Many dubious leaders have wreaked havoc throughout human history. Pastor Ed teaches us in today’s message that real life villains like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin give only a glimpse of what we will see when another more deadly man takes the world stage. In Daniel chapter 7, Scripture describes a man, called the anti-christ, who will be more destructive than any person who has ever come before him. The anti-christ will be Satan’s puppet and will be given authority over rebellious men as God begins to judge the world for its sins.

The book of Daniel is maybe the most important book besides the book of Revelation to speak on end time prophecy. In chapter 7, Daniel has dream of four beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a fourth beast more violent and terrible than the previous beasts. In today’s message, Pastor Ed explains the meaning behind Daniel’s dream. We can conclude from the dream’s interpretation that the Lord God knows the future. There is nothing that surprises Him, and He has everything under control.

Pastor Ed teaches us in today’s message from Daniel chapter six that while it is important for citizens to obey the law of the land, a Christian’s ultimate authority is God. Scripture teaches that the Body of Christ should pay taxes, obey laws, and submit to governmental authority under normal circumstances. However, sometimes the law of the land is contrary to the law of God. It is in these situations that Believers must prove they fear the Lord by submitting to Jesus rather than man.

The prophet Daniel was known throughout all of Babylon for his wisdom and faithfulness. Kings sought him out for advice and God used him to minister sound counsel and heavenly insight. Daniel was an upright man who worked diligently all his days. Pastor Ed teaches us that the way we live speaks much more loudly than what we say. Daniel was famous for his conduct in Babylon and his faithfulness to God is still talked about today. Most importantly, because of Daniel, God’s name was and continues to be honored.

Our God is patient, slow to anger, and abounding in love. However, the Lord is also just and promises to repay His enemies for the wrong that they do. In Daniel chapter 5, Daniel pronounced judgment on Babylon because of its pride and because it did not heed the wisdom of the Lord when it was given. Pastor Ed points out that when we remember that God has judged in the past and that He does indeed examine the thoughts and motives of men’s hearts, it helps us to walk righteously and humbly before the Lord.

In Daniel chapter five, King Belshazzar was feasting and making merry. In the middle of the party, he asked that the spoils of the Babylonian war with Israel be brought into the feast so that he and his guests could drink from the goblets obtained from the Jewish temple. Pastor Ed teaches us today that when the king drank from cups that were meant for priestly use, it was a defiant act and in essence spitting the face of God. It was precisely at this time that the Lord pronounced judgment on King Belshazzar, king of Babylon.

All of us have been given particular gifts. Some of us can sing, others can play ball, still others have a knack for business. We collect houses, cars, jobs, and clothes. Sometimes we can forget that all these good gifts come from the Father. When we forget to be thankful to the Lord for what we have, pride steps in to trick us into believing that we are responsible for the gifts that we have. Pastor Ed admonishes us to remember that even the very breath in our lungs is a gift from heaven, and for that the Lord should receive the honor He is due.

Babylon was a golden city renowned for its beauty, architecture, and infrastructure. One day King Nebuchadnezzar was looking over impressive Babylon and admiring the view. He foolishly took credit for the beautiful things he saw. At that very moment God stripped the king of everything, including his mental faculties, so that King Nebuchadnezzar would know that it was God, not man, who sits on the throne. Pastor Ed teaches us today to combat insidious pride by always giving God the glory for the things that He has done.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound together and thrown into a fiery furnace, Scripture reveals that they were supernaturally protected from the flames and that their ties were loosed so that they could walk freely in the furnace. Pastor Ed teaches us today through a powerful message in Daniel chapter 3 that the Lord sends trials our way to help us overcome our struggles. The fiery trials of life demonstrate God’s faithfulness to sustain us. They also prove His ability to set us free from the ties that bind.

In the book of Daniel, three men refuse to bow down to an idol of King Nebuchadnezzar’s image because they worship the One True God only. The king of Babylon responds by throwing the men into a fiery furnace as punishment. Pastor Ed teaches us today that the Lord will sometimes allow trials to come into our lives. Just as God kept the men from being burned up in the furnace, the Lord will sustain us through our trials. As we overcome, Jesus’s name is glorified throughout the nations as it was in Babylon.