Events Preceding the Tribulation

• Characteristics of the age--Apostasy of the church
• Rev 3:14-18 (ESV) "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. // 15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  17  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
• Fruchtenbaum believes the church was entirely non-Christian
• Christian church is lukewarm
• So this is also the last church, and it makes sense that it would precede the tribulation based on our pre-trib understanding of scripture. Scripture supports scripture, which is why this one makes sense
• 2 Thess 2:1-3 (ESV) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,  2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
• Greek word for "rebellion" or "a falling away" is apostasia, meaning a defection from truth
• Definition: abandonment of one's religious faith or deny the doctrines of the church they profess to be a part
• 1 Tim 4:1 (ESV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
• Later times
• Depart from the faith
• Devoted themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demon (spirituality)
• 2 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV) … knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4  They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
• A characteristic of the last times is scoffers (a rise in atheism)
• Also, the need to follow their own sinful desires (a feature of atheism and our society's "tolerance)
• Jude 17-18 (ESV) But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."
• Scoff means to mock or treat with derision or scorn
• Again, the idea of throwing off the shackles of morality
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 (ESV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
• It doesn't say when this will happen, other than a time is coming
• An idol is when we create "God" according to a definition that fits our sensibilities
• People church hop until they find what they want. Everything centers around their passions
• Barna poll, 2008
• One-third of Christians believe Jesus sinned
• 40 percent do not believe they have a responsibility to share their Christian faith
• 25 percent do not believe the bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
• The importance of faith is growing, but half believe that Christianity is just one of many faiths a person can choose
• Being religious is not the same as being a Christian.  When a denomination has rejected so much of the message as to be ineffective for salvation, it has defected from the faith.  Key elements of our faith are: Jesus' death for our sin, the futility of works for salvation, the resurrection, the virgin birth, and Jesus sinless nature
• Rapture is imminent, the Great Tribulation is not (certain events must precede the tribulation)
• Events leading to the tribulation:
1. WW I and II w/increased famines and earthquakes
1. Matt 24:1-8 (ESV) Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." // 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.  5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.  6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
2. Jewish idiom: "nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom" refers to a world war preceding the coming of the Messiah
1. The Bereshith Rabbah: If you see kingdoms rising against each other in turn, then give heed and note the footsteps of the Messiah
2. The Zohar Chadash: At that time wars shall be stirred up in the world, Nation shall be against nation and city against city; much distressed shall be renewed against the enemies of Israel
3. Many see WW I as an extension of WW II
4. The evidence clearly seems to indicate increasing famines and earthquakes over the last few centuries.  Is that a data recording issue?  We don't know, but even the last thirty years have seen an increase
1. 1918-1919 pestilence killed 23 million
2. 1920 Great Chinese famine
3. 1921 Russian famine
4. Earthquakes have been increasing since WW I
5. NOTE: Did Jesus say earthquakes would increase or that we would see them in unique places?
5. This event is clearly distinguished as the beginning of the birth pains and is episodic
1. Wars are still increasing
2. Famine is actually getting better since WWII but did jump up during WWI
2. Reestablishment of Israel or a gathering of unbelief (also Zeph 2:1-2)
• Ezekiel 20:33–38 (ESV) — 33 “As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. 37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
• Zephaniah 2:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Gather together, yes, gather, // O shameless nation, // 2 before the decree takes effect // —before the day passes away like chaff— // before there comes upon you // the burning anger of the Lord, // before there comes upon you // the day of the anger of the Lord.
• Ezek 22:17-22 (ESV) And the word of the Lord came to me: 18  "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. 21 I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. 22 As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord; I have poured out my wrath upon you."
• Ezek 36:22-24 (ESV) "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23  And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24  I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.
• But there is also a second re-gathering (which is not the same)
• Isa 11:11-12 (ESV) In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. // 12 He will raise a signal for the nations // and will assemble the banished of Israel, // and gather the dispersed of Judah // from the four corners of the earth.
1. First re-gathering in unbelief is for judgment
2. Second re-gathering in faith is in preparation for blessing--the Messianic Kingdom
3. Jerusalem under Jewish control (old city not originally, but after 6-day war came under Jewish control) -- required for the rebuilding of the temple (also 2 Thess 2:3-4; Rev 11:1-2)
1. Dan 9:27 (ESV) And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."
2. Matt 24:15 (ESV) "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand),
1. These and other verses talk about a third temple which presupposes Jewish control of the temple compound and Old Jerusalem.  This took place during the six day war.  Obviously, there are still issues regarding the Dome of the rock, although there are some who believe it could be built in another location
2. There is a whole society devoted to gathering and recreating the utensils and instruments required for the new temple. https://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm
3. Technically, this did not need to occur prior except that it will probably take longer than 3.5 years to reconstruct the temple
4. Northern alliance invasion of Israel (see Ezek 38:1-23; Ezek 39:1-16)
1. Ezekiel chapter 38 details
Ezek 38:1-6 (ESV) the word of the Lord came to me: 2  "Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4  And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5  Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6  Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes— many peoples are with you.

