by Gary "Gabe" Hulin
Daniel's Vision of the World's Great Empires
God's Word of Prophecy has given serious bible students abundant proof of His dealing in
the affairs of men and nations. Perhaps the greatest key to understanding the incredible
truths of God's revelation is found in two similar prophecies in Chapters 2 and 7 of the
Book of Daniel. These prophecies give vivid details of the rise and fall of the world's great
empires from the time of Daniel to the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. Daniel is the key,
the connector, to understanding Revelation.
God, the author of all things, indeed, has complete and absolute control over the events,
patterns and trends that shape our world and mold the nations of the world into specific stages of
existence. Truth revealed of the rise and fall of the world's great empires has been
abundantly established by the ongoing tide of History. From the time of Daniel's vision of
the four beasts rising out of the sea, circa 625 B.C. until the culmination of the revived
form of the Roman Empire under the antichrist, God has determined that man would attempt six great empires that would dominate the known world of it's day. Man's attempt at controling the affairs of his existence would be given every opportunity to form the perfect society, apart from God's rule. Ultimately he would fail again to achieve his Utopia. After nearly 6,000 years of failure Man's future would become as God has foreordained that it would...under the rule of Jesus Christ in the last world empire...the millenial Kingdom of God.
Many have sought both secretly and overtly to gain power over the world. Napoleon,
Kaiser Wilhelm, Hitler, and all the kings of Spain, India, China and England have failed
who has attempted this quest. God has foreordained that only the Empires of Babylonia, Medo-Persia,
Macedonia (Greece), and Rome ( it's ancient form as well as a revived empire existing in
the end times), would hold power over the known world during the duration of this age.
This revived Roman Confederacy of the "latter days" is the European Common Market of
nations or more accurately the European Economic Union, the last world empire that will
soon gain power under the antichrist.
Turning to God's Word we begin our study with Chapter Seven of Daniel. Verses 4-8 give
us the first glimpse of the world empires to arise on earth and verse 17 indicates that
these beasts are symbols of kings and thus their kingdoms: "the great beasts, which are
four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth". These four beasts are the four
great world kingdoms: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. How marvelous that
God provided the foreknowledge of these kingdoms that reach far into the distant future
from the time of Daniel's dream.
"The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings; and I beheld till the wings were
plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon it's feet as a man,
and a man's heart was given it. (Dan. 7:4)
The first king, Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian empire is pictured by the lion, the
king of beasts, given wings for his rapid conquest of the world. The palaces of Babylon
were adorned with bas-relief paintings of lions with eagle's wings. It was given the heart
of Nebuchadnezzar until it was plucked up by the second beast representing the Medo-Persian empire. It should be noted here that the Babylonian empire fell circa 539 BC when
the Persia succeeded in penetrating the protective walls of Babylon. Cyrus, the second
world king, conquered Babylon by diverting the water that ran through the city. While the
city was drinking and feasting, a few of Cyrus' men infiltrated the city and loosened the
gates from within allowing the Persians to wade into the city and take control of the king
and his kingdom. This scenario was foretold by Isaiah over 200 years prior to it's
fulfillment! Our omnipotent, all-knowing God even names the king to be in Persia...Cyrus:
"Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to
subdue nations before him; and I will loosen the loins of kings, to open before him
the two unleaven gates; and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee and
make the crooked ways straight; and I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and
cut asunder the bars of iron. And I will give thee treasures of darkness and riches
of secret places that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, that calleth thee by name,
am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:1-3)
We see again the omnipotent power of God in the affairs of man. The second beast then
represents the Medo-Persian empire:
"And another beast, a second one, like unto a bear, and it raised 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. 7:5)
Raising itself on one side probably refers to the fact that Cyrus and the Persians were
stronger and more instrumental in gaining power than were the Medes. The three ribs
probably refer to the three areas of Babylon, Persia and Media around which the world
empire gathered. It speedily conquered and control other areas.
Greece
"And after this I beheld, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had on the back of it
four wings of a foul; the beast also had four heads; and dominion was given it." (Dan
7:6)
Alexander the Great, represented by the third beast, swept across the Mediterranean area
around which the empire was centered. By the time he was thirty years old he had gone
even beyond the area of India in his rage to conquer. The four wings may well mean that
he was even more swift than the two wings of the Babylon lion. It's four heads clearly
reflect the four divisions of the kingdom which were given to his generals upon the death
of Alexander at the young age of 33. Chapter eight of Daniel reemphasizes the empire
of Alexander the Great in the prophecy of the Ram and the Goat.
