Romans Chapter 5 Vs. 5

 

Peace with God Through Faith

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom 5:5

because the love... Four reasons why we can glory in tribulations:

1. Our justification and peace (Rom. 5:1)

2. The grace of God in Christ (Rom. 5:2)

3. The love of God in our hearts (Rom. 5:5)

4. The power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5)

This Holy Ghost spoken of here comes and dwells within us as soon as we accept Christ as our Savior. It is the Holy Ghost in us that loves others unselfishly.

God has implanted within our hearts evidence that we belong to Him in that we love the One who first loved us.

We are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation. If we are ashamed of Jesus or the Holy Ghost here, He will be ashamed of us in heaven. We must not be ashamed but boldly tell of our Lord and Savior and His blessed Holy Spirit.

A believer’s hope, since it is centered in God and His promises, does not disappoint him. “Disappoint” means “put to shame because of disappointment” in unfulfilled promises. This affirmation concerning hope in God is a reflection of Psm. 25:3, 25:20-21 (cf. Psm. 22:5; Rom. 9:33; 1Pet. 2:6). The reason this hope (resulting finally from affliction) does not disappoint is that God has poured out His love into our hearts. God’s love, so abundant in believer’s hearts (cf. 1Jhn. 4:8, 4:16), encourages them on in their hope. And this love is poured out by (better, “through,” dia with the genitive) the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. The Holy Spirit is the divine Agent who expresses to a believer the love of God, that is, God’s love for him. The reality of God’s love in a believer’s heart gives the assurance, even the guarantee, that the believer’s hope in God and His promise of glory is not misplaced and will not fail. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is related to His presence in believers as the seal of God (Eph. 4:30) and as the earnest or down payment of their inheritance in glory (2Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14). Later Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit Himself has been poured out in believers (Tit. 3:6). Each believer has the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) in the sense that He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (cf. 1Jhn. 3:24; 4:13).

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 26

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. Dan. 7:26

they shall take... Like all other ambitious world conquerors he will come short of conquest of the whole world (Dan. 8:24-25; 11:40-45; Rev. 19:11-21).

unto the end... To reveal the events that will end this age of grace is the primary purpose of this vision (Dan. 7:26-27; 8:24-26; 9:27; 11:40-45; Rev. 4:1-19:21).

The judgment is taken away from him by our King Jesus, and by His saints. He has been judged, and found guilty. God will remove the Antichrist’s rule and destroy him and his empire in eternal, conscious hell.

The promise to Israel

When the Judge, God the Father, convenes the court (cf. Dan. 7:10), that is, when He judges the little horn, his power will be removed and he will be destroyed (cf. Dan. 7:11; 2Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:20). This will occur at the Second Advent of Christ.

Romans Chapter 5 Vs. 4

 

Peace with God Through Faith

And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Rom 5:4

And, patience, experience;... Greek: dokime. Translated "trial" (2Cor. 8:2); "experiment" (2Cor. 9:13); "proof" (2Cor. 2:9; 13:3; Phlp. 2:22); and "experience" (Rom. 5:4).

“Experience” means character, or a better translation would be proven character. The Greek word simply means “proof”. It was used of testing metals to determine their purity. Here the proof is Christian character. Christians can glory in tribulations because of what those troubles produce.

All Christians have the hope of the resurrection.

In Lam. 3:26 “[It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

I have discovered that God allows these little trials to come along to see if we will rely on Him while we endure under pressure. If we fold in the trial, then we have to go through another similar trial until we learn to lean on him in our trials.

1 Thess. 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

Only a believer who has faced distress can develop steadfastness. That in turn develops character (dokimēn [“proof”] has here the idea of “proven character”), which in turn results in hope. As believers suffer, they develop steadfastness; that quality deepens their character; and a deepened, tested character results in hope (i.e., confidence) that God will see them through.

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 25

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Dan. 7:25

he shall speak... See Dan. 7:8, 7:20 we just studied, Dan. 11:36; Rev. 13:5.

shall wear out... Aramaic: bela’, wear out or down, afflict.

think to change... Aramaic: cebar, purpose, hope. He will change times and laws and they will be given into his hands for the last three and a half years (known as the Great Tribulation) (Dan. 12:7; Rev. 13:5).

