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THE PROPHET DANIEL
We trust to the concluding words of Daniel 2:28, “The great God has revealed to the king (Nebuchadnezzar) what will occur in the future. And the dream is true, and the interpretation of it is reliable.” The same is said of those prophecies in Revelation: “These words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5; 22:6)
We may summarize the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation in this prophetic synopsis of history. Four world empires will dominate the earth from Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. During the Roman empire a king of God’s own choosing, a Son of Humankind, will ascend to heaven to receive his kingdom. The contemporary powers of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome will be judged by the Most High and His Son. While Rome will be slain the other three will have their political lives extended. Rome will fragment into two and then into ten as its former empire is “killed.” These Ten Powers develop into the European Papal States. Later an eleventh and seemingly small or insignificant power will rise in the American colonies, the United States. This Small Power will humiliate and cause to fall those three powers which owned North America: England, France, and Spain.
The Small (American) Power – different from the European monarchies by being a democratic republic – grows in power but at some point appears to be slain. There is a miraculous revival which causes all the earth to follow the beast for non can battle with it. A Great Oppression of three and a half years is launched by the revived Eighth Head to cause the Saints to become obsolete. In this process to destroy religion other than worship of the State, the Ten (European) Powers confederate into one kingdom and share their power with the Sea Beast (revived America). The Sea Beast uses as its instrument or spokesman the Earth Beast. The Earth Beast creates an idol which can speak as well as execute those who refuse to accept the imprint of a name in order to buy or sell.
At the critical moment near the end of the three and a half years of Great Oppression the King comes in his Parousia and delivers the living, surviving Saints by a rapture into the atmosphere. While a heavenly wedding feast takes place among the Lamb and his Bride, God motivates the Ten (European) Powers to destroy Babylon the Great, Harlot-Religion. As that Great City burns and goes up in smoke, the Lamb comes with his Bride to fight the Sea Beast, False Prophet, and kings of the earth. Victory leads to their destruction and the abyssing of Satan the Devil. Then begins a Thousand Year reign of the Lamb with his glorified Church.
We are moved by these prophecies in Daniel and Revelation to call out: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
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Nazarene Commentary 2000© Mark Heber Miller ©2000 All Rights Reserved |
