Scripture to Read: Daniel 7:21–28
In Daniel 7:25, the antichrist “will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One.” We also see in Daniel 7:21 that Daniel, “…kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them.” The “saints” mentioned are the people who will surrender to Christ during the tribulation because those who were Christians before the tribulation are already with the Lord. In Revelation 7, God reveals that 144,000 Jewish evangelists will evangelize, mostly Jews, during the tribulation. Also note Daniel 7:26, which says, “But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion.” This is a reference to the fact that the antichrist, the epitome of evil, will be dealt with by Jesus Christ and will be “annihilated and destroyed forever.” Read Daniel 7:27. I believe Daniel was writing about the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. Revelation 11:15 points to this as the high point of the human race and the outworking of God’s purposes. It says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” God will deal with any rebellion during this time. After Christ’s thousand-year reign, Revelation 21:1, 2 Peter 3:7, and 2 Peter 3:10 say the earth will be destroyed by fire, and the old earth is replaced by a new earth ruled by God the Father, Son, and Spirit. In Daniel 7:28, Daniel is troubled seeing that the nation of Israel will suffer before the establishment of God’s kingdom.
Challenge & Application
• How do we know that the reference to “the saints” in Daniel 7:21 and 25 is not a reference to the current body of believers right now?
• What is the good news that God showed Daniel that will happen after the seven years of tribulation?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!