Prophecy 7 Little Horn continued

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 us and became a ruling kingdom in 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'

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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, can not 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 line backer, 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.'

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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. Where as 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.

Prophecy 6 Little Horn

We're going to pick up in the same place as yesterday to recap for a moment.


Dan 7:7 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.


We've been discussing the relationship between Daniel 2 and Daniel 7- the similarities in the message. It's very easy to see that the Statue and the Beasts are symbolizing much the same thing. The Beasts are adding more detail to the overall picture and it's serving to clarify God's message to us.


When Daniel wrote the first prophecy He knew what time they were living in and said as much-


Dan 2:38 ... Thou art this head of gold.
Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.


Daniel knew he was living in the time of the head of gold and yet he also knew that after him there would be other kingdoms. Because no one knows the day nor the hour of Christ's return we cannot place a date on the appearance of that stone Daniel mentions.


Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45 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…


We don't know when the stone will come to destroy all the worldly kingdoms, we don't know when the kingdom that was set up for us will be realized. What we do know is that as sure as these prophecies have come true the kingdom of God will be fully realized.


Yesterday we talked about the ten toes and ten horns. We are living in the time of the ten toes and ten horns and by that I mean there is NO other kingdom left to come but the kingdom of God.


Our world will never again be dominated by any one world power, not ever. Even if there is a common leader for world peace one day that brings the leaders of many countries together to work for peace, there will still be many other countries and NEVER a single country, never a single country to rule all. You could never get any of the major world countries today to agree to any other country ruling them, never. The United States would never all Russia or China to take control of them, never and vice versa.


Let's continue on here and learn more of what the Bible has to say about the horns…


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.


So the ten major conquering people that sprang up taking control over what was once the great kingdom of Rome weren't left alone but… ANOTHER horn would come up among them, a *little* horn. Something that is very notable and we need to really pay attention to is that three of the first horns were going to be plucked up by the roots when this little horn came up. For being a *little* horn it's really something that three of the other horns not classified as little would be plucked up by the roots. When you pluck something up by the roots what are you doing? Destroying it completely, right? If you don't pluck something up by the roots it still has a chance to grow again. You know what they say about weeds right? Make sure you get all the roots up or else. And that or else is the return of those weeds. When these three kingdoms were plucked up by the roots that means they were destroyed completely NEVER to become kingdoms again. Never to continue on in history as a people, as a place, but totally destroyed and kept from flourishing.


Three of the ten kingdoms…


Heruli-

After this kingdom was destroyed by the Langobards, Herulian fortunes waned. Remaining Heruls joined the Langobards and moved to Lombardia, today Italy, and some of them sought refuge with the Gepids. Marcellinus comes recorded that the Romans (meaning the East Romans or in modern naming the Byzantines) allowed them to resettle depopulated "lands and cities" near Singidunum (modern Belgrade); this was done "by order of Anastasius Caesar" sometime between June 29 and August 31, 512. After one generation, this minor federate kingdom disappeared from the historical records.

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Vandals-

In the words of historian Roger Collins: "The remaining Vandals were then shipped back to Constantinople to be absorbed into the imperial army. As a distinct ethnic unit they disappeared".

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Ostrogoths-

With that final defeat, the remaining Ostrogoths went back north and (re)settled in south Austria. The Ostrogothic name wholly died... The nation had practically evaporated with Theodoric's death.

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This can be said of NO other of the ten conquering kingdoms. None of them disappeared from historical records, none of them as a distinct ethnic unit disappeared, and the names of them all did not wholly die such as these. Of these three horns plucked up the *little horn* played a part in their demise in some manner. What *little* power was suddenly worth reckoning with that hadn't been a power previously- and it wasn't a regular kingdom like the others. If this *little horn* was like the others wouldn't it just have been another horn? Seriously.


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.


A little horn. In this little horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.


Eyes like a man.
A mouth speaking great things.


We know the previous beasts had characteristics we could note and it gave us much more detail on the kingdoms. But the other horns of the fourth beast did not possess extra characteristics, only this little horn, this strange little horn with eyes and a mouth.


Eyes of a man… not eyes of an animal, not eyes of an eagle, not eyes of an owl, not eyes of a hawk but eyes of a man. And a mouth that speaks, not a mouth of a lion roaring or devouring, but a mouth that speaks great things.


Eyes obviously represent sight and when we see things it's with a certain comprehension.


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.


Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou may see!
We need to see! We need the Holy Spirit's guidance to see.
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?


Because this is such a unique and important part of our history I'm going to pause here and pick it up tomorrow, by the grace and will of God.


We need eyes to see, we need the eyesalve on our eyes and by the Lord's mercy we will have this as we continue to study prophecy.


In His amazing LOVE!


Amen.

Prophecy - 5 Fourth Beast, dreadful and terrible...

The next verse in Daniel 7 is--


Dan 7:7 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.


A fourth beast- a fourth kingdom. This beast is dreadful, terrible, exceedingly strong with great iron teeth. This beast devoured and broke things into piece, stamping what was left with it's feet. This beast was different from all the other beasts before it, and this beast had ten horns.


There is very little doubt that the Roman Empire was powerful and strong, a conquering kingdom, that conquered Greece toppling it from its position as a major ruling kingdom.


Let's take a few moments to read some Roman history--


By the 3rd century BC, Rome had become the pre-eminent city of the Italian peninsula, having conquered and defeated the Sabines, the Etruscans, the Samnites and most of the Greek colonies in Sicily, Campania and Southern Italy in general. During the Punic Wars between Rome and the great Mediterranean empire of Carthage, Rome's stature increased further as it became the capital of an overseas empire for the first time. Beginning in the 2nd century BC, Rome went through a significant population expansion as Italian farmers, driven from their ancestral farmlands by the advent of massive, slave-operated farms called latifundia, flocked to the city in great numbers. The victory over Carthage in the First Punic War brought the first two provinces outside the Italian peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia. Parts of Spain (Hispania) followed, and in the beginning of the 2nd century the Romans got involved in the affairs of the Greek world. By then all Hellenistic kingdoms and the Greek city-states were in decline, exhausted from endless civil wars and relying on mercenary troops. This saw the fall of Greece after the Battle of Corinth (146 BC) and the establishment of Roman control over Greece.[15]


Roman dominance expanded over most of Western Europe and the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, though its influence through client states and the sheer power of its presence was wider than its formal borders. Its population surpassed one million inhabitants.[22] For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most politically important, richest, and largest city in the Western world.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome


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Clearly Rome took over as being this territory's central figure and remained so for many years.


