The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth

Daniel 7:15-28

The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.

before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

Opposing God's people in different guises throughout history is the  'little horn', until God finally removes its power. It is from this chapter that Revelation13 draws its imagery.

Why?

All of the kingdoms in the world are temporary and devouring people.

Don't anticipate anything from the governor in the world, even in the least county the leader is speaking boastfully. He does not care about the power of the Lord, he oppresses the follower of the Lord.

The good news is God's kingdom will come and the Mose High will judge all of them. The holy people will be delivered into the evil for a while.

How?

Our hope is in the hands of the Lord, obey the word of the Lord and trust in Him like Daniel.

In my vision at night I looked, four great beasts

Daniel 7:1-14

Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!

“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Like chapter 2 Daniel's first vision is a pictorial representation of history. Again there are four successive empires, and then the kingdom of God is established. The winged lion is Babylon; and verse 4 has Nebuchadnezzar, particularly in mind. Verse 6 depicts the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great, on his death divided among his four generals. Seleucus founded a dynasty in Syria, Ptolemy founded a dynasty in Egypt. The other two kingdoms were Greece and Asia Minor. The ten horns equate with the toes of the image in chapter 2, though the precise identification has been much debated. V9-12 picture God's judgment of the world empires. God gives total dominion to 'one like a sound of man' This was Jesus' favorite title for himself. The kingdom inaugurated at Christ's first coming will be finally realized when he returns.

Why?

Daniel has a dream which is similar to the image of king Nebuchadnezzar, but later the image of a son of man should be Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was given authority, glory, and sovereign power. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away. In contrast, four beasts, and four great kingdoms will be destroyed.

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1-6章講讓兩個王知道神在人的國中掌權，第七章起藉著異象講神在人的國中掌權

四風指全地，猶太人認為海是不平靜的，危險的，代表4個獸是興風作浪的。地方沒有一個動物像這四個獸，代表地上的政權，自我膨脹、擴張權力長的四不像，不是神所創造的動物樣子

獅子是地上霸主，鷹是天上的霸主。熊吃完其他東西還不夠，想再吃，是無肉人民的君主。豹的帝國行動快速，代表希臘國，第四個獸長相無法描述，吞吃吃不完還用腳踏，自己吃不完也不給別人吃，指的是羅馬帝國。如前面巨人的十個腳指。

寶座的出現代表審判展開，這些帝國政權都跨台，留人的生命，給人機會悔改。

只有神的權柄，神的國永存。

人被付予能力、權柄，我們人被付予權力，我們如何運用呢?有一天要交帳，要被審判。最小的腳指也驕傲，即使沒有能力的人也會驕傲，連神也管不了我，沒有什麼能力，只有一張嘴，話卻會傷人，這也是驕傲。

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How?

Jesus Christ is our salvation, a son of man, his kingdom endures forever. 

Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God

Daniel 6:15-28

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! 

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

So his enemies have him. The king's hands are tied by his own decree, but God's hand is not. Daniel was as safe from harm in the lion pit as his friends had been in the furnace.

Why?

Because Daniel trust in the Lord and he was found innocent in God's sight so the Lord shut the mouths of the lions.

The king issued a decree that in every part of his kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. Daniel witnessed the great honor of the Holy Name of the Lord!

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經文多次出現加蓋玉璽4次，不可更改也出現4次。強調君王的權柄，居然被下面的人拿來利用。自己的權柄被自己要脅。卻陷入自己的矛盾、愁煩。

但以理被丟入獅子坑，毫髮無傷。因為有神聖的靈在他身上，真正的權柄使獅子、狼、豹都和平相處一如亞當和動物相處。如何讓人看見我們背後的神。

大立烏好像認識神的人，但是卻很容易愁煩，睡不著覺！我們知道神可以救我，我們卻又常常無法完全交託！仍在擔心、憂慮、害怕！

最後他知道神的權柄不會產生矛盾，遵行神話語的人不會陷入困境！

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How?

May my life could like Daniel trusted in the Lord, and there is innocent in God's sight and nor done anything wrong before men.

Daniel, his exceptional qualities

Daniel 6:1-14

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

All his life Daniel has been a man of God. He is now in his eighties, and his enemies still cannot fault him. They can only attack him through his religion. Daniel could have stopped praying for a month, or he could have prayed in secret. But he is no more ready to compromise now than he was as a boy. So his enemies have him.

Why?

Daniel has exceptional qualities so the king set him over the whole kingdom.

They never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.

Daniel can stop praying for 30 days or pray in secret but he didn't, he remained to pray and open his door. This is his faith in the Lord. Daniel did not care about his life but focused on the Lord only.

