TWO SYMBOLS

Mount of Olives

I. THE IMAGE IN DANIEL 2.

II. THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND 10 HORNS

Revelation 17, 12, 13, Daniel 7 And The Little Horn

Two symbols reveal a sequence of major kingdoms that are contemporaries of Israel and lead to the return of Jesus:

1 - the image in Daniel 2 with five parts representing five kingdoms.

2 - the beast in Revelation 17, 12, 13 and Daniel 7

Beast - A single kingdom, group, or sequence of kingdoms

Head - Each head on the beast represents a different kingdom

Horn - A military authority such as Alexander the Great.

The kingdoms that are used in these two symbols are contemporaries of Israel. Only those kingdoms that exist when Israel exists are recognized. After the Roman Empire destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple in 70 AD, and dispersed Jewish people throughout the world no other kingdom was recognized until Israel became a nation again in 1948.

Daniel 2:31-45 NKJV

THE IMAGE GIVEN TO KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR

31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.

Five Kingdoms Are Represented

32 This image’s head was of fine gold,

its chest and arms of silver,

its belly and thighs of bronze,

33 its legs of iron,

its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.

The Kingdom of God Will Fill The Earth

34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The Dream

Five Kingdoms Are Represented Again

36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.

39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.

42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.

The Iron And Clay Kingdoms Will Mingle

With The Seed of Men

43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

In The Days of The Divided Kingdom

The God of Heaven Will Set Up A Kingdom

44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

The Stone Broke In Pieces

The Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, And Clay

45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” - Daniel 2:31-45 NKJV (1982)

THE KINGDOMS REPRESENTED BY THE IMAGE IN DANIEL 2

The Last Kingdom Is Made Up of Two Kingdoms

KINGDOM SYMBOL

1. Babylonian Gold Head (Dan. 2:38) Jerusalem was captured.

2. Medo-Persian (Persian) Silver Chest & Arms Jerusalem was restored.

3. Greek Bronze Belly & Thighs

4. Roman Iron Legs Jerusalem was destroyed.

The Jewish diaspora 70 AD - 1948

Israel was dispersed in 70 AD and began again in 1948.

5. Divided Kingdom Iron & Clay Feet. Jerusalem began again - 1948.

Iron - Beast From The Land (Rev. 13), Clay - Beast From The Sea (Rev. 13)

Kingdom of God The Stone Jesus will return

The Kingdom of God, represented by the stone, will replace the divided kingdom.

Just by examining the image in Daniel 2, a lot of information can be discovered. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream that Daniel interpreted for him.

The first kingdom was Babylon and it was represented by the gold head. The five parts of the image were represented by five different symbols. The prophecy of the image was given while Israel was in captivity in Babylon.

Identifying The Iron And Clay Feet

You need to realize that these kingdoms are contemporaries of Israel, meaning they existed when Israel existed. So if Israel was not in existence then no kingdom was represented. When Jerusalem was burned in 70 AD and the Jews were spread throughout the world, no new kingdom was represented.

Since Israel is in existence, the kingdom represented by the iron and clay feet is in existence.

The divided kingdom in which two powers are working together is easy to identify. Since the Roman Empire was represented by the iron legs, It is in Europe just as Rome was. Europe has only one power large enough to be a kingdom: the EU.

Clay is a symbol for man. Man created this kingdom. It is an international power that was formed to have world power. This power is the one that just about everybody should know.

The Bible says in Daniel 2:43 that they, the iron and clay, combine in the seed of men. The seed of men would be something that man has brought about or put together. Clay can also be a symbol for man. So the iron and clay combine in the clay.

A little horn (military authority) will come up among 10 horns, a military group (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24-25). Three of the first horns will be removed before him. Horns symbolize power or military power.

Alexander the Great was the large horn on the goat in Daniel 8. So the man of sin will rise out of an international military body.

The 10 horns will turn their authority over to the beast (man of sin) and will burn the harlot city Babylon (Rev. 17:13, 16).

Be Ready And Aware

You need to be aware of what to expect in the future so that you can be ready and watching for Jesus to return and gather His saints to meet Him in the air (Matt. 24:29-31).

