Brief Interpretation of the Beasts of Daniel and Revelation and End Times

[Ben D]

I am a new member but have spent much of my life time trying to understand the prophecy of Daniel and Revelation. Naturally as times and events move on, many times my expectations have failed to be compatible with the facts and have needed to go back and pray for further guidance. I feel at this time, my interpretation that follows is definitely on the right track, though of course it is my present understanding and when and if facts present themselves that are inconsistent with the gist of my interpretation, I am always prepared to correct the error.

So it is in that spirit that I post this and I will do my best to respond to any questions that arise from members on it. It is a brief outline at this stage, and I hope that because of a discussion, more detail of the defining and aligning of the Daniel Beasts and the Revelation Beasts will result.

So here is my best present attempt to interpret the meaning of the four beasts of Daniel 7, and later make the connection with the Beasts of Revelation which represent the same earthly powers of history

Now a warning,..many of you may find it hard to consider the western imperial world powers, USA and Europe as conducting themselves in a way that is in opposition to the way God would deem appropriate, but keep an open mind and you may 'see' it really is the Beast?

And the big surprise for the reader is when the mystery of who and what is the earthly powers referred to in Daniel 11:45 reveals itself.

The first beast is Babylon (now Iraq)

The second beast is Persia (now Iran)

The third beast with four heads is Greece, Egypt, Assyria (now Syria, Lebanon), and Rome (now Italy)

The fourth beast with a head of ten horns is present day western Europe (the ten horns are ten prime nations that make it up, England, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria).

Now consider in Daniel 7:8 “I considered the (ten) 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.”

Now prior to becoming a single nation, the present land that now constitutes the mainland US states once belonged to three of the horns of the fourth beast, Spain, France and England. As we know from history, the three big horns were sent packing, and the little horn went on to dominate them. After the second world war the little horn became leader (militarily) of all of western Europe....until now! The little horn is the USA.

Now these four phases of history of the beasts of Daniel that lead up to the present time are described using different metaphors in other chapters, so for example, the last 'kingdom' of the beast with ten horns led by the the little horn is the kingdom of iron mixed with miry clay of Chapter two, and the King of the North of Chapter 11, etc.. And again, a different metaphor is used in Book of Revelations for the last beast, it is the seventh head, that did not yet exist at that time of John, of a seven headed beast, and the little horn of Daniel is described in Revelation as a beast having two little horns (two party US democracy - Reps. and Dems.) like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon..,the USA. Also note, the 'image' of the USA democratic government system has been forced on many of the states it has conquered and has persuaded others to adopt uses aspects of governmental rule created by two of the heads of the third beast of Daniel (ancient Greek Democracy, and Roman Senate).

The last point of interest for now is the end of Daniel Chapter 11 (Verse 45), because that fulfils the prophecy of Daniel and it is here that the last Beast will 'run out of time' coincident with the events described in Chapter 12. Now that which is set up between Jerusalem and the sea is the Zionist state of Israel. It was set up by the Beast/King of the North through the United Nations in 1948. One of the horns of the Beast (Britain) had already ruled the area as a mandate from the League of Nations and now stood aside to allow the Beast/King of the North to take possession/

Perhaps it is soon to be no more along with the Beast whose creation it is?

Thanks be to God and Christ for the coming Judgement.

I might add, that I personally think the situation in Syria as we speak could well develop to be the trigger for something of Daniel/Revelation prophetic end time proportions.

[Duncanmc]

The "little horn" is America? I thought the "little horn" was another name for the antichrist? Could you explain that a little better?

[Ben D]

The "little horn" is America? I thought the "little horn" was another name for the antichrist? Could you explain that a little better?

There is no term 'antichrist' in Daniel or in Revelations.

The little horn of Daniel is one and the same as the beast that had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon of Revelation 13:11.

'Horns' in prophecy represent ruling powers, so the descriptive 'little' represents its beginning was from ground zero and it grew in power to overthrow three of the established rulers of the ten horned (10 ruling powers) last Beast of Daniel, ie. England, France, and Spain, to become the most powerful ruler of them all.

