Sunday, December 12, 2021 AM

Waited to this side this morning. It's good to have you all here this morning to worship together with us. It's good to be in the Christmas season where we can worship together and worship and remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Before we get started this morning, we've got a few announcements to go through. Come back for evening worship tonight at 530. In addition, there will be choir rehearsal for those who are in the choir in here tonight at that time.

And then looking ahead to Wednesday, it says in your bulletin the meal is going to be a little bit earlier this Wednesday and that's going to allow the kids that are participating in the Christmas program, kids that are in tag, to be able to get in here along with all the volunteers that are needed to pull that off with plenty of time for dress rehearsal and getting mic'd up and all of those things.

So be sure on Wednesday if you're coming for the meal that you are here no later than 530 and we'll get started then. And then after that at 630 there'll be normal prayer time for the adults in the Fellowship Hall.

Just a special invitation since I just mentioned it, next Sunday night is the Christmas program and the carols and candlelight is part of that. But there's been a lot of work put into this this year from the kids to the volunteers to the sound and lighting and all of that.

So if you can attend we would love to have you here with us to be able to worship with us that night. December 22nd and 29th we will not be having evening services on those evenings and then Sunday December 26th we'll be having communion service together in the morning that morning.

This week's fighter verse comes from Psalm chapter 23 verses 1 and 2. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Time is running out or at least for the first few episodes for the podcast.

If you have any Q &A's that you want to submit to Michael or the guys who are helping to put that podcast together please submit those on the website. The address is there in your bulletin where you can do that.

All right now one last thing there are plenty of Christmas cards back in the mailbox at the back so after service please take some time go through those and if you have any that you need to share with anyone go ahead and put those in there as well or you guys can just meet at the mailbox and exchange in person.

All right well we are going to have a time of prayer before we begin worship. Once we're done with that Randy will come up and open us in prayer.

Father we just want to thank you again for the opportunity to come this morning and worship and freedom. Father I pray that you just prepare our hearts to hear from you today. We just thank you for this time of the year that we can just reflect how Christ came how he loved us so much that he came to be our Savior.

I pray that we would be faithful to tell others of our hope in Christ. I pray that you would bless our time this morning as we sing praises to you and our worship. I pray for Michael that you'd give him freedom to share what you put on his heart.

I pray that throughout the week father that we would be ever mindful of who we are in Christ and I pray that we will be faithful witnesses just to point others towards the hope that we have in Christ.

Thank you for this body of believers and I pray that you'd encourage us as we meet together in.

Jesus name. Would you stand with me for our call to worship? Our passage this morning is found in Psalms chapter 72. We'll continue in verse 15 to 17. Read with me together. Long may he live. May gold of Sheba be given to him.

May prayer be made for him continually and blessings invoked for him all the day. May there be abundance of grain in the land. On the tops of the mountains may it wave. May its fruit be like Lebanon and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field.

May his name endure forever. His fame continue as long as the Sun. May people be blessed in him. All nations call him blessed. And we're gonna sing in our Psalms for worship hymnal. Blue ones page 72 C and we'll be.

From singing verses 9 10 11 and 12. 44 how great our joy. And then also page 133 Hark the herald angels sing. Our attention to Isaiah chapter 10. I'll be.

Reading from verse 1 through 19. Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees who write misfortune which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice and to take what is right from the poor of my people.

That widows may be their prey. That they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory?

Without me they shall bow down among the prisoners and they shall fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still. Woe to Assyria the rod of my anger and the staff in whose hand is my indignation.

I will send him against an ungodly nation and against the people of my wrath I will give him charge to seize the spoil to take the prey to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Yet he does not mean so nor does his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and to cut off not a few nations for he says are not my princes altogether kings?

Is not Kalno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpod? Is not Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria as I have done to Samaria and her idols.

Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols? Therefore it shall come to pass when the Lord has performed all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem that he will say I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the glory of his haughty looks for he says by the strength of my hand I have done it and by my wisdom for I am prudent.