Remember how the iron of Rome moved down to mingle with the clay in the feet and toes of the Daniel chapter 2 statue? The toes are the last kingdoms before the statue is destroyed and Rome is still in existence in those toes.


Does Rome still exist in our modern world? Undeniably, yes, Rome still exists. Is there a kingdom-like power in Rome? Does Rome have anything noteworthy today? Where is the Vatican? In Rome.


The fact the iron would co-exist with the clay is still true today and will be true until Christ returns. Too many wish to make those toes solid- reflecting no mingling at all. Too many are hoping for a one world government, a one world kingdom, too many believe that this might be possible and what I have to say to them is this… NEVER will the various countries, the various super powers give up that power and allow another to rule, not in truth. It'd be easy for...let's say the EU- the European Union to try and lead by example- but those countries that make up the EU have NOT given up their individual power. Those countries retain their individual status- they are NOT all in agreement under one ruler. There will NEVER come a time when say… France will agree to give up its name entirely and adopt the sole name of EU merging with other countries giving up their individual names.


Prophecy tells us that the many countries we are separated into today will for the most part remain separated. That's not to say there won't be some that join here and there but there will never be a kingdom such as Ancient Rome to rule over so many again, not in the land where God brought His chosen people- that is still a factor here and we can't overlook it.


Having said all that- history shows this--


There were ten nations at some time in their history that were most important in bringing the Roman Empire to it's knees, who as independent kingdoms held portions of the Roman empire as theirs.


Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards.


Let's take a few moments to touch on each of these and then if you're so inclined you can read further by going to the various links or searching for information on the internet as you desire. Before you skip over all this as not being interesting ask yourself if perhaps taking a bit of time to correlate history to God's prophecies isn't worth it. We NEED to do this. We need to study God's word. When God gave us His prophecies it was for a reason and not just for those who lived during the time the prophecies were given. Remember this…


Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.


I don't know about you but I know there is a point in history when we went from the thousands and thousands of years with horses as our main source of transportation to suddenly riding in trains, cars, airplanes… and it was SUDDENLY when you think of how many thousands of years we were in the dark where modern technology is concerned. Knowledge shall be increased, and it WAS increased and hasn't stopped increasing rapidly, by leaps and bound. Just think for a moment where we were fifty years ago… a hundred years ago and look where we are now. And you know what, back in the mid 1800's when all this started Biblical knowledge was increasing by leaps and bounds as well for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.


So when we really understand that prophecy sealed up is unsealed and there for our understanding we NEED to take the time to really understand as much of it as we can and by the grace and mercy of our Savior we will understand all we need to understand, all that He wants us to understand.


Let's take a bit of time here and read these little excerpts that merely place these ten nations pitted against Rome. For a much fuller understanding please, please take all the time you can to study more on your own.


1 Huns and Rome-


Called the Scourge of God by the Romans, Attila the Hun was king and general of the Hun empire from A.D. 433 to 453.

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2 Ostrogoth and Rome-


The First Siege of Rome during the Gothic War lasted for a year and nine days, from 2 March 537 to 12 March 538.[1] It was fought between the defending East Romans, under general Belisarius, and the Ostrogothic army under king Vitiges. The siege was the first major encounter between the forces of the two opponents, and played a decisive role in the subsequent development of the war.

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3 Visigoths and Rome-


In 401 Alaric began his attacks on Italy; he was halted by Stilicho, but after Stilicho's death he succeeded in his invasion, and the Visigoths became masters of Italy. Negotiations between Alaric and Emperor Honorius failed, and in 410 the Visigoths sacked Rome. Alaric died soon afterward.

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4 Franks and Rome-


What distinguished the Frankish kingdom was not the height of its culture. Clovis was no Theodoric, and his capital city of Paris was no Ravenna . The Franks were creating a new people whose culture would be a genuine fusion of Roman and Germanic elements

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5 Vandals and Rome-


The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century, perhaps best known for their sack of Rome in 455.

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6 Suevi and Rome-


411 The Vandals, Suevi and Alans partition the Iberian Peninsula among themselves, only the northern part remain under Roman rule.

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7 Burgundians and Rome-


Six major German tribes, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths, the Vandals, the Burgundians, the Lombards, and the Franks participated in the fragmentation and the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

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8 Heruli and Rome-


The Heruli (spelled variously in Latin and Greek) were an East Germanic tribe from Scandinavia. They raided towns in the Roman Empire, captured Byzantium in 267 AD and sacked several Greek cities.

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9 Anglo-Saxons and Rome -


Whereas in France , the original Romanized inhabitants vastly outnumbered the invading Franks, in England the Germanic invaders, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from northern Germany and Denmark , drove most of the original Celtic inhabitants to Cornwall , Wales , and Scotland in the far western regions of the British Isles . The invaders, whom for convenience we call the Anglo-Saxons, ignored most of the Roman achievements they found. They disliked the land already being farmed, which was mostly light chalky soil on the hilltops, and preferred the clay lands of the river valleys. They paid no attention to Roman law, but introduced a wholly Germanic tribal system of government. They arrived as pagans, and were converted only at the end of the sixth century by St. Augustine 's mission sent directly from Rome . The Anglo-Saxons thus received what Romanization they had from the Catholic Church. From the Roman Empire itself, they acquired only the roads. By contrast even with Clovis 's Paris , life in Anglo-Saxon England was rough, drab, and dangerous.