The antichrist has great power over all the peoples of the earth. The people of the earth will not recognize him as the antichrist, until he begins to blaspheme the Most High God. He will seem to have the answer for all the problems of life.

Notice, in this, the saints are under his jurisdiction for 3 and 1/2 years. That’s what the “time, times, and dividing or half a time means.

During the first part of his reign, the antichrist will pretend to be a great peacemaker. He will control the people through his power to purchase goods. It is interesting that a new international currency has now been made, and these common market nations will all use it. There will come a time when no currency will be necessary.

Rev. 13:16-17 “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:” “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Read our study on the 13th chapter of Revelation to get more insight into this. This changing of time shows he wants to be as God. There have been men throughout ages that have wanted to be as God. Julius Caesar would have been one, Hitler would have been another. This is not speaking of a type of antichrist, but the antichrist. He is a personification of Satan himself.

Besides several facts already given about this coming king (see Dan. 7:21-22), three additional ones are now revealed: (1) He will oppose God’s authority. He will speak against the Most High (cf. Rev. 13:6). On “the Most High” see Dan. 3:26. (2) He will oppress His saints (i.e., Israel; cf. See Dan. 7:21). (3) He will introduce an entirely new era in which he will abandon all previous laws and institute his own system. As in Dan. 9:27, he will appear as Israel’s friend, but will become Israel’s persecutor (the saints will be handed over to him) and he will occupy Jerusalem as the capital of his empire (Dan. 11:45) for three and one-half years (Rev. 12:6; 13:5). A time, times, and half a time (cf. Dan. 12:7; Rev. 12:14) refer to the three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation, with “a time” meaning one year, “times” two years, and “half a time” six months. This equals the 1,260 days in Rev. 12:6 and the 42 months in Rev. 11:2; 13:5. (Cf. see “times” in Dan. 4:16.)

Romans Chapter 5 Vs. 3

 

Peace with God Through Faith

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Rom 5:3

we glory in... We have grace to endure trials without sustaining loss or deterioration. We are like silver and gold when refined.

Jesus taught that in this life you will have tribulation and that the only peace is in Him.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2 Cor. 1:4 “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

You see, the problems come to all. Christians have Jesus to lean upon in their troubles. (In Rev. 7:14), we see all the Christians around the throne who have been taken out of great tribulations on this earth. He promises He will be with us and provide a way out for us.

Mat. 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

One of the greatest examples of someone who was perfect and upright in the sight of God, and yet has great tribulation, is found in the book of Job. Job is tested by tribulation and yet his patience never tires. When we are going through tribulation (un-deserved), we must remember that it is to make us stronger in God. Jesus was tried for 40 days and nights, but never faltered. We can make it too, if we keep in the back of our mind that it is for our own good and not harm.

Patience (also known as perseverance), refers to endurance, the ability to remain under tremendous weight and pressure without succumbing.

Believers can enjoy the peace with God that has been achieved and the glorious future in God’s presence that awaits them. But how should they react to the experiences of life that are often adverse and difficult? They are to rejoice in their sufferings. The word “rejoice” is kauchōmetha, the same word in Rom. 5:2. “Sufferings” is thlipsesin, “afflictions, distresses, pressures.” James wrote along the same line: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (Jas. 1:2). This is more than mere Stoic endurance of troubles, even though endurance or steadfastness is the first result in a chain-reaction outgrowth from distress. This is spiritual glorying in afflictions because of having come to know (from oida, “to know by intuition or perception”) that the end product of this chain reaction (that begins with distress) is hope. Suffering brings about perseverance (hypomonēn, “steadfastness,” the ability to remain under difficulties without giving in; cf. Rom. 15:5-6; Jas. 1:3-4).

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 24

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. Dan. 7:24

the ten horns... The ten horns symbolize ten kings who will rule ten kingdoms that are yet to be formed inside the old Roman Empire.

out of this... If, as many Bible students teach, there will be a revived Roman Empire, we are to expect only one king over one kingdom formed inside the old Roman Empire territory. This is not what is stated here though. It is not one horn on the beast symbolizing one king reigning from Rome over one kingdom, as was true of the old Roman Empire, but ten kings out of this kingdom. This means that there will be a revised Roman Empire, not a revived empire. This further means that there must be another great European, Asiatic, and African war to form ten future kingdoms out of the 24 present states of the old Roman Empire territory (Dan. 7:23-24). That these ten kingdoms are yet future and will exist and reign together inside the old Roman Empire territory is clear here. They will not include all the world—only the then Roman Empire, only a part of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.