Rome
"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; and it devoured and
brake into pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse
from all the beasts before it; and it had ten horns". (Dan. 7:7)
The fourth beast is the most dreadful and terrible of all the beast before it and describes
the Roman Empire. The reference to the "ten horns" is extremely important to current end-time world events and it represents the Roman Empire in a revised form of ten nations.
This same beast is represented again in Revelation 13:1-10 as the first beast rising out of
the sea (the Antichrist and His kingdom). As we know from history the Roman Empire died
in the early middle ages; however, it will regain it's power in the last days under the
auspices of the Antichrist. This last kingdom will be like unto all the others and the source
of it's power will be the powers of darkness: "And Satan gave him power, and his seat,
and great authority". (rev. 13:2)
Back to Daniel 7:8. It is here that the antichrist is described as the "little horn". The
antichrist and his nation or kingdom will arise out of a ten nation union:
"I considered the horns, and behold, there came up from 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 a man, and a mouth speaking great
things" (Dan 7:8)
We see here that the Antichrist will arise from the 11th nation, or, at least from among the
ten nation confederacy; and, he will subdue three of the original ten, probably in his bid to
gain power.
To further clarify the existence of the ten nation confederacy or union, verses 24-25 reveal
this:
"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another
shall arise after them: and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue
three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most high, and shall wear
out the saint of the most high, and think to change the times and laws and they shall
be given unto his hand for a time and times and the dividing of time (3 ½ years)."
(Dan. 7 :24-25)
The antichrist is spoken of here as the "little horn" and in Revelation, as the beast that will
be slain. He is the same evil entity that has deceived the nations into believing in a false
peace in the Mideast. He is also referred to as the "Willful King", "the Assyrian", "the
Babylonian king", and the "King Of the North".
In Revelation, Chapter 19, God reveals that the ultimate goal of the Antichrist is to oppose the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the Valley of Megeddo. The beast (antichrist) , by this time, has attempted to destroy Israel and gain control over the nations of the world. While all the nations of the world are gathered at Armageddon, preparing to do battle, it appears that the ultimate goal of the antichrist is to oppose God's Son (and thus His Plan) one last time as he turns the military might of the nations toward the invasion of God's army into the affairs of man. He has told us that He will not allow mankind to destroy himself. The armies of God will destroy the antichrist and the false prophet at His appearing.
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 7, verse 23: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth
kingdom on the earth which shall be diverse from the other kingdoms and this
kingdom shall devour the whole earth and shall break into pieces the other
kingdoms." This passage refers to Rome, the fourth world empire. "And the ten horns
out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise". Here the reference is to the ten
nation confederacy, the revived roman empire of the last days. "And another shall arise
out of them and he shall be diverse from the first and shall subdue three kings." The
antichrist will defeat or replace three of these nations. "And he shall speak great words
against the most high and shall wear out the saints and think to change times and
laws."
The movement with in the New World Order is to change the world's nation's into
conforming social democracies such as is already the guiding force in the European
Union. The antichrist will arise out of this group of nations for he will come from within the
boundaries of the old Roman Empire. He is referred to as the "Assyrian" several times in
scripture as well as "the king of the North" (not to be confused with the king of the uttermost
parts of the North which is Russia).
"And he shall wear out the saints of the most high and think to change times and
laws. And they shall be given unto his hand until times and time and the dividing
of time." (Three and one-half years) For the first three and one-half years of the
tribulation antichrist will come to power with the help of the false prophet. At the midpoint
of the tribulation he will turn against the Jewish people and seek to destroy them as a
nation once more. He will also begin the great persecution of the tribulation saints.
But the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and
to destroy it until the end". Who is "they"? They are going to take away his dominion.
"They" refers to the Trinity. Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the father will destroy
this evil kingdom of the antichrist. This will be done at His second Coming.
The End of the Matter
"And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under heaven
will be given over to the saints of the most high" We who are of Christ will be given
positions in God's kingdom that will be established on the earth at the time of His second
Coming extending into the Millennium.
"Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, these cogitations deeply
troubled me. I kept the matter in my heart."
At this point please refer to Chapter Twelve of Daniel. Daniel was receiving this vision
circa 645 B.C. concerning the world's empires to come to the time of the end so he is
troubled as he does not understand these things.
"And I heard but I understood not. Then said I 'O, my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And He said 'Go thy way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away (at the midpoint of the tribulation) and the abomination that maketh desolate be set up (when antichrist claims deity) there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." God is clear that we cannot know the day and hour of his return for His saints (the rapture), however, He gives those who are in the tribulation a precise time as to His Coming to intervene in the affairs of man: Once antichrist sets himself up as God, the remaining time of this age will be precisely 1290 days. The rapture can occur at any moment. It is imminent. His return for His saints is near, yet, we do not know precisely the day it will occur. Those who live in the tribulation who study God's Word can know the approaching hour of Armageddon.
