A) TO THE KEY.

B) THE FIRST FOUR KINGDOMS.

C) A BREAKDOWN OF THE KINGDOMS IN THE BIBLE.

D) IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST THREE KINGDOMS.

E) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST KINGDOM.

F) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SECOND KINGDOM.

G) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE THIRD KINGDOM.

H) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FOURTH KINGDOM.

I) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIFTH KINGDOM.

J) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE “little horn.”

K) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SIXTH KINGDOM.

L) THE VISIONS OF DANIEL CONTINUE IN REVELATION, CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

M) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST BEAST OF REVELATION, CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

N) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SECOND BEAST OF REVELATION, CHAPTER 13.

 

 

A) TO THE KEY

 

 

The “KEY” to understanding world history according to the Bible begins in the Book of Daniel, Chapter Two.  It is given at the end of Chapter Two, but better explained in Chapters 7, 8, and 10.  That these other Chapters are supporting the same vision as portrayed in Chapter 2, will be clearly seen as we study along.  What happens in Daniel, Chapters 2 & 7 & 8 & 10, is what theologians call “recapitulation;” a fancy word for repetition.  Here is one reason why.  Persia and Greece are specifically identified as the Second and Third kingdoms in each Chapter, even though different beasts are used.

 

There is a clear reference to how God works, which is given to us in Daniel’s opening statement after he received the interpretation to the dream, but not yet in king Nebuchadnezzar’s presence:  “(20) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the Name of God for ever and ever:  for wisdom and might are His: (21) And He changeth the times and the seasons:  He removeth kings, and setteth up kings,” Daniel 2:20-21.  Then Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar WHEN these events, which are real -- not your ordinary dream -- will take place:  “in the latter days,” verse 28; “what should come to pass hereafter,” verse 29.  In other words, future events.  Daniel then instructs king Nebuchadnezzar, and the world (us), that “what should come to pass hereafter,” verse 29, involves a succession of kingdoms (verses 38-40).  Remember, “He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.”

 

That God is teaching all of us that there would be a succession of “four Kingdoms” to come is clearly given to us in Daniel, Chapter 7, verses 15-17:  “(15) I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. (16) I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this.  So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. (17) These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”

 

 

B) THE FIRST FOUR KINGDOMS

 

 

Almost all theologians agree as to the identification of these first four kingdoms.  Therefore, let’s take a look at them, and positively identify them, both Biblically and Historically.

 

Here are the figures (approximately):

 

Babylon = B.C. 626 to B.C. 539.

Media-Persia = B.C. 539 to B.C. 480.

Greece = B.C. 480 to B.C. 146.

Rome = B.C. 146 to 476 A.D.  Note:  First Roman Emperor B.C. 27-14.

 

 

C) A BREAKDOWN OF THE KINGDOMS IN THE BIBLE

 

 

CHAPTER 2:

 Head = Gold = Babylon;

Breast and Arms = Silver = Persia;

Belly and Thighs = Brass = Greece;

Legs = Iron = Rome;

Feet = Iron (mixed with) Clay = The ten kingdoms (ten toes) after Rome falls and is divided up (not discussed here);

Stone = Christ.

 

CHAPTER 7:

Lion = Babylon;

Bear = Persia;

Leopard = Greece;

Dreadful and Terrible (Iron Teeth) = Rome;

Ten Horns = Rome divided into ten kingdoms;

Little Horn = Papal Rome;

Most High = Christ.

 

CHAPTER 8:

First beast is already conquered (Babylon) at this point in time and therefore not mentioned;

Ram = Persia;

Goat = Greece;

King of Fierce Countenance = Rome;

Prince of princes = Christ.

 

CHAPTER 10:

Persia;

Grecia.

 

CHAPTER 11:

Persia;

Grecia;

Mighty King = Rome.

 

We can notice that each Chapter gives us a little more information upon each kingdom, even speaking about some that the others did not identify.  Notice also that the progression is always the same:  Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Rome divided into ten kingdoms, Papal Rome, Christ’s Second Coming.

