Hope in an Age of Fear

We live in a world that seems to be teetering on the brink of chaos, as if one misstep could plunge us into disaster. And because of this, fear is on the rise. And the research backs this up.

In 2024, Chapman University conducted a study on American Fears, where they discovered that anxiety is at historic highs: Nearly 70% of Americans now dread corrupt leaders, global conflict, or societal collapse, which a sharp rise from years past.

And why? Just look around…

For example: In Europe, hate speech laws are tightening like a vise, as countries like Germany are fining and sometimes jailing people for speech that was considered normal and rational just years ago. In Serbia, the streets ring with protests over muzzled voices, as free speech - our God-given right to speak truth - gets choked out under the banner of control.

And why? Because for many of the world’s leaders, the song from the Tower of Babel plays on in their hearts and minds, as they work to bring about the revival of a united, global Roman Empire. There’s talk of The Great Reset, which has been actively pushed and promoted by many world leaders from the World Economic Forum, who are hoping to reset the world’s economy and unit the world together. Then there’s the Global Digital Compact Endorsement of 2024, where leaders began pushing global AI governance and misinformation controls.

and no matter your thoughts on Artificial Intelligence and the benefits it brings, Many, even some of the creators of AI itself, are worried about what will happen to humanity when AI reaches its singularity point, where it become self-learning and advances itself at astronomical levels. In fact, I just read last month how Microsoft has developed a new QUBIT Processor, that is based upon a brand new state of matter which is neither a solid, liquid, or gas - and is instead, a new state called a topological state. and in certain tests, it is faster than all of the world’s super computers combined! But right now, as fast as it is, it only has 8 QUBITS in it, And Microsoft believes they can fit 1 million QUBITS in a single processor within the next few years! Which only adds to people’s fears about what beast-like horrors that might bring upon our world.

From drones that can strike from anywhere, To Christians being slaughtered in the thousands - with hardly any media coverage at all, To the imminent threat of man-made virus’s being released accidentally or intentionally, Fear is on the rise.

And with all of this and more going on… if we aren’t careful… We too can embrace living in fear in an age of fear. Instead of living with Hope, as we should.

Which is why we need Daniel chapter 7. In our passage this morning, we find 3 powerful truths we must gaze upon if we are to live in hope, instead fear. And here they are:

To live with hope in an age of fear, we must gaze upon:

1. The Reign of the Father
2. The Reign of the Son
3. The Reign of the Holy Ones

If anyone knew what it felt like to live in an age of fear, Surely it was Daniel. Not only was Daniel given a prophetic vision of the beast-like empires that would come. But he lived under two of them: Both Babylon and Medo-Persia.

And as we saw last week, All four of the kingdoms would be beastly violent in nature. And the Jewish people, who were under Divine discipline for repeatedly breaking the Mosaic covenant would feel their wrath the fullest. And Daniel knew this. He knew the time of the gentiles were going to be a time of gloom for the Jewish people. And yet, what does Daniel see in verse 9 that re-centered his hope in the midst of an age of fear? Yahweh God, the Ancient of Days, seated upon His throne.

As we briefly saw last week, The vision Daniel saw was absolutely breathtaking! In verse 9, Daniel sees thrones were placed - more on that in a bit. He saw God with bleach white hair and clothing - which represented His holiness and eternal nature. He saw God’s throne, which was fiery flames - which represented God’s holiness and perfect justice. He saw wheels upon the throne - which are only described this way in the books of Daniel and Ezekiel. Why? Because those books are written to the Jewish people while they were in exile, and so the wheels symbolize that God’s throne is mobile, that His presence and rule are not confined to Jerusalem, and even in exile, God goes with His people.

In verse 10, Daniel sees a stream of fire coming out before the throne - which represents God’s purity and judgment. And then he sees a thousand, thousands serve him - which give us a small sampling of how many angels there are. In fact, there are so many angels that serve God, that the Bible often refers to them as stars. For just as we cannot count the stars of heaven, we cannot count the angelic beings who serve Yahweh God.