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大利烏為波斯帝國第三任國王，經過70多年但以理已經80多歲了。他一生守住神的道，盡心盡力為國家服務。等於是總理王，王要立但以理為總理，引起其他總督不滿。

試練和逼迫會不斷來到，撒旦會用不同方式試探。依靠主不一定一路順利。因為敬虔才受到逼迫。敬虔的人也會受到逼迫，利益，誘惑來逼迫我們。但以理可以30天不禱告，或是可以關上窗。但是但以理不是禱告給別人看，而是做本來就是該做的事，不用改變。

大利烏很清楚但以理的為人處事，王卻一心想要救他的忠臣但以理。人被權利、慾望蒙蔽以致沒有想到此事。自己比神更大，讓自己昏了頭，可以彰顯王的威嚴。人如此行在權利慾望中，自我膨脹，最後也會傷到自己。反之，我們敬虔事奉主，即使有時候疏忽，考慮周到，神亦然在暗中保守補足我們。

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How?

What we can do and what our life will be is in the hands of the Lord! No on this world!

藏鏡人的悲歌 --約坦預言 士師記9:7-15

 2022/7/10 蘭雅禮拜堂

林義順

士師記9:7-15 

神原來要以色列人成為祭司的國度，祭司人數不用很多。但是以色列人不願意成為萬國的祭司。

知道自己的職份成為橄欖樹，無花果樹，葡萄樹的本份。不要如荊棘。以色列人放棄神給的本職。

橄欖：敬拜、事奉與神的關係，尊榮： 與人的關係。用真理和靈來敬拜

三個村」特色都在服事人。我們可能不認同人的作為，但是對於生命的根本仍然要尊敬，他來自於神。做愛心的工作。對人要有尊敬的心。

無花果： 尹甸園。神對人的供應，是好的東西。

神讓我們來世上，拿最好的這世界，不只是慷慨，而是拿出好的來供應，我們自己要下功夫-敬業的心。

葡萄：心靈上，如詩歌、小說、音樂山引領人脫離世界的紛雜繁瑣。禱告會見聖靈充滿。酒使人喜樂，不是喝到醉酒。又如約人去喝咖啡，使人心靈休息，成為喜樂

這三顆樹是士師記時代的解藥。

荊棘不認識自己，陷入自卑，其實很有能力，因為他出生卑微一個以至於用權力、王位來肯定自己。今天每個人都是王，順我者生，逆我者亡。

Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this

 Daniel 5:17-31

Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

“This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin

Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

They are weights, or units of money: 'a mina, a mina, a shekel, and a half-shekel, Daniel now an old man, is summoned to interpret and he goes to the root meanings of the words:'number', 'weight', 'divide'.The kings' days were indeed numbered. That very night Cyrus the Persian took the impregnable city of Babylon, so the ancient historians tell us, by diverting the course of the River Euphrates and entering along the dry riverbed, while the Babylonians were at a feast of their gods.

Why?

Because of the arrogance, Babylon's great kingdom fell down at night. 

God told us we have to humble and do the right thing, knowing the Lord is the only God in this world.

How?

Give the honor and thanks to the Lord!

Writting on the plaster of the wall

Daniel 5:1-16

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 

As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. 

Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Strictly speaking, Nabonidus was the last king of Babylon. But he retired to Arabia early in his reign, leaving his son Belshazzar acting king in Babylon hence the fact that Daniel could be made only the third ruler.

The date is 539, 23 years after Nebuchadnezzar's death. The great feast at the palace is going on with a swing when a mysterious hand begins to write on the wall. 

Why?

King Belshazzar didn't know the Lord and he used the gold and silver goblets that his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, It is blasphemy the Lord, Almighty.

This event, let people know that only the servant of Lord Daniel can interpret these mysterial words.

People always like to do anything as they delight, but there is a God who set the boundary in this world. Like the wave of the ocean can't across the bank. Water always flows to the lower places.

The rule in this world is knowing the Lord is a real blessing to men.

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大軍壓境居然還大擺宴席，可能在大內宣或是安撫人心，掩蓋自己的不安。

伯撒沙不給神面子時風神也不給王面子，公開在眾人面前寫字。伯撒沙很瞧不起但以理的身份，高高在上說話。尼布甲尼撒對但以理說話還有些尊重。

我們對神和世界應該是享受神，使用世界。伯撒沙則是享受世界，想利用上帝！

人死在過目過犯罪惡之中，所以對於罪惡沒有感覺。

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How?

Give praise to the Lord and keep God's command and honor God's Holy Name!