 

 

D) IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST THREE KINGDOMS

 

 

In Daniel, Chapter 7, verse 17 we are told:  “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”  Thus, Daniel is being given another vision which reinforces his first vision in Daniel, Chapter 2, for our Lord establishes this prophecy by two or three witnesses (Num. 35:30; Deu. 17:6; 19:15; Mat. 18:16; John 8:17; 2Co. 13:1; 1Ti. 5:19; Heb. 10:28).  With the Biblical truth of the establishment of this prophecy by three visions of the same upcoming kingdoms, we can know for sure that the third witness, in this case, Daniel, Chapter 8, positively identifies the second beast as being “Media and Persia,” Daniel 8:20, and the third beast as being “Grecia,” Daniel 8:21, while the first kingdom was Babylon -- “Thou art this head of gold,” Daniel 2:38, speaking of the “thou” being and meaning Nebuchadnezzar.

 

 

E) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST KINGDOM

 

 

In Chapter 2, verse 38 we read:  “Thou art this head of gold.”  Now Daniel was speaking directly to Nebuchadnezzar, but we must also understand reasonably that Nebuchadnezzar represented Babylon, since he was the head of it.  This Biblical truth becomes even clearer as we continue on to verse 39:  “after thee [Babylon] shall arise another kingdom inferior.”  All good students of History know that after Babylon came the Second Kingdom of Medio-Persia (see Dan. 8:20).

 

 

F) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SECOND KINGDOM

 

 

If we go to Daniel 5:28 we read:  “Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”  Here we are directly told who succeeded Babylon (see also Dan. 5:31).  And in Daniel 8:20 we read:  “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.”  Here is a positive identification and a good representation of two kingdoms (“two horns”), yet ruling as one (“The ram”).  And in Daniel 10:20 we read:  “Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia:  and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.”  Here again we are directly told who the Second Kingdom is -- Persia (the Medes were conquered at this time).  The prophecy is interpreted for us.  We are even told who the Third Kingdom is -- “Grecia.”

 

In Daniel, Chapter 7, we are given even more evidence that we have correctly identified this Second Kingdom when it states:  “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.”  Daniel 7:5.  The Historical fact that the Persians were stronger than the Medes is irrefutable.  The Bible thus showing this fact by stating that it “raised up itself on one side.”  This clearly tells us that Persia was stronger than Media.   And the “three ribs in” its “mouth” are confirmed in History also, it that Media-Persia conquered Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon.  Even Isaiah prophesied of this in Chapter 13, of his Book, that Babylon (see verse one) would be succeeded by “the Medes,” Isaiah 13:17.

 

 

G) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE THIRD KINGDOM

 

 

The Third Kingdom is also freely given to us in God’s Word as Greece in Daniel 8:21:  “And the rough goat is the king of Grecia.”  Also in Daniel 10:20, we are clearly given the identification of the third beast again as noted above:  “the prince of Grecia shall come.”

 

All students of History know that without the leadership of Alexander the Great, Greece would not have covered the territory that it did.  The Grecian soldiers wore bronze breastplates and helmets, and they carried bronze shields and swords into battle.  Thus, the bronze part of the image in Daniel, Chapter 2, is a fitting symbol for Greece.  Students of the Bible know Alexander the Great as the “great horn” of Daniel 8:8.  This is shown more clearly by reading it:  “the great horn was broken (Alexander the Great dies); and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.”

 

After Alexander the Great died, “four notable ones,” in other words, four of his Generals received ruler-ship, divided into four parts of his kingdom.  These Generals are confirmed and known in History as Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.  Daniel 7:6 identifies the four generals as the “four heads.”  Now let’s read Daniel 8:21-22:  “(21) And the rough goat is the king of Grecia [positive identification]:  and the great horn [Alexander the Great] that is between his eyes is the first king. (22) Now that being broken [Alexander the Great dies], whereas four stood up [his four Generals] for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his [Alexander’s] power.”

