Since my last post, I have been studying about the end of age, tribulation time, the Antichrist and so much more. A question of mine that came to mind was "Who in the Bible knew about these subjects very well?" The first person that came to mind was not John (the author of Revelation) but Daniel, who wrote his book to the Jewish exiles in Babylonia anywhere from 605-530 B.C.
What I am about to say has really nothing to do with what is going on in our world today....or does it? Seemingly, it doesn't have much to do with anything the world is experiencing, but if you pay close attention, it has almost everything to do with our world today. Just remember that as you read.
I began my study in Daniel chapter 7. Daniels first personal experience of visions takes place in Chapter 7; just after adventure in the lions den in Chapter 6. As I go into the text, I am going to try to supply you with all of the historical, sociological and geological information that goes along with it.
Daniel 7:1 - In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
The first year of king Belshazzar, or his first year as king, was around 553 B.C.
Daniel 7:2 - Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.
The great sea in Daniels vision refers to the world of nations and peoples. What is the four winds of heaven? Ill get to that in just a second.
Daniel 7:3 - Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
Daniel 7:4 - The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
Daniel 7:5 - And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!'
Daniel 7:6 - After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
Daniel 7:7 - After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Daniel 7:8 - While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
Here is a picture to give you an idea. If you re like me, seeing things helps put the concept into perspective.
Verse 4: The lion with eagles wings symbolizes the Neo-Babylonian empire. I believe the rest of verse 4 (wings torn of, given the heart of a man) refers to the humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4.
Verse 5: The bear raised up on one of its sides refers to the superior status of the Persians in the Medo-Persian alliance. The three ribs could represent its three principal conquests: Lydia (546 B.C.) Babylon (539) and Egypt (525).
Verse 6: The leopard with four wings symbolizes the fast conquest of Alexander the Great. (334-330). The four heads correspond to the four main divisions into which his empire fell after he died in 323. Which is Macedon and Greece, Thrace and Asia Minor, Syria, the Holy Land and Egypt.
Verse 7: The fourth beast, with its irresistible power represents, you guessed it...the Roman Empire. The ten horns simply represent its authority.
Verse 8: The other small horn that the beast has is the Antichrist or a world power sharing the characteristics of the Antichrist. That also points to the "mouth that spoke boastfully" as the Antichrist will do very well.
This passage of scripture represents historical events that were dead on the money with Daniels vision, (that an angel, whom I believe was Gabriel, interpreted),
The four great beasts are indeed four great kingdoms that will rise in the world. The interpretation says that the small horn (the Antichrist) on the fourth beast will wage war with the saints and defeat them until the Ancient of Days (God) steps in and pronounces the judgement in favor of the saints.
For me, the most interesting thing about this whole chapter is that the angel tells Daniel that it will be a very long time before these things come to pass. That was in Daniels time, roughly 530 B.C. Its been a long time don't you think? At that time, Daniel would have been around the age of 80 years old just after his experience in the lions den, so he was no young man.
So, the fourth beast is a fourth Kingdom that will rise form the earth that will be much different from any other kingdom, and will devour all other nations. Do any nations come to mind? How about Rome? its a pretty big empire wouldn't you say? Or even China, whom America is in great dept to and they have the upper hand. Im not certain of this nation, or the king that will rise from this nation...but im just trying to get you to imagine and do a little bit of homework because this stuff really is amazing to watch play out. The ten horns are ten kings that will rise from this kingdom. After them, another king will appear, different from all the rest. The Bible says that this king will speak against the Most High and oppress His saints and try to change times and laws. But ultimately, the court will sit, and every knee bow and every tongue confess how great is our God! :)
May we seek Christ in the midst of this world
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