In Revelations, the same entity is described as having two little horns. This describes the two party Democratic system of America with the Democrat and the Republican being the two horns. And note...both these terms Democrat and Republican are derived from the political philosophy of one of the heads of the four headed Beast of Daniel of the past, ie. the Greek.

The term 'Antichrist' comes up in the letters of John, but I won't add to the conjecture concerning it except to say the context in John's letters seem to indicate that it represented a person and or people as it is used in the plural also, and that these type of people already existed at that time. See 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, and 2 John 1:7.

[Elijah's Mantle]

That is interesting Ben D

most the Muslim world calls America the great Satan
along with Israel , we are considered the next

In Daniel 7 I always read it as the breakup of the old former soviet union as being the beginning of the fulfillment (when it begins its last formation) which we may not see it fully formed as of yet

most believe the little horn is the A/C

this other beast in Revelations 13 that comes up out of the earth
(((False Prophet ))) will be a man . His power comes directly from Satan not just through the A/C

why would that be important to distinguish between ?

[mattfivefour]

There is no term 'antichrist' in Daniel or in Revelations.

Respectfully, there is no term 'trinity' or 'rapture' in the Bible, either. but they are there nonetheless. The Antichrist is definitely pictured in Revelation (especially 13). He is in imitation of Christ ... as is indicated by his two horns (εἶχεν κέρατα δύο ὅμοια ἀρνίῳ ... "it possessed two horns, similar in appearance to a lamb"); but he is of Satan ... as is indicated by what he says (ἐλάλει ὡς δράκων. ... "it was continually speaking as a dragon".)

Further, to limit the current state of Israel to a "Zionist state ... set up by the Beast/King of the North through the United Nations" is to discount God's promise of the recreation of the nation Israel and the calling home of the scattered tribes as well as to totally discount the prophetic word of Isaiah 66:8. Further, it ignores that the alignment of nations and the world situation now is identical to that prophesied at the time.

I am a little concerned that you say "I ... have spent much of my life time trying to understand the prophecy of Daniel and Revelation", because that sounds as though you have been pulling them out of the full context of God's Word and studying them in isolation from the rest of prophecy. We cannot do that. The greatest danger for prophecy watchers is eisegesis ... bringing their own ideas and conceptions to the Word rather than allowing the Word to speak its ideas. Respectfully, I believe that statements such as "In Revelations, the same entity is described as having two little horns. This describes the two party Democratic system of America with the Democrat and the Republican being the two horns" are eisegetical. This always results from incomplete and improper exegesis. For example, in this very statement you mention the entity of Revelation 13 "as having two little horns". Nowhere in the text does the word "little" appear. The Greek is simply κέρατα δύο (two horns). Secondly you have removed the important second half of that clause, the adverbial phrase "like a lamb" that is part and parcel of the "entity", as you call it, having two horns. The plain meaning of the Greek is that the creature appeared as Christ but was actually of Satan. To instead shape this to refer to America is, as I said, eisegetical. It also removes a key characteristic from the Antichrist who indeed exists in Revelation.

(BTW, perhaps part of the problem is that you refer to the book as "Revelations" when it is simply Revelation. It is not a succession of revelations about anything, it is simply Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ --"The revelation of Jesus Christ"-- which God gave to Him to show unto His servants to reveal to them what must take place in its proper time. Revelation is one huge sweep from before Creation through God's history of man all the way to the re-creation of heaven and earth. It concludes with God after the entire arc of time since Creation saying what He has never said before: Γέγοναν! -- "It is done!" (Revelation 21:6a) Everything following that is either an expansion of the words that come before it, an exhortation to faithfulness and obedience, or a warning not to altar the meaning of the words of this revelation.

[dave-o]

Ben D,

I have to agree with Mattfivefour, you lost me with the 2 horns representing political parties. IMHO, it just doesn't fit very well at all considering the context.

As for the Antichrist...

Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

This is the first prophecy in the Bible and it identifies the conflict (finalized in the Revelation) as between 2 'seeds' or beings, not governments. Like Mattfivefour said, you have to consider ALL of prophecy.

(BTW, thanks for sharing anyway. There's nothing wrong with trying to figure things out and searching for new things. Just be careful that you don't become prideful in confidence that you've discovered something new or become angry if others disagree. Both are warning signs that you might be on the wrong track.)