 

We are now ready for the fourth kingdom.  Daniel 11:2 puts it this way:  “Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings inPersia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all.”  Since Persia is the second kingdom, then three more (counting Persia, i.e., Persia, Grecia, Fourth kingdom = Rome), that would bring us to the fourth kingdom.

 

 

H) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FOURTH KINGDOM

 

 

If we remain students of History, for the Bible does not clearly state which kingdom this is as the Bible did with the second and third kingdoms, we know that after Greece came the fourth major kingdom of Rome which ruled the world.

 

God’s Word will sometimes speak to us in parabolic form, if in specifically mentioning a particular ruling class, the Bible will make it such that unbearable persecution may result from directly identifying it.  Jesus Christ Himself shows us this principle in dealing with the identification of the Pharisees indirectly through parables, and writing certain people’s names on the ground when they were accusing a certain prostitute (John 8:6).  Thus, God’s Word never specifically names the fourth kingdom as being Rome.

 

In the Book of Daniel, the Second Chapter, verse 40, we are told that the “fourth kingdom” is as “strong as iron.”  That Rome is known as the kingdom for inventing and using “iron” is well documented; but not enough by itself to establish that this makes it the fourth kingdom.

 

If we look into Daniel Chapter 7, verses 7, 19, and 23, we can see this identification come to fruition.  (7) “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great ironteeth:  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 [discussed later].”  (19) “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet.”  (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.”  History proves that after Greece, Rome became the fourth ruling power.

 

 

I) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIFTH KINGDOM

 

 

Both History and the Bible agree totally as to the succession of the four great universal empires derived from the dividing of territories amongst the four powerful generals of Alexander the Great (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy).  We now venture into what is both History and Bible prophecy -- the “part of iron and part of clay,” Daniel 2:33.  Daniel explains this as meaning “whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the ironmixed with miry clay,” Daniel 2:41.  Or as he also puts it in verse 43:  “they shall not cleave one to another.”  That is a “Key point” that we cannot miss.

 

Daniel 2:41 tells us of the “toes of the feet.”  If we consider that we each have “ten” toes, then we can go on to discover Daniel 7:7, where we learn that “it had ten horns” (see Dan. 7:20 also).  History teaches us that Rome was divided into “ten” kingdoms after its demise.  The ten kingdoms equal:  the Alamanni [Germany, Switzerland], Anglo-Saxon’s [England], Burgundian’s [Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands], Lombard’s [Italy], Frank’s [France], Ostrogoth’s [Ukraine, Belarus, and Sweden], Suevi’s [Portugal], Heruli’s [Italy], Vandal’s [Algeria, Lybia], Visigoth’s [Spain].

 

Now Daniel states that he “considered the horns,” Daniel 7:8.  What he saw was, “behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.”  If you take any plant “up by the roots,” you will kill it.  This is exactly how Papal Rome came to power.  It conquered the Heruli’s, Vandal’s, and Ostrogoth’s in order to come to power.  No one should question the fact that Papal Rome was the power after Rome itself, for even Kings came and paid acquiescence to her.  However, we must positively identify the “little horn” as being this power, i.e., Papal Rome.

 

 

J) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE “little horn” AS BEING PAPAL ROME

 

 

Here is what the “little horn” did in History as it did in Biblical prophecy:

 

1) It came up from among the “ten horns,” Daniel 7:8, placing it geographically in Western Europe.

 

2) According to Daniel 7:24, the 10 kingdoms came “out of this [the 4th] kingdom.”  Therefore, all 10 kingdoms succeeded Rome, but could “not cleave one to another,” Daniel 2:43.  So it arouse after the “ten horns,” because it “came up among them,” Daniel 7:8, thus it would be establishing itself after (about) 476 A.D. when the “ten horns” (Rome “divided” Dan. 2:41) established themselves; which speaks of the “seven heads,” in Revelation 12:3, being after Rome concurred three of the 10 kingdoms (Dan. 7:8 & 20 & 24).