Ten Kings, Not Barbarous Tribes

Some teach that the 10 toes and 10 horns of Dan. 2:1-49 and Dan. 7:1-28 are 10 barbarous tribes which overran the old Roman Empire between 351 and 474 A.D. They interpret the little horn of Dan. 7:1-28 and Dan. 8:1-27 and the beast of Rev. 13-20 to be the papacy, but the following points disprove this:

1. The 10 toes and 10 horns are explained by God to be "ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as KINGS one hour with the beast. These shall make war on the Lamb . . . these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate . . . For God hath put in THEIR HEARTS to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give THEIR KINGDOM unto the beast, UNTIL the words of God shall be fulfilled" (Dan. 2:44; 7:24; Rev. 17:8-17). They are 10 persons who will rule 10 kingdoms for "forty and two months" or the last 1260 literal days at the end of this age, and who will help the beast fight against Christ at Armageddon—not 10 tribes of the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. (Dan. 7:24-27; 8:25; Rev. 13:5; 17:14-17; 19:19-21).

2. The 10 kings will reign over 10 kingdoms that will yet be formed inside the old Roman Empire—not 10 tribes of the past (Dan. 2:44; 7:23-24; 17:12-17; 19:19-21).

3. The God of heaven is to set up a kingdom on earth "in the days of these kings" (Dan. 2:44-45; Rev. 19:11-20:7). He did not set up such a kingdom in A.D. 351-474 and has not yet done so.

4. The 10 kings will all be in existence at the same time and place, do the same things and continue the same length of time (Dan. 2:44; 7:7-8, 7:19-27; Rev. 13:1-3; 17:12-17). They will be in existence and be reigning over the 10 kingdoms before the beast comes (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:19-27). They will make the 7th of the 7 kingdoms that precede the beast who forms the 8th kingdom (Rev. 17:8-11). All this is yet future, so could not be 10 tribes of the past (Rev. 17:12-17; 19:19-21).

5. The little horn of Dan. 7:1-28 and Dan. 8:1-27 is the same as the beast of Rev. 13-20 as can be seen by a comparison of them in these scriptures. Since the little horn of Daniel and the beast of Revelation are the same and are yet future, as proved by their war on Christ at His second coming (Rev. 17:12-17; 19:19-21), and since they both will have the 10 kings under them at that time, the 10 kings could not be 10 tribes of the past.

6. Not one detail of Daniel or Revelation has ever been fulfilled with the papacy or barbarous tribes outside the empire that overran the Roman Empire centuries ago. Tribes could never be 10 personal kings as is required of the prophecies of these books. No 10 tribes ever did exist at the same time and place, making agreement to give the papacy power to rule for 3 1/2 years. God did not set up His kingdom in 351-474 A.D.

7. There were 21 tribes or more which overran the Roman Empire and not 10, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica under the subjects "Lombard's" and "Suevi." Any group of 10 of these could not exist together to fight against Christ at Armageddon, as required in Rev.,17:14; 19:19-21.

8. The papacy did not overthrow 3 of these tribes and force the others to submit, as predicted of the little horn and the beast (Dan. 7:8, 7:19-24; Rev. 17:12-17).

9. No 10 kings have ever come from inside the Roman Empire to fulfill the prophecies, as required in Dan. 7:24. "Out of this kingdom" means from within. The tribes that overran the Roman Empire were from outside that empire.

10. No 10 tribes have ever been of one mind to give their power to the papacy, as foretold in Rev. 17:12-17 of the beast.

11. No papacy has ever come from one of the four divisions of the old Grecian Empire as will be true of the little horn of the future, as seen in Dan. 8:9-14, 8:23.

12. No papacy has made constant war on saints as the little horn will do when he comes "UNTIL" Christ comes (Dan. 7:19-22; Rev. 13:1-7, 13:16-18).

We can, therefore, say without reservation that the theory that the 10 kings are 10 tribes that overran the Roman Empire 351-474 A.D. is unbiblical and unhistorical. The scores of pages in some books devoted to the history of the papacy do not prove anything as far as the fulfillment of Daniel and Revelation are concerned, for these events will be fulfilled "AFTER THE CHURCHES" as proved in Rev. 4:1 we have studied.

