and He raised up Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon in 586 BC to discipline Israel (Jer. 22:7; 25:9, 12; 27:6; 43:10; Hab. 1:5-7). God raised up the Persians to judge the Babylonians (Isa. 13:3-5). The Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Rom. 9:17)
    8. God showed Daniel that He sets into place the leaders of the nations to serve His purposes. …the Most High…gives it [power] to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” (Dan. 4:17) There is no authority except from God…the authorities that exist are appointed by God… He is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (Rom. 13:1-4)
    9. God works on His own timetable that He set in His perfect wisdom. The Father has set the day for Jesus to return, and has set the boundaries of all nations (Mt. 24:36; Acts 1:7; 17:26). God has His plan all mapped out. He has fixed the time of the end (Acts 1:7). Daniel was shown that God has determined 70 weeks, 42 months, 1,260 days, 1,290 days, and 1,335 days, plus the unfolding of kingdoms in an appointed time frame (2:31-45; 7:1-8). Belshazzar saw God’s finger write “MENE,” which spoke of his days being numbered (5:26). Words and phrases like “until” and “the time appointed” or the “time of the end” emphasize how precise God is in His plans.  Agreed.  God does whatever pleases Him.
    10. Many in the nations will worship the Antichrist, because they will be awestruck and terrified by him. He will intimidate and terrify the nations with his great power and bold claims and threats.   We believe many DID. The dragon [Satan] gave him [Antichrist] his power, his throne, and great authority… All the world marveled and followed the beast. 4So they…worshiped the beast [Antichrist], saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:2–3)
    11. The way to overcome being awed and terrified by the power of the Antichrist is to grow in the revelation of the sovereignty and majestic beauty of the Father and His Son sitting on the throne. If our focus is on man’s evil kingdoms then we will become afraid and offended. God’s end-time judgments will destroy the Antichrist’s kingdom as they remove everything that hinders love.
    12. No aspect of God’s grace more powerfully transforms our emotions or satisfies our heart than when God the Spirit reveals God to the human heart. I don’t just want to serve Him, but to be obsessed with His magnificence. Is your goal to know the power and pleasure of being obsessed with Jesus? This equips us to overcome temptation, to endure persecution, and to engage in partnership with Him in His end-time plan, instead of being overcome with fear and intimidation.
    13. The Spirit was given to us to be our escort into the deep things of God’s heart. He knows more about Jesus than we can imagine. He will reveal as much of Jesus as we are hungry for.  Indeed, the Spirit is given, but was to them then too.  Yet, for our own day, and our own struggles, we too need the Spirit today.
  3. VISION OF THE THRONE: GOD’S LEADERSHIP OVER THE NATIONS (DAN. 7:9-10)
    1. Immediately after the Father’s majesty is revealed to Daniel (7:9-10), then the Father’s plan to exalt Jesus as a human king over all the earth is also shown to him (7:11-14). This is the pattern that we see in Revelation 4-5. After the Father’s majestic beauty is revealed in Revelation 4, His plan to exalt Jesus as a human king over all the earth is set forth in Revelation 5.
    2. God is enthroned in majesty in His heavenly courtroom (7:9-10). The heavenly court was seated, and the books were opened. The Father sits as judge over the nations as He fulfills His plans for world history. We see God’s sovereignty over the Antichrist and wicked world empires. I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days [the Father] was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; 10a fiery stream [river; NAS] 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. (Dan. 7:9-10)
    3. Ancient of Days: The name Ancient of Days depicts the Father’s eternal nature as the uncreated God who exists from all eternity, who works out His plans from the perspective of eternity.
      1. Daniel 7 focuses upon the big picture, the ultimate—God. We cannot understand the intensity of evil and suffering in God’s end-time purpose without seeing that He is that Ancient of Days. This name is used only three times in the Bible—all in Daniel 7, where God’s plan for the end times is set forth.
