Why Bible Prophecy Matters! “The Rise of a One World Government”. Part Three
It is important to remember 1/3 of the Bible is prophetic in nature, mostly concerning Israel, the coming of the Messiah and to a lesser extent Gentile Nations. It is God who see’s all things before they happen and declares them through His prophets to inform us, prepare us, and help us to know at least in part what is coming (Isa. 46:8-10). The prophetic insights concerning the Rise of a One World Government are mainly found in Daniel the Prophet and John the Apostle in the book of Revelation. So, lets start the journey of this study.
Daniel was taken as a captive from Jerusalem as a young boy to Babylon, but due to his heart for God and being integral to His Laws the Lord gave him favor and he rose in stature over time eventually to the Royal Courts. King Nebuchadnezzar had a very troubling dream and he demands his Chaldean sorcerers, enchanters, and magicians to explain the dream and interpret it. The Kings wise men and religious inner circle were stumped. They could not fulfill the Kings wishes resulting in King Neb going into a rage. The god-man King (a prototype of the Antichrist) orders all of his religious leaders to be horribly murdered and their homes destroyed and turned to rubble…this was one mean dude! Read Daniel 2:1-13.
Daniel and his Jewish friends are introduced into the story and they are included in this march to the death squad; but the text tells us Daniel acted prudently with the Kings guard and was informed about the crisis and requested an appointment with the King. Then comes serious intercession from Daniel and his Jewish friends so that he might be shown the mystery and its meaning. Daniel 2:13-18. God hears their desperate prayers and Daniel is revealed the dream and its meaning. Daniel then extols God for His great wisdom and might as the one who knows all things including mysteries and hidden knowledge. Vs. 19-23. Then Daniel is brought before the King and reveals what God has shown him and all the wise-men. Daniel, his friends and even the religious inner circle are spared the Kings harsh judgement. But what is amazing is that several Superpowers of the ancient world are revealed before they existed over a period of hundreds of years. Remember this was God’s revelation, NOT Daniels and he simply shared what God showed him. Daniel 2:24-45.
The moral of the story is that human kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman Kingdoms, and a last days divided kingdom birthed from the ancient Roman rule) will vanish and be blown away like chaff into the four winds, Vs 36. Ultimately the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed (Jesus Kingdom), as this will happen when the divided kingdom of iron and clay manifests on the earth. Vs 41-45. This is the first reference to the New World Order that will come to pass in the last days. We will most likely see this 10-toed global divided government manifest in the not to distant future. Just so you know one of the stated objectives of the Club of Rome is to create a 10 Region Global Government. When you mix to many races with very different cultures and beliefs it is like mixing clay and iron…they DO NOT BLEND TOGETHER LONG-TERM. This will be the case with the One World Government and cause division and an opportunity for the Antichrist to take power.
Look at King Nebs response, Vs. 47 “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery”. I want you and me to stop for a minute and consider what was said, the most powerful king on the planet at that time in history saw God clearly and spoke truth. An important question is, “do you and I see God the same way”? This is how you and I must marvel at our Heavenly Father and give Him pure worship for who He is! Now poor King Neb actually never fully grasped the magnitude of this Revelation if your read the rest of the story Daniel 3-5. But don’t get arrogant, we are not much better than King Neb as most Christian’s or seekers do not come close to seeing or rejoicing in the Majesty and Glory of our God! I too fall greatly short!
The Kingdom of Babylon is Fallen (538 BC), as do all earthy empires! The head of gold (King Neb & Babylon) has been decapitated and now the next kingdom of the Medo-Persians (chest and arms of Silver) come on the scene as does more revelation from God. Isaiah the Prophet foresees a Great King rise up a couple hundred years before he was born and calls him by name (Cyrus the Great Persian King) who would allow the Jews to return to their homeland after 70 years of exile in Babylon and rebuild their cities (Jerusalem the Royal City) and the towns. (Isa. 44: 26- 45: 13).
God is Sovereign and allows Nations to rise and fall for His purposes. Daniel is given further revelation and details of the four Superpower Nations (adding to the great statute vision of chapter 2) during the first year of the last King of Babylon (King Belshazzar); but this time God reveals then as four distinct beasts and a twist in the story with the fourth beast. Read Daniel 7.
