Rev_22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the PROPHECY of this book

The word prophecy in the Old and New Testaments-

2Ch_9:29  Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the PROPHECY of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

2Ch_15:8  And when Asa heard these words, and the PROPHECY of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

Neh_6:12  And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this PROPHECY against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

Pro_30:1  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the PROPHECY: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal

Pro_31:1  The words of king Lemuel, the PROPHECY that his mother taught him.

Dan_9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and PROPHECY, and to anoint the most Holy.

Mat_13:14  And in them is fulfilled the PROPHECY of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive

Rom_12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether PROPHECY, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith

1Co_12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another PROPHECY; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues

1Co_13:2  And though I have the gift of PROPHECY, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Ti_4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by PROPHECY, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

2Pe_1:19  We have also a more sure word of PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts

2Pe_1:20  Knowing this first, that no PROPHECY of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe_1:21  For the PROPHECY came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Rev_1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this PROPHECY, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev_11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their PROPHECY: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Rev_19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of PROPHECY.

Rev_22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the PROPHECY of this book.

Rev_22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the PROPHECY of this book: for the time is at hand.

Rev_22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the PROPHECY of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book

Rev_22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this PROPHECY, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Reread those last two verses and try to convince me that prophecy is NOT important. By the grace of God I cannot believe you if you do. Prophecy is very important. May the Holy Spirit bless us as we continue to review our prophecy study from a few years back.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and read the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are, if you haven't been following this study daily. *******

A little bit  from yesterday--

Seeing means comprehending, understanding, knowing.  

This little horn with eyes of man would see as a man sees, would understand as a man understands. Would be like man, speaking like a man only this man would speak great things!

So while this little horn is a power to be reckoned with it is a like a man not a normal kingdom, surely this makes the little horn very, very special. 

Remember it was able to uproot 3 normal kingdoms. 

What sort of power can we even remotely imagine doing this during the history portrayed,

Rome mixing with others-

- iron mingling with clay - while Rome is conquered and divided into many parts?

Dan 7:8  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.

We're going to jump ahead a few verses now so we get an even clearer picture of things before we discuss the 'little horn' more.

Dan 7:15  I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan 7:16  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.

We, like Daniel, need to understand, we need the TRUTH of ALL this.  By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we comprehend as He would have us to. Let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth, please Lord, please.

Dan 7:17  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Dan 7:18  But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Just like that statue! Gold, silver, brass and iron - that iron continues until the very end even in a mingled state. The saints of the most High will take kingdom that ALL these kings possessed, all the kingdoms represent what exactly? Place upon this earth! That's all any country represents in truth, a land, a part of earth.  Caretakers of various parts of the earth… the North American, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa,  Antarctica- all continents of the earth. On those continents men have fought to own parts of them, to govern them, to rule over them, to claim them as theirs. They've given them names and even today when through wars or diplomatic agreements land changes hands the names can be changed. A divided part of land- say the Sudan can suddenly become South Sudan and North Sudan and no longer be known as simple the Sudan.  Names change, borders change, old names disappear only to reappear later at times, or never to appear again. Kings that have kingdoms encompassing many regions have their kingdoms taken from them and the kingdom becomes divided, or is joined to another kingdom.  Babylon once conquered by the Medes and Persians didn't retain the exact same borders as before but what was once Babylon became part of the Medes and Persians.  When Greece rose up and became a ruling kingdom it took in what was once Babylon and what once belonged to the Medes and Persians.  Then when the Romans came in conquering they then took over what once had been claimed as Babylon, Medes-Persians, and Greece. The Romans went on and their borders extended even further than any imagined by Babylon.  Throughout all this many of the names of the various locations throughout the regions remained the same- for example Jerusalem has remained Jerusalem, and in truth is one of the oldest cities in existence.

'The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE, making Jerusalem one of the oldest cities in the world'

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem>

These great beasts in Daniel's prophecy we are told represent kings (kingdoms- interchangeably as noted before) which would rise up.  Then after these kingdoms what happens? The saints of the MOST HIGH would take possession of the (SINGULAR) kingdom for ever and for ever and ever.  After all is said and done in the very end God's chosen would be the possessors of the whole of earth, possessors of what others once held as theirs.    It is incredibly important that we realize that we are being given a gift here when we are able to understand the plan God has for the earth, His earth, His creation! No, the world the way it exists today will NOT go on and on and on changing hands, merging or being divided over and over again into fewer or more kingdoms.  It was NO mistake that we we've been allowed to know that there will be no other great one world power, no mistake at all.  So many envision a one world power- even today they do. We've had many try to conquer country after country in order to be world conquerors. We've had World Wars- wars involving many countries in order to bring about the fact the world is divided and in no need of being controlling by one.  When people talk today of a one world government they are NOT talking about giving up their individuality as countries conquered and ruled, owned by another.  The Bible tells us this will not happen, cannot happen.

