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We have considered Daniel 2. Daniel 7 parallels Daniel 2. Both describe the four powers that invade Israel throughout history. The lion represents Babylon:
Daniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
We know that Babylon uses a lion to represent itself. God's word also uses the lion to typify Babylon.
Jeremiah 50:17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Just as the fourth metal in the giant of Daniel 2 typifies the Roman Empire, so the fourth beast in Daniel 7 typifies the Romans. A Little Horn grows out of this Roman beast. This Little Horn corrupts God's truth by changing times and laws:
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Any connection between current popular beliefs and God's truth may be purely coincidental. Where are Israel's faithfuls of old now? Where are these people? Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and all of the other prophets? These verses explain the sleep of death:
Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalm 30:9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Those who sleep in the grave are totally unconscious. They are unaware of time. From the moment that Jonathan fell asleep as he died on the battlefield until his resurrection, time does not exist for him. His next waking moment after falling asleep will be the future resurrection. This resurrection is well explained in the Hebrew Scriptures:
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Our job now is to strive to ensure that we are found written in the book Because those who are written in the book will live forever in a world at peace. We will meet the patriarchs listed above. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and all of the others. Might we be tempted to ask Adam why he found a piece of fruit was so tempting? Only if we've avoided similar mistakes? The most important blessing in this future age where death no longer exists will be that we get to meet Israel's King:
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
This blessing of eternal life in the Kingdom of God is reserved for those who respect the God of Israel. The words of Isaiah are relevant, and God speaks mentioning the issue of His house:
Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
The future Kingdom of God on earth, with massive blessings for Israel, is a very important aspect of God's plan. God is inviting us to be a part of this future kingdom and the reward is eternal life. If we want God to extend the but to this man will I look promise to us, then we must fully believe in His soon-to-be-fulfilled promise to exalt Israel. That's an example of trembling at God's word.
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