THE BOOK OF DANIEL
Part
8
The Nations
that Rose to Power
“The
head of gold” in Daniel chapter 2 is Babylon, which was the greatest of all
kingdoms of the earth. Babylon— “head of gold” in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is
also seen as a ‘lion with eagle’s wings’ in Daniel 7:4. Lion is king of all
beasts.
“The
chest and arms of silver,” represented the Medo-Persia Empire [Medes and
Persia]. This world-power had great populace of citizens, which was one of its
great strengths, that’s why it is represented by “the bear”—one of the largest
mammals.
The
“bear with three ribs in its mouth” is Persia, represented as ‘arms and chest
of silver.’ These 3 mysterious ribs speak of the three kingdoms conquered by
the Persians, namely: Babylon, Lydia and Macedonia. The rule of Persia was
recorded in 11:1-2. Darius the Mede was made king of Babylon (9:1).
Greece
was “belly and thigh of bronze,” also illustrated as “leopard” (a prideful
beast); this was to emphasize the speed of conquest by the Greek Empire of
Alexander. This ‘leopard’ had four wings and four heads. Its 4 heads reveal
that this kingdom was to be divided among four generals from Syria, Turkey,
Greece and Egypt.
The
Roman Empire, with two capitals was represented by the “two legs of iron”
(2:33).
And,
finally, “The Holy Roman Empire”—which has had 9 resurrections and falls, is
pictured—having ‘ten toes mixed of iron and clay’ v.33; the formation of this
empire extends to our time, and is clearly symbolized as ‘a terrible beast with
ten horns’ in the book of Revelation, showing that the tenth resurrection of
“The Holy Roman Empire” is in formation now!
This
Empire of “clay and iron”— a kingdom partly strong, and partly fragile; were to
be ‘a kingdom divided.' Its “ten toes” symbolizes a 10 nation EU political and
economic confederacy from the old Roman boundaries.
A
“rock” cut out without hands and struck “the image” in this vision on its feet
of iron and clay, and broke it in pieces (v 34). Iron, clay, bronze, silver and
gold were crushed together (v. 35)—which represents the world empires from
Babylon to the Final Resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. “The Rock” became a
great “Mountain” and filled the whole earth v. 35. This “rock” is “the Rock of
Ages”
Jesus
Christ is “the Rock of Ages” –the Rock that will crush the world rising
kingdoms.
You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to
pieces like pottery."
Ps 2:9 NIV
'He will rule them with an iron scepter; He will dash them to
pieces like pottery'
Rev 2:27a NIV
The
Glorious Land spoken of in Daniel 8:9 is Israel. And the chief city of Israel’s
heritage, culture, history and politics for centuries as documented in the
Bible, is Jerusalem—‘on the sides of the north,’ the City of the great King.
Jerusalem was the City of King David, and is the City from where Jesus
Christ—The Great King will rule and reign over the earth in ‘the Millennium’ (Psa.
48:1-2).
The
King of the South is the league of Arab nations (Dan. 11:25)
Daniel
11 alone contains over one hundred specific prophecies of historical events
that literally came true, and also prophecies of global conflicts to come,
which includes “The kings of the South and the North.”
Amidst
the conflicts to come on a world-stage, as revealed in Daniel 11, the vile
conqueror from the North [the antichrist] will fight against the King of the
South [the league of Arab nations] in fierce battles. “The South” refers to the
Arabs, but note properly that “The King of the South” mentioned in this
prophecy, points to Iran, today (metaphorically, “the head of the snake,” in
Western diplomacy.
Herein
this chapter, the Bible clearly prophecies how the conflicts within the nations
will ensure:
Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of
the South but will retreat to his own country. His sons will prepare for war
and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and
carry the battle as far as his fortress.
"Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and
fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will
be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled
with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain
triumphant. For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the
first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully
equipped.
"In those times many will rise against the king of the
South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision,
but without success. Then the king of the North will come and build up siege
ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be
powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to
stand. The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against
him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to
destroy it. He will determine to come
with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of
the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow
the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him. Then he will turn his
attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put
an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him. After this,
he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and
fall, to be seen no more.
"His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain
the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in
anger or in battle.
"He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not
been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people
feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue. Then an overwhelming army
will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be
destroyed. After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and
with only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces feel
secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his
forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his
followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses — but only for a time.
"With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage
against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large
and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots
devised against him. Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to
destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two
kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to
each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed
time. The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth,
but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action
against it and then return to his own country.
"At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but
this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the
western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn
back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor
to those who forsake the holy covenant.
"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple
fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the
abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who
have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly
resist him.
"Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time
they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they
fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join
them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and
made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the
appointed time.
"The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify
himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.
He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been
determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers
or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt
himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a
god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious
stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help
of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make
them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.
"At the time of the end the king of the South will engage
him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with
chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries
and sweep through them like a flood.
He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will
fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He
will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain
control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with
the Libyans and Nubians in submission. But reports from the east and the north
will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate
many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy
mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
Dan 11:9-45 NIV
Take
note, man's view of the nations that rise to power, as presented in the
prophecy, is with precious metals, and elsewhere, in Psalm 49:12 we have God's
view of them—ferocious beasts.
In
Daniel chapter 7 verse 17, we see those great beasts as four kingdoms which
rise out of the earth.
A
‘lion with eagle’s wings’ symbolized Babylon in Daniel 7:4.
Medes
and Persia—“the bear empire,” under the command of two separate leaders—Darius
[the Mede] and Cyrus [the Persian] rose to power, and conquered Babylon. Also,
“the ram with two horns” is Medo-Persia.
“He-goat”
and “leopard” (chapter 8) symbolized Greece, the empire whose Emperor, Alexander
the Great—(shown in “leopard” as a beast known for speed)—died at a very young
age. Alexander the Great was the large horn between the eyes of the he-goat
(verse 21). His kingdom was divided and given to four generals of the kingdoms
of Syria, Turkey, Greece and Egypt. These 4 nations rose from within the
dominance of power of Greece—ruled by the four generals from outside the
generations of Alexander the Great (ref. 8:8, 22). It is clearly seen in 11:4, how
his kingdom was taken from him and divided amongst the four generals—not from
within his posterity. Greece conquered the Medo-Persian Empire [the kings of
Media and Persia].
The
Roman Empire, strong as iron, broke and smashed the earlier world powers into
pieces as prophesied (2:40). This empire in its earliest resurrection under
Emperor Augustus Caesar ruled most part of the world, even until the time of
the birth of Jesus—the Savior.
Time
after time, the imperial system of Rome suffered several set-backs. But
according to Bible endtime prophecy, Rome, in the latter days raises “Fortress
Europe” (a United States of Europe), otherwise known as “Revised Rome.”
In
Revelation 17 it is called “Babylon the Great,” which is a “mystery city.”
Now
take a proper note, the Last Resurrection of “The Holy Roman Empire” otherwise
known as “Fortress Europe” is seen in ‘the dreadful and terrible beast with
huge iron teeth and ten horns’ in Revelation 13. Its ten horns are the 10
nation confederacy in Europe, Rome included—which is represented by Italy.
"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.
Dan.7:7 NIV
Chapter
2 verse 40 says:
Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron — for
iron breaks and smashes everything — and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it
will crush and break all the others.
NIV
So,
this horrible creature with iron teeth symbolizes—“The Holy Roman Empire” in
Scripture prophecy.