Then Daniel sees then a thousand times ten thousand standing before God’s throne, as the court sat in judgment and the books where opened, as each person was judged according to what they had done.

And here’s the thing about this. If you stand before God and the books are open, instead of the one book that matters. It will not go well for you. And Revelation 20 tells us why.

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15 ESV

Do you see that? John’s description of heaven’s court sounds an awful lot like Daniel’s doesn’t it? And yet, as John reveals, there is one book that matters most, which is the book of life. And if your name is not found written in that book, the book of your deeds will be opened, and you will be justly judged and condemned to an eternity in hell.

And we know it’s an eternity because of verse 11. What happens to the little horn? He’s killed. And this beast, the final anti-Christ is given over to be burned with fire. Which is speaking of hell. And revelation speaks of this as well, saying:

²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 19:20 ESV

Do you know that there are professing Christians who don’t believe that hell is eternal? That it’s not forever and ever and ever? But make no mistake about it. It absolutely is. Our soul’s are not annihilated, they continue on forever in God’s eternal torment. and Revelation shows us this.

¹⁰ and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 ESV

After the last battle, Satan himself is finally and forever defeated, and he’s thrown into the lake of fire, where he finds the company of the anti-christ and the false prophet, who’ve been there for some time. They weren’t annihilated… And this is because hell is eternal for all those who’s names were not found written in the book of life.

Church we must never forget that we serve a holy, holy, holy God. Who’s wrath against sin is fierce and just! And a big part of our job as Christians is to warn people to flee from the wrath to come. And if we are going to do that, we cannot be ashamed of this truth, no matter how much our culture hates this truth.

Sadly today, a lot of professing Christians are ashamed of this truth. And so they either ignore it, hide it, or try to soften it by explaining it away. “Oh hell isn’t forever and ever” - but yes it is. Or, “hell isn’t eternal torment, it’s just the absence of God.” “Hell is God simply gives us what we want - a life without Him.” If only it were true…

How on earth do you have a God-free zone with an all-present God? The answer is, you don’t. “Wait a minute preacher. Are you saying that God is present in hell?” Yes I am. And in fact, that’s what makes hell, hell. See, this idea of Satan being Hell’s warden is biblically nonsense. Satan isn’t hells warden - God is, which is what makes hell, hell.

³³ For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

Isaiah 30:33 ESV

And in the New Testament.

¹⁰ he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:10 ESV

Church, this is what we are warning people of. This is why we are, as Paul did, “pleading with them to be reconciled to God in Christ Jesus!” Because if they do not call upon Christ as their Savior, He will be their eternal judge when He returns to rule and reign in His kingdom.

To live with hope in an age of fear, we must gaze upon:

1. The Reign of the Father

In verse 13, Daniel is given another vision, And it’s of one like a son of man coming in the clouds, where he boldly walks into the throne room of The Ancient of Days, where He is given dominion, and glory, and kingdom, where all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.

And His kingdom is an ever-lasting one. It’s not like the four that came before it. It goes on and on and on forever, Where, as C. S. Lewis put it, each day is better than the one before.

As we know, This is Jesus Christ. The one and only begotten Son of God, Who came to seek and save the lost, so that when we stand before God, the books of our sinful deeds will NOT be opened, but instead, the book of life will be opened with our names found it, written in His blood.

Did you know that Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man 82 times in the Nest Testament? In fact, it was His favorite title to use of Himself.

But what does it mean and why does Jesus use it? In Aramaic, the literal translation is: “Like a human being.” and what a contrast this is compared to the previous kingdoms who are described as beasts… with one of them being “like a lion.” But not Christ. For though He is God, He comes to us like a human being. In Human form, though He’s still completely Divine.

So that explains what “Son of Man” means, But why does Jesus use it? Well for that, you have to go back to the opening chapters of the book of Genesis. See, in Genesis, God made mankind in His own image, But for what purpose? To exercise dominion over all the earth.

But how did that turn out? Not well at all! Instead of exercising dominion over the earth, Adam failed when he fell into sin, which resulted in the earth exercising dominion over him, as the ground began to work against him, with thorns and thistles, and eventually, overtaking him as his body turned back into dust.