Remember the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The five foolish virgins were not ready when the bridegroom came and did not get to go with him to the wedding.

The marriage supper of the Lamb will follow the gathering in the air (rapture) (Rev. 19:7-9).

Jesus will return to the earth with the armies of heaven to fight those who are waiting for Him (Rev. 19:11-21).

II. THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND 10 HORNS

Four References

Revelation 17, 12, 13, Daniel 7 And The Little Horn

• A Beast Represents A Kingdom or Sequence of Kingdoms
• Heads Represent Kingdoms - Therefore the wounded head in Revelation 13 is a kingdom that was brought back by Satan when he and his angels are thrown to the earth. See the table on Revelation 17 below.
• Horns Represent Military Authorities

- REVELATION 17 -

This chapter is about the beast that has seven heads (kingdoms) and an eighth kingdom that comes out of the eighth kingdom. It covers kingdoms from Egypt through the eighth kingdom.

It also speaks about the harlot religious system that reigns over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:18). Revelation was written during the Roman Empire. This harlot will still be around during the last secular kingdom - the eighth kingdom.

THE SCARLET BEAST

The Beast Has Seven Heads (Kingdoms) And 10 Horns Military Authorities

The 10 horns are on the last head (seven and eight).

FOUR REFERENCES TO THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS (KINGDOMS)

BIBLE LOCATION BEAST 7 HEADS (KINGDOMS) HORNS KINGS OVER SAINTS 3-1/2 YEARS

1 Daniel 7 Terrible Beast Last kingdom only 10 Plus One Time, times, & half a time

2 Revelation 12 Fiery Red Dragon 7 - 7 crowns, 7 diadems 10 1,260 days

3 Revelation 13 Beast From The Sea 7 10 42 months

4 Revelation 17 Scarlet Beast 7 & the 8th out of the 7 10 7

The second symbol is the beast with seven heads (seven kingdoms). In Revelation 17:10 it says that “five have fallen, one is”. The Roman Empire was main kingdom in existence when Revelation was written. Therefore it is the sixth head or kingdom. Then the Jewish diaspora began in 70 AD and Israel began again in 1948.

The seventh kingdom began in 1948. We know that it is made up of two kingdoms symbolized by the iron and clay feet in Daniel 2. The iron symbolized the EU and the clay symbolized the UN.

There will be a wounding of one of the heads - the seventh kingdom (Rev. 13:3). It seems to be overcome by a different system of international rule.

After the rapture, Satan will be thrown to the earth to set up the eighth kingdom - the iron and clay kingdom (EU-UN) will begin again and will last for 42 months or 3-1/2 years (Rev. 13:5).

Then the beast (man of sin) and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 19:20).

Satan will be thrown into the Abyss for 1,ooo years (Rev. 20:3). Then he will be let out for a short while and then be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur (Rev.20:10).

KINGDOMS IN REVELATION 17

THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS

A SEQUENCE OF SEVEN MAJOR KINGDOMS

From The Beginning of Israel Until The Return of Jesus Christ

9This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10they are also seven kings,

five of whom have fallen,

one is,

the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” - Rev. 17:9-14 ESV (2016)

KINGDOMS

five of whom have fallen,

1. EGYPTIAN Israel began.

2. ASSYRIAN

3. BABYLONIAN

4. MEDO-PERSIAN

5. GREEK

one is

6. ROMAN Jerusalem was destroyed and Jews were

dispersed in 70 AD.

No major kingdom was recognized during the Jewish diaspora

(70 - 1948 AD).

the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

7. DIVIDED KINGDOM (Iron & Clay in Daniel 2, EU-UN) w/10 HORNS (military authorities)

Israel began in 1948. Therefore the recognition of the seventh kingdom, the iron and clay divided kingdom in Daniel 2, began in 1948.

A NEW WORLD GOVERNMENT IS BEING PLANNED

One of its heads, the seventh kingdom, seems to have a mortal wound (Rev. 13:3).

The divided kingdom (EU-UN), the seventh head, will be overcome by a different system of world government that is being planned now.

