THE WISE SHALL THE STUDY OF DANIEL UNDERSTAND THE STUDY OF DANIEL ROBERT W. TOZIER WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG 1
Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG Rtozier@creationrevelation.org At Sunrise Southern Baptist Church Las Vegas, NV 2
The Wise Shall Understand The Study of Daniel Lesson 17 3
Opening Prayer 4
The Wise Shall Understand The Study of Daniel Lesson 17 THE LITTLE HORN 5
THE FOUR BEASTS Daniel 7:1-12 6
REVIEW DANIEL 7:1-7 7
VISION OF WORLD HISTORY The prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 gives the most detailed and comprehensive prophecy of future events given anywhere in the Old Testament. Most scholars agree that this prophecy traces the history of the four great world empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome leading to the Second Coming of Christ, and His millennial and eternal kingdoms representing the fifth and final kingdom. 8
VISION OF WORLD HISTORY This chapter outlines the future events and sets the stage for greater details given in later chapters. Keep in mind that Nebuchadnezzar s metallic statue of Daniel 2 and the four beasts of Daniel 7 represent the same thing. As we shall soon see, this is a recurring theme expressed both in Daniel and Revelation. 9
VISION OF WORLD HISTORY From earliest times until Deism and Rationalization took hold in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the persistent belief of the church and scholars was that these prophecies represented the succession of the world empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. 10
DANIEL S DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS 11
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DAN 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. (Continued) 12
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Babylonian Empire 13
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DAN 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. Medo Persian Empire 14
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DAN 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. Grecian Empire 15
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DAN 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. Roman Empire 16
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS The first six chapters outlined the historical succession of world empires from Babylon to the Second Coming of Christ. The last six chapters are a prophetic view of things to come using an historical background. This chapter begins the prophecies of things to come during the Tribulation period at the time of the end. 17
DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS This vision therefore concerns the Tribulation period at the end of the present age. The First Beast (Lion) Babylon. The Second Beast (Bear) Medo-Persia. The Third Beast (Leopard) Greece. The Fourth Beast (Terrible beast) Rome. 18
THE LITTLE HORN 19
THE LITTLE HORN The Terrible Beast had 10 horns: DAN 7:8 I considered the 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. 20
THE LITTLE HORN The little horn, an eleventh horn, came up among the other ten horns. The "little horn" is the Antichrist. The "little horn" is identified with Satan. In Revelation, Satan gives power to the Antichrist (the beast). Together with the False Prophet (another beast), the Antichrist and Satan form an unholy trinity. 21
THE LITTLE HORN The first, or beast stage, is descriptive of the old Roman Empire that devoured and crushed a much larger area then the previous three empires. The second, or ten horns (or kingdoms), stage, means that the future form of the Roman Empire would eventually consist of ten rulers, or become a ten nation (or region) confederacy. 22
THE LITTLE HORN The little horn will uproot three of the ten, leaving seven, and he will take the place of the three to become the eighth. Thus there will be three stages to the Roman Empire the beast stage, the ten horns stage, and finally the Antichrist stage. 23
THE LITTLE HORN We know that this is future since the old Roman Empire never had a ten nation confederacy. The third stage, the Antichrist stage, will be when a world ruler becomes the eleventh king (the little horn). He will depose three of the ten, leaving seven, and become the eight king. He will thus become more powerful than the remaining seven. This little horn is the beast of Revelation 13 and 17. 24
THE LITTLE HORN REV 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?... 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 25
THE LITTLE HORN REV 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 26
THE LITTLE HORN There are some that view the little horn as the papacy, but this cannot be because this little horn does not rise up until after the ten-nation confederacy has been formed. At no time during or after the fall of Rome has a ten-nation confederacy been formed. Also, the papacy existed before the breakup of the Roman Empire. 27
THE LITTLE HORN Therefore the pope, instead of rising up on the head of the beast after the ten horns had obtained their strength, came before these ten horns ever existed. The appearance of the Antichrist signifies the beginning of the Great Tribulation before the return of Christ. This man is going to appear to have all the answers to the world's troubles. He will bring "peace and safety, then 28 sudden destruction."
THE LITTLE HORN 2TH 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (Continued) 29
THE LITTLE HORN 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 1TH 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 30
THE LITTLE HORN The Antichrist will bring "peace and safety." He will also bring unprecedented prosperity. According to Arthur Bloomfield, "Antichrist will produce a world prosperity that will make our conception of the millennium seem like a depression." ZEC 9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 31
THE LITTLE HORN When the system is destroyed the merchants will weep. The Antichrist's system will be destroyed in one hour. REV 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: (Continued) 32
THE LITTLE HORN 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 33
THE LITTLE HORN The Antichrist's power will be supernatural because: 2TH 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 34
THE THRONE ROOM 35
THE THRONE ROOM DAN 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 36
THE THRONE ROOM This statement, "the thrones were cast down," is better understood in English as thrones were set up, or placed. The literal translation of the Chaldean expression implies that rugs and cushions were thrown down to be used as oriental divan-thrones. The meaning indicates that the throne room was being prepared for the judgment of the beast, and others would be present to sit on these thrones. 37
THE THRONE ROOM These "others" are associated with administering God's judgments. REV 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; REV 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 38 (Continued)
THE THRONE ROOM 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Continued) 39
THE THRONE ROOM 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 40
THE THRONE ROOM Daniel's vision was now directed away from the earthly kingdom thrones to a vision of God's throne room. God is eternal, the "Ancient of Days. He exists before time. A garment "white as snow" symbolizes absolute purity, or righteousness (Isa 1:18). It also symbolizes judgment, as righteousness and judgment are connected. God sits on a throne indicating that He is the 41 sovereign judge of the universe.