Also I have removed the boundaries of the people and have robbed their treasuries so I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people and as one gathers eggs that are left I have gathered all the earth and there was no one who moved his wing nor opened his mouth with even a peep.

Shall the axe boast itself against him who chops with it or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it as if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up or as if a staff could lift up as if it were not wood.

Therefore the Lord the Lord of hosts will send leanness among his fat ones and under his glory he will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. So the light of Israel will be for a fire and his holy one for a flame.

It will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in one day and it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field both soul and body and they will be as when a sick man wastes away. Then the rest of the trees of his forest will be so few in number that a child may write them.

Let us pray. Thank you Lord God for your word. Truly it is a fearful thing to fall into your hands of judgment but of mercy at Lord. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and the ark of God saves not just eight but saves us a multitude.

Truly you are our fortress which we run into. May we not forget to establish justice to do righteousness to remember the widows and orphans. Not just word but deed also. Guided by your spirit until the day of.

Your coming. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen. You may be seated. Our next song is written by our own real pastor brother Michael. It's gonna be carols for a.

King so we'll sing all four verses. Thank you for this day and the joy it has.

Already been in hearing your word read and singing together with my brothers and sisters in Christ rejoicing in the truth of the incarnation the blessing of Jesus of Nazareth the fulfillment of the promise of Emmanuel.

Lord what hope we have in this world today is entirely hanging upon one man the man Christ Jesus. Everything is about him and depends upon him and here we are rejoicing in this season again of your gift to us that you loved us in this way that you gave us your only begotten son.

We ask today that you would grace us with your Holy Spirit that we would believe your truth believe your word and make right application of it to our lives that we would follow the lamb wherever he goes and that we would sing the song of the redeemed both today and tomorrow and in all the days to come.

I pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ today in Kentucky and other places where Lord the storms have come through and you know their needs you are a good Heavenly Father and we ask that you would provide.

I pray that you would supply every need for your people in Christ homes and food clothing any form of shelter that they need and Lord I pray that the light of Jesus Christ would shine brightly in compassion and mercy in this time.

Lord I pray that you would as you always do that you would bring great good out of the trouble. And Lord now I ask that you would help us as we read your word as we submit ourselves to the authority of Jesus Christ here on display in Daniel chapter 7.

Help us to be conformed to the image to your image which is in your son Jesus Christ. We pray these things in his name. Amen. I invite you to open your Bibles to Daniel chapter 7. Daniel chapter 7 will be reading from verse 13 to the end of the chapter in a moment.

So Daniel chapter 7 and thinking about who Daniel is who is Daniel but a grain of sand on a seashore looking out at monsters cresting and crashing in the violent winds of world history. And yet as one of the innumerable descendants of Abraham his faith in God led him to ask informed questions and be anchored in certain answers.

And here we join Daniel as fellow heirs by faith we confess the fragility of beasts and the solid glories of Jesus Christ revealed here. So if you stand with me I'm going to begin reading in verse 13 of Daniel 7 this is the word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by his Holy Spirit in the words of Daniel the prophet I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.

He came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him. Then to him was given dominion and a glory and a kingdom that all people's nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit within my body and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to you one of those who stood by and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things.

Those great beasts which are for our four kings which arise out of the earth but the saints of the most I shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever. Then I wish to know the truth about the fourth beast which was different from all the others exceedingly dreadful with his teeth of iron and its nails of bronze which devoured broken pieces and trampled the residue with its feet and the ten horns which are on its head and the other horn which came up but for which three fell namely that horn which had eyes in a mouth which spoke pompous words whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

I was watching in the same horn was making war against the Saints and prevailing against them until the ancient of days came. And a judgment was made in favor of the Saints at the most high. And the time came for the Saints to possess the kingdom.

Thus he said the fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom and another shall rise after them.

He shall be different from the first ones and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the most high shall persecute the Saints of the most high and shall intend to change times and law.

