The Book of Daniel 7: 1-28

Daniel 7: 1-28

Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Pastor Russell Johnson explored Daniel 7 by addressing the universal questions "Are we there yet?" and "How much longer?"—explaining that this chapter "is not primarily about prophecy; it's about pastoral comfort" for God's exhausted, suffering people in exile. The sermon walked through the four beasts emerging from the sea: the lion with eagle's wings (Babylon), the bear raised up on one side (Medo-Persia), the leopard with four wings and four heads (Greece), and the terrifying fourth beast with iron teeth (Rome), noting that "God doesn't lie to His people" by pretending everything will be fine—instead He shows them "the route" so they can endure. Pastor Russell emphasized that "while the beasts were raging on earth, God never left His throne in heaven," introducing the "Ancient of Days" whose throne is "ablaze with flames" with "thousands upon thousands" attending Him, demonstrating that "the beasts aren't steering history." The climax came with "one like a Son of Man" (Jesus) being given an everlasting kingdom that "will never end, never be destroyed, never pass away." Pastor Russell unpacked how Daniel was "distressed" because things would go "from bad to worse," but the key word is "until"—"the suffering has a time limit" and "the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever." The message concluded with three applications: "stop being surprised by the beasts" since we know it gets worse before it gets better, "live with an eternal perspective" by looking up when beasts roar, and "endure" without giving up or bowing to the beast.

1. Read Daniel 7:2-8 together. Pastor Russell said hearing about four more empires after Babylon was "like hearing we have 13 more hours of driving on a 15-hour trip." When in your life have you felt like Daniel's audience—thinking things couldn't get worse, only to discover the road ahead is longer and harder than you expected?
2. Read Daniel 7:9-10. Pastor Russell emphasized that "while the beasts were raging on earth, God never left His throne in heaven." How does our understanding of the "Ancient of Days" enthroned with "thousands upon thousands" attending Him change the way we view current "beasts" (governments, institutions, or personal struggles) that seem invincible?
3. Read 1 Peter 4:12. Pastor Russell said "it is funny how we act so surprised when the world acts like the world is supposed to act" and challenged us to "stop being surprised by the beasts." What current cultural or personal situation are you being surprised by that you should expect as part of living in a fallen world?
4. Read Daniel 7:13-14 and Mark 14:62. Pastor Russell explained that Jesus claimed the title "Son of Man" from Daniel's vision and that His kingdom "will never end, never be destroyed, never pass away." How does knowing that every earthly kingdom has "an expiration date" but Christ's kingdom is eternal affect the way you engage with political or cultural powers today?
5. Read Daniel 7:18, 21-22. Pastor Russell noted the key word "until"—that the little horn was "waging war with the saints and overpowering them UNTIL the Ancient of Days came." Share about a difficult season in your life where you're still asking "How much longer?" and how the promise that suffering has "a time limit" helps you endure.
6. Read John 16:33. Pastor Russell defined "eternal perspective" as "living today with forever in view" and said "when the beasts roar, look up." What specific practice or discipline helps you maintain an eternal perspective when you're tempted to stare at the beasts and become overwhelmed?
7. Read Daniel 7:27-28. Pastor Russell concluded by challenging us to "endure" without giving up, bowing to the beast, or assimilating into culture, reminding us "we have work to do as the church to bring grace to the world." What's one specific way you need to endure well this week—bringing grace rather than just waiting for the kingdom to come?

Extra Credit
Look up and read these passages about enduring while waiting for Christ's eternal kingdom:
Romans 8:18 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Revelation 21:3-4 - And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

How do these passages expand our understanding of living with "forever in view" while enduring present suffering? What common thread runs through all of them about keeping an eternal perspective when beasts roar?