Russia Will Be Defeated:

Russia must be defeated before the ten kingdoms can be formed, for she controls Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, which are countries of the old Roman Empire territory. Russia will not give up these states without war.

another shall rise... "Another" refers to an 11th horn, the little horn, symbolizing an 11th king who will come out of one of the 10 kingdoms and use it to overthrow 3 others (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24; 8:20-25; 11:35-45). The other 6 of the 10 will then submit to him, the Antichrist, without further war. God at that time will put it into the hearts of all the 10 to agree and give their power to the beast to fulfill prophecy (Rev. 17:8-17).

The Little Horn

Dan. 7:24 states that, "The ten horns out of this kingdom (the 4th, Rome) are ten kings that shall arise: and ANOTHER shall arise AFTER them; and he shall be diverse from the first (the 10), and he shall subdue three kings (of the 10)." This will give him 4 of the 10 kings. The other 6 of the 10 will agree to give their power to this little horn and he will form the 8th kingdom of Rev. 17:8-17.

It is clear that the little horn arises AFTER the 10 horns and not BEFORE them and that he does not have a thing to do with causing the rise of the 10. He does not revise the Roman Empire and is not on the scene of action until after the 10 kingdoms are fully formed. These facts exclude the possibility of some ruler—the pope, or any man now prominent in world affairs—as being the Antichrist of the future.

Sensational writings declaring that some present or historical man will be the future Antichrist are unscriptural, and cause much confusion. The 10 horns are the last form of the old Roman Empire and are within the same territory. They were first seen on the beast before Daniel saw the little horn come up out of the 10 horns. Daniel said, "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn" (Dan. 7:8). This "little horn" is yet in the future, and is the same as the "beast" in Rev. 13:1-18 as proved by the following:

1. Both are conquerors (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-24; Rev. 6:1-2).

2. Both speak blasphemies (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; Rev. 13:5).

3. Both prevail against saints (Dan. 7:21-25; Rev. 13:7).

4. Both control the 10 horns (Dan. 7:20-25; Rev. 13:1; 17:12-14).

5. Both change the times and laws (Dan. 7:11, 7:21-27; Rev. 13:1-7).

6. Both are slain and are given to the burning flame by the same person and at the same time (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-11, 7:18, 7:25-27; Rev. 19:11-21).

7. Both were to reign over the 10 horns "until the Ancient of Days came ... and the saints possessed the kingdom" (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:8-11, 7:18, 7:21-22, 7:25-27; Rev. 17:12-14; 19:11-21).

8. Both are destroyed at the second coming of Christ (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14; Rev. 19:11-21).

9. Both continue for the same length of time (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 12:14; 13:5; 19:11-21).

10. Immediately following both, the Kingdom of Heaven is set up (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:9-14, 7:21-27; Luke 1:32-35; Isa. 9:6-7; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6).

11. Both come out of the 10 kingdoms and subdue 3 others (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:8-9, 8:20-24; Rev. 6:1-2; 13:1-5; 17:12-17).

12. Both rise "after" the 10 horns (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:23; Rev. 13:1-7; 17:12-17).

13. Both are kings of fierce countenance (Dan. 7:8-25; 8:23; Rev. 13:1-18; 17:12-17; 2Th. 2:8-12).

14.Both cause craft to prosper (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; 8:25; 2Th. 2:4-12; Rev. 13:1-18).

15. Both exalt themselves (Dan. 7:8, 7:20-26; 8:25; 2Th. 2:4-12; Rev. 13:1-18).

16. Both fight against Christ at His coming (Dan. 7:20-25; 8:25; Rev. 17:12-17; 19:11-21; 2Th. 2:8-12).

17.Both shall be destroyed "without hand" (Dan. 2:44, 2:45; 7:9-11, 7:22-27; 8:25; Rev. 19:11-21; 2Th. 2:8-12).

18. Both do according to their own will for the same length of time (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; 11:36; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:5-7).

19. Both will be alive at the second coming of Christ (Dan. 7:11; 8:22-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 19:19-21).

