|
2. Daniel's Visions |
||
|
|
The Great Image - As seen from Man's point of view, glory and prestige. King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that deeply troubles him but cannot remember the dream. He insist that all the wise men of his kingdom tell him what he dreamed and the interpretation of it. After all the wise men and counselors fail, God reveals to Daniel the dream and the interpretation of it. The dream is about a great image (statue) consisting of different metals. Daniel tells the king the vision Daniel 2:31-34 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.
The interpretation Daniel 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The different parts of the statue represented the last four great empires that would have a direct effect on Israel. The time period for these last empires would span a time gap from Daniel's time even to this present time. Head of gold - the Babylonian empire 606 - 536 B.C. Chest and arm of silver - the Persian empire, who conquered the Babylonians. 536 - 330 B.C. Belly and thighs of brass - the Grecian empire, who defeated the Persians 330 - 30 B.C. Legs of Iron - Roman empire, who defeated the Grecian (Greek) 30 B.C.- Feet and toes part iron and clay - the revised Roman empire that will come to power in the last days. (during 7 year tribulation period) The great stone is Jesus Christ who will set up His everlasting kingdom
and crush all the others when He returns. The four ravaging animals - as seen from God's point of view, ravaging animals. The interpretation Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which
are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
A. The Lion - Daniel
7:4, 17 Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) 606 - 536 B.C. E. The ten horns/ten toes - Daniel 7:8 The Revised Roman Empire (Anti-Christ) Future The main empire that has to do with the events of the end time is the Roman empire. The Roman empire cease to be in around 500AD, but in the days of the 7 year tribulation it will be revived. It may not be called the Roman empire, some already believe that it is the European Union. It remains to be seen. The ten horns and ten toes are the same and represent 10 core nations of the old Roman empire. From these 10 horns (nations) a little horn (antichrist-man of sin) shall arise and gain controlling power over three. At some point in that time frame he will negotiate a covenant (peace treaty with Israel) and they will be able to rebuild their long awaited temple. The signing of this deal will be the start of the 7 year tribulation period, called the time of Jacob's trouble. At the middle of the agreement the antichrist breaks his pact with Israel. He claims to be God and demands worship. The Jews reject him and thus begins his persecution of them. More will be said of the antichrist etc. in the section of the 7 year tribulation. The 70 weeks Daniel 9:24-26 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon
thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and
prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. For the purpose
The 70 weeks is weeks of years. 7 weeks (49 years) until the rebuilding of
Jerusalem, walls, temple This totals 483 years leaving 7 years (1 week) left
unfulfilled. This 7 years will be fulfilled
|