The fourth beast was different from all the others, being even more ferocious and merciless. The imagery of the ten horns is used in Revelation as well (Rev 17:12).
The other horn waged war against the holy people and was defeating them. So we see that we will receive the kingdom, but also that the enemy will wage war against us first and it will seem that we are being defeated. Salvation came when the Ancient of Days pronounced judgement in favour of the holy people. Then they possessed the kingdom.
All of us need to pay close attention to this, and to examine our theology in the light of it. There are many who don't like the idea of judgement, of God judging. Well, the fact is that if God doesn't judge we are all dead! We are actually saved by judgement. We are saved because on the cross the Son took upon Himself the judgement that should have been ours, and because He will pronounce judgement in our favour at the end.
Then there are those with a triumphalist view. If you hold this view you are going to be in for a rude awakening because the consistent testimony of Scripture is that it doesn't happen that way.
Victory is assured, a great prize is assured, but the road there is not easy.
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