Then the Saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion in the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people the Saints of the most high.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominion shall serve and obey him. This is the end of the account. As for me Daniel my thoughts greatly troubled me and my countenance changed. But I kept the matter in my heart.

This is the word of the Lord thanks be to God you may be seated. The joy of Christmas is broader than the birth of Jesus Christ. It's broader because it's about the entire mystery of the incarnation that God the Son took on human flesh and dwelt among us Emmanuel.

That is a mystery worth celebrating once a year for several weeks. But that this same Jesus who is the Christ the Son of a living God that he was born as our advocate our mediator our propitiation our Savior our King that is worth celebrating every day.

And here in Daniel 7 we behold Christ as the Son of Man. This is royal title. He's called the Son of Man and he is ascended in the flesh as the captain of our salvation. As the firstborn from the dead he reigns as the firstborn of all creation.

He has the top spot. This is important for us to know especially in the context of a vision from Daniel who sees he sees beasts rising and falling and scary things happening. The Bible tells us that fear is inevitable.

Fear is unavoidable. Fear is always operating in our lives. We either fear God or we fear something else. That's how it is. We either fear God or we fear something else such as death or man. The fear of man and the fear of death are encapsulated by the beast.

Imagery here in Daniel chapter 7. Think about it. A beast is a kingdom of men. It is represented by a king who is a man. And these beasts have terrible strength. And obviously these beasts use their strength to steal and kill and destroy.

And so beasts seek to enslave with the fear of death and ensnare with the fear of man. This is the way of beasts the way of beasts in the days of Daniel. In the days of Christ in our day that's just way the beast role.

Beasts maintain control as long as people fear death and they fear man and beasts will get bigger and larger and consume more and more as long as the people are ensnared and enslaved by the fear of death and the fear of man.

It's important to recognize this because whatever we fear we worship. Whatever we fear we worship. Whatever we fear anchors our hearts captivates our thoughts and informs our values. So when we read Daniel 7.

Daniel 7 is not written so that we obsess about the beasts. Oh how scary they are. Oh that horn won't keep his mouth shut. Oh that's horrifying imagery. Daniel 7 is not written so that we obsess about the beasts time and again.

The flow of the story here in Daniel 7 is that of of heaven saying to Daniel. Yeah yeah. But look at Christ. Yeah. Yeah. But look at the throne of God. Yes that's so. But those Saints win in the end Daniel.

That's the point of the chapter not to obsess about the beasts but to rejoice. Rejoice in the King. Why fear fragile beasts. There was only one unstoppable King. And here in verses 15 through 18 we're talking about the comfort of Christians as we consider the session of the King of Kings that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Our courage now and our hope for everything to come depends entirely upon the glory and the strength of Christ's throne. I want us to see here how the comfort of the Saints is offered to Daniel how this works how we get anxious how we get concerned and then what we're supposed to do next.

So let's watch what happens. First of all information comes to Daniel in verse 15. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit within my body and the visions of my head troubled me. They would trouble us too. Daniel is thoroughly affected by these visions.

He's like Peter and the crashing waves are affecting him. And he's overwhelmed by the sights and the sounds of these four beasts these waves upon the great sea being stirred up by the four winds of heaven.

He's especially concerned about the fourth beast which seems somehow different than the other three and that horn that's saying such awful things. But isn't it remarkable that what we read as history prophetic history Daniel saw as mystery what seems maybe dry and boring to us.

You know the succession of Babylon then Medo-Persia then Greece and then Rome. It was all very overwhelming to Daniel. It was very overwhelming to Daniel. And here's why the questions and the burdens about the future can be exponentially more weighty than our reflections on the past.

The fears of what might happen tomorrow what might happen this next month and this next year. The the panic about the way the world is going now that seems to consume seems to to grab hold of our attention in a way that reading about history already happening or it has already happened that doesn't seem to grab us as much as the concern and and prognostication about what is yet to come now.

We live in the information age. A torrent of information pours into our lives every day. I mean we're not receiving visions from heaven or anything. But we but we have so much information coming into our lives every day.