20. Both will cause the great tribulation (Dan. 7:21-27; 8:23-25; 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1, 12:7; Mat. 24:15-31; 2Th. 2:1-12; Rev. 7:14; 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 20:4-6).

21. Both will do away with the Jewish sacrifices in Jerusalem (Dan. 7:25; 8:24; 9:27; 11:35-45; 12:7; Mat. 24:15).

22. Both will reign from the Jewish temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 8:9-14; 9:27; 11:45; 12:7; 2Th. 2:4; Rev. 11:1-2; 13:1-18).

23. Both will disregard the God of their fathers (Dan. 7:11, 7:19-25; 8:22-25; 9:27; 11:37-39; John 5:43).

24. Both will honor Satan and get their power from him (Dan. 8:24; 11:35-45; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-4).

rise after them... "After them"—after the ten kingdoms are formed inside the old Roman Empire territory, the little horn or Antichrist shall arise, and not before them.

Sixteen Antichrist Fallacies

1. That Antichrist will revive the Roman Empire and reign from Rome is false. The Roman Empire will never be revived, nor will Antichrist have a part in the formation of the 10 kingdoms inside the Roman Empire territory. He is to come after them, and not before them (Dan. 7:23-24).

2. That Antichrist will come from Rome and Italy is false. He will come from Babylon and future enlarged Syria. Dan. 8:9-10, 8:20-23; 11:35-45.

3. That Antichrist will be Nimrod, Antiochus Epiphanes, or any Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, or Roman king of the ancient past is false. He is not to be any resurrected man of the past, for he will be slain by Christ at Armageddon which means he will be a mortal man.

4. That Antichrist will be Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, the pope of Rome, or some other man who has recently lived is false. None of these men have come from Syria and some are not from the Roman Empire territory at all as is true of Antichrist (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; 8:9, 8:20-23; 11:36-45). That one of these recent men will be resurrected as the Antichrist is as false as the theory in pt. 3, above.

5. That Antichrist will be Judas Iscariot because both are called son of perdition is false. John 17:12.

6. That Antichrist will be a present magician in Syria is false. Antichrist will not be revealed or come into prominence in any sense until after the 10 kingdoms are formed and until after the rapture of the church.

7. That Antichrist will be any man now prominent in world affairs is false, for the reason given in point 6, above.

8. That Antichrist will be a child of the devil, a direct offspring of Satan, imitating the incarnation of God in the flesh is false. John 6:70; 8:44 and Seven-Headed, Ten-Horned Beast. No such doctrine is found in Scripture.

9. That Antichrist will be an incarnation of Satan is false. Satan is symbolized by the dragon (Rev. 12:9) who will give his power to the beast or Antichrist (Dan. 8:24; 11:36-39; 2Th. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-5; 16:13-16; 19:20; 20:10).

10. That Antichrist will be the opposite of Jesus Christ in birth, sonship, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and power is false. No statement is found in Scripture to prove one of these claims. The word Antichrist simply means "against Christ."

11. That Antichrist will rule America and be a worldwide dictator is false.

12. That Antichrist will kill every person in the world who does not take his mark and worship him is false.

13. That Antichrist will come up from the bottomless pit is false.

14. That Antichrist will come from Russia or Germany is false. These countries were never inside the old Roman Empire out of which Antichrist must come (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24).

15. That Antichrist will bring universal peace and prosperity is false. He will not see peace from the time he comes until he is slain by Christ at Armageddon. In his rise he will overthrow 3 kingdoms (Dan. 7:7-8, 7:20, 7:23-24), then make war on Israel and overthrow many countries (Dan. 11:40-43). In the last 3 1/2 years of this age he will use the 10 kingdoms to fight against the countries north and east of his Roman Empire territory kingdom (Dan. 11:44). After conquering Russia and other northern and eastern countries he will lead them against Christ to destroy the Jews, and be defeated by Christ at Armageddon (Eze. 38-39; Zec. 14:1-21; Rev. 16:13-16; 19:11-21). No statement is made showing that he will bring universal prosperity. The statement "by peace ... destroy many" (Dan. 8:25) refers to his covenant of peace to Israel (Dan. 9:27). Among the nations he is to go forth "conquering, and to conquer" (Daniel 7-8,23-24; 11:36-45; Rev. 6:1-2).

