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Now, let's dive into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. In chapter 7 of Daniel, he's called the Little Horn. Remember the Little Horn? In chapter 8 of Daniel, he's called the king of fierce countenance. old fierce face In chapter 9, he's called the prince that shall come.
All speaks of the same person. A final ruler that will come to planet Earth just before Jesus Christ comes again. One of the notable characteristics of his personality is his pride. Again, verse 7: The king will do according to his own will, and he shall exalt and magnify himself above every God. We've already discussed this when we were in chapter 7.
He's called the little horn. But he has a big mouth. He speaks pompous words against the Most High.
So how can anyone rest? When a guy like this is promised to come onto the scene having this kind of power. a prideful, arrogant ruler with power. How can you rest? Let me ask a more personal question.
How do you handle prideful people in your life? You probably can think of maybe one, two, three, a dozen, I don't know. Maybe there's somebody you go, oh, that person, he's just so. You know how most people deal with prideful people? They become prideful themselves.
So when they're around somebody who's sort of Heels dug in and arrogant, they sort of act the same way to one-up the other person that they're confronting. Oh, you think you're so great?
Well, let me tell you this. It's the very opposite of the way it ought to be handled. There was a mom who was cooking pancakes for her two boys, a five-year-old and a three-year-old. Um Kevin was the oldest, five years. Ryan.
The three-year-old. They started arguing over who would get the first pancake. You know, kids do that. Adults do that. And so she saw this as a perfect opportunity to inject biblical truth in training her kids.
So she bent down and she said, Boys, if Jesus were here, I bet he would say, I'll let my brother have the first pancake. And Kevin, the five-year-old, the older one, said to Ryan, the three-year-old, hey, you be Jesus. Yeah. But here's the scriptural promise. Proverbs 16, pride Goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Though that is true generally. It is never more true than of this Antichrist. He will puff himself up and be prideful. And a haughty spirit comes before a fall.
So you can rest in God's promise. Let's look at the second. Characteristic. This coming leader's aberration, verse thirty-seven. Says he shall regard neither the God of his fathers.
Nor the desire of women. nor regard any God for he shall exalt himself above them. This verse is put here because there are three areas of peculiarity. Aberration. That would be noteworthy to anyone living in Biblical times.
Three areas, first of all. The area of tradition, we're told he shall regard neither the God of his fathers. In other words, he will have some religious heritage. But at some point, he will turn from that tradition, from that heritage, and forsake it. Then it says Concerning his affection, Nor the desire of women.
He won't regard the desire of women. There's all sorts of books. written about what this could possibly mean.
Some have conjectured that the Antichrist will be a homosexual. But it could simply mean he'll be celibate. He'll be so focused on his mission that he won't desire to marry. Then, third, in regards to religion, notice the same verse says, nor regard any God. for he will magnify himself above them all.
Now, this is an interesting characteristic. His pride is so. Up there, out there. That He would even exalt himself above God. Above any God.
That's an aberration. I mean, you know, there's arrogance, and then there's arrogance. And this is arrogance to an aberrational point. Paul says the same thing, 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 4. He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself.
That He is God.
Now, hold this thought, because I want to tie something together. That if I just move on, there'll be too many loose threads. I mentioned something a couple weeks ago, a few weeks ago. I suggested a possibility, and again, it's only a possibility. I'm not here to say I know who the Antichrist is or from where they're from.
Enough books have been written that are wrong. But I suggested the possibility that the Antichrist may have Islamic origin. That the Antichrist might indeed be The one that the Muslims worldwide consider as coming soon, their Mahdi. Their deliverer. And I quote it from Islamic literature.
To show you that they are expecting universally somebody who is coming to this earth who is a messianic figure, an unparalleled leader, this is all in their literature, who will take control of the world, who will destroy all who resist him, who will invade many nations, who will enact a seven-year peace treaty with the Jews, who will conquer Israel and massacre Jews, and then establish an Islamic world headquarters at Jerusalem. Which, when we discovered that, it sounds: boy, that sounds a whole lot like what the Bible describes as Antichrist. We have two problems. Problem number one in most people's minds is this problem of the revived Roman Empire. Because the prophecy is that Rome will in the end days have some sort of association and revive, and so we expect a leader from the revived Roman Empire.
So everybody looks to Europe as some white European guy who's going to come and that's the Antichrist. What you need to understand, and if you know history, you remember this. And if you know biblical history, you remember that Nebuchadnezzar saw a vision of coming world empires, and the last one were the legs of iron. They represented Rome. It was the longest part of the statue.
It was divided into two legs. In 395 AD, Rome indeed split east and west. The western leg of the Roman Empire fizzled out essentially. The eastern leg continued for another thousand years, and it was headquartered at Constantinople, which is today modern day Istanbul, Turkey. If you were to take a map of the ancient Roman Empire, You would discover that 60% of the lands that occupied the Roman Empire are under today Islamic control.
