"Tell us, Mom," Jamie begged.
"No one knows for sure what he will tell them. However, he may use
one of the latest teachings of the new age movement, that man is about to
take another step in the evolutionary process. This time a spiritual step.
They believe that the earth will spit out anyone who is not able to take
this evolutionary step,"12 Elizabeth offered.
Brian was laughing so hard, tears were streaming down his face. "What
a crazy idea! You mean to tell me there are people who actually believe
that!"
"Yes, I'm sad to say it's true," she added.
"The Bible tells us that G-d will bring a strong delusion on the people
of the earth so that they will believe a lie,"13 Darryl told them.
"Many prophecy experts believe the European Community is the revived
Roman Empire, represented by the ten horns. I believe it will be something
much bigger than the European Community. Something that includes the EC.
I believe it will be the new world order, under the direction of the United
Nations, which is gaining more power and influence every day.
"The antichrist, represented by the little horn, will overpower three
of the ten men who head the revived Roman Empire. We have no idea who these
men will be or how they will be over-powered. The eyes on the little horn
tell us that he will be very intelligent. The mouth indicates that he will
be a great speaker and he will be able to persuade the people to follow
him. He will speak blasphemies against G-d, and he will persecute the people
who become Christians during the tribulation period."14
"What does it mean that he will try to change the times and the laws?"
Brian asked.
"It means he will try to change the Jewish religious holidays and traditions,"
explained Darryl.
"How long will he persecute the Christians?" his daughter asked.
"The Bible says for a time, times and half a time."
"What does that mean?" Jamie was really confused now.
"A time is a biblical way of saying a year, times is two years, and
half a time is half a year."
"So, it is a total of three and a half years!" Brian announced.
"That's right. It will be during the second half of the tribulation."
"If the antichrist is such a bad guy, how does he get the whole world
to follow him?" Brian had a puzzled look on his face.
"Well, he is going to come on the world scene pretending to be a good
guy. In Revelation 6:2, he is symbolized as the rider on a white horse.
Listen as I read it to you: 'I looked, and there before me was a white horse!
Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror
bent on conquest.'"
"I thought the Messiah was the only one to ride a white horse."
Jamie was surprised to learn the antichrist would ride one, too.
"Remember, Jamie, the devil is a great counterfeiter. The antichrist
will be possessed by the devil himself and he will try to imitate Jesus.
He will be a false messiah." Elizabeth added.
"Do you think the Jewish people will believe he is the real Messiah?"
"I don't think they will really believe he is the Messiah promised
in the Bible because this guy will probably not be Jewish. However, one
of the things he will do is sign a peace treaty with Israel for seven years.
This will make him very popular with the Jewish people. They will come to
their senses half-way through the seven year tribulation.
"We will talk about the antichrist again as we study other chapters.
Now, I want to talk about the final kingdom," Darryl said.
Jamie smiled and said, "That would be G-d's kingdom, the one represented
by the rock in Nebuchadnezzar's dream."
"Yes, let's finish reading Daniel's dream now."
____________________
As I looked, the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days took
his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white
like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon
thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated, and the books were opened.
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. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority,
but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
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 peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His
dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom
is one that will never be destroyed.15
____________________
"The thrones of all earthly kingdoms are destroyed when G-d sets
up his kingdom here on earth. That was represented by the rock crushing
the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream."
"Is the 'Ancient of Days' another name for G-d?" Brian asked.
"Yes, it specifically refers to G-d the Father. What do you think his
white clothing and white hair represent?" Darryl asked.
"I think they represent His holiness, His righteousness, and His purity,"
Jamie replied. "But why is G-d seated on a flaming throne, with flaming
wheels, and a river of fire flowing before him? He sounds scary!" Jamie
now looked worried.
"The glory of G-d, pictured as a fiery flame, is common in the Bible.
The fire is also a symbol of judgment. G-d is about to judge the world.16
The wheels on the throne symbolize His ability to bring judgment anywhere
in the universe.17 G-d has thousands of angels in heaven to carry out his
sovereign will."
"Why does the Bible say ten thousand times ten thousand? Why doesn't
it say one hundred million?"
"There wasn't a way to say large numbers in biblical Hebrew. Instead,
they would say ten thousand times ten thousand to mean an uncountable amount."
"Who is the Son of Man?" Brian asked.
"The Son of Man is another way of saying the Messiah, or Jesus. G-d
the father gives G-d the Son the power and authority, to reign over all
the people of the earth."
Jamie smiled and said, "I think it is wonderful to know that Jesus'
kingdom will never be destroyed."
"The Bible tells us the other beasts will be stripped of their authority
but were allowed to live a little while. This tells us that the Babylonians,
Media-Persian, and Greek Empires would be stripped of their great power
but they won't be completely wiped out until the end times. G-d will judge
the antichrist and he will be thrown into the lake of fire. The Bible tells
us Daniel was pale and deeply troubled by the vision, but didn't tell any
one about it."
"Why do you think he didn't tell anyone?" Jamie asked.
"He probably didn't know what to think about it himself," Elizabeth
replied.
"Maybe he thought people would think he was crazy," Brian added.
"It's hard to know just what his reasons were. Perhaps we can ask Daniel
about it when we get to heaven," Darryl said with a smile.