Under the impact of these Germanic invaders, the control of the Roman Empire in Western Europe disappeared. The last emperor in the West was the boy ruler Romulus Augustulus, who was killed in 476 by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. Odoacer however did not declare that he had put an end to the Roman Empire in the West. He sent the insignia of the emperor back to Constantinople with the message that the empire needed only one emperor, and that he would act as the representative of Constantinople in Italy . Odoacer felt, in short, that he had reunited the Roman Empire . However, the Roman Empire in the West had fallen. Britain , France , the Low Countries , Spain , north Africa, and Italy itself were all in the hands of Ger- manic invaders, whether or not those invaders paid lip service to the emperor in faraway Constantinople

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10 Lombards and Rome-


At this time, the Lombards, who were experiencing a revival, invaded and razed the Roman countryside. There was little the pope could do against the Lombards, who had become allies of Byzantium

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This is enough for now, it's a lot to take in, but so worth it to help gain a clearer understanding of the prophecies given to us by God to understand and know what will come to pass and what has come to pass. There is no doubt that God's word is true- prophecy alone proves that beyond any question whatsoever.


In His amazing Love!!! By His will!


Amen.

Prophecy - 4

Continuing with prophecy we're going to pick up with Daniel--


We were talking about the Beasts in Daniel 7 depicting the same kingdoms that Daniel 2 speaks of and so far it seems very clear that history has proven that the first two beasts correspond with the head of gold and chest and arms of silver in the great statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Will we find the same of the 3rd beast- will it match up with the belly and thighs of brass which is Greece?


Dan 7:6 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.


Another kingdom comes up like a leopard with four wings of a fowl on its back. Remember the lion of Babylon had 2 wings like eagle's on it's back and we talked of the swiftness of the conquering? Well if we believe 2 wings mean swiftness then 4 wings means an even faster conquest and the fact this was another of the feline family says a lot as well. While not the majestic king of the animals, a leopard is impressive as well. Leopards are known for their stealth and this is something a conquering king can use to their advantage and we know for a fact that Alexander the Great was one of the most famous of conquerors for Greece.


Read this… and keep in mind the 4 wings on the leopard denoting speed in conquering.


Alexander conquers his world
Inheriting a kingdom from his father didn't really please Alexander. What kind of hero gets everything given to him? This wouldn't satisfy Achilles or Hercules and it wouldn't satisfy him.



Alexander wanted to get started conquering ASAP.
He got his first opportunity almost immediately. Some of the Greek city-states saw the ascension of the 20-year-old Alexander as a chance to regain their independence from the foreign Macedonians. By the way, "foreign" is how the Greeks saw the Macedonians, not how the Macedonians saw themselves. To this day, there's still contention over whether Macedonians are Greeks.
Alexander took care of the little rebellion post-haste. To set an example, he completely razed the Greek city of Thebes in 335 B.C., killing most of the population -- including women and children -- and enslaving those few left alive. After that the Greeks were happily united behind Alexander and he could focus his attention on expanding the empire.
He immediately began pushing east, against the old enemy Persia -- which his father never succeeded in defeating.
After winning a battle for the city of Gordium, Alexander is said to have solved the famously tricky Gordian Knot. He sliced through the thing with his sword rather than fool around it. A legend supposedly foretold that whoever solved this puzzle would rule all of Asia.
Alexander rapidly moved on to destroy the city of Tyre ... push through Palestine, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan ... and conquer Egypt (or, depending on your perspective, "liberate" Egypt from the Persians). In bloody battle after bloody battle the Persian Empire and most of the known world fell to the hero Alexander and his Macedonian war machine.

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Amazing! Simply amazing how these prophecies fit together. We can choose to ignore things. We can choose to close our eyes and stop our ears from hearing because we don't want anything to mess with our preconceived ideas of how things are and/or will be. We make choices all the time and some choices we make affect our lives- making the true life or death decisions. When we make choices with God's word they can be eternal life or death choices we are making. Let us pray earnestly that we are being guided by the Holy Spirit unto all truth. Let us NOT close our eyes or cover our ears.


Continuing on we need to look at the rest of the verse---


Dan 7:6 ...the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.


Four heads. This is really important to note. For all that Alexander the Great came up strong and very fast conquering, becoming one of the greatest conquering leaders of all time, he died very young. When he died- he died without any heirs but there were four generals… four…


These plans ended in 323 B.C., however, when Alexander was struck with fever and died in Babylon, leaving no heir. His empire was divided among four of his generals.

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…. And these four generals divided Alexander the Great's Grecian kingdom among them. It's NO coincidence that there were four heads on that leopard, no coincidence at all.


A bit of history mentioning the 4 generals--

In 315 he turned his attention towards Seleucus, the satrap of Babylon. Alarmed, Seleucus fled to Ptolemy in Egypt, and warned him of Antigonus’s ambitions. This can hardly have come as a surprise to Ptolemy, or to the remaining successors, for in the same year Ptolemy, Cassander and Lysimachus issued an ultimatum to Antigonus. In it they demanded that he return Syria to Ptolemy, allowed Seleucus to return to Babylon, give Hellespontine Phrygia to Lysimachus and possibly give Cappadocia and Lycia to Cassander. He was also ordered to split Eumenes’s treasury between them all. This would have left Antigonus with part of Asia Minor. Unsurprisingly he refused.

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Seleucus, Ptolemy, Cassander, Lysimachus


These four men took over that which Alexander the Great conquered. So why weren't there ten or twenty, one or two others who took over? There were four major players here that divided the kingdom of Greece and there were four heads to the leopard. Coincidence? Some would say so and others would pick it all apart to pieces not wanting anyone to make connections. People will warp anything and everything they can just to put doubt to God, doubt to prophecy, doubt to understanding.


There will be those who argue that believing and holding fast to a belief is NOT allowing room for God to reveal what He will. I have to believe that if we truly love God and desire His will over our own, His righteousness over our filthiness, His perfect love over our poor excuse for love, His life over ours then God will open our hearts to ALL TRUTH. If we hold false beliefs God will reveal the true beliefs. We must trust in our Savior in all things and believe as He unfolds truth to us. We must be ever ready to follow where God leads.


This is short tonight, but it is a lot to take in, a lot for us to study and pray about. We are learning about prophecy - history proven prophecy.


By His grace!


Amen.

Prophecy 3

Let's take a much closer look at some of these verses we touched on yesterday.


Dan 7:4 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.


Now if what we believe is true- that the 1st beast is a representation of the kingdom of Babylon we should be able to understand this a little better.


Let's look up a few things on the internet and see if we can't find a connection of any sort.


From the--


The Ishtar Gate (Assyrian: ܕܵܪܘܲܐܙܲܐ ܕܥܵܐܫܬܲܪ translit: Darwaza D'Ishtar, Arabic:بوابة عشتار) was the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon. It was constructed in about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II on the north side of the city.