Let's keep reading...

Dan 7:19  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;

Dan 7:20  And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

The 'little horn' of the fourth beast- eyes, mouth speaking very great things, whose LOOK was MORE stout than his fellows. 

This *little horn* had a LOOK that was more stout than the other horns.  This little horn caused three of the *bigger horns* to fall before it, yet it wasn't like the other horns at all. It was …no…it's LOOK was… more stout than the other horns even though it wasn't the same as the other horns.  Have you ever seen a football team lined up? Not all players are the same size are they? In different positions you need players of different sizes right? The quarterback usually isn't anywhere near as big as say a linebacker, yet that quarterback has the most prestige, the most power in the team. That quarterback though of a lesser stature as a rule, calls the important plays of the game. Everyone who knows football knows that to be the quarterback is to attain a coveted position. That little horn whose look was more stout, that little horn which came up and three bigger horns fell down in its wake was truly impressive without any of the normal characteristics of a great kingdom- a normal kingdom.  This little horn stands out. Let's read more...

Dan 7:21  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Dan 7:22  Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

That little horn makes WAR with the SAINTS and prevails against the saints!

That little horn will continue until the saints possess the kingdom- until Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior returns!

Is it quite clear now that we're not dealing with any normal type of kingdom here? This isn't a normal power trying to rule here. This isn't the conquering kingdom overthrowing other kingdoms as before. This little horn power is unique in more than one way. Yet does history record any one kingdom such as this? Seriously. IS there any sort of little kingdom type power that has retained any sort of power over people, power they'll retain until our Savior returns.

Our Bible tells us that at least ten kingdoms will exist after Rome's slow demise.

Our Bible tells us that three of those ten will fall before a lesser kingdom with characteristics of a man- not a beast.

Our Bible tells us that this lesser man-like kingdom will be powerful enough to make war against God's chosen people, those who will inherit His kingdom once all the other powers, the feet are crushed beneath the weight and power of our Savior's return.

This powerful little horn must still exist right now! We have to let history speak to us, we are given the keys to the prophecy and we must let the prophecy speak to us as it has unfolded to do otherwise- to try and make prophecy of none effect- of ever being future hold no past would be to deny God's desire to do nothing lest He tell His prophets.

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Reading on to catch even more of this picture of the little horn--

Dan 7:23  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.

The Roman rule was truly unlike any other rulership before it and it did go on to conquer more than all the other- bringing under its dominion many, many people. We've have plenty of movies that have included Romans in all their awful power and glory. It was under the Roman rule that our Savior was born! So to say that the fourth kingdom would be different than others, that it would devour the whole earth, that it shall tread it down and break it into pieces isn't  terribly farfetched at all.

'Ancient Rome has contributed greatly to the development of law, war, art, literature, architecture, technology and language in the Western world, and its history continues to have a major influence on the world today.'Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world>

 Its history CONTINUES to have a major influence on the world today!!!

Dan 7:24  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.

Out of Rome came ten influential kingdoms - Rome was NOT conquered by another ONE ruling kingdom! Rome fell to MANY, not to ONE dominating force. Whereas Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians, and the Medes and Persians were conquered by Greece, and Greece conquered by the Romans, the Romans were NOT conquered by one…. this is so very important to understand, maybe that's why we are being told it over and over again in different ways so that we will understand.

Ten influential kingdoms formed and then a strange, different, man-like kingdom rose up subduing three of those ten kingdoms.  Subduing-- this power was going to be influential in the overthrow of three of the kingdoms that Rome fell victim to.

Dan 7:25  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.

This little horn, little strange man-like kingdom, different from all the other kingdoms would speak great words AGAINST the MOST HIGH!  This little horn would wear out that saints of the MOST HIGH. This little horn would THINK to CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS!  This little horn would rule with power for a time and times and a dividing of times (MORE ON THIS LATER).

Dan 7:26  But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

Eventually this power that had such great control over the saints for so long but no longer will face judgment. Eventually this power will have his dominion taken and it will be consumed, destroyed in the end.

Dan 7:27  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.

God's kingdom will prevail over this little horn power!

We need to look at our history and find out beyond a doubt what this little horn power is. It has existed for a long, long, long time and will continue to exist until the very end.  

More tomorrow God willing.

By the grace of God we will have understanding that will leave no room for doubt, none at all.  So many people doubt today. So many people wish to confuse what can be understood by putting their own meaning to things that are clearly seen. 

Having eyes people refuse to see!

Having ears people refuse to hear!

Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Oh, I pray to God we are never like this, never!  Please Lord let us see! Please Lord let us hear! Please Lord let us understand with our hearts, let us be converted, HEAL US LORD! 

Let us not claim to be rich and in need of nothing.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

By Your love and grace, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, Your righteousness! Let us buy of You gold tried in fire, white raiment, and eyesalve!

Amen.