And so Jesus, the 2nd person of the trinity who is the new and better Adam, comes in human form to achieve what the first Adam could not. Which was to exercise dominion over all the earth. Unlike Adam, who failed to stand against Satan in a perfect garden, Christ succeeded against Satan in a barren desert. Unlike Adam, who blamed his bride and hid in shame, Christ took the blame for His bride and covered her shame. Unlike Adam, who reached for godhood and fell, Christ humbled Himself and was exalted. Unlike Adam, who was driven from the tree of life, Christ was nailed to a tree to become our life. Unlike Adam, who brought a curse upon the earth, Christ bore the curse to redeem the earth. Unlike Adam, who hid from God’s presence, Christ opened the way back into God’s presence. Unlike Adam, who brought a curse upon the earth, Christ bore the curse to redeem the earth. And we could go on and on in comparing the old Adam with the new!

This is why Christ is described as “The Son of Man,” He is the true and better theocratic administrator, who perfectly exercises dominion over the earth and brings us back into the garden, where we will rule and reign with Him.

Did you know that a lot of people claim that Jesus never claimed to be God? They do… And it’s weird… but they do. And some of the major Christian cults have bought into this lie. But for now, I’ll just wet your appetite.

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

And the argument goes, that the Bible makes it VERY, VERY clear that God is one, and doesn’t have a Son. and yet, within Judaism, there is an going problem that goes back well before the time of Jesus, called “The Two Powers of Heaven” problem.

And it’s a huge problem for people who do not believe that God is triune in nature. That He is 3 person’s in One. In fact, in his book The Two Powers in Heaven, Jewish scholar Allan Segal, who isn’t a Christian by the way, Extensively lays out this problem. And the problem is, that all throughout the Old Testament you see two Divine powers at work, sometimes even alongside the other. Which is a big problem if you believe God is just a single person.

For example:

²⁴ Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

Genesis 19:24 ESV

What? The Lord rains sulfur down on Sodom and Gomarrah, and the Lord out of heaven rains fire down? How do you have the Lord on earth, probably close to Abraham, raining down sulfur, and another Lord raining down fire from heaven? See… Two Divine Powers problem.

⁸ For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: ⁹ “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. ¹⁰ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. ¹¹ And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Zechariah 2:8-11 ESV

So the Lord sends the Lord… Again, it’s the Two Divine powers in heaven problem.

And this problem continues, and even amplifies itself in our passage this morning, Because in Daniel 7 we find God, The Ancient of Days, giving The Son of Man things and responsibilities that ONLY God does! Only God is judge. Only God rules and reigns. Only God comes in the clouds, which are described as His chariots and are actually His Shekinah glory! and yet… here is God giving the Son of man all of these things… And it’s because Jesus is the Son of Man, Who is Yahweh God! who exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit.

In Mark 12, Jesus points this problem out to the religious leaders, and afterwards, they decide never to ask Him anymore questions.

³⁵ And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ ³⁷ David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?”

Mark 12:35-37 ESV

Do you see what Jesus is saying? If David is the Lord and King, Why is he calling his descendant Lord? That’s not how that worked… But it does work if David’s descendent is The Son of Man, the second person in the trinity.

Now maybe you’re thinking: Ok, but where’s the 3rd person of the trinity? Where is the Holy Spirit? He’s there.

³⁵ And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ ³⁷ David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

Mark 12:35-37 ESV

And the same exact thing is seen in Jesus’ Baptism, as the Son is baptized, The Father speaks from heaven, And the Holy Spirit descends like a dove. Which perfectly solves the multiple Divine Powers problem of the Old Testament, And shows us that Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is Yahweh God in flesh.

Which is why we sing every Christmas: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn King!"

But this is why they crucified Jesus. Because when He told the religious leaders that He was The Son of Man from Daniel 7, and that they would see The Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven When Jesus said this, they knew exactly what He meant. Which is why the charged Him with blasphemy and crucified our Lord. The God of heaven, the maker of heaven and earth.

