The Little Book that John Ate"

The Body of Christ International

Copyright © 1999 [The Body of Christ International; Inc.]  All rights reserved.

Chapter 8 

The Four Kingdoms

When the Lord called me to this study one of the first things He indicated was that this should be written in a book and mark it on a table so others could receive this understanding.  As the Holy Spirit of God gave guidance I write it down.

The first vision on the book of Daniel came to king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  He conquered Judah.   Daniel was one taken in captivity to be a servant of the king.  The king had a dream but he couldn’t remember it (Daniel 2).  No one in his entire staff could tell him the dream nor give the interpretation.   God gave Daniel the knowledge of this dream.   Daniel gave God the glory and described the dream (Daniel 2:31).

The dream depicted a great image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass and feet of iron and clay.   Daniel’s interpretation begins in Daniel 2:36.  Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold.   The kingdom after Babylon is not so great, the silver one.  It is identified in Daniel 5:28 as the Medes and Persians.   They overcame king Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazar.  The third kingdom of brass (Daniel 2:39) shall rule over the earth.  Both the second and third kingdoms are also identified later in other visions.  In Daniel 8:20-21 the second is named Media and Persia.  The third kingdom is named as the empire of Greece (Grecia) (Daniel 11:2).

The feet of the image composed of iron and clay is the fourth kingdom.  The mystery of the fourth kingdom begins to unfold in Daniel 2:40-45.  There are two elements in the fourth kingdom.  They cannot unite and are designated as iron and clay.  It is both weak and strong, as the two will not hold together.  These represent man much as Paul describes in II Timothy 3 – traitors without natural affection.  The opposing forces are as light and darkness and are unable to be combined. 

The fourth kingdom begins at the birth of Christ and satan’s treachery enacted through Herod.  This fourth kingdom on earth has been in existence about 2,000 years.  This kingdom will finish at the divine intervention of God.  The fourth kingdom followed on the heels of Greece beginning with ancient Roman rule of the Caesars and has not yet ended.  It shall be terminate by God as He establishes His kingdom that will last forever and never be destroyed.

Daniel 2:44 

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

Nebuchadnezzar had an image built like to one in the dream.  He ordered that all men should worship the image.  God’s people would not bow down to the idol.  The three were cast into the fiery furnace.  As the king looked into the furnace he saw with them, one, ‘like unto the Son of God’.  God protected them and they came out without the smell of smoke on their clothes.  God’s judgment was pronounced on him in a dream.  When he proclaimed his own greatness, judgment fell (Daniel 4:30).  When his understanding returned to him he praised God and returned to being a man and to his kingdom.       

Daniel 4:33

"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws."

The next great vision of prophecy concerning the end times is Daniel's vision in chapter 7.  At this time Nebuchadnezzar's son Belshazzar rules Babylon.  In this vision Daniel sees four great beasts:

Daniel 7:4

"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."    

The judgment and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar in this verse are the final references to the kingdom of Babylon in the visions.  But it is distinct in that it is the first of four kingdoms. 

Daniel 7:5-8

"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.  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.  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.   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."

There are two other separate kingdoms between Babylon, the first kingdom and the fourth kingdom that is terminated by God at the end of time.  These two separate kingdoms span many years and have several kings or rulers.  The fourth kingdom that begins after the Greek kingdom is that of ancient Rome, as history reports.   As we read in Daniel 2:44, in the days of these kings (fourth kingdom) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.  The fourth kingdom is of long duration.  It is different from all other kingdoms.  It is anti-christ in spirit. 

The first three kingdoms have long since been finished and the rulers of them also, as the fourth kingdom begins.  The fourth kingdom that is dominated by the anti-christ spirit came into power just before Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God, was born.  Remember at that time Herod was king over the Jews by authority of the Roman government.  Herod issued the order that destroyed the infants.   His intent was to destroy Jesus.  He had been informed of the Holy Scriptures concerning the Messiah and where He was to be born (Matthew 2:4-6).  

It was also under the Roman rule or authority of government Jesus was crucified by the people of Jerusalem.  Later the Roman government sponsored the persecution and death of the followers of Jesus Christ.   These events are documented as historical facts.  In his determination to be 'like the most high' satan has worn many faces to gain power over men like God (Isaiah 14:14). 

Daniel 7:13-14

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

Daniel saw in his vision Jesus receiving his kingdom and his return in the clouds.  Hallelujah!  By this, we have comfort that our "soon-to-be-believing brothers" do expect Jesus to come in the clouds.  All this was a mystery to Daniel.  He wanted to know what all this meant so he received understanding to the extent that much of the details follow: 

Daniel 7: 17-18

“ These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.   But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.”

Again Daniel is told the four beasts are four kings of the earth.  The saints of God will take the kingdom.

Daniel 7:19-22

“Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

During the time of the fourth kingdom anti-christ does overcome the saints for a time until the Ancient of Days gives judgment.  Then the saints possess the kingdom.  That 'little horn' with eyes like a man and a big mouth has a stout look    He laces himself through much of the end time prophecy and we shall discover more about him.  The interpretation of the dream continues. 

Daniel 7:23

“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”

The fourth beast is symbolic of a king and we now see that he is also symbolic of a whole kingdom, spanning many years and having many kings.  The little horn designates the one last final ruler of the fourth kingdom; he and his entourage of destroyers. 