THE THRONE ROOM The fiery wheels allow him to bring judgment anywhere in the universe. Fire in this context indicates wrath and judgment. In verse 10, a fiery stream, or river, indicates God's presence and His glory. The fiery stream also indicates continuous judgment. 42
THE THRONE ROOM PSA 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. HEB 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. 2TH 1:7 And you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 43
THE THRONE ROOM God is ministered to by billions of angels depicting His deity and Godhead. "He alone is worthy to be worshipped. God is about to open his books and judge the nations of the world. This is the judgment of the fourth beast Antichrist system that will occur before the Millennium Kingdom; it is not the White Throne Judgment that takes place after the thousand-year Millennium, where Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire together 44 with all unbelievers.
THE THRONE ROOM Moses knew of the books mentioned here. EXO 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin -; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 45
THE THRONE ROOM Other books are mentioned in Scripture. PSA 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? MAL 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 46
THE THRONE ROOM REV 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 47
THE THRONE ROOM The presence of the books indicate that nothing is forgotten of the actions of men, no matter how small. Man may rewrite history to distort the facts, but God's recording of history will be accurate to the smallest detail. 48
THE THRONE ROOM DAN 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn [Antichrist] spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 49
THE THRONE ROOM Satan himself, as well as the "little horn" will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. 50
THE THRONE ROOM There will be a battle before the judgment. 51
THE THRONE ROOM REV 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 52
THE THRONE ROOM Mankind is fighting the Lord and His saints. The doom of the fourth beast is described, concerning both the Antichrist and his empire (Rev 19:20). Everyone will come before God's throne and every knee will bow in Heaven. The first three kingdoms (Babylon, Medo- Persia, and Greece) lost their right to ever rule again. 53
THE THRONE ROOM It may be that since each succeeding empire had absorbed the preceding, the fourth represented a continuation of all the others. The Revived Roman Empire will incorporate the features of the others. These visions make it clear that there will be four Gentile empires during the "Times of the Gentiles" before the establishment of the messianic kingdom. These Gentile kingdoms would be 54 lengthened for an indefinite period of time.
THE THRONE ROOM There is not much we can do to stem the march toward a one-world end-time system. J. Vernon McGee writes that we don t have much to say about who becomes president under our corrupted democratic form. In our fall from a republic to a democracy our nation has become part of the weakened Roman system of Iron mixed with clay. 55
THE THRONE ROOM Our republic was founded upon limited selfgovernment. Our leaders pay more attention to lobbyists for special interest groups than they do to the needs of the people. 56
THE THRONE ROOM Our government supports and implements the programs of the United Nations which promote biodiversity (land use restrictions more than 50% of United States land), oneworld (globalism NAFTA, TPP and Agenda 21 are a part), and one-world religion (ecumenism - United Nations United Religions Initiative) ideas. 57
THE THRONE ROOM 58
THE THRONE ROOM According to Dr. Michael Coffman: Environmentalists have long asserted that white man's cities, highways, intensive agriculture, forest harvesting, and other activities have disrupted and fragmented natural ecosystems. According to environmental theology, earth's so called fragile web of life is being destroyed as species become extinct by the thousands, and biodiversity, critical to the web's survival, vanishes. (Continued) 59
THE THRONE ROOM As the 1980s dawned, a new age dream of sustainability and a world treaty to protect biodiversity began to take shape in the minds of those who would return us to nature. The dream culminated in the 1992 United Nations Conference on the Environment, otherwise known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro. Hosted by none other than proclaimed new age and United Nations leader Maurice Strong, the Summit gave birth to what was called the Convention on Biological Diversity. (Continued) 60
THE THRONE ROOM Less than thirty pages long, this treaty was promoted as a crowning achievement for man that would save the earth by protecting biodiversity through the application of vaguely scribed principles and theology. What are we to do as we are being herded in the direction of a controlled society? There is one thing that we can do, we can, as Paul says: 61
THE THRONE ROOM ROM 12:1 With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. 2 Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. J. B. Phillips Translation 62
THE THRONE ROOM Regardless of how the world system is become today, we are obliged to honor our commitment to Jesus Christ. We are in the world, but not of the world. Jesus said in His prayer for His disciples: JOHN 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (Continued) 63
THE THRONE ROOM 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 64
End of The Study of Daniel Lesson 17 65
Closing Prayer 66
Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier WWW.CREATIONREVELATION.ORG Rtozier@creationrevelation.org At Sunrise Southern Baptist Church Las Vegas, NV 67