16. That the head "wounded to death" (Rev. 13:3, 13:12) refers to the assassination of Antichrist and his resurrection from the dead is false. This refers to a kingdom being destroyed and revived as the 8th and last kingdom, not to a man being killed and resurrected.

from the first... Different from the other ten kings.

he shall subdue... If he subdues three kingdoms, then he does not come in peace to obtain a kingdom, as some teach.

Daniel makes it plain that these ten kings will “arise” before the Antichrist makes his own rise to power. Three of them will not like his rapid ascent and will try to resist him, but they will quickly be defeated; Daniel says they will be “plucked out by the roots”, (Dan. 7:8), “fall”, and be “subdued” by the Antichrist.

I believe the ten horns are actually ten nations, which have made an alliance. They altogether make up the Revised Roman Empire. The one is separate from the ten. The one is representing the antichrist that will rise to the zenith of world rule.

It is interesting to note at this time, that the antichrist system is made up of the antichrist, the false prophet, and the beast.

The ten horns and the little horn

The angel then interpreted the meaning of the 10 horns, stating that they are 10 kings in this kingdom. The fourth empire, in spite of its great power (Dan. 7:7, 7:23), will be characterized by progressive weakness, deterioration, and division (cf. See Dan. 2:41-43 on iron and clay in the fourth part of Nebuchadnezzar’s image). When the hordes from the north conquered the Roman Empire in the fifth century a.d., they did not unite to form another empire. Instead individual nations emerged out of the old Roman Empire. Some of those nations and others stemming from them have continued till the present day. The present Age, then, is the 10-horned era of the fourth beast. (Other pre-millenarians, however, hold that the time of the 10 horns is yet future, that the present Church Age is not seen in this vision, and that 10 kings will coexist over a future revised [or realigned] Roman Empire.)

Sometime after the rise of the 10 horns — and no clue was given Daniel as to how much later — another king (the little horn, Dan. 7:8, 7:20) will arise. In his rise to power he will subdue 3 kings (called 3 horns in Dan. 7:8), that is, he will bring 3 of the 10 nations under his authority in his initial rise to power.

Romans Chapter 5 Vs. 2

 

Peace with God Through Faith

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom 5:2

access by faith... We are not merely introduced to God by Jesus Christ for an interview, but we are to remain with Him as part of His household (Eph. 2:18-22; 3:12).

into this grace... See Psm. 84:11.

We have access to the Father, because Jesus tore down the middle wall of partition and gave us access when He died on the cross. We see how Jesus furnished us access to the Father.

Mark 15:38 “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

This curtain was not torn down by man, but by God.

What was so unthinkable to the Old Testament Jews is now available to all who come.

wherein we stand,... refers to the permanent position believers enjoy in God’s grace.

hope of the... Unlike the English word “hope”, the New Testament word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain, but not yet realized. The believer’s ultimate destiny is to share in the very glory of God, and that hope will be realized because Christ Himself secures it.

Without the clear and certain promises of the Word of God, the believer would have no basis for hope.

The Lord Jesus, besides being the Agent of the believer’s enjoyment of peace with God, is also the One through whom we have gained access (prosagōgēn, “privilege of approach” to a person of high rank; used elsewhere only in Eph. 2:18; 3:12) by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Though the phrase “by faith” is not supported by the best Greek manuscripts, it is the human means of the access. Believers in Christ stand in the sphere of God’s grace (cf. “grace” in Rom. 3:24) because Christ has brought them to this position. He is their means of access.

In the Greek text the sentence, And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, is coordinate to the clause, “We have peace” (Rom. 5:1). Like that clause, this one too may be translated, “Let us keep on rejoicing.” Because of Christ, Christians eagerly anticipate the time when they will share Christ’s glory, in contrast with their falling short of it now (Rom. 3:23). In that sense He is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27; cf. Rom. 8:17-30; 2Cor. 4:17; Col. 3:4; 2Thes. 2:14; Heb. 2:10; 1Pet. 5:1, 5:10). Certainly such a prospect is cause for joy and even boasting! (Kauchōmetha, “rejoice,” is lit., “boast” or “exult,” here in a pure sense; this Gr. word is also used in Rom. 5:3, 5:11 where it is trans. “rejoice.”)