      2. This name points to the eternal God who guarantees the triumph for His people and the complete fulfillment of His eternal purposes. The Father never deviates from His goals and plans. The Father’s main purpose can be summed up in the Son of Man. The Father gives it all into the hands of one Man—the Son of Man (7:13).
      3. In God’s permissive will, He gives evil men surprising latitude to act wickedly. The Father has the last word on every nation, governmental leader, and every person. In due time, every evil leader and government is removed by God. This truth is emphasized in each of Daniel’s four visions. Daniel witnessed the overthrow of the wicked Babylonian Empire with his own eyes (5:30-31).
    4. White as snow: The Father’s garments and hair were bright white like snow. His garments speak of His deeds; His hair speaks of His wisdom. All the Father’s thoughts, actions, and plans are totally pure and perfectly wise. Jesus also appeared with white hair like the Father (Rev. 1:14).
    5. His throne: God’s throne is the governmental center of the universe. It declares that God is the ruler over everything. It speaks of His sovereignty over the nations. It guarantees us that all of God’s plans will come to pass. His throne is not temporary like the Antichrist’s. In the book of Revelation, God’s throne is the primary focus—referred to 40 times, with seven throne scenes (Rev. 4:2-6:17; 7:9-17; 11:15-19; 14:1-5; 15:2-8; 19:1-8; 21:1-22:9).
    6. Seated: The Father sits in total confidence and security. None can successfully challenge Him.
    7. A fiery stream: A river of fire (7:10, NAS) comes from the throne, and a sea of glass mingled with flaming fire is before the throne. The saints gather together on the sea of glass in God’s fire (Rev. 15:2). O saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast…standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Rev. 15:2)
    8. God’s throne is the place of our greatest fascination, intimacy, celebration, safety, and protection. See the seven throne scenes in the book of Revelation (4:2-6:17; 7:9-17; 11:15-19; 14:1-5; 15:2-8; 19:1-8; 21:1-22:9). We have access to God’s throne now to find grace and mercy (Heb. 4:16). The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [New Jerusalem], and His servants shall serve Him. 4They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads… And they shall reign forever and ever. (Rev. 22:3-5) God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Rev. 21:4)
    9. All of God’s enemies will stand before His throne (Rev. 20:11-15). God’s throne is the place of great danger for His enemies. Divine decrees go forth that punish evil (2 Thes. 1:9). I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened…and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…15Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11–15)
    10. The books were opened: The heavenly books record the deeds of every person. God has books in His court (Ex. 32:32; Ps. 139:16; 87:6; Dan. 7:10; 12:1; Lk. 10:20). They contain detailed accounts of every person. The Book of Life records the actions of believers (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27). God has books that contain details of the wicked (Rev. 20:12). Here, the words and deeds of the Antichrist (little horn) are under review. The pompous words of the Antichrist (7:8) bring a strong response from God’s court in heaven.
    11. His garment: God’s garments being as white as snow speak of His activities being righteous and of His virtuous administration in His creation (Rev. 19:7). He does all things in great purity.
    12. His hair: His head is like pure wool, which speaks of His wisdom and purity in governing.
    13. Thrones were put in place: Even now there are elders sitting on thrones before the Father. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (Rev. 4:4)
    14. The court was seated: Daniel sees God’s court in session (7:9, 10, 26), with the Judge taking his seat to evaluate the nations. In the midst of great chaos on earth is the all-powerful throne of the Ancient of Days. The heavenly court administrates God’s decrees about the final government of the earth. History is not spiraling out of control. Even when it appears that beast kingdoms are ruling without any account, the Ancient of Days is bringing forth His glorious purposes.
