TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY
Lesson 7: A recap of the historical arrival of the third of the four
beasts in Daniel's vision, and the first signs to look for
in the fourth beast's rise to power.
I The Leopard-Fowl beast.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard,
which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the
beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it
(Dan. 7:6).
A The leopard-fowl beast represents the Arab League that
was founded in 1945 by Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon,
Syria, Transjordan, Yemen, and Egypt.
B The League promotes Arab interests in trade, culture, and
education.
C The League's most binding force has been its hatred of
Israel over the problem of a Palestinian homeland and
control of the Moslem holy city of Jerusalem.
D God chose the leopard to represent the Arab League body
of nations because the leopard was Egypt's ancient
symbol of authority and because the League selected
Egypt's capital as its central headquarters.
E The "four wings of a fowl" represent the displaced
Palestinian nation whose people have come to rest as a
burden "upon the back" of the four Arab League
confrontation states bordering Israel (Egypt, Jordan,
Syria and Lebanon), in the aftermath of the various
Arab-Israeli wars.
F The world's "Big Four" dominant powers (the U.S., Russia,
Britain, and France) properly fulfilled the leadership role
of the Arab League leopard beast after World II.
G "And dominion was given to it" refers to the
unprecedented act of Britain and France creating several
independent Arab states after World War I.
H The establishment of the Arab League helped to promote
the rise of resurgent Islamic Fundamentalism, the third
wind of change.
I How do we know the Arab power structure will not destroy
Israel or make any changes of international note before
the fourth beast arrives on the scene?
- The leopard imagery reveals a complete absence of
action compared to the eagle's wings being plucked
from the lion and the bear raising itself up on one
side and arising to devour much flesh.
II The Fourth beast.
7 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: it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of
it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before
it; and it had ten horns (Dan. 7:7).
A The fourth beast represents a powerful world government
that will rule over the nations.
B "Great iron teeth" represent rigid laws and oppressive
enforcement of those laws.
C "It devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the
residue with the feet of it" describes the world
government's ruthless rule and its total disregard for
the rights and lives of the common man.
D "And it was diverse from all the beasts that were before
it" declares that the coming world government will not
be a replica of any previously established form of
government.
E Note here that Daniel followed his general introduction
of the Fourth Beast with a description of the first thing
to look for in its formation, "and it had ten horns" that
"are ten kings" (Dan. 7:24).
1 Thus, the ten horns represent an international body of
ten powerful nations that would have power over all
nations for the first time in history.
2 What facts support the position that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) fulfills the prophesied role of
the ten horns?
a The IMF was established in 1944 for the purpose of
keeping order in the international monetary system.
b The 182-nation IMF's inner circle of finance
ministers from the world's ten wealthiest
industrial powers-the Group of Ten (G-10)-make
almost all of the world's important monetary
decisions.
c The G-10 nations are Belgium, the Netherlands,
France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Canada,
Japan, Sweden, and the United States.
d The IMF has vast international economic authority
(no foreign country can get a cent without an
extended agreement with it).
e In the early '90s the IMF added many East Block nations
to its membership, including Russia.
f The IMF is not a regional economic institution like the
European Economic Community, but an all-encompassing
financial organization with global clout.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up 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 man, and a mouth
speaking great things (Dan. 7:8).
A The other "little horn" that "came up among them"
predicts the rise of an eleventh power to a position of
prominence as the second thing to look for in the
formation of the Fourth Beast.
B "Before whom there were three of the first horns plucked
up by the roots" describes the eleventh power's decisive
reorganization of the ten nation group.
C The IMF's policy of those who pay more have more power,
lends itself to a decisive future reorganization.
D "In this horn were eyes like the eyes of man" shows
that the eleventh power will have a leader who will
engineer its rise to prominence by promising "great
things" to a gullible world.
E What facts support the position that the European
Economic Community (EEC) [often referred to as the Common
Market or European Union], fulfills the prophesied role of
the "little horn?"
1 Since the Common Market's founding in 1957, its
proponents have promised the Europeans "great things"
through the removal of all barriers to the free
movement of goods, services, and capital among EEC
member states and through the eventual establishment
of political unity through the creation of a United
States of Europe.
2 The 15 EEC nations' goal is to become a single market
of 340 million consumers, nearly equal to the combined
populations of the U.S. and Japan, in the near future.
3 Thus, even though the original six EEC nations started
out as a "little [economic] horn" in 1957, they have
the potential to grow into the most lucrative trading
block in the world.
E What is wrong with the popular position that the Common
Market fulfills the prophecies concerning the ten horns?
1 The EEC is composed of fifteen nations, not ten, and it
is seriously considering adding ten to fifteen more
European nations.
2 The EEC is a regional economic trading block.
3 Unlike the EEC, the IMF has a global membership and
global economic authority.
4 Under the IMF charter, the member governments have
agreed on broad lines of international policy--for the
first time in history.
- Creation of the IMF with its vast international
authority, is precedent setting, which is in keeping
with the biblical portrait of this powerful
ten-horned organization.