Parts of the gate and lions from the Processional Way are in various other museums around the world. Only three museums acquired dragons, while lions went to several museums

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In the Bible itself we have mention of a lion representing Babylon. Jeremiah prophesized of Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem this way...


Jer 4:6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
Jer 4:7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.


Jer 20:4 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.


Jer 50:17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.


Jer 50:43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.
Jer 50:44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?


Still more internet sources show a statue of the lion of Babylon-

The Lion of Babylon, large and splendidly carved in basalt, reminds us again that the lion was the symbol of the goddess Ishtar. In the sculpture, the lion's back has marks indicating that it was meant for a precious saddle upon which the goddess Ishtar would stand.

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The Striding Lion
Iraq: Babylon, Processional Avenue north of the Ishtar Gate
Neo-Babylonian Period
Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, ca. 604-562 B.C.
Molded brick with polychrome glaze
90.3 cm H, 230.5 cm W
Purchased in Berlin, 1931
Oriental Institute, Chicago
OIM A7481

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Click on the links to see the pictures. These are HISTORICAL facts, not made up fiction. When Daniel said the first beast was like a lion it's easy to associate it with Babylon without having to take a very big leap of faith at all.


What about the rest of what Daniel said--


1st beast-like a lion
had eagle's wings
Wings plucked
Lifted up from earth
Stand upon the feet like a man
A man's heart was given it


What do eagle's wings represent in the Bible?


Deu 28:49 The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand


2Sa 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.


Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.


WINGS
wingz (kanaph; pterux):
Biblical references to the wings of birds are common, especially in Psalms, many of them exquisitely poetical. Often the wings of an eagle are mentioned because they are from 7 to 9 feet in sweep, of untiring flight, and have strength to carry heavy burdens: so they became the symbol of strength and endurance. Ancient monuments and obelisks are covered with the heads of bulls, lions, different animals, and men even, to which the wings of an eagle were added to symbolize strength. .


Solomon was thinking of the swiftness of wings when he said, "For riches' certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flieth toward heaven" (Proverbs 23:5). So also was Isaiah in 40:31, "They that wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint."

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And a Biblical reference--


Hab 1:6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
Hab 1:7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Hab 1:8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.


Some Babylon history--


Under Nabopolassar, Babylon threw off Assyrian rule in 612 BC and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian (sometimes and possibly erroneously called Chaldean) Empire.[6][7][8]
With the recovery of Babylonian independence, a new era of architectural activity ensued, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II (604–561 BC) made Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world.[9] Nebuchadnezzar ordered the complete reconstruction of the imperial grounds, including rebuilding the Etemenanki ziggurat and the construction of the Ishtar Gate — the most spectacular of eight gates that ringed the perimeter of Babylon. A reconstruction of The Ishtar Gate is located in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. All that was ever found of the Original Ishtar gate was the foundation and scattered bricks.
Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), said to have been built for his homesick wife Amyitis. Whether the gardens did exist is a matter of dispute. Although excavations by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey are thought to reveal its foundations, many historians disagree about the location, and some believe it may have been confused with gardens in the Assyrian capital, Nineveh.
Chaldean rule did not last long and it is not clear if Neriglissar and Labashi-Marduk were Chaldeans or native Babylonians, and the last ruler Nabonidus and his son and regent Belshazzar were Assyrians from Harran.

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Nebuchadnezzar engaged in several military campaigns designed to increase Babylonian influence in Syria and Judah. An attempted invasion of Egypt in 601 BC was met with setbacks, however, leading to numerous rebellions among the states of the Levant, including Judah. Nebuchadnezzar soon dealt with these rebellions, capturing Jerusalem in 597 BC and deposing King Jehoiakim, then in 587 BC due to rebellion, destroying both the city and the temple, and deporting many of the prominent citizens along with a sizable portion of the Jewish population of Judea to Babylon.[6] These events are described in the Prophets (Nevi'im) and Writings (Ketuvim), sections of the Hebrew Bible (in the books 2 Kings and Jeremiah, and 2 Chronicles, respectively). After the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar engaged in a thirteen year siege of Tyre (585–572 BC), which ended in a compromise, with the Tyrians accepting Babylonian authority.
Following the pacification of Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar turned again to Egypt. A clay tablet,[7] now in the British Museum, states: "In the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the country of Babylon, he went to Mitzraim (Egypt) to make war. Amasis, king of Egypt, collected [his army], and marched and spread abroad." Having completed the subjugation of Phoenicia, and a campaign against Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar set himself to rebuild and adorn the city of Babylon, and constructed canals, aqueducts, temples and reservoirs.

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So there is no doubt Babylon was a strong kingdom and under Nebuchadnezzar it grew tremendously into something spectacular. But just as it was swift to grow it also had it's wings plucked- it wasn't to remain strong, and it wasn't to grow and conquer endlessly.


1st beast-like a lion
had eagle's wings
Wings plucked
Lifted up from earth
Stand upon the feet like a man
A man's heart was given it


In fact for all that Nebuchadnezzar along with His kingdom, Babylon, were a force to be reckoned with they didn't remain so. Babylon became weak- like a man in comparison to a lion and to put a man's heart in a lion's chest would never sustain it. A man's heart is weak compared to the heart of a lion, just as a man's courage is much weaker than a lion's.


It isn't farfetched at all whatsoever to compare the head of gold - Babylon with the 1st beast in this later vision of Daniel's. Let's go further and see if we can make connections with the other beasts and their corresponding part of the image in Dan. 2.


Dan 7:5 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.


Firstly, a lion in the animal kingdom is the king- the head of the whole animal kingdom whereas a bear isn't so much. Clearly the bear is inferior to the lion and that is one thing to note. Medo-Persia was inferior to Babylon.


Secondly, it was raised on one side. The conquerors of Babylon were the Medes and Persians. And it is a well known historical fact (for history buffs that is) that the Persians were stronger than the Medes when all was said and done.