 

Note:  The Book of Revelation is a continuation of the visions of the Book of Daniel, because Daniel is told to, “seal up the vision,” Daniel 9:24, and to “ Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”  Daniel 12:9 (see also Dan. 12:13).  Thus, Revelation opens more of the vision.

 

3) It arises out of Rome just like the ten kingdoms did (Dan. 7:24).

 

4) It uproots “three of the first horns,” Daniel 7:8 & & 20 & 24, as history shows (7 of those 10 tribes still in existence today), and history also shows that Papal Rome conquered the Heruli’s, Vandal’s, and Burgundian’s when it came into power.

 

5) According to Daniel 8:9, Pagan Rome must be depicted here, for it seeks to conquer earthly territory, while the following verses (10-12) teach a progression (“waxed great,” verse 10; “magnified himself,” verse 11; “practiced, and prospered,” verse 12) into a spiritual warfare against Heavenly things (verse 10).

 

6) It becomes greater than the other kingdoms of divided Rome according to Daniel 7:20, in that it “was more stout than his fellows.”  The remaining seven which it did not uproot (Dan. 7:8), as mentioned before, kings and dignitaries bowed to this new pope.

 

7) Daniel 7:23 also teaches us that the “fourth kingdom. . . shall be diverse from all [of the other] kingdoms,” with Daniel 7:24 agreeing and teaching us that the “little horn,” “shall be diverse from the first.”  The Aramaic word for “first” is “qadmay” and comes from the Aramaic word “qudam,” meaning, “to project one’s self, precede, come before, prevent.”  Thus, it would be better expressed that the “little horn” came “from the former [horns].”  Consider also that, “he shall be diverse from the first,” Daniel 7:24, which clearly indicates that it would be different than all of the other purely politically based powers that preceded it.  What is different?  It is a political as well as a religious power.  The papacy was an ecclesiastical kingdom ruled over by a pontiff, while the other kingdoms were strictly political powers, ruled by kings.

 

8) It has “a mouth speaking great things,” Daniel 7:8, in that “he shall speak great words against the most High.”  Daniel 7:25.  Revelation 13:5, in identifying this power, states it thus, “speaking great things and blasphemies,” and Revelation 17:3 states, “full of names of blasphemy.”  Quickly, Biblical blasphemy is:

 

A) Claiming to be one with God, Matthew 26:63-65; Mark 14:61-64; John 10:30-36 (The Pope claims to be “The Vicar of Christ”) and,

B) Claiming to forgive sins, Matthew 9:2-3; Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21 (the Roman Catholic church claims this right), and,

C) To commit a trespass against God by breaking His Law, Ezekiel 20:27; Romans 2:23-24.  This was accomplished by the changing of God’s Law, i.e., by changing the Biblical Sabbath to Sunday and dropping the worship of idols altogether contained in the Second Commandment, thus dividing the Tenth Commandment into two laws in order to keep the number at ten.  All this was done by the Roman Catholic church.  Which brings us to:

 

9) He “shall think to change times and Laws,” Daniel 7:25.  No better application of prophecy can adequately apply than the “little horn’s,” the Roman Catholic church’s change of (“times”) the weekly cycled Sabbath (in God’s Law) from Saturday to Sunday.  Which other of the Commandments can you apply “times” to?

 

10) He “shall wear out the saints of the most High.”  This tells us that the “little horn” is a persecuting power (has the Papacy been a persecuting power?) and will “make war,” Revelation 13:17, against God’s people and will (“wear out”) put them to death.  “In 1252 [Pope] Innocent IV sanctioned the infliction of torture by the civil authorities upon heretics, and torture later came to have a recognized place in the procedure of the inquisitorial courts.”  “New Catholic Encyclopedia,” (Washington, D.C.:  “The Catholic University of America,” 1967), volume 14, page 208:  “Torture and the Church.”