F Since Daniel stated that each of the ten horns represent a
country, is it inconsistent to take the position that the
"little horn" represents the fifteen nation European Union?
1 No, the EEC's initial stated objective was to work
toward the political unification of the European
countries into a single nation, the United States of
Europe.
2 Note further that the establishment of the EEC in 1957
(13 years after the creation of the IMF in 1944),
follows the order of the first two things to look for
in the formation of the Fourth Beast.
3 In summary, if the EEC can be made to fit the imagery
of the ten horns then the creation of the IMF-the
most powerful international financial institution ever
assembled in the history of the world-must somehow be
dismissed as irrelevant.
III The judgment of the four beasts.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient
of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the
hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like
the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set,
and the books were opened (Dan. 7:9-10).
- God will overthrow all of man's power structures when He
returns to judge those who oppose His just plan for the
human race.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words
which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was
slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning
flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their
dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a
season and time (Dan. 7:11-12).
A The fourth power structure will be completely destroyed.
B The first three beasts will be permitted to continue to
exist for some period of time but God will not allow
them to govern themselves.
C (According to verse 12 the popular report that the United
States is the harlot Babylon of Bible prophecy, which will
be utterly destroyed by fire, is false.)
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the
Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a
kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should
serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not
be destroyed (Dan. 7:13-14).
- Directly following the destruction of the Fourth Beast,
the "Son of man," Jesus Christ, will establish His reign
of peace on the earth.
IV Daniel's prophetic question answered.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my
body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked
him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know
the interpretation of the things (Dan. 7:15-16).
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings,
which shall arise out of the earth (Dan. 7:17).
A The answer Daniel received provides two keys to the
interpretation of the vision:
1 Each beast represents a king or power structure.
2 The words "shall arise" places these power structures
in the distant future to Daniel's day (555 B.C.).
B The Babylon of Daniel's day, therefore, could not be one
of the four beasts since Daniel stated at the beginning
of the vision that the last king to rule Babylon,
Belshazzar, was on the throne.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom,
and posess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever
(Dan. 7:18).
- The last part of the answer Daniel received to his
question stated that these four kingdoms will be removed
from power, and then God, "the most High," shall set up
an everlasting kingdom for His earthly followers.
V Dan. 7:19-27 provides further insight into the Fourth
Beast's arrival on the world scene and its reign of terror.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which
was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose
teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured,
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the
other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of
that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great
things, whose look was more stout than his fellows
(Dan. 7:19-20).
- The Fourth Beast's "nails of brass" are a picture of
space-based electronic surveillance satellite systems
that will be used by the Fourth Beast to get a better
grip on the common man.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints,
and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given
to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the
saints possessed the kingdom (Dan. 7:21-22).
- The leader of the power represented by the little horn
will make war against Christ's followers, "the saints,"
until God intervenes and destroys the Fourth Beast.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth
kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all
kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread
it down, and break it in pieces (Dan. 7:23).
- The Fourth Beast will both control and ruin the entire
world.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that
shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he
shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three
kings (Dan. 7:24).
- By definition the ten horns are ten kings or countries
that will become the most powerful component of the
fourth kingdom.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think
to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his
hand until a time and times and the dividing of time
(Dan. 7:25).
A Upon gaining control over the nations, the leader of the
world government will "speak great words against" God,
and will launch an all-out war against the world's
Christians.
B The world government will enact new laws designed to
put "teeth" of "iron" into the campaign to destroy the
world's Christians.
C The world government will also "change times," which may
see fulfillment in the establishment of a new calendar
that would not be based on the birth of Jesus Christ.
D "Given into his hand," implies that tomorrow's world
dictator will receive his authority by popular demand.
E The book of Revelation defines "a time and times and the
dividing of time" as three-and-one-half years.
F The fourth wind of revolutionary change-the lofty idea
of world unity-will help the politician with the "mouth
speaking great things" gain control of tomorrow's world
government.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the
kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the
people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey
him (Dan. 7:26-27).
A In the end the world government will fall. God will
then give His people a part in His everlasting kingdom.
B What is the fundamental reason for the prophesied fall
of Man's last four systems of government?
- The failure of leaders and followers alike to obey
God's command to "love their neighbors as themselves."
VI The end of the matter.
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my
cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in
me: but I kept the matter in my heart (Dan. 7:28).
A What fundamental feature of the Babylonian, Persian, and
Greek empires, categorically removes these three ancient
kingdoms as possible candidates to represent the first
three beasts?
1 They had identical monarchial governments.
2 Thus, they were not "diverse one from another," as
required by the prophecy.
B Why was Daniel unable to understand the prophecy?
1 The correct interpretation waited for the future, and
for the radically diverse ideologies of democratic
capitalism, socialistic communism, resurgent Islamic
fundamentalism, and world unity to appear on the earth.
2 Also, according to Dan. 12:4, the words were "shut up"
and the book was sealed, "even to the time of the end."