But because of they did, and He rose again on the third day, He could confidently say:

¹⁸ “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

And as we know, at the end of the age, not only will He return, But when He does, we will rule and reign with Him.

To live with hope in an age of fear, we must gaze upon:

Now, we’ll have to cover verses 15 & 16 next time. But for now look with at verse 18.

¹⁸ But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

Daniel 7:18 ESV

First off, what is this kingdom? Is it a literal kingdom or a spiritual one? And the answer is “Yes.” Yes, as Christians we are spiritual members of the Kingdom. And our job is preach the same message John the Baptist and Jesus did, which is to “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Which means, “The Kingdom is coming!”

But at the same time, We are not in the kingdom yet, For a kingdom without a King is no kingdom at all. and the church is not His kingdom. Can you imagine that? Yuuuuck. Even good churches are messy churches. Instead, the church makes up members of His kingdom, But it’s NOT THE kingdom, For His kingdom is an earthly one, and this king and His kingdom are coming to complete what the first Adam did not.

How do we know it’s an earthy kingdom that’s coming when Christ comes, and not a spiritual one or maybe even one that we build? Well first off, Are the first 4 kingdoms in Daniel chapter 7 literal kingdoms or figurative ones? Literal ones. And so why are we shifting our interpretive lens all of suddenly here for the last kingdom?

No, this is a physical kingdom which is coming soon to this world, Where Christ, the new and better Adam will reign physically on this earth for 1,000 years in the millennial reign of Christ. But wait a minute. Why is a thousand years? Didn’t Daniel just say that His kingdom will never end? That it will go on and on and on forever?

Yes, he did. And he said that because it’s true. For Christ’s millennial reign is but the doorstep of His kingdom as the last chapters of Revelation show us, And it’s a kingdom that never ends! For in Christ and His millennial reign: The Abrahamic covenant is fully fulfilled as the Jewish people gain their land and the church gains the world. The Davidic covenant is fully fulfilled as Christ rules and reigns upon David’s throne in Jerusalem, and all because Christ fulfilled the Mosaic covenant for us, So that we can have our names written in the book of life, and rule and reign forever with Him.

And now you know why verse 9 mentions thrones surrounding the great throne in heaven. And it’s because we WILL rule and reign with Christ. This is why the apostle Paul tells Christians to stop bringing their disputes before the pagan courts and to settle it themselves, and it’s because:

³ Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

1 Corinthians 6:3 ESV

Do you see that? We are going to judge fallen angels! and in Luke 19, and other passages Jesus makes it crystal clear that our level of faithfulness will determine our rank and position in His kingdom He says it will determine how many cities we reign over in the kingdom. And all of this is ultimately because we’ve been washed in the blood of Christ, And our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, ¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10 ESV

There’s so much more to unpack here. But for now, I want to ask you. Are you living in hope or fear? Does studying predictive prophecy terrify you, or thrill you with delight? Because if it’s not, it’s no wonder so many of us are giving into fear in an age of fear, when the age of hope is RIGHT ON AROUND THE CORNER!

As James said, this life is a vapor, which appears for a moment and then quickly vanishes! SO DO NOT FEAR VAPORS! Instead, by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, Repent of your sin and look to your Savior, Who saves us from the wrath to come! and take joy in seeing that He has planned the end from the beginning, And you can do that right this very second. You don’t even have to walk an isle. It’s as simple as LOOK AND LIVE!

As we said a couple of weeks go, God tells us the future so it impacts our day Which means that predictive prophecy is NOT meant to cause us pain, but to prevent our panic. It’s meant to bring us joy, unspeakable joy, as we get but a small appetizer of what God has prepared for those who love Him.

So trust Him - for His promises are sure and He is faithful to fulfill them. Place your hope in Him and His coming kingdom - and not the fading beastly kingdoms of this world. And serve Him in holy living with great delight - knowing that we will very soon rule and reign with Him.

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.

Let us pray.

This is the manuscript the sermon was preached from, so the recording may differ in places.