The Daniel 7 Connection--Part One

          In the last few blogs we have seen the connection between our 3rd-Day resurrection and Israel’s 3rd-Day revival at the start of the 7th Day, the Day of the Lord. We’ve seen that first the final invasion of Israel by the Antichrist and his coalition of Middle Eastern kingdoms has to happen. Then God turns out the lights, temporarily halting the invasion, as the final sign of this age (the 6th Day). God rends the heavens, and the whole world sees Christ coming to gather His Bride and take us back to Father’s House.
            When Christ comes and physically stands on the Mt. of Olives, His presence causes an earthquake, making a way of escape for the now redeemed Jews. Infuriated, the Antichrist makes war with them for a time, times, and half a time (3½ years). This is confirmed in Revelation 12.  Revelation 13:2 describes the Antichrist as the beast: “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
            Once again, the Spirit-inspired wording captures our attention. This description comes from Daniel 7, which just so “happens” to include this same poetic time frame and a pompous big mouth speaking blasphemies against God.
            Daniel 7 is an example of how prophecy often gives us two views of the same event. The first is like going up a ladder in order to get a better view of the whole scene. We get to see the end to give us a better perspective. Then we go back down the ladder, following the same sequence of steps. Only this time, we get more details about the event.
            In a nutshell, the vision shows us the rise of the Antichrist toward the end of this age (vs. 1-8). It also shows us the demise of the Antichrist (vs. 11-14). In between, we're shown an awesome scene. We see the Ancient of Days—the eternal God Almighty—and His throne, which looks like a fiery flame. It’s wheels look like a burning fire. A mess of angels are placing a mess of thrones before the throne of God just before we see the demise of the Antichrist.
            Naturally, we have to ask: Why are we seeing these thrones at this point in the sequence—in between the rise and the demise of the Antichrist? Who are going to sit on these thrones? Hopefully by now, you know that we don’t have to guess. God always gives us the answer to such symbolic references either in the context close by or elsewhere in His Book. This time around, we don’t have to go searching; He tells us in verse 10. The thrones are for the court who is to be seated. When the court is seated, the books are opened.
            That’s the overview. As we “go back down the ladder” in the second half of the vision, we see what opening the books releases. The beast (the Antichrist) is slain and his body is destroyed in the Lake of Fire, just as Revelation revealed.
            So what do the books contain that brings such a result? Acts 17:30-31 clues us in. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” The books list the lawless deeds and ungodly rebellious actions of the oppressive times of the Gentiles.
            Notice who gets to bring the righteous judgments. The Man. How does the Man gain this position? By being raised from the dead, overcoming death through resurrection. So if the Man has this position, then why are the angels so busy placing so many thrones in the throne room of God? Because the Man includes Jesus Christ the Head of the Church and His Body, His Bride, united together as One at the rapture.
            You see, the books cannot be opened until all the heirs are seated. The will and testimonies cannot be “read aloud” until the immortal government is seated in the place of all authority in Heaven and over the earth. In short, we’re seeing the whole purpose of the rapture: the seating of the heavenly court. As for the whirling wheels and fiery stream? Stay tuned.