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 23

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. Dan. 7:23

which shall be... The fourth beast is a symbol of the old Roman Empire, the fourth of four kingdoms in succession. It is mentioned by name only in the N.T. (John 11:48; Acts 2:10; 16:21). Review Dan. 7:7.

devour the whole... The "whole earth" here means the Roman Empire, the civilized world at that time.

Again, this is speaking of the Old Roman Empire, which has been revised. This power is really control and it will take over control of the entire world.

The scope of the beast’s kingdom

Though historically the sphere of the fourth beast, though greater than the extent of each of the previous three kingdoms, was limited, the sphere of this coming ruler in the fourth kingdom will be worldwide. Daniel was told that this empire will devour the whole earth (cf. Rev. 13:7). And it will be a ferocious conquest, in which that kingdom will trample and crush those who oppose it. This anticipates a coming one-world government under a worldwide dictator.

Romans Chapter 5 Vs. 1

 

Peace with God Through Faith

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Rom 5:1

justified by faith... We have seen three things that save the soul:

we have peace... Ten Blessings of Rom. 5:1-21

1. Justification (Rom. 5:1, 5:9)

2. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

3. Access by faith into grace (Rom. 5:2)

4. Standing in grace (Rom. 5:2)

5. Joy in God (Rom. 5:2-3, 5:11)

6. Grace in tribulations (Rom. 5:3-5)

7. Love of God in the heart (Rom. 5:5)

8. The Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5)

9. Salvation from wrath (Rom. 5:9-10)

10. Reconciliation by blood (Rom. 5:10-11)

Justified: means just as if I had never sinned.

Being justified underscores that justification is a one time legal declaration with continuing results, not an ongoing process.

Gal. 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Peace comes when we are assured of our salvation. It is not an internal sense of calm and serenity, but an external, objective reality. God has declared Himself to be at war with every human being because of man’s sinful rebellion against Him and His laws. The first great result of justification is that the sinner’s war with God is ended forever and this scripture refers to the end of this conflict as a person’s being reconciled to God.

Provided righteousness enjoyed

The apostle now turned to a presentation of the experiential results (suggested by the connective oun, trans. therefore) of the believers’ justification — God’s declaring them righteous — on the basis of faith (cf. 3:21-4:25). The participial clause since we have been justified (cf. Rom. 5:9) through faith describes antecedent action to the main clause, we have peace (echomen) with God. Some of the important Greek manuscripts read, “Let us have peace (echōmen) with God.” This seems to be the preferred reading. If so, then the sense is, “Let us keep on having (in the sense of enjoying) peace with God.” Peace has been made by God through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Eph. 2:14), which fact is demonstrated by God’s justification. A believer is not responsible for having peace in the sense of making it but in the sense of enjoying it.

Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 22

 Daniel's Vision Interpreted

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Dan. 7:22

Ancient of days... The First and Second Comings of God the Father to the Earth

The Bible not only teaches the first and second comings of Jesus Christ to the earth, but also two comings of the Father:

1. The first coming of God the Father will be at the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth (Dan. 7:9, 7:13-14, 7:22; Zec. 14:5; Tit. 2:13). At this time God will come to help Christ defeat and destroy the Antichrist kingdom (Dan. 7:21-22). He will then give the kingdom over to the Son (Dan. 7:13-14) and the saints (Dan. 7:18, 7:27). Christ will then be King over all the earth (Dan. 7:13-14, 7:27; Zec. 14:9; Mat. 25:31-46; Rev. 11:15; 20:1-10; 22:4-5). The Father will go back to heaven to remain for the first 1,000 years of the eternal reign of Christ and until He has rid the earth of all rebellion (1Co. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10).

2. The second coming of God the Father to the earth will be at the end of the Millennium when Christ has rid the earth of all rebels. God will then become "all in all" on earth as before rebellion was started by Lucifer and later by Adam (1Co. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10). He will then move His capital city from the planet heaven to the planet earth to be among men forever (Rev. 21:1-7, 21:9-10; 22:1-5).

“Ancient of days” refers to God the Eternal One, who confers the messianic kingdom on the Son to rule at His second coming and following. Judgment is against the Antichrist and Satan who empower him, plus the unsaved who are not allowed into the kingdom at its outset, but are destroyed and await the final, Great White Throne resurrection and judgment.

