Comparing Daniel 2, 7, & Revelation 13
We
cannot correctly interpret the Book of Revelation until we understand the Book
of Daniel. Daniel 2 & 7, along with
Revelation 13, are talking about 4 Kingdoms that have ruled the world (Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) and a future Roman or European empire that will
have 10 kings.
Daniel
looks into the future and lists the kingdoms as they would
arise--Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
The Apostle John, in the Revelation 13, reverses the order (Rome,
Greece, Medo-Persia, Babylon) because he is looking backward on the
kingdoms.
Daniel 2
|
Daniel 7
|
Revelation 13:1-2
|
605 B.C.-538 B.C.
Gold - Nebuchadnezzer's
Babylon
|
1st Beast
LION with wings of an
eagle
Babylon
|
LION
|
538 B.C.-331 B.C.
Silver - Dual Empire of the
Medes and Persians
|
2nd Beast
BEAR raised up on one side
Medes and Persians
|
BEAR
|
331 B.C.-146 B.C.
Bronze
Greece
|
3rd Beast
LEOPARD, 4 wings & 4
heads
Greece
|
LEOPARD
|
146 B.C.-500 A. D.
Iron
Rome
|
4th Beast
BEAST with iron teeth
Rome
|
BEAST
|
Gap in time of many
centuries
|
Gap in time of many
centuries
|
Gap in time of many
centuries
|
Iron and Clay
10 toes (2:42)
Future Revived
Roman Empire
“Stone cut without hands”
is Jesus.
Strikes feet at His 2nd
coming
|
10 horns (7:7)
Future Revived
Roman Empire
"Little horn" is
the Antichrist (7:8)
"Son of Man" is
Jesus (7:13)
|
10 horns
|
When
the apostle John mentions the lion, leopard, bear, beast, and 10 horns (written
in 96 A.D.), he is telling the reader to refer back to Daniel’s prophecies
(written in 537 B.C.). John is saying,
"What I am talking about in the book of Revelation is the same thing
Daniel talked about in his book. Daniel
told you about future kingdoms that would rule the world, and now I’m going to
explain some more about that last kingdom—the one with the 10 horns."
John
uses some of the same phrases as Daniel.
John uses "time, times, and half a time" (Rev. 12:14),
just like Daniel (Dan. 7:25, 12:7). This term refers to 3½ years (compare Rev. 12:14 with Rev. 12:6
and 11:2-3). When the Antichrist
confirms a 7-year covenant with Israel, he will stop the Jewish sacrifices "in
the middle of the week (Dan. 9:27)."
The Jews had a week of days (7 days) and a week of years (7 years). See Gen. 29:27-30. The "middle of the week" splits the last seven years on
earth into two 3½ year segments. The
references to "time, times, and half a time" "42 months"
and "1260 days" refers to the last 3½ years on earth before
Jesus returns (except for Rev. 11:3, which refers to the first 3½ years
of the 7-year covenant).
John
also speaks of "10 horns" (Rev. 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,12), the same
as Daniel (Dan. 7:7,20,24). The 10 horns are 10 kings which will arise
in the future. John tells us they
"have not yet received a kingdom" (as of 96 A.D.), meaning
they would arise at some time in the future.
They STILL haven’t received a kingdom because they are still future
kings as of this writing. Daniel tells
us "And in the days of those kings (represented by the 10 toes on the
statue) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be
destroyed…"
These
10 kings will rule in nations from the old Roman Empire (modern day Europe)
just prior to the 2nd coming of Christ, and Jesus will destroy their
kingdoms and set up His own at His return.