Max Lucado - The Final Kingdom
Summary:
The preacher uses Daniel 7 to show that God has given us a prophetic «map» of history through the vision of four beasts representing successive empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome—leading to a future ten-nation confederacy and a final arrogant ruler. He stresses that we’re far along this timeline, closer to the end than the beginning, but the unsettling images give way to the exhilarating promise of Christ’s coronation as eternal King. Ultimately, this prophecy brings peace because we know the final destination: Jesus receives everlasting authority, His kingdom will never be destroyed, and we’re headed straight into His presence.
Blessing and Summer Break Announcement
Well, God bless you, God bless you today, from my home to yours. God bless you. Beginning on Friday, August 15th, my team and I are going to take a break. We’ll be back on September 1st. We’re not leaving, but we’re just resting; we’re just resting, and we’re coming to the end of what I hope has been an encouraging study over the summer. During these difficult days, we’ve found hope in the promise of eternal life in John 3:16.
Invitation to Today’s Message
Now, I think we’re getting close to the end, I do, and I believe that there are many passages in Scripture that help us. One of those is Daniel chapter 7. Now, if you want to hang around for about 10 minutes to discover and discuss some amazing prophecy, please hang around. It’s going to be an ambitious and fast-moving conversation; I promise you that. If you can’t stay, no worries. Please let us know how to pray for you before you slip out.
A Personal Subway Story
I was 21 years old before I ever rode a subway train—21 years old, been on the planet for two decades, and never been on a subway train. I was in Brazil on a mission trip, and I found myself riding for the very first time on a crowded subway beneath São Paulo, Brazil. As it raced through the dark, I realized I had no clue where we were going. I didn’t know when I was going to get off or how to get off.
Help from a Kind Stranger
Well, there was a gracious Brazilian gentleman who took mercy on me. I guess he could see the confusion on my face, and he spoke English. He asked me if I was a gringo. He asked me where I needed to get off, and I told him. I handed him a piece of paper that bore the name of my destination, and he pointed to a linear map. By the way, did you just hear thunder out there? Wow, it’s raining in South Texas.
The Power of the Map
Anyway, he pointed to a linear map that was stretched over the doorway of the subway. He said, «That’s a map.» He said, «That’s the name of the station we’re getting close to, ” and he pointed to a dot some six or seven stations removed. He said, „That’s where you’re headed. As we get closer, as we pass each of the stations, then just take note, and you’ll know when to get off, because you’re paying attention to the map.“ Well, for crying out loud, he made it so easy, and he was right; it was easy! I succeeded; I got off at the right station. Everything changed. Everything changed once I knew that there was a map.
God’s Prophetic Map in Daniel
Now, did you know that God has provided a map? That God has provided one to us? It seems to me that the book of Daniel gives us a relevant subway map of world events, especially Daniel chapter 7. Here’s the vision. Daniel said, „I saw my vision at night.“ In the vision, the wind was blowing from all four directions, which made the sea very rough. I saw four huge animals come up from the sea, and each animal was different from the others. That’s in Daniel chapter 7, verses 2 and 3.
The Four Beasts and Empires
He goes on to describe what he saw. Let me just summarize for you what he saw. First, he saw a lion. This lion represents the Babylonian kingdom. Statues of winged lions guarded the gates of the Babylonian palaces. Even though the kingdom was great, it did not survive because of the empire that is represented by the second animal, and that empire is depicted as a bear. A bear? Boy, does that not fit the Medo-Persians! I mean, they pounced on Babylon and overtook the empire in less than a month.
Successive Kingdoms
But like other kingdoms that are depicted in this vision, they were replaced. This time, they were replaced by a beast that looked like a leopard. Like a leopard! Now, what differentiates the leopard from the lion and the bear? The speed! The speed! And it was with great speed that Alexander the Great and his armies overtook the Medo-Persians. But like his predecessors, his empire, though it seemed like it would last, did not last. The fourth beast came along. It’s described as terrifying and frightening and very powerful.
The Fourth Beast and Rome
This fourth kingdom began with the Roman Empire in 241 BC and grew without abatement for four centuries. When it began to decline, it did so gradually and stubbornly, releasing its grip on the world very reluctantly. Now, according to the prophecy, it will extend; it will extend right into the final days in the form of ten nations. It appears that we have caught up with the subway map! We have caught up with the subway map.