THE SEVEN YEAR JERUSALEM COVENANT

There will be a seven year Jerusalem covenant. In the middle of this covenant the daily sacrifice and offering will be ended. On the wing of the abominations shall be one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27). He will sit in the temple showing himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:3-4).

When you see this abomination then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains because there will be great tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28).

THE RAPTURE

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the Son of Man will come with his angels and they will gather his elect (Matt. 24:29-31).

SATAN AND HIS ANGELS ARE CAST TO THE EARTH

REVELATION 17:11:6-17

______________3-1/2 YEARS_________________

11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.

8. DIVIDED KINGDOM (Iron & Clay in Daniel 2, EU-UN) w/10 HORNS (military authorities)

Satan and his angels are cast to the earth (Rev. 11:6-17).

The mortal wound of the seventh kingdom will be healed (Rev. 13:2-5) to become the eighth kingdom - the EU-UN. This system lasts for 3-1/2 years (Rev. 12:14, 13:5). This seems to be the period of the bowls of wrath (Rev. 15, 16).

This is the period of the “beast from the sea” with ten horns and the “beast from the earth” with two horns in Revelation 13. These are apparently the iron kingdom and the clay kingdom in Daniel 2. It speaks about the mouth of the beast from the sea (antichrist) speaking blasphemies and the false prophet from the beast from the earth. You will tormented forever if you take the mark of the beast on your right hand or forehead for buying and selling (Rev. 14:9-11).

The beast with seven heads (kingdoms) and 10 horns can be found in Revelation 12, 13, 17. Daniel 7 contains the judgment of the last kingdom with the 10 horns.

DEMONS PREPARE TO GATHER AN ARMY TO ARMAGEDDON

Demons will go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world to gather them to the place called Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16).

THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB

The marriage supper of the Lamb will take place (Rev. 19:7).

JESUS WILL RETURN

When the Jesus returns, the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies will be gathered to make war with Him. The beast (man of lawlessness) and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21). The rest will be killed by the sword that came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. Satan will be thrown into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Rev. 19, 20).

The seventh and eighth heads represent the same kingdom. Therefore the ten horns are on both the seventh and eighth kingdoms. The seventh head has been in existence since 1948. The ten horns are in a military body with ten rotating members.

Remember that the iron and clay feet on the image in Daniel 2 represent two international kingdoms working together and are in existence now: EU & UN.

A 3-1/2 YEAR PERIOD AT THE TIME OF THE END

A Time of Trouble (Tribulation)

Daniel 12:1-13

12“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

8I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

Blessed Is He Who Waits And Arrives At The 1,335 Days

11And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” - Daniel 12:1-13 ESV (2016)

Various terms are used in the Bible to refer to the man of sin or antichrist.

He is called:

• Beast out of the sea - Rev. 13:1

• Beast - Rev. 13:3,4,14,15,17,18; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10

• The antichrist - 1 John 2:18

• The man of lawlessness - 2 Thess. 2:3-12

• Man of sin - 2 Thess. 2:3

• Little horn - Dan. 7:8

• Prince to come - Dan. 9:26

• The king - Dan. 11:36.

Revelation 17:1-18

The Prostitute City, Babylon, Is Guilty of

The Blood of Martyrs And Saints of Jesus

She Sits On A Scarlet Beast With

Seven Heads (Kingdoms) And Ten Horns (Military Leaders)

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5And on her forehead was written a name of mystery:

“Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

The Beast Is About To Rise From The Bottomless

Pit And Go To Destruction (Satan)

8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. - Rev. 17:1-8 ESV (2016)

There Are Seven Heads (Kingdoms)

Five Have Fallen (Passed)

One Is (The Roman Empire Existed At That Time)

The Seventh Kingdom Had Not Come

9This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

The Eighth Kingdom Will Come Out of The Seventh

And Will Go To Destruction (Satan)

11As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

The Prostitute Is In Many Nations

The Roman Catholic Church Was In Many Nations

15And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” - Rev. 17:9-18 ESV (2016)

Revelation 17:10-11 is particularly important because it reveals that the Roman Empire is the sixth head. The Roman Empire existed when Revelation was given to John. That makes it possible to place the other kingdoms. It further reveals that there are seven kings (kingdoms). Five had fallen, one is (the Roman Empire), and the other had not come.