This time Daniel is directly given a dream and night visions that deeply trouble him and make his anxious (v.1, 16). Four great beasts rise out of a wind storm on the sea, a lion with eagle wings (Babylon) and a brief review of King Neb’s humbling is recorded (wings plucked off). The second beast, a bear with one raised side (Medo-Persian) which signified that is was an unequal empire as Persia would ultimately dominate. The bear had three ribs in its mouth (previous victims) representing the three kings they conquered to unify the empire (Astyages 550 BC, Anatolia 547 and Croesus of Lydia 547). This devouring bear would conquer Babylon in 539 BC and Egypt in 525, and onto the Aegean Sea region and to the Indus River in the East.
The third beast manifests as a swift leopard (Greek Empire) with four wings of a bird and at the later stages of the kingdom it has four heads (kings) after Alexander the Great dies in battle. The fourth beast (Rome) is terrifying, dreadful, and exceedingly strong with great iron teeth that will tear and devour people. Rome stomped on its enemies with its powerful feet (military) and then subjected you. This beast is different from all other beasts and it has 10 horns (10 toes of the great statue) and a mysterious little horn arises and plucks up three of the original horns by it roots (kills them). This last little horn has eyes of a man and a mouth that speaks great things. How else would this god-man deceive the Nations of the world without being a great orator with profound solutions and the ability to make them happen (Satan empowered). Humanity will be in the midst of the worst and greatest tribulation ever seen and people will be desperate and will accept any savior…this is when the little horn will arise.
Daniel is given an interlude much like John in Revelation and the picture completely changes from the four beastly and earthly kingdoms, to the glory, majesty, and dominion of the Ancient of Days on His throne in Heaven. We also see His angelic servants and ultimately the Son of Man taking His rule as King of Kings with an everlasting Kingdom. Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14. Verse 11-12 gives us a snap shot of the little horn (Antichrist) destruction, and the temporary rule of all the other beasts.
We will conclude this blog with the dream and visions interpretation which God graciously provided through one of His angelic servants. I have stated in a prior blog we do not need to come up with our own interpretations or to try to figure out prophecy with our best reasoning. Yes, we need to diligently study God’s Word, and understand the context and possibly history of a prophecy; but allow Scripture to interpret Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit in humility. Yes, seek wise counsel from mature believers, Bible Commentaries and theologians who walk closely with God (not just know a lot about Him). It is true there are some harder passages in the Bible, but God did not give us His word to confuse us or frustrate us. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Ps. 119: 105. So, let us see what the angel told Daniel to give him understanding of his night visions. Vs. 16.
• Four Beasts = Four Kings who arise out of the earth Vs. 17
• The saints of the Most-High (us believers) will receive and possess a kingdom that shall never end. Vs. 18
• Daniel inquires of the angel about the fourth beast, the really scary one and the wicked little horn who destroys three of the ten horns (kings). New revelation comes concerning this boastful little horn, “this horn makes war with the saints and prevailed over them” Vs. 21 until God’s eternal kingdom judges and destroys the little horns kingdom and replaces it with the Son of Man’s everlasting reign, Vs. 22.
• The fourth beast = a fourth devouring kingdom on the earth. Vs. 23
• The 10 horns = 10 Kings of Kingdoms that shall arise, and then another shall arise after they are in power and reigning and three kings will be killed and removed by the little horn. Vs. 24
• The little horn shall speak words against the Most-High and wears out His saints (this will be in the 2nd half of the Tribulation Period and for 3.5 years). The Antichrist will change times and Laws as an act of total defiance against God. No more 5-day work weeks or summer holidays. Expect total lawlessness. 2 Thes. 2:3. The loss of the five-day work week is just a guess! Vs. 25
• Thankfully this ruthless tyrant’s reign will come to an end in complete judgement and will be replaced with Jesus Righteous Rule. Vs.26-27.
This was a completely overwhelming vision and now understanding it Daniel is greatly alarmed. His color changed and he kept the matter in his heart. Vs. 28. Remember what Daniel saw will soon be coming upon the whole earth. If we are alive we will experience this prophetic vision in reality. This should be sobering to both you and me! As I have stated in the past, prophecy is NOT to make us fearful, but to alert and prepare us before it happens. His amazing grace and the power of the Holy Spirit will sustain us until He returns! We will continue Lord willing next week in this insightful series with Daniel and gain more understanding on “The Rise of a One World Government”.
From a friend, Bill W…if you have found these studies insightful and encouraging pass them on to a friend! Maranatha…Our Lord, come!