Daniel 7:24-26

“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.  But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”

The ten horns denote the fourth kingdom.  This symbol of the ten horns is carried throughout the prophecies.  There are ten kings in the fourth kingdom.  After all of them, which involve several generations, the little horn or king arrives on the political scene and subdues three of these kings.  When he openly declares himself against God he will overcome the saints and will emerge as ruler over the entire world.  This precarious kingdom will last 3 ½ years.  This anti-christ will destroy many people.  He will also ‘think to change time and laws’.  Anno domini, in the year of the Lord, will not go unnoticed by him. 

The laws will occupy more of his attention.  Since he is anti-christ, the people of God are his prime concern.  In some parts of the world his work has thrived for a long time.  He will attack the legal structures of governments based on Bible concepts. 

Daniel 11:37

“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.”

Much more is revealed on the fourth kingdom and the little horn in Daniel 8.  The ‘ram’ and ‘he goat’ are the figures used to depict combat between nations.  The ‘little horn’ comes out from the four horns.

Daniel 8:9 & 11

“And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.”

The act of taking away the sacrifice places him in the ‘midst of the seventieth week of years’.  This also shows him to be the anti-christ.  The interpretation of the vision follows:

Daniel 8:19-24

“And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.”

Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, was king of Babylon when the vision came to Daniel.  Darius, the Median, and Cyrus, the Persian, had not yet extended the kingdom of Persia to include Babylon.  This prophecy was fulfilled in Daniel’s lifetime (Daniel 8: 20).   We do know later in Daniel that the Medes and Persians conquered Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30-31).

This time of the vision is well established.  Following Persia was the kingdom of Greece, ruled by Alexander the Great.  The kingdom was divided four ways.  This is also depicted as the four horns.  The little horn comes out of these kingdoms.  The little horn is empowered by satan, who, takes away daily sacrifice and sets the abomination of desolation.  This is where Jesus referred us in Matthew 24:15.

The fourth kingdom chart includes details from each vision, giving characteristics of each vision.  The chronological order of Daniel follows: chapters 1-4; 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12 and 10.  

Before we leave Daniel let’s consider some points.  The Lord gave a wonderful blessing through this verse:

Daniel 7:13

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”

I found myself sitting opposite a Jewish man in his office.  I was there to get some information from him on Daniel but found I was questioned in a very persistent manner.  This dear man who loved God really wanted some answers.  I, half thinking, half praying, silently said, “Woe is me, I don’t know anything Lord.  Help!” 

He was saying, “God is one God.  Why do you say three?  Why not four or five?”    The Holy Spirit filled me with love.  As I prepared to give him an answer, I did not know what I was going say until I heard myself saying it:

“Yes, the Lord out God is one God.  He is God, my Father.”  He nodded in agreement.  “And it was by the Holy Spirit of God that the prophets spoke.”  Again he nodded, looking at me, but only listening for what would come next.  “You look for your Messiah, whom you know you will see in the clouds.”  The Holy Spirit had brought out what I had forgotten I knew.  I continued, “Well, then you also have the Trinity concept in your teaching.  Only, in your Trinity concept, one corner is still empty.  But the name of that Messiah is Jesus Christ.”

Once in the study it was evident the Lord was dealing with me on Daniel 11:

Daniel 11:26-27

“Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.  And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.”

There shall be a great summit-type meeting between the camp of the north and the camp of the south.  Those who get the most from the king of the south are the ones who will destroy him.  The insight here is, the two events occur in reverse order from the way are recorded in verses 26 and 27.  Obviously the summit meeting had to take place before the camp of the north destroyed him.  God has used this means to ensure that His mysteries remain mysteries.  All God’s plans are revealed in the scriptures.  Some have been hidden and are held secret until the last days. 

Amos 3:7

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

In Daniel’s great vision of the last days, he was told by the one who spoke to him, to seal it up in verse 9.

Daniel 12:9

“And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

God has held unto himself certain parts of the prophecies, so He could reveal them more fully.  And as God removes the seals from His prophecies, we can expect more discernment.  For it is as Jesus said that nothing would be hidden, that all would be revealed.

Much of God’s prophecy is easily understood, it is not all hidden.  For we see people run to and fro.  Travel is now and industry.  Knowledge has increased in this century in that it has changed almost everything we do.  There has been a knowledge explosion.  Statistics tell us also that there have been more martyrs for Christ in this century than in all previous centuries. 

I asked the Lord for a special word with which to finish this part.  Here is the understanding.  There is a parallel drawn now between the first kingdom and the fourth kingdom in these visions of Daniel.  In the first kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar made an image like his vision.  It was gold.  He ordered that everyone must worship it.  In the fourth kingdom, the anti-christ, will make an image, as prophesied in Revelation 13:15.  He gives the order that all who  ‘will not worship the image of the beast should be killed’. 

What God wants us to know from this, brethren, is a sure knowledge that the very same one, ‘like the Son of God’ whom Nebuchadnezzar saw in the fire with the three, Daniel 3:25, that same Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, will in the like manner also be with each of His own as they also refuse to worship the image of anti-christ 666.  This is what Jesus said:

Mathew 28:20b

“and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

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