[Elijah's Mantle]

very good point Brother Matt

when we read the prophecies Daniel and Revelations we do need to distinguish the Powers regarding the A/C and the false Prophet .

[Elijah's Mantle]

Further, to limit the current state of Israel to a "Zionist state ... set up by the Beast/King of the North through the United Nations" is to discount God's promise of the recreation of the nation Israel and the calling home of the scattered tribes as well as to totally discount the prophetic word of Isaiah 66:8. Further, it ignores that the alignment of nations and the world situation now is identical to that prophesied at the time.

right on Brother Matt

I know most consider the ""Birth Pangs" respecting the world yet do not ever realize in many of the prophetical words of those before such as Isaiah the term ""BIRTH PANGS" is directly speaking specifically of Israel .These Birth pangs are specifically referenced in these passages also Daniel 12 it is found in Zechariah 12 and also in Matthew 24:8and also OOH Revelations 12

we must distinguish the ones in which these Birth pangs are speaking of just as we have to distinguish the A/C from the false prophet otherwise we get bogged down in the quagmire of it all tossed together like a tossed salad and we loose sight of the purpose of tribulation , Tribulation serves a purpose and to loose the purpose is to loose the meaning

[Elijah's Mantle]

If you carefully read those above passages of Isaiah such as verse 5 when he writes ""Hear the word of the Lord" that is very specific to the church which is more or less saying do not hear the reports or the word of man but hear the word of the Lord which would be the poor and contrite of spirit because the prideful never tremble at God's word but they substitute their own word and this has been the case because otherwise Israel and the Jew itself would have never had to become cast outs receiving a informal type of excommunication pro to say by a apostate church that persecuted her ,which we do not have to look far to find such replacement theology and the sort God himself will vindicate Israel's trust in him it is all in part of why tribulations must happen . This is pretty well confirmed if you read on and read the ""Noise from the city"" and the """Voice from the Temple"""
Israel and the man child is important to understand from what is promised declared and written in Isaiah Read verse 9 of Isaiah when he wrote the uestion ask ?

""shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb"" ?
so what he is stating is no matter how things appear Israel will be brought back but note that one thing has nothing to do with the other the birth spoken about has nothing to do with the man child the two are seperate incidents and most never read or get that from Isaiah but read on carefully it is there Big as daylight its there

[Elijah's Mantle]

There is something of great importance regarding Israel spoken about also by Jeremiah and is confirmed in Daniel and aforementioned from Isaiah , interestingly confirmed

Just as the church did not birth Jesus

If you can bear that one truth in mind and read through what the prophets had to say when you get to revelations and Daniel it wont be so confusing , most sidestep it altogether and miss the purpose intended by God for having a tribulation and thus it appears poor Israel is just getting the worst of it without purpose . One of the biggest reasons for the tribulation is to break the will of the nation

The second passage is Isaiah 28:14–22. In verse 14, God calls the ones making this covenant scoffers. He considers them mockers rather than serious leaders. Verse 15 gives the reason for this and provides God’s viewpoint of the covenant itself. It is obvious that the leaders of Israel will enter into this covenant to obtain some measure of security and to escape the overflowing scourge.7

Hence they will believe that entering the covenant will
free them from further military invasions. However, God declares that this is not a covenant of life, but a covenant of death. It is not a covenant of heaven, but a covenant of hell. Rather than gaining security, they will gain a strong measure of insecurity. Verse 16 speaks of the Remnant who refuse to enter into the covenant.
Verses 17–22 describe the results of the making and the breaking of the covenant. Verses 21–22 emphasize God’s wrath as the key result. This passage gives two of the Old Testament names for the Tribulation Jehovah’s strange work and Jehovah’s strange act.

These two unusual names arise from the latter phrase in verse 22:
. . . for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord,

Read on going to Jeremiah as well to gather about this Decree
you will begin to realize something being said over and over about Just as the ""church" did not birth Jesus
neither can the world Church birth Israel
or bring her through Tribulations .