We need to know what to do with it as the Saints of God. Access to information consumption of information retention of information is assumed by many to be virtuous in and of itself. You know to live a right kind of life you need to gain as much information as you possibly can and hold on to it.

And information in and of itself is virtuous. You need more and more and more information. And there's another class of people who consider the restriction of information and the elimination of information that is the right which belongs to the truly virtuous.

But either way either way there's no comfort for the Christian in either approach. We are not given visions from heaven like Daniel received but in a lesser way we too are grieved. Are we not. We are often troubled by all the information coming into our heads and hearts.

Isn't it true that we too have anxiety about what is to come. What is the fate of next week and next month and next year and next decade. And what about my children. And what about my grandchildren. What kind of a world are they coming into.

Right. And so in like manner we are sometimes grieved in our spirits within our bodies. And all that information is troubling our heads. Notice what Daniel does verses 16 and 17. I came near to one of those who stood by and asked him the truth of all this.

Remember that Daniel is having a vision and he's in the throne room of God the court of God which there are myriads upon myriads and myriads of angelic heavenly host serving God. They've all been seated in the courtroom and Daniel's had all this vision.

And so he goes near to one of those who stood by there in the throne room of heaven and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me okay. Well here's heaven's perspective on this is what it all means.

And made known to me the interpretation of these things. He says those great beasts which are four are four kings which arise out of the earth. Now this is no great surprise. After reading Daniel chapter 2 and Nebuchadnezzar having a dream in which he sees a four-part statue.

And the heavens interpretation of the statue is well these are four kingdoms. And one passes over the other. And by the way Nebuchadnezzar the golden head the start of these four kingdoms. Well that's you.

You know the golden head that's Babylon. And then there's gonna be three kingdoms after you. And then and then the rock the stone not cut by human hands comes flying down into the legs and feet of the fourth kingdom.

And then this turns into a mountain which fills the whole earth. And we read later on throughout the Bible that this is a prophecy of the arrival of Christ. And then we also see here four kingdoms one right after the other one beast after another.

And during the time of the fourth beast Messiah arrives. So no wonder Simeon right in the gospel of Luke Simeon an old man serving in the temple he's like I know which kingdom we're in. We're in number four.

I know Messiah is coming and he's praying Lord don't let me die without seeing your Messiah. And his hope is is is primed and he's ready to see Jesus. Well he didn't know his name was Jesus but he knew his name was Messiah.

He wanted to see the Christ and he did. And he was able to see his Lord and Savior. So we have these four kings or kingdoms. The king of course stands for the whole kingdom. So these four kings these four kingdoms they arise out of the earth.

The text says the interpretation of heaven is that they arise out of the earth hang on a second earlier in the vision we saw them come out of the sea. They came out of the Great Sea. I'm confused. Well the reason why they come out of the sea we talked about is that they come from the nations which is an image in the Old Testament of the nations is that is the sea.

We looked at that and these empires pertain to the Great Sea and they are there. They arise out of a storm whipped up by the four winds of heaven. God is the one sovereignly overseeing the rise and fall of all these nations.

But they also arise out of the earth because they are not sourced from heaven. These are kingdoms of men not the kingdom of heaven. These are kingdoms of men. At the kingdom of God there's only one stone uncut by human hands which undoes the four metal man graven image.

That's Christ. And since these beasts arise from the earth that means what they're not to be feared. They're not to be worshipped there any more than any kind of stone drawn up from the earth is fashioned into something to bow down before.

Or a tree growing up from the earth is cut down and fashioned into something to be worshipped. No these kingdoms are from the earth. So don't fear them. Don't worship them. They don't deserve your devotion.

These four one after another we see in chapter 2 we see in chapter 7. And in both places we get heavens interpretation of what this is now. That's key for us. Whether we're pondering the prophetic visions of scripture or we're listening to the latest breaking news from some hairdo about our unprecedented times we need heavens interpretation of that information.

It has been proven that we as believers can endlessly speculate about beasts and their projected habits. And we can endlessly wring our hands anxiously about what the news will say tomorrow. But how does God see things according to his word.

