This serves as the first of three broadcasts on the minor prophetic Book of Daniel. Daniel chapter seven is a parallel passage to Daniel chapter two, highlighting the coming ten-nation confederacy which ushers in the Antichrist. In this intriguing broadcast, Carl identifies the four nations, symbolized by various beasts, which rose to historical prominence and how their legacy ties to the coming Son of Perdition. Carl then reads a key passage from the Book of Revelation which correlates to the fourth beasts and what impact this might have on our immediate future, as world government tightens its grasp on humanity. Join Carl now…
Here is a complete transcript of the podcast (below)…
Friend, today we will continue our study of the book of Daniel, which documents God’s wisdom of revealing the future in advance. Now remember, in Daniel Chapter two we discussed King Nebuchadnezzar’s image, comprising of different forms of metal, from Gold at the head, representing Babylon, down to the two legs of iron, which is symbolic of Rome. By God’s Spirit the prophet Daniel was able to interpret this metallic image of a man and the world empires that were to transpire on the world stage in the years following Daniels lifetime. This image revealed 5 world empires, 4 of which have already transpired in history but there’s soon coming a world empire, I believe, consisting of 10 toes and symbolic of 10 coalition states, which will be the very platform from which the Antichrist will launch his New World Order and ultimate world domination. Now Daniel chapter 7 is a parallel passage that expounds upon this ten-nation state confederacy by referencing 10 horns upon a beast. This falls right in line with the ten toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s image of man in Dan 2. Daniel divulges something interesting in that, as the Antichrist rises to world power, (long after the church has been raptured by the way), he will topple three of these nations in his uprising… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Remember what I said before, Daniel chapter 2 revealed the future kingdoms of the earth from a Gentile perspective, whereas Daniel 7 reveals these same Kingdoms from God’s perspective and that’s the focus of our broadcast today friend, Daniel chapter 7. Now, let us read this chapter from the beginning, Daniel 7:1–8 (KJV):
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed:.. “…Now this vision probably occurred around the year 553 BC, or basically 14 years before the Medio Persian invasion of Babylon, when as I stated, the Babylonian kingdom fell in one night, which I discussed in my previous broadcast, let’s continue with verse 3:
And four great beasts came up from the sea (the sea represents the world typically in scripture), diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. “
Now the beasts here represent various brutal World empires that cruelly ravaged the people of God, that’s why these empires are in the form of a beast which is a lower being, exhibiting the savagery of an animal and particularly the harsh treatment of God’s people. Now let’s cover these beasts individually. The first beast was of course Babylon, symbolic of the lion, which had Eagle’s wings. If you look at the symbol of Babylon, a lion is without doubt the national symbol of this nation. This beast is a hybrid, having traits of both lion and eagle. The lion of course, is the king of the animal kingdom and the eagle being the head of the bird kingdom reflective of Babylon which was truly the head of all empires at the time. Notice this animal had its two wings plucked and a man’s heart given to it. The plucking of the wings references the insanity that King Nebuchadnezzar exhibited and the subsequent humbling he experienced at God’s hand. Following this dark hour, the king was converted and His heart was changed; an apt description of a beast receiving a man’s heart. King Nebuchadnezzar was savage in his early conquest of nations but finally acknowledged Yahweh God as the one true God. Remember in Dan 4:37 he finally came to his senses, by stating that he, ‘extolled and honored the King of Heaven.’
Anyway, onto the second beast which is the bear and symbolic of the Medo-Persian Empire which conquered Babylon in 539 BC. A bear is powerful but not as regal as a lion. Its power took Babylon swiftly and the three ribs in its mouth are the three provinces of Babylon, Persia and Media under its rule. When scripture says this bear was ‘raised up on one side,’ it likely refers to the uneven partnership of the Medes and Persians because no doubt the Persians eventually gained supremacy over the Medes in this brief coalition.
Then we have the third beast, being a leopard, which interestingly had four wings, and four heads. A leopard of course is the fastest animal on earth, approaching sprint speeds of up to 50 mph and some claim even 70 mph. God chose this swift animal to represent the Grecian Empire, spearheaded by Alexander the Great the Macedonian, because of the rapid rise of its empire and ability to conquer other nations almost overnight. Knowing that Alexander and his armies conquered the known world in just eleven years and his empire stretched from India through to Northern Africa, and into Europe, such was the vast extent of his empire and the speed at which it arose, the leopard description is right on.
