Welcome to March! As I type this update, we have been snowed in all week where I live in the midwest. After this, I’m going to go outside and shovel our driveway so my wife and her car aren’t trapped anymore.

Of course, by the time you read this, the snow will all be melted! I have a lot going on for the next few weeks (which I’ll update you on soon) so I’m trying to work ahead on these newsletters.

This Week’s Episode Recap

In case you missed this week’s episode- Daniel’s Wacky Dreams- you can catch up by clicking here. I’m going to proceed with the assumption that you’re caught up.

In this episode, we looked at how Daniel was able to get a preview of future empires based on his dream in Daniel 7- as well as by interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2.

Daniel 7 contained a dream of four beasts. Daniel 2’s dream had a statue of various metals. These dreams were explained as prophesying four future kingdoms and their leaders:

1. Babylon, which ruled the world from 612 BC - 539 BC

2. Medo-Perisa, which ruled from 539 BC - 331 BC

3. Greece, which ruled from 531 BC - 146 BC

4. Rome, which ruled from 146 BC - AD 476

Also, Daniel was given prophetic imagery of the antichrist’s kingdom, which will briefly take over the world in the end times.

I understand that not all Christians view the end times in the same way. Some do not take the prophecies about the rapture, or a 7-year tribulation, or the antichrist as literally as I do.

That’s OK. I am not trying to use this podcast/ministry to push a particular eschatological viewpoint. I am fine with Christians having a variety of views on prophecy. If you don’t look at prophecy and Daniel/Revelation the way I do, feel free to disregard this week’s rabbit trail. Won’t hurt my feelings; I’m just glad you’re here!

Rabbit Trails: The Antichrist vs The Saints

I want to follow up on a note from Daniel 7 that I didn’t have time to fully explore in the episode, but it ties in with what we’ve been discussing in several of this year’s episodes: the power of the devil against the church.

I’ve heavily emphasized spiritual warfare the past few months and how Jesus has empowered the church with the spiritual authority to stop the power of the devil.

In Daniel 7’s vision of the antichrist, it contains this claim in verses 19-22:

¹⁹ “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, ²⁰ and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn [note: this is the antichrist] that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. ²¹ As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them,²² until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

Wow, it actually said right there that the antichrist will “prevail” against the saints. But wait, didn’t Jesus say something opposite in Matthew 16?

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Wait, so Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against the church, and yet Daniel claims that the antichrist will prevail against the saints.

Is this a contradiction? Only if you believe that the saints in Daniel 7 are the church. But I see them as distinct entities.

I divide up how I understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of the members of God’s Kingdom. In other words, God’s Kingdom encompasses all believers of all time: past, present and future- everybody who becomes a part of the family of God. But I believe there are also different types of believers within that Kingdom: the Old Testament Saints, the Church, and the future Tribulation Saints.

When Jesus came, He instituted “the church” in Matthew 16, and gave us authority over evil spirits and the gates of hell. Like the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I believe this was a gift specifically to the church. I don’t believe this authority was granted to the Old Testament saints.

The church is a unique entity in the plan of God. We have been given our own mission- the Great Commission in Matthew 28- and we have been gifted with the Holy Spirit’s power to accomplish it. The church began in Acts 2, and it has continued for 2,000 years, and the church will end with the rapture (I Thessalonians 4).

Again, this is not how all Christians see it- and there is plenty of debate about the timing of the rapture; I am just sharing how I look at these things.

When the church leaves this earth- which I believe will be near the beginning of the 7-year tribulation- that does not mean the opportunity for salvation is over. There will still be people who get saved during that tribulation (these are the people I referred to as “Tribulation Saints”). However, they are not guaranteed the protections or privileges that Jesus gave the church. They’ll be at a disadvantage, compared to us, when standing against the Antichrist and demonic forces.

This is what I mean when I say that there are different roles, rights and responsibilities for different members of God’s Kingdom.

So when the Antichrist attempts to kill all believers (and anyone who won’t take his mark) during the tribulation, he will be quite successful. Many people will lose their lives standing against him. Notice what is said about the antichrist in Revelation 13:7.

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.

Again, doesn’t make sense with Matthew 16 if you consider the saints of Revelation 13 to be the same as the church. That’s why I find it helpful to make a distinction between the Old Testament Saints, the Church (who are also called saints), and the Tribulation Saints.

Plus, that gets me really excited to consider the authority we have! We have been given a unique mission to share the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and close the gates of hell.

Let’s not waste any of the time or authority Jesus has given us!

See you next week with a big ministry update.

-Luke

PS: Did you know you can follow up on any past newsletters you may have missed at this website? It’s not my official website (that’s still in the works), but for now, Beehiiv is archiving the newsletters right there.