The seventh kingdom (the divided kingdom) had not come. There will be an eighth kingdom that is of the seven. In other words the eighth kingdom is actually out of the seventh kingdom. They are separated by a wounding as noted previously. The seventh and eighth kingdom are the same kingdom.

Satan is identified with the eighth kingdom because he has been thrown to the earth (Rev. 13:7-9, 3-4) and is going to perdition (punishment, lake of fire (Rev. 17:11, 20:10).

Revelation 13:5 above also reveals that this last (eighth) kingdom will only last for 3-1/2 years.

When Jesus returns Satan will be put in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years he will be released from prison to deceive the nations. He will then be cast into the lake of fire (perdition, punishment, lake of fire - Rev. 17:8, 20:7-10).

THE HARLOT

MYSTERY BABYLON

The woman sitting on a scarlet beast is probably the church in Rome. She sits on seven mountains (Rome in ancient literature) and on many waters. Waters are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Therefore she is in many nations - not just one nation. So it is referring to an organization that is in many countries. This is very likely referring to the Roman Catholic Church.

“13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.” - 1 Peter 5:13 NKJV (1982)

VATICAN CITY

It is thought that Peter was in Rome when he wrote this letter. She (the church) who is in Babylon (Rome) is apparently referring to Rome as Babylon.

She is guilty of killing many saints.

Rome was the city on seven hills in ancient literature.

There will be a new financial set up with a numbering system. See Revelation 13 for the details of this numbering system.

Revelation 18:1-8

THE BURNING OF THE HARLOT BABYLON

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. 7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. - Rev. 18:1-8 NKJV (1982)

Kings of the earth, merchants, and shipmasters mourned over her.

- THE TWO SYMBOLS SYNCHRONIZE WITH EACH OTHER -

The Fifth Kingdom On The Image Is The Seventh Kingdom On The Beast

THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS & 10 HORNS THE IMAGE

Revelation 17 Daniel 2

1. EGYPTIAN Israel Began

2. ASSYRIAN

3. BABYLONIAN 1 - Gold Head Daniel 2:37-38

4. PERSIAN 2 - Silver Chest & Arms

5. GREEK 3 - Bronze Belly & Thighs

6. ROMAN Rev. 17:10-11 “one is” 4 - Iron Legs

The Jewish Diaspora: 70 AD - 1948

7. DIVIDED KINGDOM W/10 HORNS Israel Began - 1948 5 - Iron & Clay Feet
Note that the seventh and eighths kingdoms are made up of two kingdoms

as noted in Daniel 2: iron and clay.

THE WOUNDING OF THE SEVENTH KINGDOM (Rev. 13:3)

The seven year Jerusalem covenant

8. DIVIDED KINGDOM w/10 Horns

Satan and his angels are thrown to the earth (Rev. 17:11-14, 20:10).

THE WOUND IS HEALED (Rev. 13:3).

Satan and his angels will be thrown to the earth for a 3-1/2 year period (Rev. 12:7-17, 13:5).

The seven bowls of wrath take place (Rev. 16:1-21).

THE KINGDOM OF GOD The stone crushes the image and fills the earth (Dan. 2:44-45).

Jesus will return to rule the earth.

__________________________________

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS

2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

Concerning The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ

And Our Being Gathered Together To Him

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ

And Our Gathering To Him Will Not Come

Until The Man of Lawlessness Is Revealed

He Will Sit In The Temple of God

Proclaiming Himself To Be God

3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2 Thess. 2:1-12 ESV (2016)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

When They Say “Peace and safety”

Then There Will Be Sudden Destruction

But You Brethren Are Not In Darkness

So This Day Should Not Take You By Surprise

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

God Did Not Appoint Us To Wrath

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

- 1 These. 5:1-11 NKJV (1982)

- REVELATION 12 -

SATAN AND HIS ANGELS ARE CAST TO THE EARTH

Their Kingdom Will Last For 42 Months (3-1/2 Years)

This Is The Eighth Head (Kingdom) On The Beast

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

Apparently Satan’s rule over the earth ends at the time of the seventh trumpet and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. This is also the time to judge the dead and reward God’s prophets and saints (Rev. 11:15-18).

