- Jesus alludes to the ending of the time of the Gentiles
- Observation of this "image"
- Exceeding brightness; frightening appearance
- Parts
- Head of fine gold
- Chest and arms of silver
- Middle and thighs of bronze
- Legs of iron
- Feet of partly iron and partly clay
- Stone, not cut out by human hands (emphasizes a divine origin; possible also perfect)
- Strike the image on the feet (broken in pieces)
- Then the whole image is broken in pieces
- Wind blows it all away
- Stone becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth
- Interesting things about the metals
- Increase in strength
- Decrease in value
- Possible interpretations
- There was a decrease of the character authority and rule (value side)
- Babylon: absolute monarchy; monarch above the law
- Medo-Persia: monarch not above the law who could not change his own laws
- Hellenstic kings: no dynastic or royal right to rule
- Roman imperialism: republic that degenerated into mob rule merging with the imperial form of government
- Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations. From <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/imperialism>
- Now we move on to the interpretation
- The time of the Gentiles begins with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Solomonic temple in 586 BC by the Babylonian empire
- This is the head of gold
- It is the first nation to destroy Jerusalem
- There will be temporary control return but full return will not happen until the end of times
- Babylon (and specifically Nebuchadnezzar) is granted control over the whole world, although he does not choose to exercise this control
- See Jeremiah 27:5-8
- The two arms of silver united in the breast are the two nations, the Medes and the Persians who establish the Medo-Persian empire
- It is inferior to the Babylonian empire
- It lacked the inner unity of the Babylonians
- The people were never fused into one people
- The government was not above the law
- The Greek or Hellenistic empire is the third empire symbolized by the belly and two thighs of bronze.
- The two thighs may represent the embracing of east and west. ((Another possibility is that they represent Syria and Egypt which arose out of it and also controlled Jerusalem.))
- It has the same grant as Babylon but does not choose to exercise the grant
- Later we will get more detail on this empire as it splits into four
- The fourth image is the fourth Gentile empire. It goes through several stages
- United stage (vs 40)
- Two division stage (vs 41) but with still the strength of iron
- Ten division stage represented by the ten toes
- Fifth empire will be of divine origin
- Fruchtenbaum says it is Jewish but I don't see that
- Clearly it is established by God
- Clearly it ends the Gentile empires
- There are multiple visions. The first vision considers only three empires
- The great sea is probably the Mediterranean (to Daniel)
- Most see the sea representing the Gentile world
- The four winds are the same number as the four beasts suggesting that it is God orchestrating their coming
- Four Gentile empires arising out of the sea
- First empire/ beast: like a lion and had eagle wings
- Nebuchadnezzar does actually become like a beast at some point before his mind returns to him
- Babylon was a lion. It devoured the countries of the world. Nebuchadnezzar really was the lion, the absolute authority
- The symbol of Babylon was a lion with wings
- Second empire / beast: lopsided bear with 3 ribs in its teeth
- Historically, the 3 ribs represent the 3 kingdoms conquered by the Medo-persion forces: Lydia, Babylonia, and Egypt
- The bear is not as majestic as the lion
- The bear is bulky and weighty. It conquered areas by sheer force of numbers
- Third empire / beast: leopard-like with four wings of a bird. Also four heads and dominion given to it
- The leopard is faster than the lion or bear. Incredibly Alexander the great conquered the Medo-Persian empire in an unbelievably short time
- The four wings represent the four kingdoms that grew out of Alexander's empire
- The four heads are the four generals who take control of the four kingdoms
- Ptolemy over Egypt, Israel, and Arabia Petrea
- Seleucus over Syria, Babylonia, and all the way to India
- Cassander over Macedonia and Greece
- Lysimachus over Thrace and Bithynia
- The second vision (or possibly a series of night visions) follows in verses 7-12
- Fourth empire / beast
- Terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong (It is characterized but not described by a specific animal)
- Great iron teeth; devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet
- KEY: it was different from all the beasts before
- It has ten horns
- An eleventh horn, a little horn, uproots three of the horns
- Eyes like the eyes of a man
- Mouth speaking great things
- KEY: the fourth gentile empire undergoes changes and is different from the other empires
- This section contains the third vision, verses 9-12, and the fourth vision, verses 13-14
- The third vision takes place where? In heaven
- It is a courtroom
- God the Father, the ancient of days sits
- Judgment is being delivered
- The Angels are standing ready to execute the judgment
- Who is being judged?
- The fourth Gentile empire
- The little horn
- Characterized by big words (blasphemy)
- Satan
- The other three beast are maintained for a period of time (see next passage)
- The fourth vision is a vision of what?