Let's read a bit about it…


The Medes and the Persians: from the 9th century BC

Of the two main Indo-European tribes moving south into Iran, it is at first the Medes who play the dominant role. With a capital at Ecbatana (modern Hamadan), they establish themselves as powerful neighbours of Assyria. In 612 they combine with Babylon to sack the Assyrian capital at Nineveh. Their spoils are northern Assyria and much of Anatolia, where the Halys river becomes the border between themselves and Lydia.

The Medes already control much of Iran including Fars, in the southwest. This is the heartland of the Parsa or Persians, whose king is a vassal of the Medes - and from whose name the region has until recently been known as Persia in the west.
 
Cyrus the Great: 559-530 BC

The balance between the Medes and the Persians rapidly changes after Cyrus II becomes king of the Persians in 559 BC. He rebels against the Medes in 553. Three years later he captures their king and their capital city, Ecbatana. He then presses west to secure and expand his new empire. He seizes the Lydian capital, Sardis, in 546, together with Croesus, its famously rich king. His armies then continue west to dominate the Greek cities of Ionia, extending his power to the shores of the Aegean.

Babylon and Mesopotamia fall to him next, in 539. The basis of the first Persian empire (the Achaemenid empire) has been set in place within a mere eleven years of Cyrus defeating the Medes. He has earned his title 'the Great'.
 
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Cyrus the Great conquered Media, Lydia, and Babylon.

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Cyrus the Great of the Persian's had 3 major conquests- Media, Lydia, and Babylon.


These could be the 3 ribs, yes?


2nd beast- like a bear
Raised up on one side
3 ribs in it's mouth between the teeth
Said- Arise, devour much flesh


Think about it… A bear comes up next after the lion, then the bear raised itself up on one side, Persia over the Medes and Persia who conquered together. Then Cyrus of the Persians conquered 3 others, Media, Lydia, and Babylon. That bear has 3 ribs in its mouth and yes, the Persians went on to do much conquering…devouring much flesh before being conquered by Greeks.


Read this…


According to Plutarch, Artaxerxes' successor Artaxerxes III (358 – 338 B.C.E.) came to the throne by bloody means, ensuring his place upon the throne by the assassination of eight of his half-brothers.[30] In 343 B.C.E. Artaxerxes III defeated Nectanebo II, driving him from Egypt, and made Egypt once again a Persian satrapy. In 338 B.C.E. Artaxerxes III died under unclear circumstances (natural causes according to cuneiform sources but Diodorus, a Greek historian, reports that Artaxerxes was murdered by Bagoas, his minister).[31] while Philip of Macedon united the Greek states by force and began to plan an invasion into the empire.
Artaxerxes III was succeeded by Artaxerxes IV Arses, who before he could act was also poisoned by Bagoas. Bagoas is further said to have killed not only all Arses' children, but many of the other princes of the land. Bagoas then placed Darius III (336–330 B.C.E.), a nephew of Artaxerxes IV, on the throne. Darius III, previously Satrap of Armenia, personally forced Bagoas to swallow poison. In 334 B.C.E., when Darius was just succeeding in subduing Egypt again, Alexander and his battle-hardened troops invaded Asia Minor.
At two different times, the Achaemenids ruled Egypt although the Egyptians twice regained temporary independence from Persia. After the practice of Manetho, Egyptian historians refer to the periods in Egypt when the Achaemenid dynasty ruled as the twenty-seventh dynasty of Egypt, 525–404 B.C.E., until the death of Darius II, and the thirty-first dynasty of Egypt, 343–332 B.C.E., which began after Nectanebo II was defeated by the Persian king Artaxerxes III.
Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedon) defeated the Persian armies at Granicus (334 B.C.E.),

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Did you read that?! The tale of such death, such treachery, the killing of family, of children, poisoning…Yes, much flesh was devoured by the Persians. So it's really not all that farfetched to put all this together, right? History! History coinciding with prophecy.


We have to be able to look at the prophecies given to us by God. God wants us to understand, to know that His word is true and what He said has come to pass and WILL come to pass. Believing in the word of God takes faith, faith being the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. We are called to believe by faith and it is by faith we must believe. We have to trust in God, it was our original parents who broke that trust in God but it's a trust that can be restored, repaired. We see it in our own lives all the time don't we, on a human to human level. We get hurt by someone and the trust we have is broken but that trust is often restored again. We are called to forgive because every time we forgive we are experiencing on a very small level the much greater experience of God forgiving us. If we don't forgive we can't ever expect to be forgiven. God's grand picture includes US, each and every one of us! In this grand picture there have been those who are called to fulfill God's will in big ways, but many more of us are called to fulfill it in very tiny ways. All of us that have the honor, the privilege of being able to read God's word need to do just that. While people are being tortured and even killed to read this amazing message so many others don't give it a second glance. Right now we are delving into prophecy and as was mentioned before prophecy fulfilled is our history and prophecy unfulfilled our future. As long as we are still living here on earth and our Savior hasn't come for us we are living with unfulfilled prophecy that WILL be fulfilled if not in our lifetime than in our descendents. Every moment we live we are living in prophecy being fulfilled we just don't always recognize it, in fact the majority don't and very, very few do. Remember -- Jesus was a prophecy fulfilled and many didn't and still do not believe, do not recognize the fulfillment.


When I said that we are constantly living in prophecy fulfilled I meant it. We are living in the time of the ten toes awaiting the Stone that will break down this world as we know it and usher in life with Christ.


There are a lot of prophecies, a lot, and many of them have been fulfilled, very few haven't compared to the majority that have. We need to look at our thousands of years of history closely and by the grace of God and through the Holy Spirit's guidance we will be able to discern so much. We will continue to study and pray that we are understanding as God would have us understand fully and in Him and His righteousness, His love.


Amen.

More Prophecy

Remember how the image of the king's dream was an overview of history from then until the end of time? Well Daniel chapter seven expounds upon this revelation. God didn't want us to be in doubt He wanted us to know more, understand with even more conviction.


This time Daniel had a dream and visions as he slept, and it was some years later after Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was inherited by Belshazzar, a successor.


Dan 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.


Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 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.
Dan 7:5 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.
Dan 7:6 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.
Dan 7:7 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.
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.
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days 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.
Dan 7:10 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.
Dan 7:11 I 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.
Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Dan 7:13 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.
Dan 7:14 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.


Do you see? Let's start at verse 13 and 14. One like the Son of man. Who is the Son of man?