Then you gain a perspective of it from purpose intended by God and his point of view of Respecting """HIS"" this is something of great significance the world and church has been blind to

I dont see that blindness as just a Israel probllem when it gets into the
purposes

God knows very well what he does and why he has to
that gets real clear

[WKUHilltopper]

Respectfully, there is no term 'trinity' or 'rapture' in the Bible, either.

Nor is the world "Bible" in the Bible. Sorry, just popping off from the peanut gallery!

[Elijah's Mantle]

Trying to tie these scriptures together from the ones who wrote of the great tribulation referring to Ezekiel Zechariah and Joel
there you will find in those passages that Israel has to have a great cleansing from ""False prophets"" and so when you read revelations you get a real sense of why ? God said it over and over and over again

you can be assured of one thing what ever is birthed from the world or evin the world church it will be apostate

now we can know how come it is such horrendous cleansing has to happen read Zechariah 13 but it would be good to begin before 13 because in actually before 12 it begins the ""burden of the word"" OF THE LORD extreme significant about Israel the siege and Jerusalem

Think of the first BURDEN back in 9:1
lays the foundation actually has 3 Hebrew words both present and future and confirms some other passages
God made and maintains all things col 1:16
thus you have the sustainer who fulfills all of his promises

Now in 13 it gets real clear what is being said when it is written
""In that day" and that day will be most precious to God for a many reasons yet a great cleansing has to happen and there will be a fountain opened to the house of David
you know satan tried to corrupt the bloodline Jesus would come from well so it is with what he tries to do with Israel
read and count you will find the term ""In that day""" .......It occurs 18 times ......... so we have God making great significance to something for a reason
The importance is this fountain was first opened at Calvary
any wondering now how come God made certain it got mentioned 18 times

Then you have the decree made and mentioned regarding the false prophet
when read revelations you can distinguish one from the other

[Elijah's Mantle]

If you read it carefully tou will see when the crucified Messiah is revealed and go back and read through those 18 times and read when the question was ask ""what are these wounds in your hands" and the answer was "" Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends"' .......then think of how God's true prophets were treated most of them were killed
all while the false flourished on .

There comes a moment of recognition its read in 12 , """And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced"" and they shall mourn for him and there you read what opens the fountain great mourning yet this is precious precious time to God and reasonably so

[Elijah's Mantle]

well the lord God makes it real clear
how come it is important to distinguish some things
I like it a whole lot God Bless You real BIG I found a great fountain lets us know we must be purified yes it makes sense

[Chris]

Ben,
You might want to read these articles that will give you an over view of Daniel. They have been quite helpful to me.

The End Times According To Daniel … Part One, Chapters 2 and 7 | GraceThruFaith

The End Times According To Daniel … Part Two, Chapters 8 And 9 | GraceThruFaith

The End Times According To Daniel … Part Three, Chapters 10-12 | GraceThruFaith

You can also read about the beasts of Revelation at this link on our main site:

http://www.raptureforums.com/Revelation/index.cfm

[Ben D]

Respectfully, there is no term 'trinity' or 'rapture' in the Bible, either. but they are there nonetheless. The Antichrist is definitely pictured in Revelation (especially 13). He is in imitation of Christ ... as is indicated by his two horns (εἶχεν κέρατα δύο ὅμοια ἀρνίῳ ... "it possessed two horns, similar in appearance to a lamb"); but he is of Satan ... as is indicated by what he says (ἐλάλει ὡς δράκων. ... "it was continually speaking as a dragon".)

This is conjecture imho, please read the actual references in the letters of John I that gave above for the only context that literally exists of the term 'Antichrist' in the bible.

Further, to limit the current state of Israel to a "Zionist state ... set up by the Beast/King of the North through the United Nations" is to discount God's promise of the recreation of the nation Israel and the calling home of the scattered tribes as well as to totally discount the prophetic word of Isaiah 66:8. Further, it ignores that the alignment of nations and the world situation now is identical to that prophesied at the time.

Ahh so, but the time of the promise hasn't arrived yet, Zionism has a secular basis to it, Judaism on the other hand believe the Messiah must first appear...