 

11) Finally, the people of God shall “be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time,” Daniel 7:25, equaling 1,260 years (see also Rev. 12:6; 13:5-6) of which the Papal reign fits exactly (538 A.D. -- 1798 A.D.).

 

However, 12) “was, and is not, and yet is,” Revelation 17:8.  This has reference to Revelation 13:3, in which “his deadly wound was healed.”  This was fulfilled when, in 1797 A.D., the French revolutionary government wrote Napoleon that the “Roman religion. . . [would always be] an irreconcilable enemy of the Republic. . . [and so it asked him to] destroy, if possible, the center of unity of the Roman Church.”  “Christianity and the French Revolution,” by A. Auland, translated by Lady Frazer, “London,” 1927, page 151.

 

Napoleon then sent General Alexander Berthier to Rome, where, on February 15, 1798, he took the pope (Pius 6) captive, to Valence, France, where he soon died in the tower he was confined to, and decreed that he “should no longer exercise any function,” “ibid.,” nullifying any political rule of the Papacy.  Popes had been taken captive before this incident but never in an attempt to destroy the Roman Catholic church itself.  Joseph Rickaby, a Jesuit priest, relating on this event of the passing away of this prelate as a French prisoner states, “all Europe thought. . . that with the Pope the Papacy was dead.”  “The Modern Papacy,” as quoted in “Lectures on the History of Religions,” (“London: Catholic Truth Society,” 1910), volume 3, lecture 24, page 1.

 

In addition, from the Roman Catholics themselves we read:  “Pius VI, although 81 years old and ill, was seized and taken as a prisoner to France, where he died (Aug. 29, 1799).  On this day the total destruction of the Holy See seemed too many to be accomplished.”  “New Catholic Encyclopedia,” volume VI, page 191.

 

Also, and more to the point, we find, “After stripping Pius VI of his temporal power, the French deprived him of his liberty.  His death while a prisoner marked a low point in papal fortunes not plumbed for centuries and gave rise to a prophecy that the apostolic succession had come to a close with the demise of ‘Pius the Last.’ “  “New Catholic Encyclopedia,” volume X, page 965.

 

“The infliction of the deadly wound points to the abolition of the papacy in 1798.”  “GC:579.”  Therefore, the “yet is,” Revelation 17:8, was fulfilled in 1929 A.D. when Mussolini, Italian ruler at the time, executed the “Concordat of 1929,” with the Pope, restoring the properties that had been taken away from the Roman Catholic church.  In amazement, or the “wondered,” of Revelation 13:3, follows that the Pope was actually made king, and “Vatican City”was set up as a political sovereign power.

 

In a side note, Christians of the first century saw the fulfillment of this prophecy through the re-rising of Nero after he set Rome on fire.  Notice however, that the application is still that of Rome.  Therefore, Rome existed, was wounded to death, then revived.

 

13) “The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth,” Revelation 17:9.  From the “SDA Bible Commentary,” Volume 7, we read:  “This symbol may also be an allusion to the city of Rome with its seven hills.  Classical writers often refer to Rome as the City of Seven Hills (Horace Carmen, Saeculare 7; Virgil Aeneid, vi. 782–784; Georgics, ii. 534, 535; Martial Epigrams, iv. 64. 11, 12; Cicero Letters to Atticus, vi. 5; Propertius Elegies, iii. 11; etc.).  In the early Christian Centuries, Christians commonly referred to Rome as ‘Babylon.’ ”

 

Another identifying agent in the identifying process of this “little horn,” would be the fact that it is to be noted in Daniel, Chapter 8, how the attacks of the “little horn” are directed in a religious nature, as opposed to a governmental nature (world empires), as expressed in Chapters Two and Seven, i.e., Chapter 8, “pleasant land,” verse 9; “host of Heaven,” “host and of the stars,” verse 10; “prince of the host,” “daily sacrifice,” “Sanctuary,” verse 11; “daily sacrifice,” verse 12; “daily sacrifice,” “Sanctuary,” “the host [“of Heaven” from verse 10],” verse 13; “sanctuary be cleansed,” verse 14; “the mighty and the holy people,” verse 24; “stand up against the Prince of princes [Christ and His people],” verse 25.

