In Daniel 7:13-28 we are given a picture of the entire church age, from the time that Jesus establishes the Kingdom of God until He returns and gathers all the saints to live forever in the Kingdom.  In between these two comings of Christ, we see that that there will be tribulation for believers.

Below are three ways that we as Christians ought to respond to this period of tribulation.

Persevere

As christians we can persevere in our faith because we know the end of the story. In Daniel 7:26 we read, “But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.” And then in verse 27 we read, that the kingdom will be “given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” The Beast and all it’s horns will one day be judged and destroyed. In fact, we read about this day in Revelation 19.  Jesus is seen riding a horse as he comes before the beast and all who follow Him.  And then with a sword coming from His mouth (meaning His Words), Jesus will slay the beast and all who follow him. And the beast will then be thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity.

As christians we do not persevere in hopes that God will overcome Satan. The good news of the gospel is that in Christ, Satan has already been defeated. In Colossians 2:15 we read that at the cross Jesus has defeated and triumphed over Satan.

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (v.15)

As Christians we can persevere in our faith because we stand firm from a position of victory.

Praise

The destiny of all who have trusted in Jesus Christ is to dwell in the indestructible, imperishable, glorious, and everlasting Kingdom of God. If you think we will simply be sitting on clouds with harp s in our hands then you are mistaken.  Our destiny is to live in eternal celebration of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.  Throughout the New Testament Jesus is pictured as the groom who is preparing His bride (the church) for marriage.  And in Revelation 19:6-8 we see the bride praising God as she comes to the marriage supper.

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷ Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; ⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

When Jesus returns will be made perfectly like Him to live with him forever in the new heavens and new earth. We will forever be in a state of absolute joy. And what have we done that has earned us this right to live with God forever in everlasting joy and peace?

Nothing. Our entrance into the Kingdom is solely based upon God’s grace in sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins and then rising victorious three days later.

It is because of this glorious truth that we as believers can be full of praise right now. We can praise God that He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and eternal judgment and has brought us into the Kingdom of light with His Son Jesus Christ.

Proclaim

As christians we know the hope of the world is Jesus.  We know that whoever does not believe in Jesus Christ will spend eternity separated from God in everlasting torment.  This is why Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 commissioned the church to go into all the world making disciples.  We have been given the gospel not so that we would be cul-de-sacs but so we would be conduits.  We are God’s chosen instruments to take the gospel into every corner and crevice of the world knowing that God will rescue some by His grace.