The Everlasting Kingdom | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 10.18.26

DOMINION AND THE KINGDOM

Daniel 7:1-28

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. ² Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. ³ And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. ⁴ The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. ⁵ And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ ⁶ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. ⁷ After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. ⁸ I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 

The Ancient of Days Reigns

⁹ “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. ¹⁰  A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. ¹¹ “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. ¹² As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

¹³ “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.  ¹⁴ And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 

Daniel’s Vision Interpreted

¹⁵ “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. ¹⁶ I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. ¹⁷ ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. ¹⁸ But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ 

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 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. 

²³ “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, 

which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, 

and trample it down, and break it to pieces. ²⁴  As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, 

and shall put down three kings. ²⁵  He shall speak words against the Most High, 

and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; 

and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. ²⁶  But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. 

²⁷  And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ ²⁸ “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.” 

• The Four Winds 

The word translated “winds” may also be rendered “spirits,” that is, angels. Elsewhere in Scripture this word is used to refer to God’s providential actions in the affairs of men through angels (Jer. 23:19; 49:36; 51:1; Zech. 6:1–6; 7:14; Rev. 7:1–3)

 Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1350). Victor Books.

• The Great Sea

The Masses of Humanity

Revelation 17:15 

“The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

Isaiah 17:12–13 compares the roaring of many nations to the roaring of the seas.

Isaiah 57:20 describes the wicked as a troubled sea that cannot rest.

• The Four Beast

• Babylonian Kingdom – Lion 4 wings…
• Medo Persian Empire – Bear raised up on one side, 3 ribs, Devour much flesh
• Greece – Leopard, 4 Wings & 4 heads, dominion
• Rome – Beast Terrifying, Iron teeth, Strong, Devoured and broke others. 10 horns

• The Other Little Horn

• Speaks against the Most High, revealing the blasphemous nature of its speech Daniel 7:25
• Makes war against the saints. -  Daniel 7:21
• Temporarily prevails against the saints. - Daniel 7:21
• Persecutes or wears out the saints of the Most High - Daniel 7:25
• Intends to change times and laws   Daniel 7:25  -  attempt to alter established times and authoritative regulations.
• Exercises authority over the saints for a time, times, and half a time, before his dominion is removed and destroyed

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

⁹ “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. ¹⁰  A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. ¹¹ “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire

THE SON OF MAN

¹³“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.  ¹⁴ And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; 

his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one 

that shall not be destroyed. 

THE COMING KINGDOM OF CHRIST

1. There Will Be Tremendous Peace

Isaiah 11:6–9
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 2:2–4
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

2. Christ Will Govern

Isaiah 9:6–7
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

4. There Will Be Childbearing and Families Among the Mortal Population

Isaiah 65:20–23
“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old;

6. There Will Be Labor and Productivity

Isaiah 65:21–23
“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”

9. There Will Be Holiness and Righteousness

Isaiah 11:4–5 

“But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

10. There Will Be Glory

Isaiah 24:23
“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.”

12. There Will Be Justice

Isaiah 9:7
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

13. The Earth Will Be Filled With the Knowledge of God

Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Habakkuk 2:14
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

15. There Will Be Extraordinary Health and Healing

Isaiah 33:24
“And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”