 

Also, staying with the “religious nature” aspect of the “little horn” as an identification mark, notice how the animals of Daniel, Chapter 7, i.e., “Lion, Bear, Leopard, then Beast,” are wild animals, as opposed to the animals of Daniel, Chapter 8, i.e., “Ram” and “Goat,” which are domestic, or of a sacrificial nature, or Sanctuary material, which is the stress of Daniel, Chapter 8.  Thus, this kingdom is comprised of both a political and religious nature; well-fitting of Papal Rome.

 

 

K) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SIXTH KINGDOM

 

 

Daniel continues with this statement in Daniel 2:34:  “Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.”  But Who or What is this “Stone?”  Daniel then tells king Nebuchadnezzar that he will now give “the interpretation,” Daniel 2:36, of this vision.

 

We find it in Daniel 2:44-45:  “(44) . . . but It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and It shall stand for ever.  (45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that It brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter.”  The “It” in verse 44 would be God’s kingdom.  But the “Stone” and the “It” of verse 45 also “break in Pieces,” “all these kingdoms.”  And our identifying marks are that “It” will “break,” and that “It” was cut out “without hands.”  Thus we can see Who the “It” is by seeing Daniel 8:25:  “. . . he [the beast] shall also stand up against the Prince of princes [here is our answer -- Jesus Christ]; but he [the beast] shall be broken without hand.”  Notice that:  “broken,” matches with “break,” and “without hand,” matches in Daniel 2:45.

 

The only kingdom that will “stand for ever” is the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Therefore, this Stone that “brake them to pieces,” is the Second Coming of Christ with His judgment against these vial Nations. Because, according to Daniel 7:26-27:  “(26) But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his [the beasts] 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 [Jesus Christ].”  Only God’s Kingdom is “everlasting” and one, which “the saints of the most High” would want to possess, and “serve and obey Him.”

 

“To Daniel was given a vision of fierce beasts, representing the powers of the earth.  But the ensign of the Messiah’s kingdom is a Lamb.  While earthly kingdoms rule by the ascendancy of physical power, Christ is to banish every carnal weapon, every instrument of coercion.  His kingdom was to be established to uplift and ennoble fallen humanity.”  “4BC:1171.”

 

 

L) THE VISIONS OF DANIEL CONTINUE IN REVELATION, CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

 

At the end of Daniels visions, he is told in Daniel 12:9 to, “Go thy way, Daniel:  for the words are closed up and sealed.”  But we are encouraged because the angel continues by stating:  “till the time of the end.”  Although other Chapters in the Book of Revelation continue with Daniels vision, Revelation, Chapter 13, is the most easily used to pick up our chronology.

 

 

M) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FIRST BEAST OF REVELATION, CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

 

1) Of the beasts seen by Daniel in Daniel, Chapter 7, John sees the same physical characteristics that Daniel did of “a leopard. . . a bear. . . [and] a lion,” Revelation 13:2; but in reverse order.  This would imply that John is looking backwards in time (since Daniel was looking forward in time) and that he sees this beast as having all of the characteristics of Greece, Persia, and then Babylon.

2) The “seven heads and ten horns,” verse 1, well represent the same Kingdom (Papal Rome) that we identified in Daniel (Please Review Positive Identification Of The Fifth Kingdom).  This is exciting because Daniels “closed up and sealed” Book is now going to be opened to us, which also tells us that we are at “the time of the end,” Daniel 12:9.

3) The same identifying mark of “blasphemy,” Revelation 13:1 & 5 & 6, as in Daniel 7:25, helps us to conclude that this is none other than Papal Rome.

4) The fact that this beast is “worshiped,” verse 4, is significant in that it suggests that this is a religious power.

