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HISTORY: GOD’S PLAN UNFOLDED
(Daniel 2:35-49)
…Everyone loves a story…especially a __love__ story. History is
really just that, it is the story of God’s plan. History is really
“His-story.” It is the great love story of God pursuing lost men and women
through the tunnel of an __empty__ tomb.
… God is
sovereign and omniscient. The future is certain because He has planned it and
He has the power to make it happen. It was this blueprint for the __future__
that He shared with the king in a dream, so that Daniel would be promoted to a
high government office.
TWO TYPES OF KINGDOMS EXISTING IN THE WORLD FROM DANIEL’S DAY UNTIL END
I.
The Rise And Fall Of Man’s __Passing__
Kingdoms And Their Glory. 36-43
A. Daniel
is given the meaning of the dream and with total confidence he gives it to the
king. Four successive world __kingdoms__ are foretold.
B. The
head of __gold__ represents Babylon, through Nebuchadnezzar.
1.
It was God who
had made him king. (vv37-38)
2.
Babylon would
last for 87 years..539 BC
3.
Gold reflected
the splendor and glory of the king.
C. The
Chest and Arms represented the Medes and Persians (39a)
1.
The two arms
symbolize these nations who defeated Babylon.
2.
This kingdom
would last for __200__ years, yet it was inferior to Babylon, as
seen by the metal silver.
D. The
Belly and Thighs of Brass represented Greece. (39b)
1.
Alexander
conquered the Medes and Persians circa 333 BC.
2.
It was said
that Alexander __wept__ because there was no more world to
conquer. His kingdom was larger than the previous. It lasted for 270 years,
until 63 BC…
3.
This empire
was less glorious but __stronger__ than Persia. (brass)
E. The
Legs, Feet, and Toes of Iron and Clay Represents __Rome__. (40-43)
1.
Iron is the
strongest of the 4 metals and shows how powerful Rome would be, yet her glory
would be far less.
2.
She would be
partly __strong__ and partly weak…
3.
Rome’s
influence has continued to even our day…
…Roman
law, Romance languages, Roman Catholic church…
II.
The Permanent
Kingdom Of Our Lord Jesus Will Arrive. (vv44-45)
A. This
is the kingdom that Jesus taught us to __pray__ for…Matt 6:9-10
B. This
kingdom comes suddenly, destroying all the elements of the previous kingdoms.
This kingdom fills the entire earth…(Pre-mill) The
Rock, not cut with human hands, establishes His Kingdom. (Jesus)
C.
At this, the
king praises the Lord and __promotes__ Daniel. (vv46-48)
WHAT
DO WE LEARN FROM ALL THIS?
1.
Rest in the
truth that God is sovereign in the affairs of our world…it is __not__
out of control.
2.
The unsaved __cannot__
understand the revelation of God...1 Cor 2:14
3.
God’s ways are
not our ways, marvel at how He brings His purposes into being.
4.
We today are
__near__ the end…yet some of you are not ready to meet the Lord…
5.
Prayer is
designed by God for us to talk to Him about everything...it is wonderful…He
answers…
6.
We too must
live with a humble __trust__ in the Lord our God. Just like
children.
7.
When God does
something great in your life, give Him all the glory. Don’t steal His…
8.
We too need to
have total __confidence__ in God’s revelation. God said it that
settles it for me.
9.
Someday, God
will extract __praise__ from the wicked.
10.
God takes
care of His own. He, at times, goes to great length to do so. Praise Him for
it.
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