A sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Jack Whytock at the United Reformed Church of Prince Edward Island, morning service, February 7, 2021. The text is Daniel 7:1-8, 23- 28.

The sermon begins at the 31:47 mark. The marginalization of God’s people that will take place as they live faithfully in this present world is mentioned here. Calvin’s view of the Antichrist as one who opposes nature and God’s Word — the two universals — follows. The climactic vision of Christ’s glorious return and reign begins here.

1. Kings come and kings go. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. God is in control. We should take comfort. We should take hope. The saints have passed this way before. The Ancient of Days who sits on the throne rules over them.
2. The Antichrist is a person, but he is larger than a particular person. Antichrist is anything that is in opposition to Christ and his sovereign mediatorial reign. The term is descriptive of a great spiritual battle between anti-christian forces and the people of God and the Lord.  There are two words in this world — there is the word of God and there is the word that opposes the word of God — sola Scriptura. God’s word will triumph. Be of good cheer. Men will speak against this word in speech, writing, communication. Persecution and opposition come with this — keep it in perspective. “They shall change the times and the laws”: as Calvin suggested, the laws of nature and God’s word — which were viewed as universals — natural instincts, natural desires. This fits what is going on in our generation — opposition to natural law which is in accord with God’s law.
3. The Ancient of Days, the Son of Man shall reign forever and ever. Who is this man? He is the Son of Man in relation to the Father in trinity. Come in the flesh, incarnate. Exalted in the resurrection and again on the 40th day — exalted and seated at the right hand of the Father, seated in session for his people even now.
4. Daniel saw him and was overwhelmed. And He shall return in a glorious second exaltation and advent and he shall judge the nations of the earth and his nature and his rule shall be eternal and everlasting and just — all in contrast with the four kings shown in Daniel.

The Son is coming. Keep perspective. Where is your hope? In faith, we are members of his never-ending kingdom. Keep it in perspective as you live in this world and live your life. The spirit of antichrist shall be with us in every generation. Keep it in perspective. Christ shall reign — and he does reign even now.

A Youtube rendition of Onward, Christian Soldiers alluded to in the sermon. The verse referenced by Dr. Whytock:

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain;
gates of hell can never ‘gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Preached by Dr. Whytock at the United Reformed Church of PEI Sunday evening December 13, 2020. Psalm 98 speaks of the redemptive work of salvation to come. Christ has come, and he will come again. The end of missions is to see a worshipping people around the throne of glory. Here is a question for us: “Is my heart desirous that others come to a true knowledge of the Lord and worship him”?

Isaac Watts’ carol “Joy To The World” is based on Psalm 98 and Psalm 96. Christ has come. If you know him you know he has already stood trial in your place and he has removed the curse from you. Because of this, you can say “Joy to the world… He is coming”.

The sermon begins at the 28:26 mark.

Psalm 98 – ESV

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Joy To The World — Isaac Watts

1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
   Let earth receive her King;
   Let every heart prepare him room,
   And heaven and nature sing…
   
2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
   Let men their songs employ;
   While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
   Repeat the sounding joy…
   
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
   Nor thorns infest the ground;
   He comes to make his blessings flow
   Far as the curse is found…
   
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
   And makes the nations prove
   The glories of his righteousness,
   And wonders of his love…