Only the mentally deranged will curse God the way some do. Oh yes, this applies to the many actors and actresses on our screens. It might be in their script but they are saying it and this means they mean it. The vulgarity, blasphemy and degraded language used against God is a great insult to Him and it’s a matter of time before these people are taken out by God if they do not repent through confession and faith in Jesus Christ. But then to be truthful, it is not only the movie stars. I have been told how many superiors insult and belittle their subordinates, blaspheming and cursing God, using the name of the Lord Jesus and other disgusting terms.
1) The small horn spoke against God.
Da 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.
One could believe you are bigger, greater and more powerful than others and fall into a dangerous trap. Far too many behave as if they themselves enjoy omnipotence, where that belongs to God alone.
(1) This king representing the small horn saw himself equal to deity. He claimed God’s attributes as his own.
2 Thess 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
(2) His language was revolting and insulting God and His Holy Character.
(3) He even tried to change the order God instituted. This does not mean to say changing times of fixed worship services, but times fixed by God for seasons.
(4) Again, “laws” does not necessary mean religious laws but laws in general that did not suit his madness.
(5) Much discussion has taken place over “a time, times and half a time”. Once again this period needs to be understood symbolically and not as to an exact duration of time. One commentator (Keil) puts it like this … “The proper analysis of the three times and a half is that the periods first mount up by doubling them, and then suddenly decline, shows that the power of the horn and its oppression of the people of God would first quickly manifest itself, in order then to come to a sudden end by the interposition of the divine judgment.”
Mat 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
The huge lesson for us to learn is that no one who sets themselves up against God succeeds. It might seem like they do at times, but they die and will also face the Judgment Seat of God. Their regimes too will crash in God’s good time. It might seem as though the persecution of the people of God lasts long … but the duration is determined by God and the outcome for them is good because that period is one of being made holy as they trust and depend upon God for help!
2) The small horn’s end does come!
Da 7:26 ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever’.
The judgment here described is that of the small horn (Antichrist). His power and authority are taken away … in fact, he is totally destroyed forever. We, the people of God must be encouraged by the fact that all evil, wicked and sinister powers will be destroyed forever.
Mat 24:21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Our eternity with the Lord Jesus will be a gloriously holy one. Beloved, that is what you and I need to be looking towards to prevent distractions. One of the most comforting and encouraging Bible passages for us must be
Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
3) The handing over of the Kingdom to the saints.
Da 7:27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
This is almost a repeat of verse 18. The fourth beast’s character and existence ends with the destruction of the small horn. The Kingdom given to the saints is an eternal one in which all the people of God participate with every dominion serving and obeying them. The dominant thought in the verse is the “people of God, the saints”, not the Most High. The Kingdom belongs to Jesus Christ. He is the true King. Yet because we are co-heirs with Jesus we will reign with Him.
Rom 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
I am sure you saw it … The Antichrist will cause havoc against the elect of God, even becoming stronger and stronger. God’s people cannot stand against him, yet suddenly his power ends, the Lord Jesus returns to earth, there is the Judgment and then this Kingdom of the Lord Jesus is handed over to His saints forever. It might be an idea to read the following passage in its context.
2Pe 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
4) This dream / vision / words from God came to an end.
Da 7:28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
He is awake now. He has the interpretation but he remains troubled, worried, concerned to the point of blood loss from his face. This matter and experience was such that he was unable to relate it to any one, deciding to keep it to himself. We do live at a time when the pressure from the world and as said many times, from governments, not just governments committed to other religions, but secular and materialistic governments, is on the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to pray passionately for God’s protective hand to be upon His work and His people.
Lord keep Your people safe, fearless and courageous for Jesus sake. Amen.