Kingdom Kernel #22 – The Kingdom Conflict

The Spiritual Warfare Between God and Evil in Daniel 7:9-28

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9 “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels a burning fire. 10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. 13 I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ 19 Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. 23 Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ 28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (Daniel 7:9-28)

Introduction: Context of Daniel 7:9-28

Daniel 7:9-28 presents a prophetic vision of a cosmic struggle between divine authority and the forces of evil. The passage is rich with apocalyptic imagery, including the “Ancient of Days” (God), the “Son of Man” (Christ), and the “fourth beast” with its blasphemous “horn.” This vision symbolizes the ultimate triumph of God’s eternal kingdom over all earthly and spiritual opposition. At its core, the passage illustrates spiritual warfare—a battle between good and evil that transcends human history and points to Christ’s messianic reign.

Defining Spiritual Warfare: Linguistic Roots

The term warfare in this context can be understood through the Hebrew and Aramaic words used in Daniel. The word “wage war” in Daniel 7:21, rendered from Aramaic as qarab (Strong’s H7128), denotes conflict or battle. Its root carries connotations of drawing near for confrontation, emphasizing the direct opposition between the horn (evil) and the saints (God’s people). Similarly, the Greek term strateia (used in New Testament contexts like 2 Corinthians 10:4) refers to spiritual conflict, highlighting that this warfare is not physical but deeply rooted in divine versus demonic forces.

Theological Significance of Spiritual Warfare

The concept of spiritual warfare in Daniel 7 reveals profound theological truths about God’s sovereignty, justice, and redemptive plan. The “Ancient of Days” is depicted as a majestic judge seated on a fiery throne, symbolizing His ultimate authority to judge evil (Daniel 7:9-10). The “books were opened” (v.10), signifying divine omniscience and accountability. This judgment culminates in the destruction of the beast and the horn (v.11, 26), affirming God’s power to decisively defeat evil.

The warfare also underscores the temporary nature of evil’s dominion. The horn’s persecution of the saints for “a time, times, and half a time” (v.25) reflects God’s sovereign control over history, allowing evil only limited influence before divine intervention.

Christological Fulfillment: Jesus as the Son of Man

The “Son of Man” in Daniel 7:13-14 is a direct messianic reference to Jesus Christ. This title, which Jesus frequently applied to Himself (e.g., Matthew 26:64), signifies His role as both divine King and human representative. In Daniel’s vision, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days and receives everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed (v.14). This scene prophetically points to Christ’s victory over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus embodies the perfect example of spiritual warfare. In His earthly ministry, He confronted Satan directly during His temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), using Scripture as His weapon. On the cross, He disarmed principalities and powers, triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15). His victory assures believers that evil has been defeated, even as we await its ultimate eradication at His second coming.

Divine Attributes Revealed in Spiritual Warfare

1. Sovereignty: God’s control over history is evident in His timing—allowing evil to prevail temporarily but ensuring its ultimate defeat.
   
2. Justice: The judgment scene highlights God’s commitment to righteousness and accountability.
   
3. Faithfulness: The promise of an eternal kingdom for the saints (v.18, 27) reflects God’s covenant faithfulness to His people.
   

Implications for Understanding God’s Kingdom

The warfare described in Daniel 7 illuminates key aspects of God’s kingdom:

• It is eternal and indestructible (v.14).
  
• It is inclusive, encompassing “all peoples, nations, and people of every language” who will serve Christ (v.14).
  
• It integrates believers into its reign; they are co-heirs with Christ who will possess the kingdom forever (v.27).
  

This vision challenges believers to view Christ’s lordship not merely as a future reality but as an active truth today. Though not yet fully realized, Jesus’ reign is already present through His resurrection power and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Transformative Power for Believers

For Christians today, understanding spiritual warfare equips us to live victoriously amidst trials:

1. Christ-Centered Identity: Recognizing Jesus as our victorious King empowers us to resist evil with confidence.
   
2. Spiritual Readiness: Like Jesus, believers are called to wield spiritual weapons such as prayer, Scripture, and faith (Ephesians 6:10-18).
   
3. Hope in Tribulation: The certainty of God’s judgment against evil provides hope amidst persecution or suffering.
   

Conclusion: Jesus’ Kingship Now and Forever

Daniel 7:9-28 reveals that spiritual warfare is not just a cosmic struggle but a testament to God’s sovereignty and Christ’s kingship. Jesus’ victory over evil assures believers that His lordship is both a present reality and an eternal promise. As we await His ultimate reign, we are called to live as faithful participants in His kingdom—empowered by His Spirit to overcome darkness with light.

This transformative truth invites us into deeper worship and service under Christ’s lordship, knowing that His eternal dominion will one day be fully realized when every knee bows before Him as King of kings.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story – The End of All Wars

The desert sun blazed relentlessly, its heat shimmering over the endless expanse of sand. Patti wiped the sweat from her brow, her fingers brushing against the grit that clung to her skin. Beside her, Tisha heaved another crate into the MILVAN, her movements sharp, her expression grim.  

“Will the wars never end?” Tisha muttered, her voice low but laced with frustration. She straightened, brushing sand from her fatigues. “Every time we think we’re done, another conflict flares up. What’s the point?”  

Patti paused, her hands resting on the edge of the crate. She’d heard the weariness in Tisha’s voice before, but today it seemed heavier, almost suffocating. She glanced at her friend, noticing the shadows under her eyes, the way her shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of the world.  

“I was reading something this morning,” Patti began, her tone gentle but deliberate. “Daniel 7. It’s about a vision of the end times—of a kingdom that will never end.”  

Tisha raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “Another prophecy? Sounds like more of the same.”  

“Not exactly,” Patti replied, her voice steady. “It talks about a time when all the wars, all the suffering, will finally be over. There’s this beast—a symbol of evil—and it looks unstoppable. But then the Ancient of Days steps in. He’s God, sitting on a throne of fire, and He judges the beast. It’s destroyed, and the Son of Man—Jesus—is given an everlasting kingdom.”  

Tisha crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “Sounds nice, but what does that have to do with us? We’re stuck here, packing up gear, while people are still fighting out there.”  

Patti stepped closer, her voice softening. “It’s a reminder that we’re on the winning side, Tisha. As disciples of Jesus, subjects of God’s kingdom, no matter how bad things look now, no matter how much evil seems to be winning, it’s temporary. One day, Jesus will reign, and all this—the wars, the pain, the suffering—it’ll end. Forever.”  

Tisha’s eyes flicked to Patti, a flicker of something—hope? doubt?—crossing her face. “How can you be so sure?”  

“Because it’s not just a story,” Patti said, her conviction unwavering. “It’s a promise. And promises like that don’t get broken. We might not see the end of it here, but we’re part of something bigger. Something eternal.”  

For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the distant hum of machinery. Then Tisha sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I want to believe that. I really do. But it’s hard to see past all this.”  

“I know,” Patti said, placing a hand on Tisha’s shoulder. “But that’s why we keep going. Why we keep fighting. Not just for the battles here, but for the kingdom that’s coming. And when it does, we’ll be on the right side of it.”  

Tisha nodded slowly, her gaze drifting back to the horizon. “I guess it’s something to hold onto.”  

Patti smiled, a small but genuine expression. “It’s everything to hold onto.”  

As they returned to their work, the heat of the desert seemed less oppressive, the weight of their fatigue a little lighter. For in that moment, they weren’t just soldiers packing equipment; they were warriors of faith, standing firm in the promise of a kingdom where wars would cease, and peace would reign. And though the battles around them raged on, they knew—deep down—that the ultimate victory was already assured.

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