Wednesday, May 04, 2005
World Domination
“The ruler who will come” from verse 26 is the one who will set up an abomination that causes desolation in the temple. “The people of the ruler who will come” have already destroyed the city and temple. Remember? The Romans finished the task in A.D. 70 so that part of the prophecy is complete. “He” is a Roman. This Roman is going to establish a covenant, a time of peace…for seven years. “He” is a future world ruler. “He” is the Antichrist. Hope that isn’t too much of a leap. Don’t get too wrapped up in the term Roman. This doesn’t necessarily mean from Rome, Italy. The Roman Empire is thought to still survive in Western Civilization because of ideas and systems which continue to endure from Ancient Rome. If you are at all familiar with the Statue of Daniel 2 (Nebuchadnezzar’s dream), the fourth kingdom, strong as iron, is the Roman Empire historically. The feet of the statue were iron and clay mixed which Daniel explained as representing “the divided kingdom” (v. 41). The mixture of clay and iron, Daniel went on, signifies the mix of people who were not united (v. 43). Then there’s Daniel 7 and the fourth beast (fourth kingdom) with ten horns, which represented ten kings (7:24). A “little horn” arises, revealing “another king” who will differ from the ten, and actually conquer three of the ten (v.24). He---remember he?---will conquer the whole earth (v.23) and will speak against God, oppress God’s saints (v.25). He will attempt to change established laws (v. 25). He is alluded to in numerous places in the Bible: 1& 2 John, Revelation, and 2 Thessalonians.
The main point is, lest I diverge too much, the events of the seventieth seven of Daniel 9:27 are yet to come. Interpretation becomes muddled because of the gap in time, the counting stops. But the last seven must be taken as literal because God provided the proof of literal sevens in the first sixty-nine seven’s accurate fulfillment. Otherwise, there is little to go on between the start of the Church Age (Pentecost) and when exactly the last seven years begins. There is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and many writers refer to the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948. The “ten horns” of the fourth beast (previously mentioned) are the ten nation “kingdom” which is to develop in preparation for the final ‘seven’. Just to reiterate, “Rome” is probably a Western Civilization entity out of which these ten horns or united nations will arise to power.
I don’t write these things lightly—and they are not to be read lightly. Study, ponder, and discern what God gave to us through Daniel.
The main point is, lest I diverge too much, the events of the seventieth seven of Daniel 9:27 are yet to come. Interpretation becomes muddled because of the gap in time, the counting stops. But the last seven must be taken as literal because God provided the proof of literal sevens in the first sixty-nine seven’s accurate fulfillment. Otherwise, there is little to go on between the start of the Church Age (Pentecost) and when exactly the last seven years begins. There is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and many writers refer to the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948. The “ten horns” of the fourth beast (previously mentioned) are the ten nation “kingdom” which is to develop in preparation for the final ‘seven’. Just to reiterate, “Rome” is probably a Western Civilization entity out of which these ten horns or united nations will arise to power.
I don’t write these things lightly—and they are not to be read lightly. Study, ponder, and discern what God gave to us through Daniel.