  4. THE FATHER’S ROYAL COURT
    1. Around the throne is God’s royal court—it is the place of majesty, strength, and beauty, etc. Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. (Ps. 96:6)
    2. Revelation 4 gives us the greatest revelation of God’s beauty in Scripture. What God put around Himself expresses His beauty to creation. I refer to Revelation 4 as the “beauty realm of God.” He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne…like an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones… I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their head. rom the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal… around the throne, were four living creatures… (Rev. 4:3-6)
    3. I see four main categories with twelve details in John’s description of God’s royal court:
      1. The beauty of God’s person: how God looks, feels, and acts (Rev. 4:3)
      2. The beauty of God’s people: the Church enthroned, robed, and crowned (Rev. 4:4)
      3. The beauty of God’s power: manifestations of power in lightning, thunder, voices (Rev. 4:5a)
      4. The beauty of God’s presence: His fire on lamps, seraphim, and the sea (Rev. 4:5b-7; 15:2)
    4. Glorious light filled with many colors radiates from God’s presence, including the brightness of diamonds (jasper), fiery red glory (sardius), and the colors of the emerald rainbow (Rev. 4:3). The jasper speaks of His splendor; the sardius, His fiery desires; and the rainbow, His mercy.
    5. God’s throne releases beautiful, glorious, and terrifying manifestations of His heart and mind to the saints—lightnings, thunderings, and voices proceed from His throne (Rev. 4:5a).
    6. God’s beauty is seen in how the Holy Spirit imparts His presence to those around Him. It is manifested with fire on the seven lamps, the four seraphim, and the crystal sea (Rev. 4:5-7).
  5. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ANTICHRIST (DAN. 7:11-12)
    1. The Antichrist and his empire will be destroyed at Jesus’ second coming (7:11-12). The connection of this to the Second Coming escapes us.  Once one removes the necessary connection in Matthew 24:29 of “immediately”, which proves to not be a necessary translation of the text, there is not any other real connection between the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming.  We understand, on the basis of ample backing, the Kingdom is established now, and, as such, when Christ comes back, He will then return the Kingdom to the Father, not sit in it.  Heb 10:11-13, 1 Cor 15:20-26, etc.  It is futile for the Antichrist to resist God. In God’s timing, His judgments will destroy the Antichrist. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast [Antichrist] was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. (Dan. 7:11-12)
    2. Pompous words: The Antichrist will be unrepentant and unmoved by the decrees of judgment issuing forth from God’s court. He will continue to speak great evil (7:8, 11, 20, 25). His arrogant words will create fear (threats) and/or excitement (false promises) in the nations. His pompous, arrogant words are emphasized four times in this chapter (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20, 25). He [Antichrist] was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies… He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle… (Rev. 13:5-6)
    3. The beast was slain: Daniel saw the defeat of the Antichrist without seeing how he will be slain. In the New Testament we see that Jesus, the Son of Man, kills him (2 Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:20). The Antichrist will be captured, and then his physical body will be thrown into the lake of fire.  Daniel 7:11 indeed describes the fourth beast as slain.  But, what of Daniel 7:12.  If Daniel 7:11 is truly an end of the age scenario, then Daniel 7:12, saying the other three will continue for a “season and a time” make absolutely no sense.  There is no other time frame for these to fit in, and, in our appraisal, seems to cast great doubt upon the entire futurist argument on the basis of this single verse alone.  In what “season and time” will these three demonically inspired kingdoms remain in the Earth, yet stripped of their power to rule the entire known world. I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. (Dan. 7:11) But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his [Antichrist’s] dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. (Dan. 7:26)
    4. Paul described the Antichrist’s defeat using the same verbs as Daniel—consume and destroy. The lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thes. 2:8)  As we describe in our treatment of this passage, 2 Thessalonians 1-2 talk about the events of Matthew 24 in reverse order, beginning with the Second Coming, followed by the 70 AD destruction.  As such, in chapter 2, Paul is describing the two-fold judgment coming upon this man, first in his physical death in 70 AD at the destruction of Jerusalem, followed by his spiritual destruction at the brightness of His coming at His Second Coming, at the end of the Book. I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him [Jesus]…Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet… These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him [Jesus]. (Rev. 19:19-21)
    5. The rest of the beasts: Other empires had their dominion or political authority taken away. The Antichrist’s death does not end the lives of the beasts but removes their authority. The lives of people in the region of the former three beast kingdoms were prolonged for a season and a time until the judgment of nations (Mt. 25:31-46).