Now when Alexander died in 323 BC, this 33 yr old, who was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16, his vast empire split among his four generals, represented by the four heads and four wings of this third beast. These generals were Cassander who eventually ruled the Alexander’s home province of Macedonia and Greece, and then there was Lysimachus, who ruled Thrace and Bithynia. Thrace today would be split over the three nations of Bulgaria, Turkey and some parts of Greece. Then the third general would be Seleucis who ruled Syria and the land to the east and finally, Ptolemy who ruled Egypt, Palestine and Arabia. Now let’s continue reading from Daniel 7, verse, 7 describing the fourth beast:
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse 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 little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
Friend, this fourth beast is no doubt the Roman Empire which appeared on the scene more ferocious than the previous empires. Rome commenced officially in about 31 BC with Octavius who took the imperial name Augustus and became the first Emperor. It’s great iron teeth spoke of its unequaled military strength and it’s persecution of God’s people is unrivaled. Remember in the sacking of the Temple in Jerusalem, in 70 AD, Titus performed slaughtered 1.1 million people; the majority Jews, in Israel’s darkest hour.
Rome never compromised and its empire reigned for close to perhaps 1000 years if we include the Western and Eastern factions. It would crush or trample any nation under foot by imposing its own laws and money within every nation and it’s persecution of Christians also, was unrivaled. Now verse 23:
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Now as you see this beast had ten horns and it shall devour the “whole earth.” This coincides with the interpretation that this 10-nation coalition or confederation will be a New world Order, spanning the entire globe. The first four beasts have already come and gone in world history when the Roman Empire fell. But there are yet ten horns that will spring up in these latter days, out of the fourth beast and these ten horns will spring up from within the old region of the old Roman Empire, from either the eastern or western factions and eventually dominate the entire world.
Now according to Revelation 17:12-14, these ten kings or horns, receive power alongside the Antichrist for a very short time during the tribulation period. The precise identity of these kings is not known to us but the common interpretation is that these kings represent a coming New World Order like I said or instead, a ten nation confederacy of Islamic nations. The Islamic Military alliance currently has 34 nations, much larger than 10 but regardless; the purpose of these coming ten horns is to give their power and authority over to the antichrist. The 10 horns of verse 24, which I personally believe will be the coming New World Order or a coalition of Islamic nations as some scholars surmise, will immediately surround Israel and threaten it in these last days. These ten horns are a major part of the reason why the Antichrist will become so powerful, they will literally empower him; yet he will simultaneously remove three of these kings in his uprising at the commencement of the tribulation period. The antichrist will eventually utilize tracking technologies, satellite systems, banking systems and everything else at the disposal of this world empire, to wage war against the people of Israel and eventually Christ himself. Now friend, let’s get to the best part, verse 9:
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days (God the father) did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
The ancient of Days is God the Father friend, and here’s what comes next:
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
The books were opened friend, the book of life, the book of remembrance, and other books mentioned in scripture. The ten thousand times ten thousand that stood before God are us friend the countless saints of God who have been raptured, and witness from heaven to this beast system being slain by Christ himself when He returns at His second coming, verse 13:
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
This friend describes the millennial reign of Christ and the setting up of Christ’s full theocracy. Christ’s dominion will be forever as we the saints of God will be granted roles within his millennial reign and serve on this earth for 1000 years. In verse 17 it finally suns up this vision in its entirety:
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Friend, it’s great to study the end times but these matters should never trouble us. Jesus said, ” Occupy till I come” (Lk 19:13). Our focus should be spreading the Gospel, not building underground bunkers and storing up food. I’m all for being prepared and having extra provisions on hand for emergencies certainly but remember the focus of Daniels visions was really Judeo-centric. They mostly concern the Jewish people and those who will surround Jerusalem in the time of Jacob’s trouble when the church of Jesus Christ will be long gone.
https://carljosephministries.com/podcast/world-empires-of-the-bible-daniel-chapter-2/
https://www.fbcthomson.org/post/the-future-is-in-god-s-hand-an-encouragement-from-daniel-7
Title: The Four Beasts: Daniel Chapter 7
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