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Introduction
Introduction: Patriarch John, banished to the isle of Patmos, was standing on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea while he saw in a fearsome vision the seven-headed blazing red dragon fall from heaven onto the earth, presumably onto the land east of the isle of Patmos where the seven churches were situated. John heard and realized the comfortable message of this vision: Satan has been defeated by the Lamb of God through his angels! The seer also perceived that the enemy of God is still trying with all effort and in a fit of rage to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. The tempter knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:1-18).
Satan tempted Jesus in vain that he could win the masses as “Bread King” or fill those who are hooked on wonders with enthusiasm through a vision where he was being hold up by angels or take all power on earth so as to set up his kingdom of the Messiah by means of money and gold, if he only fell down and worshipped him, Satan, instead of justifying the rebels against God on the cross (Matthew 4:1-11). Therefore, Jesus named Satan in the Lord's Prayer the “evil” (Matthew 6:13), who aimed at keeping him off from the atoning death in a “friendly” manner by Peter (Matthew 16:21-23).
On the cross the Lamb of God revealed the powerlessness of Satan who had not succeeded in tempting Jesus to sin. He who was tortured to death loved his enemies and forgave them their debt (Luke 23:34). He held fast to the faithfulness of God who forsook him because of the judgment of our sins (Matthew 27:46). The Dying One committed his spirit to the hands of his hidden father, even though he passed away being in a desperate situation (Luke 23:46; John 19:30). In all temptations of Satan Jesus did not despair but he kept on loving, believing and hoping.
By his wonderful resurrection from death Jesus revealed the legal validity of his substitutionary atoning death (Romans 4:25; 5:10 and other verses), his sinless holiness and his eternal life which death and Satan cannot extinguish.
Christ is and remains the victor about God's wrath and Satan's cunning and power. The Evil One could not prevent the Son of Maria from reconciling the world to God. Christ's salvation means the total defeat of Satan.
Since Jesus has ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and has been enthroned by his Father, the accuser of all sinners has no right any more to bring any charge against the justified ones (Revelation 12:10-11). Jesus, our high priest, justifies us through his own blood shed for us and gives us his Holy Spirit so that we may live a holy life (Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:4). The gentle Lamb of God received all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; Revelation 5:7-12 and other verses). Therefore Satan had to be cast out of heaven. His concept of lies and murder (John 8:44) had been failed by the humble Christ.
Even nowadays the enemy of God and His Lamb is trying to destroy the church of Jesus Christ from the inside as well as from the outside. The destroyer wants to destroy the spiritual temple of God in this world whatever the cost. Satan knows that he is able as an evil spirit to tear and to liberalize the church but not to extinguish. Therefore he wants to become a human being so as to eradicate as a power-obsessed and brutal tyrant the saints of God by great power and much cunning.
The fight of the Evil One against the children of the Good One has fully been broken out for 2000 years. St Paul awakes us so as recognize this fact and to live respectively (Ephesians 6:10-20). Since then many anti-Christs being inspired by Satan appeared and returned to hell again (Matthew 24:5.11.24; 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1 and other verses). Yet in the end of this time the devil will incarnate all his wickedness and murderous power in a single person, i.e. in anti-Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation: 13:2-3) who is to destroy definitely the church of the saints all over the world so that the returning Savior may not find a single follower on this earth. The son of the Evil One wants to kill and eradicate the spiritual body of the Son of God. Yet he will fail because of the lamb character trait of the followers of Jesus. Some of them the Lord will give share in his suffering and death (Romans 8:17, Galatians 6:17, Philippians 1:20-21; 3:10 and other verses).
The Bible speaks several times of how dreadful this time of trial of the church of Christ will be in the end of time. Therefore, those who will understand the description of anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ should memorize the warnings of the Holy Spirit beforehand so that they do not become afraid and fall into temptation. Patriarch John assumed that the prophecies of the Old and New Testament are known to the readers of his visions, yet he summarized, deepened and complemented them so that we may face confidently the coming of Christ. With his summary of the previous prophesies John do not want to introduce us in the deep secrets of Satan (Revelation 2:24) but to glorify the victory of Jesus Christ over anti-Christ, his false prophet and the dragon.
1. The Night Visions of Daniel (Daniel 7:1-28)
Daniel means “God is judging"! Daniel the prophet is the first who saw in his visions and dreams in the Land of The Two Rivers details about the terrible beast from the sea which was more dreadful than all his precursors. Yet the prophet saw also God, the judge, and the Son of Man who received authority and the eternal kingdom from God.
With the seventh chapter of his prophetic book Daniel laid the foundation for all subsequent prophesies at the end times:
DANIEL 7:1-28
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. 3 Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. 21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
This vision of Daniel relates to four world empires, of which the following is reported:
- The last world empire is totally different from the previous ones.
- This last world empire is dreadful and very powerful.
- It will devour, ground and crash all other countries.
- Its ten kings will be reduced to seven by a succeeding last king.
- The new king has a great mouth and blasphemes against God, the Most High.
- He will destroy the saints of the Lord.
- He will change the fixed times and the law of Moses.
- Yet he will be given only three and a half times.
- The eternal God on his throne carriage will have the beast killed and thrown in the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we worship You and rejoice because You are the true father to those who are called Your children in heaven and on earth. We respect You because You grant each culture and each state a certain time to show their truth and their fruit, except Christ and His followers, because You have given Him all authority and glory in heaven and on earth. To Him belong glory and dominion forever, and we are kept in His grace. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the characteristics of the fourth beast in the Prophet Daniel's dream?
- Why did Christ use the essential name “Son of Man” to reveal Himself?
- How did the fourth beast have the authority and right to kill the saints, despite the fact that ultimately power and greatness will be given to them forever?