    6. Their lives were prolonged: The demonic influence of each beast empire continued on in the one that followed it, until they all came together in the “composite beast” of the Antichrist’s empire. Thus, the Antichrist’s kingdom will include and incorporate the former three kingdoms.  This fails at sensibility, because the fourth beast IS the antichrist’s empire, plainly.  Moreover, if the antichrist’s death brings about the formation of his kingdom, which came first, the beginning or the end.  If his supposed kingdom does not come into being until after his death, and if the ‘composite beast’ is the conglomeration of the first three only after the destruction of the fourth, then the composite beast then cannot then be the fourth as well.  The failure of the logic in this is baffling beyond compare, and the interpretational system fails on this verse alone, to us, anyway. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard [Dan. 7:6; Greece], his feet were like the feet of a bear [Dan. 7:5; Persia], and his mouth like the mouth of a lion [Dan. 7:5; Babylon]. The dragon [Satan] gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Rev. 13:2)  This was Rome, whose spiritual power was fully overthrown in the conversion of Constantine.  After that time, Foxxe’s Book of Martyrs does not record another martyr for 1000 years, apparently as the murder himself was locked away somewhere dark and deep for a while (See Revelation 20:1-6).
      1. The expression, extension, and completion of the former four kingdoms will come to fullness in the kingdom of the Antichrist.
      2. All four former beast kingdoms will come to fullness in the Antichrist’s kingdom. This explains why the Antichrist can be from both the third and fourth beast kingdoms. Rome included the former geographic territory of the kingdom of Greece. The little horn comes from one of the four divisions of Alexander’s kingdom (8:9).  Over application of the ‘little horn motif’ again, in our estimation.
      3. We may not be able to clearly identify the three ancient beast empires, but they will be expressed in the end-time fourth kingdom, which will fully incorporate the former three.
    7. A residue from the previous conquered kingdom remained in the next kingdom, but no trace will remain after the destruction of the fourth beast kingdom. The millennial reign of Christ will have no vestige of the spirit of previous kingdoms; He will completely destroy all sinful kingdoms.  This, again, is false, on the basis of Daniel 7:12, for, after the destruction of the fourth beast, while the statue was ‘broken small’ and ‘scattered to the wind’, according to the YLT, the other three beasts remained.  Further, it never says the statue was completely annihilated, but that the pieces were made small and no place was found for them.  Quite simply, there have been nations and evil men since the time of Rome, yet, there has never been a one-world government since then.  That, coupled with the fact that the first three Kingdoms have none of their earthly glory remaining, and Nebuchandezzar’s Babylon is completely removed, we must conclude that Daniels’ statue, whose head was that first king, is, in fact, destroyed.  There can be no other conclusion.  But, the logical leaps around Daniel 2:35 and Daniel 7:12 are puzzling.
  6. JESUS’ HEAVENLY CORONATION AS KING OVER ALL NATIONS (DAN. 7:13-14)
    1. Jesus will be crowned as the King of kings over the earth (7:13-14). The Father’s eternal plan is to give His kingdom to a man—His Son. In this verse, Daniel prophesied that Israel’s Messiah would receive the leadership of the whole earth forever. Behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion…and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13-14) This, then, constitutes one of the major proofs of our system.  Matthew 28:18 says Jesus already has all authority.  In John 17, He prayed for the glory He had before the foundation of the world to be restored to Himself.  In Ephesians 1, it says He is already above all dominion and powers in this age in the age to come, and finally, in Hebrews 10:11-12, it says He must not leave His Father’s throne until all His enemies are made His footstool.  Quite simply put, He will not come back in His Second Coming, until death is defeated, according to 1 Corinthians 15:26, which does not occur until after the Gog Magog war, descibed in Revelation 20:11-15.  But, now, since He already has all authority and is already seated above all dominion with a name that will never be surpassed according to Paul, Daniel 7:13-14 absolutely is fulfilled, for there is no other thing to which He CAN receive, for it is already given.  To claim otherwise is to disagree with a substantial claim of the New Testament. As for the placement of the Messianic ruling of Israel and the nations, look to the space between Revelation 20:10-11, what we have come to call the ‘extra-millinnium’.  The time between these two verses is indeterminate, and only assumed by some to be of short duration.  In fact, it could be 10, 20, or even a thousand years or more, all things considered.