Remember this verse? Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.


And this? Mat 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.


How about this? Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity


Here's another- Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.


Without any doubt whatsoever Jesus is the Son of man.

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man (JESUS) came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 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.


Jesus' kingdom will not be destroyed, it shall not pass away, Jesus' kingdom is everlasting.


Now remember Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.


This is the end of a sinful world and the beginning of a new world in Jesus Christ our Savior. Both visions, both dreams, both prophecies end with Jesus ushering in His kingdom, the world as we know it is destroyed, is gone forever. If both end with the same point it is logical to deduce that the visions before the shared culmination also share a commonality- yes? If one prophecy starts with the current kingdom in power and relates future kingdoms till the end of time, the other prophecy must do the same, yes? To have the same RESULT, the previous information must in some manner coincide. So let's read on a bit before going back to study in more detail.


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.


Here we will have the interpretation-


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.


Four kings- it's important to understand that the word kingdom and king are used interchangeably.


Remember this verse-
Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.


Compare it to this -


Dan 2:38 ... Thou art this head of gold.


If Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold he was the king of a kingdom he represented the kingdom and after him- after HIS kingdom- another kingdom would arise.


So when we read 'These great beasts which are four are four kings- it's just as true to say- these great beasts which are four are four kingdoms. Even reading just a few words later- 'But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom… see there is the word kingdom again.


Let's read it once more-


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.


Four kings(kingdoms) exactly match the image of the earlier vision-

Gold
Silver
Brass
Iron

Then in verse 7

Dan 7:7 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.


The fourth beast had TEN HORNS!


Remember the toes in the image?! They were part of that fourth kingdom - iron and clay! Here we have ten horns! This isn't a coincidence!


We are being given MORE information. So let's quickly run through this again…


Dan 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.


4 great beasts came up from the sea different from each other.


Dan 7:4 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.

1st beast- had eagle's winds
Wings plucked
Lifted up from earth
Stand upon the feet like a man
A man's heart was given it


Dan 7:5 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.


2nd beast- like a bear
Raised up on one side
3 ribs in it's mouth between the teeth
Said- Arise, devour much flesh


Dan 7:6 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.


3rd beast- like a leopard
4 wings on its back
4 heads
Dominion given it


Dan 7:7 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.


4th beast-
Dreadful, terrible, strong exceedingly
Great iron teeth
It devours and brakes in pieces
Stamps the residue with it's feet
Different from all the other beasts before it
10 horns


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.

10 horns-
A little horn comes up from among them and 3 of the 1st horns are plucked by the roots
In the little horn were eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things


I know this is a lot of information so I'm stopping here but more on these 4 beasts and 10 horns tomorrow, by the grace of God.


Lord we need you to open our eyes to all your truth. If there are things we need to know, to understand, to believe please show them to us as you show us your truth. We don't want to be among those who are deceived and we know You tell us that ALL but the very elect will be deceived. We desperately desire to be among your elect precious Lord, in Your righteousness, by Your grace. Help us Lord as we continue to study prophecy- the past studied, the future revealed.


In Your amazing love!


AMEN!

Prophecy...

Prophecy fulfilled IS our HISTORY. Prophecy unfulfilled is our future. There has to come a time when ALL prophecy is fulfilled. There is ALWAYS a time when people are living in the time of prophecy being fulfilled but they don't always recognize it as such- only being able to look back as the prophetic puzzle pieces fit together. This isn't ALWAYS the case though, sometimes when a prophecy is being fulfilled people recognize it. For instance- Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's prophetic dream of the seven years of plenty and then seven years of famine. When the years of plenty began it was noticeable that the harvests were exceptional--

Gen 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
Gen 41:48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
Gen 41:49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

With such exceptional harvests the thoughts of the horrific famine to come was probably far from most people's minds. You can bet though that many in the pharaoh's inner circle who knew all about this prophetic interpretation of the pharaoh's dream were watching the years go by and waiting to see if what Joseph had said would come true. When the famine began right on time with Joseph's interpretation those people KNEW after the first few months, and definitely after the first year that this prophecy of Joseph's was being fulfilled. There WOULD be seven years of famine. They were living during a prophecy fulfillment and recognized it as such.

Not all prophecy interpretation is readily understood though.

Read these words in the book of Daniel--

Dan 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Daniel who had been given many prophecies and had seen the fulfillment of many of them, could not know the interpretation of all the prophecies given to him. A lot of Daniel's prophecies would not be understood until the time of the end. 'The time of the end' - a period of undefined time that would bring an end to the world of sin and usher in the second coming of a Messiah that hadn't even been born at the time of the prophecy and been in the world once.

Now if Joseph could interpret a dream depicting seven ears of corn equaling seven years it is hardly farfetched for us to use a day for a year when the Bible itself actually explains that this is a real prophetic possibility. This isn't something we can discount out of hand because we don't want to believe in the real possibility that every prophetic time interpretation isn't literal time- a day isn't always a day- but rather a day can equal a years worth of time, and a year isn't always a literal year but 360 days equaling 360 years and so on. Yes, it sounds terribly confusing, but prophecy wasn't meant to be easily understood, prophecy served and serves a purpose by being crouched it obscurity. Isn't faith itself the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen?

When we go to the book of Daniel we can find a fascinating prophetic scene unfolding history from their present time to the world's end. I'd call it an overview with little detail in this particular prophetic presentation. Let's look at it--

Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

*Here we have a king dreaming something that upset him so that he couldn't sleep.

Dan 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

*This particular king- not a king of Israel but of Babylon- believed readily in magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and such, all those things which were an abomination to God.

Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

*So here we have the king summoning all these supposedly special type of people- those not ordinary but special in their fields of the supernatural and the king tells them he had a troubling dream and wants to know what it is. Of course this would be easy for the kings many supernatural interpreters, they would be told the dream and then make up any sort of meaning for that dream that they wanted to, something the king would reward them for of course so they're eager to know what the dream was about so they can give their interpretation.