What label would God put on that story. You just read or just heard. How would God characterize that hot topic that controversial issue. In what way does this situation make God laugh. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom knowledge and understanding the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord simply is this. We think of him first and we think of him most. And that is the beginning of wisdom. And that is the beginning of understanding. Notice also how we are described the identity here in verse 18.

But the saints of the Most High. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom. We have these beastly Dominions doing things in a beastly way. But it's contrasted to the kingdom of Christ the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven.

So we have these four beasts. So what. The Holy Ones. The Saints who are possessed by the Most High. They are owned by the Most High. They are a holy people of God's own possession. And they shall despite the beasts receive the kingdom.

Based on what. Will we overpower the beasts. Will we outsmart them. No. The Saints of the Most High receive the kingdom precisely because they belong to the Most High. And nobody can stay his hand and say to him what are you doing.

We are given the kingdom because of the merits and the glories of the Son of Man who is ascended to the right hand of God. Because we are identified not who we are but whose we are. We are identified and consecrated and made holy by the name of God.

That's why we receive the kingdom. That is comfort for the Saints and that is heavenly perspective. And we are to remember our inheritance in Christ. The Saints of the kingdom. The Saints of the Most High receive the king shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever.

Just in case you missed the first two forever and ever and ever. Heavens interpretation of what what goes on is is far different than the way that the beasts would characterize things. Remember how many times does the pagan king require his adorers to say Oh King live forever.

But he never does. He always dies. And often his empire crumbles and fades away. So whereas these four beasts of the earth both in chapter 2 of Daniel and chapter 7 of Daniel same group each one of them has their dominion taken away we read in contrast the kingdom of heaven is given as a gift and possessed by the Saints forever even forever and ever.

They ask well how do you receive the kingdom. Well what did our Lord say. Luke 12 verse 29 through 32. And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink. Nor have an anxious mind. Kind of sounds like Daniel.

Daniel 7 as an anxious mind. Right. How is this all gonna work out. For all these things the nations of the world seek after. And your father knows that you need these things. Listen verse 31. But seek the kingdom of God.

And all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear little flock. Do not fear. Do you believe your Lord and Savior Jesus. Do not fear little flock. Here's his promise. It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Oh well in that case trusting the Lord every day for the for the daily needs that we have and trusting that God is the in seeking the kingdom of God. Oh it's not. He's not making it hard on you. He's is he's delighting to give you the kingdom.

We are entirely dependent on the grace of God the favor of God. In this Jesus said to the most religious credentialed man of his day Nicodemus unless you're born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.

Are you born again. Welcome to the kingdom. Nicodemus was credentialed beyond belief the the teacher of Israel incredibly religious. If anybody should have been in a spiritual kingdom a religious kingdom or the kingdom of God it should have been him.

He hadn't even seen it. He was an even near it. You have to be born again. Luke 17 20 to 21. Now when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come he answered them and said the kingdom of God does not come with observation.

Nor will they say see here or see there. Right there at that boundary right right past that little physical gate right there get through those two guards and that gate. And then you're in no. He says the kingdom of God does not come with observation.

Nor will they say see here or see there. For indeed the kingdom of God is within you. They could. Amos thought he had been born into the kingdom. And Jesus said no the kingdom has to be born in you. It's within you.

It has to be a change there. The New Covenant says that the law of God would be written upon the hearts of his people that the rule and the reign of God himself would be put upon living hearts within every member of the New Covenant by the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.

And that these people would live and serve the Lord. Space upon God's grace space upon Christ's merit. Therefore the kingdom our inheritance forever even forever and ever is not temporary because it's based upon God not us.

It is not a flaring movement. It is not a decaying denomination. It is not a corroding Empire. We have it forever even forever and ever. Now there's some heavenly perspective when we receive information in our information age.

Remember that it comes normally irradiated with the despair of paganism. And if there's a proper way to handle fissile material there's a proper way to handle the information coming into your lives. We need to get heaven's interpretation on that.