    2. This promise is fulfilled before the nations in part in this age, and in fullness in the Millennium. IHOPKC holds to the historic premillennial view of the end times, with a post-tribulation rapture, and emphasizing a victorious, praying Church (Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7; 22:17).  The key is Matthew 24:29, ‘immediately’ is not the guaranteed translation of ‘eutheos’ in this verse, but should be rendered ‘next’, and the combining of vv34&36 indicates that the vv29-31 Second Coming events are positively excluded from v34’s ‘this generation’ by the introduction of ‘but’ in v36.  “34 These things will happen within 40 years or so, … 36 but that day’s [the Second Coming described in 29-31] timing is unknown”, unknown except that the Second Coming must be “after” (meta) the 70 AD ones.  This is the plain reading of the text, without distortion.
    3. Jesus spoke of sitting on the glorious throne in Jerusalem that Daniel pointed to (Mt. 25:31)  This is seen as equivalent to the great white throne in Revelation 20:11-15. When the Son of Man comes in His glory…then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them… (Mt. 25:31–32)
    4. Son of Man: Daniel must have been shocked to see a human standing near the Ancient of Days. Jesus came to the Father as a man, on heavenly clouds. The preexistent One came to earth in human frailty and humility as a man among humans, to fulfill a destiny of suffering and death.
      1. Jesus used this term over 65 times to describe Himself. He identified Himself as the Son of Man of Daniel 7:13-14, who sits at the right hand of God and will return on the clouds of heaven. (Mt. 16:27, 24:30, 26:64; Mk. 8:38, 13:26, 14:62; Lk. 9:26, 21:27, 22:69).
      2. Pilate represented the most powerful government on earth. He must have been perplexed to hear Jesus’ peaceful response to his threats, You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. (Jn. 19:11). Jesus answered the high priest in a similar way, by pointing him to this very vision of the Son of Man: “sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mt. 26:64).
    5. Near to God: Daniel saw a Man, seemingly defying what God had told Moses, that no man could see God face to face and live (v. 13). He was so near to God, yet he was in no danger.  This describe’s His ascension to the Father after the resurrection.