- The second coming (of Jesus Christ), vs 13
- The establishment of the millennial kingdom, vs 14
- Next we get the interpretation
- The beasts come from the earth
- They are human, not divine, kingdoms
- Daniel's interest is primarily in the fourth beast, likely because of how "different" it is from the other (verses 19-22). The word "different" is a constant theme with the fourth empire
- Add a little more to the original vision
- Little horn was greater than the other horns
- Little horn has eyes and mouth that spoke great things
- Little horn will make war against the saints
- Little horn's ware against the saints will succeed
- Only the Ancient of Days judgment stops the little horn and gives to the saints the kingdom
- Interpretation
- The fourth kingdom is different from all the kingdoms
- It begins in a united stage
- It then devours the whole earth (one world government)
- The phrase, "as for the ten horns" immediately addresses Daniel's questions (potentially leaving out intervening stages)
- Ten kingdoms and ten kings arise from the fourth empire
- Another king arises and puts down three of the kings
- This king (the Antichrist)
- Speaks words against the most High
- Wears out the saints of the most High
- Thinks to change the times and the law
- Suggestion of religious rule changes
- Develops his own feasts
- Institutes new modes of worship
- Institutes new articles of faith
- Appoints his own leaders
- He rules for 3 1/2 years
- Judgment will ultimately end the fourth empire (this is the purpose of tribulation)
- It will be consumed and destroyed AT THE END. The "end" is the second coming of Christ as we will see later
- A new kingdom follows
- This kingdom is given to the saints
- We shall rule with Christ in this kingdom
- The fourth kingdom is not Rome but imperialism (that is why it is different)
- It is control achieved either through actual in-place leaders or other forms of coercion. It does not necessarily mean armed military control (although the military is always behind it)
- The fourth empire exists until the return of Christ
- Stages
- United stage is Rome
- Two division stage starts in 364 AD
- Roman empire divides into an east-west axis
- Eastern remained in Constantinople until conquered in the Turkish invasion. Rulers called themselves "Czars" which is Russian for Caesar. Eventually Russia gave itself the title of the Third Roman Empire. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, the eastern power is still shifting
- Western division remained in Rome until 476. Then shifted to France with Charlemagne, calling itself the Holy Roman Empire of the Frankish nation. Otto I defeated the Franks and set up the Holy Roman empire of the German nation. They called themselves "Kaisers" which is German for Caesar. After WW I, the power has been shifting among the western nations
- Ultimately the two-division stage will break down and lead to a one-world government (it will devour the whole earth, Rome never did)
- This will lead to a ten kingdom stage
- This is followed by the Antichrist rule (8 Kingdoms, with 7 giving allegiance to the one king, and three having been conquered by the one king)
- APPLICATION: We can disagree on how much of life is manipulated by God. But God controls the times and season of rulers.
Luke
21:24 (ESV) They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among
all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Dan
2:31-35 (ESV) "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image,
mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was
frightening. 32 The head of this image
was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of
bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet
partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no
human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke
them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the
gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the
summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace
of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth.
Dan
2:36-45 "This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its
interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven
has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into
whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts
of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you
are the head of gold. 39 Another
kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of
bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth
kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all
things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And
as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it
shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it,
just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet
were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and
partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix
with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron
does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven
will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be
left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring
them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone
was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the
iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made
known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its
interpretation sure."
Dan 7:1-8 (ESV) In the first year of Belshazzar king of
Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then
he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared,
"I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were
stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea,
different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings.
Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the
ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was
given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was
raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was
told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.' 6 After this I looked, and behold, another,
like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four
heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions,
and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It
had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was
left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it,
and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up
among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns
were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes
of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan
7:9-14 (ESV) As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and
the Ancient of days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and
the hair of his head like pure wool;
his
throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and
came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood
before him;
the
court sat in judgment,
and
the books were opened.
11 I
looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was
speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and
given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their
dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a
time.
13 I
saw in the night visions,
and
behold, with the clouds of heaven
there
came one like a son of man,
and he
came to the Ancient of Days
and
was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and
glory and a kingdom,
that
all peoples, nations, and languages
should
serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which
shall not pass away,
and
his kingdom one
that
shall not be destroyed.
Dan
7:15-28 (ESV) "As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and
the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood
there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made
known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 'These four great beasts are four kings who
shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive
the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.'
19
"Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was
different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron
and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what
was left with its feet, 20 and about
the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and
before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke
great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked,
this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the
Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High,
and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23
"Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast,
there
shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which
shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it
shall devour the whole earth,
and
trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As
for the ten horns,
out of
this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and
another shall arise after them;
he
shall be different from the former ones,
and
shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and
shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and
shall think to change the times and the law;
and
they shall be given into his hand
for a
time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and
his dominion shall be taken away,
to be
consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and
the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall
be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting
kingdom,
and
all dominions shall serve and obey them.'
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Dan 2
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Dan 7
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Combined
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United Stage
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United Stage
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Four Division Stage
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Four Division Stage
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United Stage
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United Stage
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United Stage
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Two Division Stage
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Two Division Stage
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One World Govmt Stage
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One World Government Stage
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Ten Division Stage
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Ten Division Stage
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Ten Division Stage
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Antichrist Stage
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Antichrist Stage
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