1 Cor. 6:2-3 “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

Luke 17:21 “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

He (antichrist) will be judged by God (cf. Rev. 19:19-20), and Israel, no longer under the rule of the little horn, will enter into her covenanted blessings in the kingdom (cf. Dan. 7:18).

Romans Chapter 4 Vs. 25

 

The Promise Realized Through Faith

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Rom 4:25

Who was delivered... He died for our sins (1Pet. 2:24) and was resurrected for our justification (Rom. 5:10; 1Cor. 15:1-23).

justification... Seven Facts about Justification:

1. Greek: dikaiosis, the act of God declaring people free from guilt and acceptable to Him and counting them righteous (Rom. 3:25; 5:18). Dikaioma is only other word rendered "justification" (Rom. 5:16)

2. Justification is by faith (Rom. 3:24-4:25; 5:1; Gal. 2:16; 3:24)

3. Justification is the universal remedy for sin (Rom. 3:24-4:25)

4. Justification a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Rom. 4:1-25)

5. Justification by faith illustrated: Abraham before the law (Rom. 4:1-4, 4:9-25); David under law (Rom. 4:5-8)

6. Justification of believers is by:

(1) God (Rom. 3:26)

(2) Christ’s resurrection (Rom. 4:25)

(3) Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:11)

(4) Blood (Rom. 3:24-28)

(5) Grace (Rom. 3:24; Tit. 3:7)

(6) Faith (Acts 13:39; Rom. 5:1)

(7) Prayer (Luke 18:14)

(8) Obedience (Rom. 5:18)

7. Eight results of justification by faith:

(1) Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

(2) Access by faith into grace (Rom. 5:2)

(3) Standing in grace (Rom. 5:2)

(4) Joy and hope (Rom. 5:2)

(5) Joy in tribulations (Rom. 5:3-5)

(6) Love of God in the heart (Rom. 5:5-8)

(7) Holy Spirit given to us (Rom. 5:5; 8:9)

(8) Saved from wrath (Rom. 5:9-10)

Seven Ways that "justification" is used:

1. To declare what one is (1Tim. 3:16).

2. To esteem a thing properly (Mat. 11:19).

3. To commend or praise (Luke 7:29).

4. To clear from all sin (1Cor. 4:4).

5. To declare righteous (Mat. 12:37).

6. To set free or escape from (Acts 13:39).

7. To pardon sin (Luke 18:14; Rom. 3:20-28; 4:2; 5:1, 5:9; 8:30; 1Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16-17; 3:11, 3:24; 5:4; Tit. 3:7).

Jesus was without sin. He was innocent of all sin. He took our sins on his body and paid our penalty in full. I should have been crucified. My sins help put Jesus on the cross.

1Cor. 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

Isa. 53:5 “But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Jesus bought us and paid for us with his own precious blood. Our salvation lies in him.

Mentioning the Lord Jesus led Paul to state again the Savior’s central place in God’s program of providing righteousness for sinful people by grace through faith. Both Christ’s death and His resurrection are essential to that work of justification. He was delivered over (by God the Father; cf. Rom. 8:32) to death for our sins (lit., “on account of or because of” [dia with the accusative] “our trespasses” [paraptōmata, “false steps”; cf. Rom. 5:15, 5:17, 5:20; Eph. 2:1]). Though not a direct quotation, these words in substance are taken from Isa. 53:12 (cf. Isa. 53:4-6). Also He was raised to life for (“on account of” or “because of” [dia with the accusative]) our justification. Christ’s death as God’s sacrificial Lamb (cf. John 1:29) was to pay the redemptive price for the sins of all people (Rom. 3:24) so that God might be free to forgive those who respond by faith to that provision. Christ’s resurrection was the proof (or demonstration and vindication) of God’s acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice (cf. Rom. 1:4). Thus because He lives, God can credit His provided righteousness to the account of every person who responds by faith to that offer.

In Rom. 4:1-25, Paul presented several irrefutable reasons why justification is by faith: (1) Since justification is a gift, it cannot be earned by works (Rom. 4:1-8). (2) Since Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, circumcision has no relationship to justification (Rom. 4:9-12). (3) Since Abraham was justified centuries before the Law, justification is not based on the Law (Rom. 4:13-17). (4) Abraham was justified because of his faith in God, not because of his works (Rom. 4:18-25).