Remember who we belong to and what belongs to us. Now in the last part of Daniel 7 we consider the Saints of God's kingdom in relationship to three aspects. One the iron beast to the little horn and three the most high.

Now after verses 13 through 18 you'd think that Daniel would be charged up ready to go no matter what I mean just look at what happens in verses 13 through 18. All the encouragement. This the the view of the Son of Man before the Lord.

This is mountaintop stuff. And then we come to verse 19. And oh are we not like Daniel. Daniel gets heaven's perspective on the matter. And then he says yeah. But that iron beast is really scary man. What in the world is that thing.

I can't get over it. I want to know more about that iron beast. I want to know more about that fourth kingdom. And what about that little horn. It said it won't be quiet. That pompous arrogant blasphemous horn.

What about that. What about the Saints who are gonna get persecuted by this horn. And Daniel's intense curiosity has rubbed off on every generation of believers since. But we should notice in verses 19 through 28 that we have the repetition of three themes the iron beast little horn and the most high.

In that order twice we hear about the iron beast a little horn the most high. Then we hear about all over again. And the point being made to Daniel is that although the iron beast would be especially terrifying and one of its horns would be especially violent against the Saints the most high would rule in favor of the Saints and they would receive the and share in the kingdom granted to the Son of Man.

So we begin with the iron beast. In verses 19 and 20 Daniel expresses his desire to know more about the fourth beast. Then I wish to know more would know the truth about the fourth beast which was different from all the others exceedingly dreadful with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze which devoured broken pieces and trampled the residue with its feet and the tin horns that were on its head.

And he goes on to talk about his interest as well on the little horn and so on and so forth. But let's listen to the angels response. Remember he went and said. Hey what does this all mean. Well what is heaven's perspective on the iron beast.

Verse 23. Thus he said. Here's the angels response. Thus he said. The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth. Okay we shall be different from all other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth trample it and break it in pieces.

The tin horns are ten kings which shall arise from this kingdom as we saw from chapter 2. So also here in chapter 7 we're looking at the Empire of Rome. Rome was different from the other kingdoms as they spread much farther and was far more stable and lasted longer.

Rome ring the entire Mediterranean spread as far as the Isle of Britain and plunged deep into modern-day Africa and Asia. The iron boot of Rome was firmly placed upon the neck of the ancient world enforcing brutally its Pax Romana its peace.

And ten kingdoms are those counted by the ancient historians themselves the first ten emperors of Rome Julius Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian the ten first Roman emperors were there more than these kings in Rome you better believe it.

But these are the most relevant to the outworking of God's plan of redemptive history. And particularly one of them is a great example how the iron beast devoured the whole earth. Luke chapter 2 beginning in verse 1.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. The New King James has registered but it the Greek word means taxed tax. The beast is hungry.

The beast wants more of what you have. The beast needs more money to do more things. Sound familiar. And Caesar Augustus like I need more funds I'll tax the whole world. And so he did first to this census to first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

And then what happened. Perhaps you know the story. So all went to be registered everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child.

So it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end.

You see in the days of these Kings in the days of these earth devouring horns God sent forth his son to live and die and be raised and exalted and bring forth the good news of the kingdom which would set Rome on fire and turn the world upside down and undo tyranny everywhere it is preached.

Now the little horn. The second element of particular interest is one of these horns on the head of the fourth beast namely Rome. Verse 20 says. The other horn which came up before which three fell namely that horn which had eyes in a mouth which spoke pompous words whose appearance was greater than his fellows I was watching in the same horn was making war against the Saints and prevailing against them.

Daniel's concern here is understandable. This arrogant blasphemous horn does harm to the Saints. He doesn't like that. He doesn't like the look of that that disturbs Daniel. So he wants to know more. And the angel gives heaven's interpretation.

Verse 24. And another shall rise after them. Who's the them. Well it says he shall be different from the first ones. So one after the first ones shall rise. What shall he do. He shall subdue three kings.