WHY IS WORLD JEWRY OPPOSED TO THE ZIONIST STATE

ZIONISTS DO NOT REPRESENT JEWS

I am a little concerned that you say "I ... have spent much of my life time trying to understand the prophecy of Daniel and Revelation", because that sounds as though you have been pulling them out of the full context of God's Word and studying them in isolation from the rest of prophecy. We cannot do that. The greatest danger for prophecy watchers is eisegesis ... bringing their own ideas and conceptions to the Word rather than allowing the Word to speak its ideas. Respectfully, I believe that statements such as "In Revelations, the same entity is described as having two little horns. This describes the two party Democratic system of America with the Democrat and the Republican being the two horns" are eisegetical. This always results from incomplete and improper exegesis. For example, in this very statement you mention the entity of Revelation 13 "as having two little horns". Nowhere in the text does the word "little" appear. The Greek is simply κέρατα δύο (two horns). Secondly you have removed the important second half of that clause, the adverbial phrase "like a lamb" that is part and parcel of the "entity", as you call it, having two horns. The plain meaning of the Greek is that the creature appeared as Christ but was actually of Satan. To instead shape this to refer to America is, as I said, eisegetical. It also removes a key characteristic from the Antichrist who indeed exists in Revelation.

I accept your points, but I did admit to praying to God for guidance so I do understand that if any true understanding comes one's way, it is through grace, rather than personal effort. On the point of my use of the term 'little' in reference to the horns of the second beast, yes I should say that my use of that term came to my mind as a result of them being like that of a Lamb, rather than that of the fully drown adult,..forgive me.

(BTW, perhaps part of the problem is that you refer to the book as "Revelations" when it is simply Revelation. It is not a succession of revelations about anything, it is simply

Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ --"The revelation of Jesus Christ"-- which God gave to Him to show unto His servants to reveal to them what must take place in its proper time. Revelation is one huge sweep from before Creation through God's history of man all the way to the re-creation of heaven and earth. It concludes with God after the entire arc of time since Creation saying what He has never said before: Γέγοναν! -- "It is done!" (Revelation 21:6a) Everything following that is either an expansion of the words that come before it, an exhortation to faithfulness and obedience, or a warning not to altar the meaning of the words of this revelation.'

Don't read too much into it,...however I do thank you, and in compliance with your admonition, I will hopefully remember never to put an 's' on the end of it again.

[Ben D]

Ben D,

I have to agree with Mattfivefour, you lost me with the 2 horns representing political parties. IMHO, it just doesn't fit very well at all considering the context.

As I said earlier, it it is generally considered a given that 'horns' represent ruling powers or subdivisions thereof. For example...

Prophecy Symbols:
Beasts – Kings/kingdoms (political powers). Daniel 7:17, 23
Horns/heads – Subdivisions of political powers. Daniel 7:24, 8:21-22
Wings – Speed or swiftness.
Winds – War/Strife. Jeremiah 49:35-37
Sea – Multitudes of people. Revelation 17:1, 15

As for the Antichrist...

Gen 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

This is the first prophecy in the Bible and it identifies the conflict (finalized in the Revelation) as between 2 'seeds' or beings, not governments. Like Mattfivefour said, you have to consider ALL of prophecy.

(BTW, thanks for sharing anyway. There's nothing wrong with trying to figure things out and searching for new things. Just be careful that you don't become prideful in confidence that you've discovered something new or become angry if others disagree. Both are warning signs that you might be on the wrong track.)

Thanks dave-o, but to keep the discussion focused on the salient points I was making in this brief interpretation, I don't want at this time get into the larger conjecture concerning aspects that do not literally appear in Daniel or Revelation.

[Chris]

...

[Ben D]

Ben,
You might want to read these articles that will give you an over view of Daniel. They have been quite helpful to me.

The End Times According To Daniel … Part One, Chapters 2 and 7 | GraceThruFaith

The End Times According To Daniel … Part Two, Chapters 8 And 9 | GraceThruFaith

The End Times According To Daniel … Part Three, Chapters 10-12 | GraceThruFaith

You can also read about the beasts of Revelation at this link on our main site:

The Book of Revelation - Revelation Bible Prophecy

Thanks Chris, I will avail myself of these resources.

[Twinklingofaneye]

Hello Ben and welcome!