Biblical Prophecy and Daniel IV

As I wrote in the previous article we will gain further insight into Daniel 7 when we look at the New Testament book of Revelation. The book of Daniel lays the blue-print of Biblical prophecy or the skeleton while Revelation adds the meet to the bones. Let’s take a look at a few passages from Revelation to see what further insights we can gain. Revelation 13:1-9 is the first passage that we will consider. Before we begin, as a way of review, let’s compile what we have learned so far.

a. Head of fine gold = Lion = Babylonian Empire

b. Breasts and arms of silver = Bear = Medo-Persian Empire

c. Belly and thighs of bronze = Leopard = Greek Empire

d. Legs of iron = Beast = Roman Empire

2 Feet and 10 toes of iron and clay = 10 horns (kings)

1 horn arises and subdues 3 of the 10

the 1 horn speaks out against God and persecutes the Jews for 3 ½ years

e. Stone = Mountain = Ancient of Days = God’s kingdom

Set up during the time of the 10 kings and the 1 king

Never ending physical kingdom

And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:1-9)

This revelation begins with a dragon standing by the seashore. We have seen the sea mentioned before (Daniel 7). The 4 beasts came out of the “great sea” or Mediterranean Sea. Now the dragon, who is called Satan in other places in the book of Revelation, calls a beast out of the sea. Do you see the parallels with Daniel 7 yet? Look further at how the beast is described. It has 10 horns. Where have we seen 10 horns before? That is correct; the 4^th beast in Daniel’s dream had 10 horns. The 10 horns also have 10 crowns on the horns which a crown is a representation of royalty so the 10 horns are 10 kings/kingdoms. The beast looks like a leopard, has feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. Where have we seen this mentioned before? You guessed it, Daniel 7. The beast also has 7 heads. What could the heads represent? If you think back to the number of Empires that have dominated Israel you will quickly see that there have been 6 and that there is 1 to come. Let’s count them: Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman and the one to come will rise up out of the former Roman Empire. Interestingly enough one of the heads looked as if it had been slain yet the fatal wound was healed. The world thinks that the Roman Empire was slain and will never be again yet as the EU comes together we see the next empire rising up out of the seemingly dead Roman Empire. He was given a mouth to speak arrogant words and blasphemies. Where have we seen this before? The horn that rose up out of the 10 in chapter 7. He has authority for 42 months, which is 3 ½ years. Where have we seen 3 ½ before? In Daniel 7, time, times, and ½ time. He opens his mouth and blasphemes against God as did the horn/man of Daniel 7.

As you remember, during the time of the 10 kings and the 1 king God establishes His kingdom on earth. Let’s continue on in Revelation 19 to see how this will play out. This is speaking of future events even for us today.

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Revelation 19:13-20)

This is when Christ returns to physically put His feet on the earth for the second time in human history. As we see, He is not coming alone. Remember that the horn/man who speaks out against God and persecutes the Jews will do so for 3 ½ years. As we will see in a later article, the 3 ½ years come as the second half of a 7 year period. This is important to understand because when Christ comes He comes with specific people, the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean after the great tribulation that is coming upon the whole earth. They come with Christ out of heaven. Jesus will strike the nations with the sword and He will then rule the nations (all of them over the whole earth).

All of the nations will gather together to fight against the Lord Jesus; from kings to slaves both great and small. The beast that came out of the great sea and the false prophet are there to battle against Christ. They are both seized and thrown into the lake which burns with brimstone. The armies of the nations will loose and the birds will gather together for a feast, to feast on the flesh of the kings of the earth. The question is, which side will you be on? Will you be with Jesus Christ or with the nations? If you are with Christ now then you will be with Him then but if you are not with Him now then you will not be with Him then. The choice is yours so choose the winning team now so you can celebrate the victory then. In the next article we will discover new insights on the Grecian Empire from Daniel chapter 8.

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