    6. Clouds: Daniel saw Jesus coming with the clouds of heaven. Clouds are the transportation of heaven and appear wherever the divine is manifested, which elsewhere in Scripture describes how God has come to earth (cf. Ex. 13:21-22; 19:9, 16; 1Kgs. 8:10-11; Ps. 18:10; Isa. 19:1; Jer. 4:13; Ezek. 10:4; etc.). When Jesus spoke of His return to earth, He usually mentioned coming on the clouds; in this way, He would be seen by all the nations (Mt. 24:30; 26:64; Mk. 13:26; Lk. 21:27; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thes. 4:17; Rev. 1:7; 14:14-16; Dan. 7:13; Ps. 68:4; 104:1-3).  Just as He ascended on one at the Mount of Olives. He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…all the…earth will mourn. (Rev. 1:7) All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Mt. 24:30)
    7. Daniel saw the saints receiving authority over the nations in partnership with the Son of Man, who wants His people to rule with Him (Dan. 7:22, 25-27; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5).  Truly I say to you, whatsoever you pray, believing, you shall receive.  If the authority of faith, promised by Jesus in the Gospels, is not sufficient, then nothing ever will be.  Rather than saying, ‘Well, I tried that and it didn’t work’, or trying to make excuses to dismiss Jesus’ plain, and simple words of Mark 11:23-24, we defend the “literal and straight-forward” hereneutic of the Gospels.  Any preacher that preaches that the ‘mountain’ described in Mark 11 is anything other than a literal piece of rock is preaching against the faith of the Kingdom.  The context of the verse is in the cursing of a literal fig tree and having it literally wither, physically.  It is said regarding a physical mountain, and claiming that this must refer to anything than the absurd misses Jesus’ point entirely.  He merely proves the mundane by stating the extreme.  Yet, the conditions are very real.  True, spiritual faith, with no doubt.  All who have progressed in these things have found, not previously detected, the fear and unbelief that has laid hidden within their own souls.  This is the point.  Rather than simply trying to get more, apply Luke 6:48 and ‘dig deep’, and get to the rock.  You can either get ‘more faith’, or ‘less doubt’.  Both are valid, and, rightly understood, amount to the same thing, anyway.  Trying to spiritualize this mountain should be put on par with the objections with spiritualizing the Kingdom.  While Jesus’ statement certainly includes any spiritual mountain as well, claiming that He simply did not actually mean a phyiscal one is a ‘mountain of doubt’. The kingdom…shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. (Dan. 7:27) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne… (Rev. 3:21)
    8. Commissioned as King of kings: To this Man was given dominion over all the nations on earth. All peoples, nations, and languages will serve and love Him.  He is that today, not ‘will be’.  If claiming that to be future tense isn’t historically heretical, it seems to us, at least, it should be.  For whatever that’s worth. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him. (Ps. 72:11)
    9. Dominion: The end-time Church will decree that Jesus’ dominion is everlasting and cannot be destroyed. The Antichrist falsely promises with pompous words that his dominion will last.  No, the dominion of the Kingdom of God today is everlasting and cannot be destroyed.  As Jesus said, the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
    10. Jesus’ inheritance includes having the full authority over every sphere of life—power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. There are many aspects implied by each sphere. These are seven manifestations of His leadership and the response of the nations to Him. No other human being has ever possessed total authority across the earth in even one of these areas.  This is Christ today.  He has already conquered, and, according to Daniel 7 and Matthew 28:18, received.  There is nothing more He can receive, so He sits upon His throne, the throne of the Father, the throne of the LORD, which is what the books of Chronicles calls the throne of David and the Kingdom of David four times, sitting waiting until all enemies are brought under His feet. I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders… saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11-12)
    11. The word receive is significant. In what sense does Jesus receive these?
      1. From the Father: He received great favor and authority from the Father to rule the earth.
      2. From the nations: He receives the obedience and cooperation of His people on the earth.
      3. From the saints and angels: He receives this response from those in the New Jerusalem.
    12. The Father gave Jesus an unprecedented measure of favor in seven spheres of leadership over the earth. Jesus “receives” this from the Father and the response of people on the millennial earth. The voice of many angels…saying…, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev. 5:11-12)
    13. During the Millennium, Jesus will receive all the power (governmental authority); riches (money and natural resources); wisdom (insight and intellectual property); strength (physical strength, including the labor force and human resources); glory (praise and love); honor (all will esteem Him with their obedience); and blessing (agreement with His policies with unified cooperation).  He has them now.  In our understanding, we are already past the Millennium of Revelation 20:1-6.
    14. Revelation 5 describes Jesus’ destiny on the earth as a man—He is fully God and fully man. Because of His obedience to death, God highly exalted Him in heaven and on earth (Phil. 2:10). His exaltation is manifest fully in heaven, in part on earth now, and in fullness in the Millennium.  Claiming that He does not have fullness now does not seem to have the basis of scripture, to us, anyhow. …God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth… (Phil. 2:9-10)