Old Testament Reading: Exodus 13:17-21
New Testament Reading: Matthew 26:57-67
The Book of Daniel
“The Two Coming World Rulers”
Daniel 7:1-8:27
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
The Book of Daniel is the first of the “apocalyptic books.” It is the first book of the Bible to give a prophetic message of the future through signs and symbols.
- The word “apocalyptic” means to “uncover,” to reveal or disclose knowledge that was before hidden, concealed or kept in secret.
- God, and God alone, knows the future. Therefore, only God can declare the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:9-11)
- However, God revealed portions of His plan of redemption to a few men, whom He called and enabled to reveal it to others verbally, visibly, in some cases, visually, but in all instances scripturally – documenting the truth for future generations.
- Those men are called “prophets” – not those who foretell the future; false prophets who mislead others with their lies, but those who forthtell the truth God revealed to them.
In 597 B.C., Daniel, a Judean teenager, no more than 14-years of age, was taken from his family in Jerusalem, transported to the pagan city of Babylon to be trained to serve the wicked king, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Through a series of miraculous events, Daniel realized the God he loved had not only preserved his life but He had placed him in the position to become one of the major prophetic voices.
- Throughout his 70-years of captivity, Daniel documented all of the historical events, as well as all of the prophetic revelations he received from God.
- The Book of Daniel is God’s blueprint for all prophecy – it is a chronological timetable for every major prophetic event, past, present, and future.
- In chapters 1-6, Daniel detailed the history of the Hebrews, declared the reason for their captivity, and described their future under the dominion of four Gentile World Empires.
- In chapters 7-12, Daniel described the human characteristics of those empires, whose leaders would rule the world until the kingdoms of the world become the Kingdom of our Lord and Jesus Christ returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- The prophecies of Daniel 7-12 reveal the truth about God’s plan for the ages. Those who know the truth about the future, can dwell calmly in the present.
“Four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”
- Daniel saw the same four world empires as he had interpreted from King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue – each striving for world power, world dominance, and world superiority.
- The Great Sea was the Mediterranean – all the world’s empires have held, or will hold, territory on the Mediterranean coast.
“Four great beasts come up from the sea.”
- A lion with eagles’ wings – the Babylonian Empire – 605 BC to 539 BC
- A bear raised up with three ribs in its mouth – the Medo-Persian Empire – 539 BC to 331 BC
- Daniel 8:3ff – A ram with two horns – Media and Persia. The male goat – the kingdom of Greece
- A leopard with four wings on its back, with four heads – the Greek Empire – 331 BC to 168 BC.
- A dreadful and terrible beast with iron teeth – the Roman Empire – 168 BC to 476 AD – to be at the end of the time of the Gentiles.
“A little horn with eyes of a man and a mouth speaking pompous words.”
- After the rapture of the Church, a leader will rise out of the 10-nation, revived Roman Empire to rule the world until Jesus returns. This man will be the anti-Christ.
- Daniel 8:22ff – a king shall arise who shall exalt himself in his heart and destroy many, but he shall be broken without human means.
At least part of the prophecy of the “little horn with the pompous mouth” was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes.
- His hatred for the Jews led him to force them to stop their worship of God and to bring their sacrifices and offerings to the Greek gods.
- He slaughtered a pig on the altar in the Temple, established an altar to Zeus, and demanded that the Jews worship a false god.
- When the Jews revolted, he slaughtered many of them, and forced the others to eat pigs flesh.
However, Antiochus was a “type” of a world leader yet to come, whose evil hatred for the Jews will surpass his atrocities. This man will be: The “little horn” of Daniel 7 and 8, the “man of sin” of 2 Thessalonians 2, the “beast” of Revelation 13, and the “Antichrist” of 1 John 2
| Daniel’s Revelation |
New Testament Revelation |
| Vs. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. |
Rev 13:2 ‘And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard… and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. |
| Vs. 24 He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. |
Rev 13:3-4 All the world wondered after the beast… and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? |
| Vs. 24 He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people |
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. |
| Vs. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. |
Rev 13:5,13-14 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words… It performs great signs… and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth.
2nd Thess 2:3-4,9-10 The man of lawlessness… who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship… The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing. |
| Vs. 25 When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the prince of princes |
1 Thess 5:2 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.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse (Jesus – the King of Kings) |
| Vs. 25 Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. |
2 Thess 2:8 The lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. |
“When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel,
standing in the holy place, let those in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Matthew 24:15
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The harlot of Revelation 17 is the apostate church during the time of tribulation. The beast she is riding is the Antichrist, the 10-horns are the 10-rulers of the revived Roman Empire, who will yield their authority to the Antichrist in his war with the Lamb.
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In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Apostle Paul said the Antichrist cannot be revealed until “he who now restrains him is taken out of the way.”
- The Holy Spirit is the restrainer of evil in the world today
- However, even when the Church is removed, the Holy Spirit will continue to draw people to salvation through Jesus Christ.
- According to Revelation 7:9-14, a great multitude will receive Christ as their Savior during the Tribulation, and according to John 6:44, no one can be saved apart from the drawing of the Holy Spirit.
In Daniel 7:9ff, Daniel said he looked into the heavens and saw God Himself, sitting on His throne.
- His hair and garments of white – absolute purity
- His title of the “Ancient of Days” – absolute eternality
- The river of fire flowing from the throne – absolute judgment
- The books were opened to reveal the works of every person, whether good or bad, so that God could render His judgment.
Daniel said he saw three major events that stirred his soul:
- The beast was slain and his body was given to the burning flame.
- The fourth beast, including the revived Roman Empire, and the little horn that spoke pompous words, had their kingdoms taken away. In Revelation 13:5, and Revelation 19:20, John said the Beast, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur which burns forever.
- The Son of Man was given glory and dominion over the kingdom so that all people, of all nations, and all languages would serve Him forever, for His kingdom would never end.
TIMELESS TRUTH
“Since God declared the end time events from the beginning,
and He revealed those events to us in His Word,
our purpose should be to view all world events through
the lens of scripture, and watch them come to pass, day by day.