THE LOOSING OF SATAN AND THE DECEIVING OF THE NATIONS

Revelation 20:7–9
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

THE APOSTLES AND THE KINGDOM

Peter

2 Peter 1:10–11

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Paul

2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:1

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Thessalonians 1:4–5

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

LET THE KINGDOM BE YOUR FILTER…

Daniel 6 | Pastor Trey Townsley | 10.11.26

• Daniel has served under multiple kings over a period of about 66 years
• Daniel has proven himself extremely useful to the king and his court through many means such as the interpretations of dreams and writings
• Daniel has exhibited an uncommon faithfulness to his God in all his actions
• Daniel was granted favor because of his faithfulness
• ¹It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; ² and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
• Daniel holds the position of a very high political official who rules over other political officials
• Daniel and two other governors were responsible for ensuring that the king didn’t lose any money (tribute, taxes, etc.)
• ³ Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. ⁴ So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
• Daniel did his job so well that the king considered expanding his authority to include all 120 provinces
• Other politicians sought to find dirt on Daniel. However, because no neglect or corruption was found in him, they had to fabricate a fault.
• ⁶ So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! ⁷ All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” ⁹ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
• Darius, as a new king, would want to do whatever was feasible to unify the people
• The ‘law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter’ stood in contrast to the king’s authority under former Babylonian rule (Daniel 5:19)
• Esther 1:19 ¹⁹ If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 
• This law superseded even the authority of the king
• ¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. ¹¹ Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. ¹² And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” ¹³ So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
• When he learned of the decree, he did not go to the king, he went to his God (as was his custom)
• Even after sixty years of service, Daniel was still referred to as a ‘captive of Babylon’ 
• ¹⁴ And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. ¹⁵ Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” ¹⁶ So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” ¹⁷ Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
• King Darius was powerless to deliver Daniel
• Do you remember?
• ¹⁸ Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. ¹⁹ Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! ²² My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
• God sent His angel because Daniel was innocent
• Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
• 2 Peter 2:9 ⁹ then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…

• Adopt a spirit of excellence.   ³ Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him
• Remain consistent in all circumstances.   ¹⁰ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
• Maintain purity before God.     ²² My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him
• Treat others as you would yourself.     …O king, I have done no wrong before you

The Growing Years | Pastor Trey Townsley | 10.4.26

The Growing Years

• ‘Heroes’ of the faith who have accomplished great feats all have one thing in common:
• Experience!
• Luke 14:28 ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it
• God does not use unproven vessels to accomplish His greatest tasks
• Romans 5:2-5 ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
• KJV: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
• We see Elijah as a hero who challenged false prophets at a ratio of 450:1 and prevailed with supernatural results (1 Kings 18)
• Do we see him a few years earlier being affected by the drought/famine that he prophesied would come while having to trust God for every meal and drink?
• Do we see him subjected to trusting God to provide for him through a widow who was ready to die?
• Do we see him crying out to the LORD in distress to raise a young man to life?
• Do we see the internal struggle of being viewed by an unknown number of people as the ‘troubler of Israel”?
• David was a young stripling who challenged a war veteran and defeated him in a glorious manner (1 Samuel 17)
• But do we see the young boy who was sent out to the fields to care for the sheep?
• Do we see the mental struggle when the bear cub snatches a ewe lamb? Or when a young lion attempts to run off with another one? 
• Do we witness the pain of rejection from a family who did not think to call in the youngest when the prophet told his dad to bring his sons?
• What is the Daniel experience?
• Daniel 1:8 ⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 
• Daniel purposed [established, determined] in his heart that he would not defile himself
• Daniel 1:12 ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.

• The test led to the gift. God gave all four of them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. In addition, Daniel was given understanding in all visions and dreams. This was not an arbitrary gift without sacrifice. 
• Just a few months later, Nebuchadnezzar made the decree to kill all the wise men of Babylon.
• Daniel 2:26-28 ²⁶ The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” ²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days…
• Nebuchadnezzar receives another warning in his dream after years of rebellion. Daniel pleads with him to turn from evil and become righteous.
• In stark contrast, chapter 5 records a stern rebuke from Yahweh with imminent judgment pronounced. Again, Daniel reflected the heart of Yahweh in his response. Also note how Daniel was unmoved by gifts and promotion.
• Daniel 5:17 ¹⁷ Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 
• Daniel 5:22-23 ²² “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. ²³ And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
• Acts 4:13 ¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
• We will never make extraordinary moves with ordinary preparation
• Without experience we are Peter in Matthew 26:74 ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
• What are your trials this season? What are they meant to prepare you for?
• Pray: Lord, what can I do to bring You the most glory in this situation?