So we can answer that. part of the question. The other piece of the problem deals with what we're talking about here. You have a guy who's saying he's God. The Antichrist is demanding personal worship.
How could he be a Muslim? Any Muslim would never allow this.
Well, here's what you have to remember. The Antichrist, whoever this person is, will accomplish a great deal in the first three and a half years of his seven-year rule. He will not demand worship until three and a half years is up. And in the middle of that seven-year period comes this abomination of desolation, where he proclaims that he is God. That's once the world has given him.
Allegiance. Then he invades Israel, then he establishes authority in the temple. After the Islamic world, after all the Imams and all the mullahs and all the Ayatollahs and all the sheikhs have already said, this is the guy. At that point. To deny him at that point would be the ultimate shame.
In Islam, especially after a flush of vindication and satisfaction, we've made this much ground.
Something else. Add to all that I just said what it says in 2 Thessalonians 2 of this time period, where it says, God will send them strong delusion. that they will believe the lie. There will be a supernatural Confirmation of the already hardened hearts of those people on the earth. God will send them strong delusion and they will believe the lie.
Can help. Back to our theme. I dare you, rest? Daniel has shown this kind of a leader who will be arrogant and aberrational with no regard at all to any God or religions of other people. He'll be intolerant of other people's faith.
And then he will turn from his own at some point. How do you rest? Was somebody like that. Here's what you need to remember. When all this happens, It will be for a very short period of time.
Three and a half years. is the short period of time when you look at world history. Three and a half years, and I believe that's what Jesus meant when he said: unless those days were shortened. There would no flesh be saved. But for the elect's sake, They will be shortened.
So here's the scriptural promise: God will not share his glory with another. You can rest. in God's proclamation. Rest in God's promise. Rest in God's proclamation.
Let's consider a third characteristic of this coming leader, and that is his association. Verse thirty eight. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses. A God which his fathers did not know, he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. And thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge.
and advance its glory. And he shall cause them to rule over many and divide the land for gain.
Now six times in this section, fortress or fortresses is used. It literally means a strong place. When it talks about the God of fortresses, it's simply a way of saying power will be his God. He will depend on military strength. he will have an enormous amount of military prowess.
and availability. You're listening to Connect with Skiff Heitzig. Before today's message continues, there's a special offer for your family this Christmas. Hey, this is Nate Heitzig. And if you're like me, one of the best parts of the Christmas season is gathering your kids to share the story of Jesus in a way that makes it come alive.
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Now, let's get back to today's teaching. Again, I remind you of what we already read in Daniel chapter 7, verse 23. The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth. Which will be different from all other kingdoms. And shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it.
in pieces. He'll worship a god of fortresses. His aim will be. The political ruler of the world using a war machine and all the money he has to finance wars. with military strength to gain political power.
It will be chaotic. There were three buddies who were talking about the oldest profession known to man. One was a doctor, a surgeon. His buddy was an engineer, and the third friend of theirs. was a politician.
And so the doctor, the surgeon, said, Well, if you look at the Bible, it says that God carved. Out of Adam a piece of him and made a woman. That means, gentlemen, my profession, surgeon, is the oldest profession known to man. His engineer buddy said, Not so fast. If you go a little bit before that, it says, in six days God created the world out of chaos.
That's the job of an engineer. Over in the corner, their buddy the politician had that smile on his face, and he said, Ah. But who created the chaos? What's interesting is that in this future seven-year period that the Bible speaks so often about. The first part of it will be a time of peace.
The second part of it. will be chaotic. And some of these verses ahead of us will even show that to be true. But in Revelation 13, John has a similar vision as Daniel. Daniel saw a beast coming out of the sea, actually, four beasts.
John sees somebody called the beast in Revelation 13 emerging from the sea of humanity. And when this leader comes on the scene, the world says, who is like the beast and who is able to wage war with him? He will be so strong militarily. And yet? My message today is: I dare you to rest.
How can anyone find rest with a powerful, prideful, peculiar, political? Oppressor like this guy.
Well, it's interesting. In the book of Revelation itself, which describes this seven-year horrible period on earth, twice in chapter 6 and chapter 14, God tells his people. Rest. He uses that word rest. Rest.
Here's the scripture, Matthew 23, verse 12. Jesus said, Whoever exalts himself is going to be abased. You can rest in his power, and we're going to show that to you in a moment. God's power to create the heaven and the earth is sufficient to deal with this joker who comes.
Well, let's see that. Let's come now to his fourth characteristic: his annihilation. Verse 40. At the time of the end, notice that. The time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him.
And the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind.
So whatever we saw in terms of those kings. Of the North and South previously are foreshadowing this. End time scenario. With chariots, horsemen, with many ships. He shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, pass through.
