The Kingdom of Our Lord

Daniel 7:5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’”
 
THE vision of the winged lion is gone, and the bear vision appears. Note it is raised on one side, demonstrating in the one beast one side is stronger than the other. This reflects the superior power of the Persians in the one Mede-Persian empire. The three ribs likely symbolize Babylon, Egypt and Lydia, three countries the Medes and Persians would conquer.
    There are typically various interpretations of these and other visions throughout Daniel. What is very clear, though, and the lesson we must continue to learn is that the Lord God readily reveals his plan for new nations to rise up and conquer the old. The appetite for more is never satisfied in the prideful and power-hungry world.
    This is one of sin’s great curses on mankind. Throughout history from the time Eve and Adam desired more, to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, to the conquests of Babylon, Rome and to this very day, nation upon nation has sought to conquer and control. Evil empires devour peaceful countries. Religion-based radicals force others to join them. The one who has the most power wins.
    But we know this worldly “win” lasts only briefly. The LORD’s Kingdom will forever reign: Daniel 7:15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever — yes, for ever and ever.’” Such histories as Daniel, 1 & 2 Kings and Judges demonstrate the messenger’s truth as God destroys those who oppose him. The future prophecies of Old Testament and New Testament writers confirm this will continue to happen until Christ returns.
    God’s way is to raise righteous men and women to fulfill his redemptive plan on earth. He has and will empower leaders to reveal his truth, conquer evil and establish his rule. Our task in the church is to believe the Bible’s history and God’s prophetic Word. We are to boldly and confidently live in the truth that the victory belongs to the Lord.
 
Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”