Sun.’s Devo - The Four Kingdoms of the Earth

Read: Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 28:23-24 Earlier in Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel saw a vision of what was going to happen in the future on the earth. In his vision, beasts came out of the sea which represented kingdoms that would rule the earth. These were the same kingdoms that Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his dream which represented metals. *** The first beast was a lion with wings like an eagle and represented Babylon. It’s wings were pulled off and it was grounded to the earth and was given a human mind. I see this as Satan thrown out of heaven to rule the earth through men. *** The next beast was like a bear. It represented Persia which was very cruel. The bear reared up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth. A voice cried to get up and devour the people. The three ribs represented Media, Lydia and Babylon. *** The third beast looked like a leopard and represented Greece. It had four wings and four heads and was given great authority. The four heads represented Cassandra who ruled Macedon and Greece, Lysemachus who ruled Thrace and Bithynia, Ptolemy who ruled Egypt, and Seleucus who ruled Syria. *** The fourth beast was terrifying with huge iron teeth who devoured and crushed its enemies under its feet. This was the Roman Empire. He had ten horns which Nebuchadnezzar saw as ten toes on his statue. The Roman Empire was divided between the Germanic and Romanic influences which did not mix just like the clay and iron didn’t mix. *** During the Roman Empire the Popery rose up who claimed to be God on the earth. *** Next, we see the judgement of God on all the kingdoms on the earth. Jesus came and brought his kingdom with would destroy all these kingdoms forever. *** When Daniel woke from his dream, he was troubled and asked the angel he saw standing beside the throne. He explained that the four kingdoms would rule until the end when the Lord would give the kingdom to God’s holy people. *** Daniel was most concerned about the last kingdom which would try to change their festivals and laws. Daniel was assured that it would be judged in the end and be given to God’s holy people. *** Do we not see that very thing in our world today? The Passover has been changed to Easter. Pentecost is forgotten. All of God’s holy days have been paganize and changed to other names. We are living in the bringing down of this last kingdom. *** First John gives us John’s eye-witness of who Jesus was and what he came to do. Jesus existed from the beginning and came to earth to reveal to us who the Father and his Son was. *** Jesus came to tell us that he is the light and there is no darkness in him. We can totally trust his holiness and goodness. We can fellowship with him only in the light where he is. We get there by confessing our sins and allowing him to cleans us from our wickedness. Then he places his word in our heart. *** Lord, thank you for your great plan for the earth and the future. May we walk in the light as you are in the light and have fellowship with you.