Ram and Goat
Please refer to Chapter 8 of Daniel and the prophesy of The Ram and The Goat. "In the
third year of the reign of King Belshazzer, a vision appeared unto me, even unto me,
Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision; and it
come to pass when I saw that I was in Shushan in the palace, which is the province
of Elam; And I saw in a vision, and I was by the river Ulai (a tributary of the Tigris-Euphrates river). Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before
the river a ram (Persia) which had two horns: and the two horns were high; and one
was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing
westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beast might stand before him,
neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his
will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from
the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground, and the goat
had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns,
which I had seen standing before the river, and ran into him with the fury of his
power. And I saw him come close unto the ram and he was moved with choler
against him, and smote the ram, and brake his horns; and there was no power in the
ram to stand before him, but he cast him to the ground, and stamped upon him; and
there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Therefore the he goat
waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it
came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven." After Alexander the
great died his four generals divided up his empire into four areas: Thrace (Turkey), Egypt,
Syria and Greece. "And out of one of them came forth a little horn (antichrist), which
waxed exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the
pleasant land (Palestine). And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast
down some of the host (saints) and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon
them. (Antichrist will destroy many Christians) Yea, he magnified himself even unto the
prince of the host (this is the true Christ, Jesus) and, by him was the daily sacrifice
taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down . And an host was given
him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth
to the ground; and it practice and prospered. The antichrist, aided by Satan's right
hand man, the false prophet, will deceive many by the works of false miracles and lying
deceit.
Time Element
At this point the angel Gabriel comes to comfort Daniel and to interpret his vision: "And
it come to pass that I, even Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning,
then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man (Jesus Christ), and
I heard a man's voice between the banks of the river Ulai, which called, and said,
'Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision'. So he came near where I stood:
and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me,
Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. This vision then was not to come to pass until the end of this age. Now as he was speaking to me,
I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me
upright. And he said, Behold I will make ye to know what will be in the last end of
the indignation (tribulation): for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram
which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia, and the
rough goat is the king of Grecia, and the great horn that is between his eyes is the
first king (Alexander the Great). Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for
it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nations, but not in his power. And in the
latter times of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of
fierce countenance (antichrist), and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: And he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the
holy people. And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand;
and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace he shall destroy many: he
shall also stand up against the Prince of princes (Jesus Christ); but he shall be
broken without hand. The scriptures reveal that Christ will destroy the antichrist and the
false prophet by the brightness of his coming. And the vision of the evening and the
morning which was told is true."
The world's empires are revealed in Chapters 2 and Chapter 7 of Daniel. In the great
visions of Daniel, a complete panorama of events is made clear as to the nations that
would hold dominion over the world in this age. Following Greece the scriptures reveal that
Rome would then dominate the known world. The Roman empire would then be followed
by a period of decline (the church age) after which itwouldl be revived in the last days. This
is the final empire of man, his last attempt at world government. The Roman empire is
today rapidly assuming the role that it will again have for a short time prior to His Coming
again. The European Union is that final empire in the making, a rapid revival of it's former
strength. It is becoming again a united empire politically and economically. The nations
of Europe will be given the added strength of the false prophet that sits upon the
seven hills of Rome. This spiritual unity is described in Revelation and will be the result
of the false prophet who will give his power and authority to the antichrist in the form of the
one world church and false religious system. (Refer to message #10 "Mystery Babylon,
The Mother of Harlots")
In 2 Thessolonians 2:8-12 speaking of the antichrist "And then shall that wicked one
(The antichrist) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, even Him whose coming
is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with
all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not
the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God shall send
them strong delusion that they should believe the lie." The same lie that
Nebuchadnezzar fell to. The same lie that has permeated the world's societies since the
fall of man in the garden, the same lie that today the world falls victim to in it's attempts to
solve the problems of the world through man's own efforts apart from God- this is the lie
of humanism. (Refer to message #10 "A New World Order in a New Age")
In conclusion, the God of the universe, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ have control
over the affairs of this world. God's plan will be carried out surely and meticulously as His
Plan unfolds. He has told us that nothing shall come to pass except it be revealed by the
prophets first. He has revealed to those who will listen... His plan for the rise and fall of the
great empires of the world culminating with the Kingdom of God. We should be wise to
believe all that he reveals so that we do well to prepare our own lives to become a part of
His glorious kingdom. We can have the power to do that by accepting his provision for
understanding and for coming into His presence: the incredible extent of His grace as
made manifest in His Son Jesus Christ. Accept Him today and become a part of the
Kingdom of God.