We’re Closer to the End
You see, what the Brazilian did for me, God is doing for us. He points at the timeline of history and he says, „You are right here. This has passed. This has passed. This has passed. But you’re not toward that. You’re not at the end yet.“ The big idea, though, we can be sure of this: we’re closer to the end than we are to the beginning. No doubt about that! We’re closer to the end than we are to the beginning.
The Ten-Nation Confederacy
So what’s next? Well, one of the next stations might include the phrase „ten nation confederacy.“ This idea of ten nations collaborating and working together emerges from a striking detail of the final beast: ten horns which appear on the head, then the appearance of a little one which uproots three of the ten. I know, I know, I get it, folks. This is odd language to us, and I imagine if you’re hearing this for the very first time, you’re thinking, „My goodness, I’ve never heard anything like this.“ Well, it’s prophecy! It’s prophecy. In the Bible, a horn is a symbol of authority.
The Coming Ruler
Now, the world has not seen anything like these ten horns; we haven’t. We’ve yet to see this collaboration of ten nations, nor have we seen this ruler rise from their midst that will subdue three of them for his own power. This image of these four beasts, the image of the ten horns, and the ruler can be an unsettling image. But the promise, the promise of the coronation is exhilarating.
The Throne of the Ancient of Days
I’m skipping over to verses 9 and 10. Daniel said, „The thrones were put in their places, and God, who has been alive forever, sat on his throne. His clothes were white like snow, and the hair on his head was white like wool. His throne was made from fire, and the wheels of his throne were blazing with fire. A river of fire was flowing from in front of him. Many thousands of angels were serving him, and millions of angels stood before him. Court was ready to begin, and the books were opened.“
Worship and Judgment
What a dramatic picture! What a dramatic picture! Thank you, Daniel, for giving us this prophetic vision of God, God being worshiped not just by thousands of angels, but by millions of angels. Yes, we are seeing through the prophetic eyes of Daniel a new day and a final King, and He sits on the highest of thrones, the highest of thrones.
Defeat of the Boastful Horn
Daniel then sees this cosmic decisive conflict taking place between the Ancient of Days and the horn of the fourth beast. Verse 11: „I kept on looking because the little horn was bragging. I kept watching until finally the fourth animal was killed, its body was destroyed, and it was thrown into the burning fire.“ This boastful, bragging evil presence so characterizes the personality of the devil himself.
The Final Evil Ruler Destroyed
Now, we do not know all the details, but we can draw some very firm conclusions. The major ruler will be killed; the major evil ruler will be killed, and his government will be destroyed. Now, just when we think Daniel chapter 7, the prophecy thereof, could not become more graphic, we read verses 13 and 14.
Christ’s Eternal Kingdom
You’re going to love this, if you haven’t already read it: „In my vision at night, I saw in front of me someone who looked like a human being coming on the clouds in the sky. He came near God, who has been alive forever, and he was led to God. He was given authority, glory, and the strength of a king. People of every tribe, nation, and language will serve him. His rule will last forever; his rule will last forever, and his kingdom will never, never be destroyed.“ Praise the Lord! Praise to God’s name!
Jesus Receives All Authority
Folks, this is where we’re headed: a one King kingdom, the Son of Man. The Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days, or in more plain language, Jesus Christ appears before the triune God, and in this final coronation, Jesus is given absolute authority over all peoples, all nations of all history. You see, it was this moment to which Jesus was referring when he announced, „All authority has been given to me. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.“
The Unchangeable Outcome
So folks, the outcome has been determined; it cannot be changed. Every earthly king is just a wannabe. Each nation is on the clock; only one nation will survive forever. Only one king will reign; only one kingdom will endure.
Finding Peace in the Map
So where does this leave us? Where does this leave us? How does this fascinating, sometimes confusing, fast-moving prophecy of Daniel 7 impact our lives? Well, if we allow these words to find their mark, something wonderful is going to happen. We’re going to be at peace. We’re going to be at peace because we know there’s a subway map.
Calm Amid Confusion
You know, the vast majority of humanity rides through life like a, well, like a novice gringo on a subway train—absolutely clueless as to where we are going and how we will get off. On the São Paulo subway that day, I was an anxious passenger, but I was surrounded by calm people. Now in our society, the ratio is inverted. Excuse me; confusion is rampant, confusion is rampant, and tranquility is rare.
The Secret of Peace
You want to know the secret of the calm passengers? They know how to read the map. They know where the subway train of history is headed. Many of them have found their instruction, found their map in the book of Daniel. May you do the same. May you find comfort in God’s Word. May you trust Him, believe Him, and may you depend on Him. This ride will not last forever, and where it ends up is in the presence of the King of Kings. Amen.