He shall also enter the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown. But these shall escape from his hand, Edom, Moab. and the prominent people of Ammon. All of those areas are in present-day Jordan. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries.
and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, over the precious things of Egypt. Also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him. Therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas. and the glorious holy mountain. and yet he shall come to his end. And no one will help them.
Now we're dealing probably with the second half of this seven-year tribulation period. Notice again in verse 40, it marks it as at the time of the end. Then it goes on to describe. A coalition. From the south, of North African nations that are mentioned.
That comes up against him, this leader, this king, this Antichrist, that come up against him, as well as. A coalition from the north, kings of the north. Who might that be?
Well, it might be what Ezekiel 38 and 39 describes as the war of Gog and Magog. All coming against him. At that time. During that time, the Jews will flee to the east, Revelation chapter 12 tells us. interestingly, in a fortress in present day Jordan.
They will flee to their desert refuge in the wilderness. The Antichrist will hear news, bad news, coming from the East. Which caused us to wonder what could that be?
Well, Revelation 9 does describe an army of 200 million crossing the Euphrates River. That could be the bad news that he hears. He's got trouble from the south, trouble from the north, trouble from the east. He's got trouble. His whole powerful coalition at that point is breaking apart.
And in verse 45. He shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas. What are the C's?
Well, to anybody who's from Judea, like Daniel was. The seas could only mean This, the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Those were the seas to any Jerusalemite or person from Judea, as Daniel was, the seas, the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, between the seas. and the glorious holy mountain. It's only one mountain, that's Mount Zion, that's Jerusalem.
And yet he shall come to his end. And no one will help him.
So you have all these nations coming together, coming together toward Israel. You have this Antichrist. And then it finally says, The end. And he'll come to his end. Period.
and no one will help them. You know how he comes to his end? You know how he comes to his end. I know how he comes to his end. He probably hears something and he looks up.
And he goes, uh-oh. I'm in big trouble.
Now I'll read it to you. This is Revelation chapter 19. This describes the end of that seven-year period. The beast has already been reigning in the book of Revelation.
Now this is Revelation chapter 19.
So I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written, which no one knew except himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses.
Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, That with it he should strike the nations, and he himself will rule with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings. And Lord of Lords. That's none other than the Lord Jesus Christ coming back to this earth in the second coming.
And I saw the beast. The one we've been reading about. And the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him. who sat on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in the presence.
By which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image, and those two were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning. with brimstone. That's how he comes to the end. and no one will help him. No ally can help them.
Because Jesus returns with the armies of heaven. Remember what Jesus said in the upper room at the Last Supper? He said, Let not your hearts be troubled. Do you believe in God? Believe also in me.
In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Now, listen, and if I go, I will what? Come again. I will come again. Ever since he uttered those words, the church for 2,000 years has been waiting for him to come again. And both receive us to himself as well as come over and take over.
The earth.
So many hymns, so many songs have been written about the second coming. This is the ultimate reason to rest. He is coming. And that will end. All of the conflict against Israel, all of the pain and sorrow of the world, all of the oppression we've been reading about.
Here's the scripture, Proverbs 21. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, and like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes. Even this king's heart, is in the hand of the Lord. Rejoice and rest. In God's Plan.
So rest in God's promises, His proclamation, His power. and his plan. I hope you're not thinking of God as sitting up in his heaven, looking down, seeing what happens on the earth, biting his fingernails, going, What in the world is going on down there? And how on earth am I ever able to save earth? He's got a plan.
He's got power. He has made proclamations and promises, all of which cause us facing. Our future. To rest. I love the story about the man who was out on the ocean.
Of course, I love the ocean. And he was out on his boat and a storm came. And he wasn't too happy about that storm because his boat was rocking back and forth, and he didn't know if he was going to make it. He remembered Psalm 21 that says He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. He thought of that promise.
God never slumbers. nor sleeps.
So he folded his hands and He looked up to heaven and he says, Since you don't ever rest, there's no sense in both of us losing sleep. Good night. What a way to look at life. I'm in a storm. But you're going to stay awake.
I'm going to take a nap. You can rest. In the fact that our God sovereignly, who has made promises. Proclamations. has power.
He has a plan.
So we can rest. Thanks for listening to Connect with Skiff Heidzig. Before you go, don't miss your chance to request Christmas Under the Tree, the beautifully illustrated book and audio experience by Nate Heitzig that helps your family see the Christmas story with fresh wonder and excitement. It's yours for your gift of $25 or more to help reach more people with biblical teaching through Connect with Skip. Call 800-922-1888 or go to connectwithskiff.com slash offer.
And don't forget to sign up for the free weekly devotional for encouragement from Pastor Skiff right in your inbox. Thanks for spending time with us today, and we'll see you next time on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Make a connection Make a connection. Shouldn't Oh. Of the crossing.
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Sorry. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