5) The “forty and two months” of verse 5, are also an excellent clue because this gives us the same time period (1260 years) as did Daniel.

6) And as seen in the Book of Daniel (8:9-11), this beast also has political clout:  “and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations,” Revelation 13:7.

 

 

N) POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SECOND BEAST OF REVELATION, CHAPTER 13

 

 

1) This beast (see Revelation 13, verse 11) comes up after 1798 A.D. (see verse 5 and Positive Identification of the “little horn” as Papal Rome).

 

2) It is the only apocalyptic beast that comes “out of the earth,” meaning a scarcely settled area (see Pro. 21:19 & Jer. 2:6), whereas the others come from many “waters” or the “sea;” “waters” meaning multitudes, nations, peoples, and tongues, according to Revelation 17:15; and we should always let the same Book (writer) interpret Itself.  In addition, according to Revelation 17:15, this is “where the whore sitteth.”  And as we can learn from another Bible Study, this “whore” is the “mother of harlots,” i.e., other churches adopt the Roman Catholic churches authority and doctrines (like worshipping on Sunday instead of the Biblical Sabbath day); basically setting Rome’s (Roman Catholic) authority in their land.  So where are these other churches located?  Remember, it comes into power from a previously “scarcely settled area”.

 

3) It rises to power “like a lamb,” or Christ-like in character.  “The ‘two horns like a lamb’ well represent the character of the United States Government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, Republicanism and Protestantism.”  “ST, November 1, 1899; 4SP:277; GC:440-441.”

 

The United States Constitution was voted in, in 1787 A.D., and the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 A.D.  America was first recognized by a world power (France) in 1798 A.D.  Coincidence or providential?

Note:  1798 A.D. is the ending of the 1260-year prophecy mentioned above.

 

The next phase of this “beast” is to speak “as a dragon,” Revelation 13:11.  He will do this by exercising “all the power of the first beast before him,” verse 12, and even cause “the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”  Revelation 13:11 (see also verse 3).  This would indicate that the second beast (the U.S.A.) will possess the power politically, militarily, and economically to force the world to worship the first beast (the Papacy).

 

That the United States of America has the powers listed above is no longer in question.  What is disturbing to Bible students of prophecy is that the U.S.A. will exercise “all the power of the first beast before him,” Revelation 13:12, and speak “as a dragon,” verse 11, just like the first beast; meaning it will “blaspheme” God, verses 5 & 6.  And it will be a persecuting power just like Papal Rome, verses 7 & 8, as given in verse 15 where “speak” would refer to making laws through the power of a nation’s ability to legislate by its judicial authority; while “cause” would mean the enforcement of those laws -- which is persecution.

 

The disturbing point to the Bible student of prophecy is that the U.S.A. will cause all nations “to worship the first beast,” verse 12, and “that they should make an image to the [first -- Papal Rome] beast,” verse 14 is to most, inconceivable, in that the U.S.A. was established upon the value system of religious freedom.  Let’s review this.

 

“Worship” is of a religious concern, not secular.  And since the power of legislation is involved, it must be related to the fact that laws are involved.  According to Daniel 7:25, the “little horn” (the Papacy), now with the backing of the Second Beast (the U.S.A.), will “think to change times and Laws.”  Since we are dealing with “[W]who” will be worshiped, the beast or the Lord, then which Law is it that would or could be changed that can address the art of worship and where one can blaspheme it?  It would have to refer to only the Ten Commandment Law of God.  And right in the heart of that Law is the only Commandment that deals with “times.”

 

Anyone familiar with the Papacies change of the Sabbath (God’s 4th Commandment is their 3rd Commandment, splitting the 10th Commandment in half in order to keep the number at ten), from Saturday to Sunday, can easily identify with this subversion and attack upon the authority of God.  “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”  Second Thessalonians 2:4.  Sunday laws are on the books just waiting to be enacted.  They are listed under “Blue Laws.”  Check it out.  Then obey (worship) God, not man.

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