I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things (Daniel 7:8). This is one of the most valuable studies in the Bible. Please lean into the Bible text, determined to learn it for life. It will take some time over the weekend to really study it. Believe it or not, we are working toward the ten horns and the little horn.
If you will memorize four numbers (2—7—13—17) you will have God's view of history to the end of man's earthly rule. Daniel chapters 2 and 7, and Revelation 13 and 17. (D2—D7—R13—R17). Today we will begin reviewing the basic, defining scriptures. Please be patient and do your homework. Mark your Bible. Make notes. Attempt to learn the basic structure of these verses. Note the words in red: gold, silver, brass, iron, iron and clay and stone. Five world kingdoms. Memorize these words. he fifth kingdom (stone) is God's kingdom to be imposed upon the earth.
Daniel 2:31-35 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (32) This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, (33) His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
(34) Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. (35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Daniel 2:31-35).
Only four human world-power kingdoms are mentioned. The fifth world-power kingdom is the stone, the God-man, the Christ promised to Moses and prophets who came after him.
Now, please notice these verses: Daniel 2:40-45 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
(41) And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
(42) And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
(43) And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
(44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
(45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Next week we will pursue the (D2—D7—R13—R17) verses that provide the framework for the "little horn" that comes out of the ten horns on Daniel's fourth beast. Please read the above four chapters several times in your Bible. I hope you are hungry to know God's viewpoint of human history. If you don't have a hunger to know it, the study may be boring. But it's like being bored when your house is on fire. Part of this time line is just around the corner, perhaps in our life time. You do not want to be on the earth when the little horn is the world's boss and then the Stone smashes the feet and toes made of iron and clay. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). This is pretty serious stuff. You are welcome to pass it on if you think you should.
Memory Verse for this week: (This is the second week with this important verse.)
(Hebrews 3:12,13) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12,13).
Digging Deeper
Yesterday, I wrote: "God actually commanded His people to hide His word in their hearts. Not just their heads, but their hearts. Obviously, no one could memorize all the Old Testament books they had at any given time or even the Books of Moses. There were no Bibles, no books available to any but the hand-copied books available only to the rich until the Gutenberg press was invented about 1450 A.D." But even without printed materials, God saw fit to command His people to hide His word in their hearts.
Obviously this is not for the tenderfoot who lives to be entertained. This is for God's soldiers.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9).
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).
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