2. Ezek 38:2 partial … Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of  Meshech and Tubal;
1. Gog (lies between Black and Caspian seas), also eastern Turkey
2. Some versions translate Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal (all parts of Russia)
1. Meshech was called Moscow; Tubal was Tobolsk; Rosh was Russia
3. Persia is present day Iran
4. Cush would be Ethiopia
5. Put would be Somalia
6. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5027308,40.151514,5z
7. See Genesis: Table of Nations
3. The attack may be missiles and ground forces (terrorists being the ground). Russia complicit in the missile technology
Ezek 38:7-9 (ESV) "Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8  After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

4. There is some disagreement as to whether this occurs before, during, or after the tribulation.  Most conservative scholars place it prior to the tribulation
5. Ezek 39:9-13 (NIV) "Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God. // 11 "On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.  12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord God.
1. When: Ezek 39:9-10 says that it takes seven years to dismantle the equipment, therefore, it must occur prior to the tribulation, or they will be dismantling equipment during the millennial kingdom. 
2. Lastly, in order for six or seven countries to act somewhat independently, it must take place before the one world government.
3. Also, there might be WMD present since it takes so long to clean
5. One world government
1. Dan 7:23 (ESV) 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.

2. The Roman government never subdued the whole earth, so this has not been fulfilled yet.  Also, we know that there are various stages, including the two split which precedes this stage
6. Split into ten kingdoms (Dan 7:24a)
1. Dan 7:24 ESV) 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.

7. Rise of the Antichrist (Dan 7:24b; 2 Thess 2:1-3)
1. 2 Thess 2:1-3 (ESV) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,  2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2. Revelation of the man of lawlessness
8. Period of peace and false security (1 Thess 5:1-3)
1. 1 Thess 5:1-3 (ESV) Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
• Other events
1. Blackout
Joel 2:31 (ESV) The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

2. The return of Elijah
1. Mal 4:5-6 (ESV) "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."
2. Forerunner predicted before the first coming
1. Malachi 3:1 (ESV) — 1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
2. Isaiah 40:3–5 (ESV) — 3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
3. Matthew 3:1–6 (ESV) —
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
4. Matt 11:7-10
5. John 1:19-23
3. Matt 17:9-13 (ESV) And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."  10 And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" 11 He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.  12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."  13  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
1. Says he will come
2. Says he did come
4. Matt 11:11-14 (ESV) Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.  13  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,  14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
1. Why does Jesus not say "… he is Elijah who was to come …"
3. Third temple (maybe pre-tribulation, maybe not)
1. Daniel 9:27
2. Matthew 24:15–16 (ESV) — 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
1. See Harmony of the Gospels - Olivet Discourse (NIV)
3. It all depends on how long it takes to build the temple.  It needs to be functioning by the middle of the tribulation
• The two final events leading up to the Tribulation is the rapture and the signing of the seven-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist
• The rapture precedes the tribulation (see rapture discussion)
• The peace treaty begins the tribulation

Dan 2:31-45; 7:1-28, The Age of the Gentiles

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.



• Jesus alludes to the ending of the time of the Gentiles


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.



• Observation of this "image"
• Imagery
• Great image - these are great empires
• Exceeding brightness - not sure if this is an allusion to Satan who is also called the angel of light
• Stood before God - in the sense that it opposes God
• Frightening appearance - these empires scare people, because they don't care about people but about power and riches
• 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 (that destroyed the image) becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth
• Interesting things about the metals
• Increase in strength
• Decrease in value
• Possible interpretations
• Each one was more powerful than the other (increase), and 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


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."



• 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
• [But the culture / worldview of Babylon does take over the whole world, Rev 17]
• 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
• Greek thinking does take over the western world
• 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 (a mountain is a symbol for an empire)
• Fruchtenbaum says it is Jewish but I don't see that
• Clearly it is established by God
• Clearly it ends the Gentile empires


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.



• 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-Persian 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


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.


• 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


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.'


• 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 war 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.