Dan 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
Dan 2:6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

*Ah ha! The king was going to foil that sort of supposed ability to interpret dreams because the king himself DID NOT know what the dream was that he dreamed! He couldn't recall the dream but only knew that it was a dream he needed to recall and understand. Surely we call can relate to this experience in the sense we've all had dreams that leave our memory and in doing so trouble us a bit as we strive to no avail to recall what the dream was. This isn't an uncommon experience really, dreaming is something we are told we do every time we sleep, we just don't remember them all. Not being a king and not having magicians, astrologers and such at our fingertips to open the unknown to us we don't demand other people tell us what our dream was, we just live with the unsettling feeling until it disappears and we simply forget all about it. So here we have a king demanding his special people tell him what he dreamed and do so on the penalty of death, horrible, painful, torturous death for them and their entire house. Talk about a seemingly petulant, demanding, possibly deranged king wanting the impossible can you even imagine being among those hearing this ultimatum? Of course while their ears were ringing with the knowledge that imminent death was at their doorstep the king also countered it by telling them that if they did tell him his dream and what it meant they'd be rewarded richly. Now how is that for inspiring your subjects to do as you command? Some king, uhn?

Dan 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

*Of course these men weren't stupid and immediately they replied… tell us the dreams and we'll interpret that's how it's done, we don't do it any other way, we've never done it any other way, there is no other way to interpret a dream- you have to know the dream first. No, they didn't say all that, at least it wasn't related to us that they did but you can be sure it was some of what they were thinking. They had to remind the king of how it was done because he seemed to have forgotten that you just didn't ask for someone to tell you what the dream is- it wasn't done, it wasn't the way of things!

Dan 2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

*The king wasn't completely stupid, he knew what the men were doing, they were stalling for time. Who wouldn't be stalling for time when they were asked for the seemingly impossible on the penalty of death. The king wasn't having any of it though, he outright told them if they wouldn't tell him his dream they were just a bunch of lying, corrupt people who wanted him to just forget about it all and he wasn't going to fall for their lies and corrupting, he wanted to be told the dream and then he would believe the interpretation. Why should he believe an interpretation when the interpreter didn't even have the supernatural power to tell him what the dream itself was. Surely if they were all they claimed to be- special people having special powers to understand things others could not- they'd be able to use those powers now when their lives depended upon it. Just imagine… well we don't have to just imagine because this was their response--

Dan 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

*No one, not a single man on earth can do what you're asking! And because you're asking the impossible no king, no lord, no ruler has EVER asked us to do such an impossible thing! The king wants something only the gods - not man- can do and the gods don't dwell among men in flesh. The king has to ask this thing of his gods not of his men who claim to be able to understand godly inexplicable things when it suits them. How convenient are these practices astrology, magic, sorcery and such. Now I'm not saying they're all bogus- but I am saying they're all ungodly whether we want to believe it or not. God has pronounced them such and they are! People have been brought up to believe they are harmless pastimes and nothing more, but in truth they are under the control of Satan and as such even the best astrological prediction, the greatest trickery of telling the future with sorcery or magic is of the devil and evil. Harmless? Hardly! Being under the control of a being that can work his own seeming miracles and appear as an angel of light is a deadly deception way too many have fallen victim to. Here a God-less king wanted all his supernaturally controlled, his satanic controlled people, to tell him his dream and NONE dared to even believe they could because they knew their source of power wasn't directly from any that would dare commune with them in such a manner. Satan didn't know the dream so his followers couldn't know the dream, all their false gods they prayed to and worshipped could not tell them this dream and they knew it- they didn't have to think about it really because it was an impossibility and they told the king so. They wanted the king to wise up to the fact he was asking the impossible of them, but the king didn't want a bunch of powerless wise men surrounding him pretending to be special and able to use their special powers to serve him.

Dan 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

*Did the fact he was asking what all his wise men thought was impossible deter the king from wanting to destroy them? Nope. Just picture it, these poor deluded men who up until then felt secure in their professions were now filled with terror, they were going to be murdered by an insane king who wanted the impossible!

Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Dan 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

*Daniel- one of the captured slaves of Israel- was among those considered especially wise and he fell into this category of victims. He would be killed. However Daniel wanted to at least know what he was being killed for because he obviously hadn't been among those in the king's presence when the decree went forth. Told everything that happened, Daniel went to the king and told him if he had time he could do as the king wanted. Imagine it, here comes an Israeli slave daring to actually tell the king he could do the impossible! All those others didn't dare even try to make up something, didn't dare pretend they could do what they claimed was impossible - because it was impossible for them and it would mean death either way for them. The only hope they probably thought they had was in all of them sticking to the fact the king wanted the impossible. Then here comes a captive from another kingdom, a slave, and he tells the king he can do this thing!

Dan 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

*Obviously the king didn't have a problem with giving Daniel a little time just on the offhand chance this troubling dream could really be told to him. The king had nothing to lose by waiting a bit- either way the deaths would come- now or later if the dream was not told to him. So Daniel - wanting to save the lives of himself and his friends- fellow captives from Israel- was going to do this impossible thing. He went to his fellow captives and told them they had to desire the mercy of THE GOD OF HEAVEN. Daniel believed in the TRUE God and as such believed that if God wanted him and his companions to live that He would reveal the secret that none other could reveal.

Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

*Then Daniel had a vision in the night! God gave Daniel a vision! God blessed Daniel with the secret!

Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Dan 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

*Amazing! Daniel praised God mightily! Such praise is wonderful! Daniel thanked God because Daniel knew it wasn't of himself that he understood things, it wasn't of him that he suddenly knew the dream it was all because of God! Daniel had no power of his own and he knew it! God reveals the deep and secret things! God knows the things in the dark because light dwells with God! All the wisdom, all the might of Daniel came directly from God and no where else! God revealed to Daniel and his companions the king's dream and interpretation doing what NO other could do even with the pain of death hanging over their heads. Our wondrous God! His will is done and He will use those who look to Him for all things!

Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
Dan 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

*Ha! Arioch the captain of the king's guard told the king HE FOUND a man to tell the interpretation. Interesting. Daniel had already gone in to ask the king for time and was granted the time and now Arioch brings Daniel back to the king quickly and tells the king HE found one who could do as the king wanted. Just interesting to note this little fact. People don't hesitate to take credit for good things do they? Even when it's undeserved credit.

Dan 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

*Of course the king wanted to know if this man could do as he'd asked of all his wise men, he wasn't particularly interested in the fact the guard captain had found him- he wanted to know if what Daniel claimed he could do was in fact true.

Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

*Oh yeah! Daniel isn't going to give the interpretation to the king without letting the king know where this knowledge came from and it wasn't from any of the pagan, heathen, God-less supposed wise men filling his kingdom.

Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

*GOD in heaven HE reveals secrets! He is going to reveal to the king what will be in the latter days! God in heaven, no where else, no other god, no other idol, no other has revealed the dream, only the God in heaven!

Dan 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
Dan 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

*King you had a prophetic dream, this is what Daniel is telling Him. God in heaven was revealing the secrets of the future in that dream. The secrets weren't for Daniel's wisdom, the secrets weren't being revealed so Daniel could become greater than any other person. The secrets are being revealed to save lives not to exalt Daniel.

Dan 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
Dan 2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 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.
Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

*Here it is… here is the dream you couldn't recall-

A great image!
A very bright great image standing in front of the king, an image whose form, whose appearance induces fear!
The image had a head of fine gold.
The image had a breast and arms of silver.
The image had a belly and thighs of brass.
The image had legs of iron.
The image had feet of iron and clay.

What an amazing conglomeration of minerals! Gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay. It's obvious from the first reading that the minerals are ordered in value- Gold being much more precious and desire, much more valuable than silver, and so on down the line ending with clay being the least valuable. There is a distinct degradation in the value of this image. If the image were all of gold it would be magnificent. That this image is such a mixture it is no wonder it's a fearful sight. No one at that time would make up such an image and expect anyone to want to purchase it and you can be sure that there were many images of many things in a culture that valued worshipping images of their gods and such. Is it any wonder it is considered horrifying. We might just call it abstract art and not take a second glance at something like this, but the time period then was far from appreciating such abstract art. No artist would dare put together a statue with such things, it just wasn't done.

There it was a terrifying image made up of five different minerals standing there when a stone was being cut from a mountain or quarry it doesn't say here but no hands cut it, no person cut this stone from rock, no stonemason was there but the stone was being cut and after it was cut the stone was thrown at the feet of the image and the feet broke into little pieces. With the feet broken to pieces there was nothing left to hold up the image and the rest of the image broke into pieces, into such small pieces the wind carried them all away. Then that stone which broke up the feet, destroying the entire image began to grow and it fill the entire earth!

What a dream! No wonder it was troubling the king to remember something to incredible. Just picture it being out of reach of recall, right there on the edges of his memory but unable to bring it out to the forefront. It was a prophetic dream holding great meaning not only for the king but for all of future mankind. This was a God-given dream of future events - an overall view of things to happen here on in and no wonder it commanded such great attention. You can bet this dream had the attention of everyone in the kingdom by this time. When a king is ready to murder his entire entourage of wise men, astrologers, soothsayers, magicians, Chaldeans it wasn't some small insignificant happenstance- this was a huge deal!

Now the interpretation!

Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

*The king himself was the golden head of the image! God had made the king prosper it wasn't just by happenstance, it wasn't by chance that the king of Babylon had such good fortune. He was this head of gold.

Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

*But like that image, things change. After the head of gold there came a breast and arms of silver - an inferior kingdom. Then another kingdom after the silver one, this kingdom of brass and obviously inferior to the first and second kingdoms. These kingdoms were great kingdoms- not tiny kingdoms but kingdoms whose rule effected all the earth in some manner.

Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

*Then in the image the legs were of iron, yet another very great kingdom.

Dan 2:41 And 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 iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

*Then the feet- iron and clay- a mixture. Mankind would never again have a kingdom as whole as that of the fourth kingdom but it would become a mixture- the kingdoms would be divided even though through mingling (marriage) they would try to bring it together it wouldn't happen.

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

*God sets up a kingdom that will never be destroy. We know that Jesus came preaching the kingdom and His kingdom will NEVER be destroyed! God's kingdom will stand forever!

Dan 2:45 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: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

*This is the dream, this is the interpretation that the king wanted, that the king demanded from all his wise men but could not get it. None but Daniel a man who looked to the true God, could bring this knowledge to the king.

Isn't it amazing?! Truly amazing this marvelous vision. You know why it's so amazing? It's OUR history! From the time of the king of Babylon until the end when God's kingdom is all that's left. This is a tremendous overview of history but people don't want to believe it could be so. People want to pick things apart and warp them in a way God never intended. People say the Bible isn't even real and then pick up a book containing the many failed prophecies of Nostradamus and that they believe! People say the Bible is a bunch of fairy tales and fables, fiction and no more, and then they'll pick up a book by Darwin and say this man spoke truth. This prophecy alone- written thousands of years ago can prove to the spiritually discerning that what was predicated has come to pass and what's left to be revealed will happen just as all that was predicted happened- it's TRUTH! So many don't want to believe that God has a real kingdom and that they will one day either be in that kingdom or destroyed as though they never existed. People would rather grasp as some vague afterlife as their future rather than repent and be converted to Christ. People would rather indulge their ego than admit they have no right whatsoever to indulge something so perverted by sin that its worth is ONLY found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. People will believe lies and fairy tales alright but they won't be of God.

It is proven-

Babylon was followed by Medes and Persia who were followed by the Greeks, who were followed by the Romans who were then followed by divided kingdoms never to be brought together to any great one world kingdom and never will be brought together again into such a kingdom. We live in the time of the divided kingdoms- we live in the time of the toes of iron and clay- we live in time as that stone is being cut without hands and soon will break the feet of the image ushering in God's kingdom forever!

We have the ability to look back and see history fulfilled, only those who wish to be blind will remain so. Only those who wish to have delusions will have them. Those who would much rather believe lies will do just that, they'll believe the lies as if they were truth not caring at all that they are deceived.

There is so much to prophecy and I'd like to study more of it. There is a lot unfulfilled and a lot filled and only by the grace of God may we truly understand as He would have us understand. We are to watch and pray- let us watch-let us pray because we live in the very end of time.

Being such a volatile subject I'm aware that not everyone will agree with my view and I wouldn't dream of asking anyone to believe me. I just hope and pray that as we study your Bibles will be open and you'll pray as never before to have discernment and understanding as the Holy Spirit guides into all truth, I know I'll be praying the exact same thing.


In His Grace! In His Love! By His Mercy!


Amen.