Revelation 12:1-14

SATAN AND HIS ANGELS ARE CAST TO THE EARTH

He Knows That He Has A Short Time Left

Israel Flees Into The Wilderness For 3-1/2 Years

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Fiery Red Dragon - Satan

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

The Dragon, the Devil and Satan Will Be Cast To The Earth

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Israel Will Be Persecuted By The Devil

She Will Be Given Two Wings of A Great Eagle (the US?)

And Will Flee Into The Wilderness For 3-1/2 Years

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Rev. 12:1-14 NKJV (1982)

THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH

The seven bowls of wrath will be poured out during this 3-1/2 year period (Rev. 16:1-17).

The woman is Israel. The dragon is Satan. The stars are angels that followed Satan in his rebellion. The Child is Jesus. All authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus (Matt. 28:18). After Jesus was resurrected He was caught up to heaven.

The devil and his angels will be thrown to the earth (Rev. 12:7-12). This last secular kingdom will last for only 3-1/2 years (Rev. 13:3-5, 17:11).

Satan apparently had some access to heaven (Job 1:6). However Satan was defeated at the first coming of Christ (John 16:11).

- REVELATION 13 -

The Beast Rising Out of The Sea - EU

The Beast Rising Out of The Earth - UN

These are the two kingdoms that exist now: the UN and the EU. There will be a wounding of this system and then there will be a new international rule for a while. Then the EU-UN will be used during the 3-1/2 years when Satan and the antichrist rule.

Revelation 13:1-8

1. THE BEAST RISING OUT OF THE SEA - UN

Has A Sequence of Seven Heads (Kingdoms)

The Seventh Head Had A Wound That When Healed

Will Become The Eighth Head (Kingdom)

It Will Have Authority Over Every Nation

For 42 Months

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

3One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. - Rev. 13:1-8 ESV (2016)

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FOURTH BEAST IN REVELATION 13:2

THE EU/UN?

Like a leopard - China?

Feet like a bear - Russia

Mouth like a lion - United Kingdom (England) - Use of the English language?

It has 10 horns (military authorities)

2. BEAST RISING OUT OF THE EARTH - EU

With Two Horns (Military Leaders)

11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. - Rev. 13:11-18 ESV (2016)

This group of verses is speaking about a false prophet - possibly in Europe. The false prophet sets up a system of worship of the man of sin. He also sets up a system of buying and selling that requires the name of a man or the number of his name. His number is 666.

Anyone who worships the beast (the man of sin) and his image, and receives the mark of his name, the number of his name on their right hand or forehead will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.

Torment For Worshipers of The Coming Beast

And His Image

Revelation 14:9-11

9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” - Rev. 14:9-11 NASB (1995)

*DANIEL 7 AND THE LITTLE HORN*

A COURT TRIAL FOR FOUR KINGDOMS

When Jesus Returns

This chapter is about a court hearing in which the Ancient of Days sits in the court hearing, and Jesus is given a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His kingdoms will not pass away (Dan. 7:13-14).

The three kingdoms symbolized by a lion (the United Kingdom), a bear (Russia) , and a leopard (China?) are allowed to continue for a while, but their dominion is taken away.

However the fourth beast, the one with a horn speaking pompous words will be slain and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame (Dan. 7:11-12).

I. LION: United Kingdom

The eagle wings that were plucked off: the United States

2. BEAR: Russia

3 Ribs in its mouth:

3. LEOPARD: China?

4 wings:

4. Terrible Beast:

The last international kingdom

The eighth head on the beast in Revelation 17 - EU/UN

4. THE TERRIBLE BEAST W/10 HORNS

It has iron teeth and bronze claws (Rev. 7:19). A little horn came up among the ten horns and waged war against the saints and defeated them until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom (Rev. 7:19-22).

The eighth head takes place after the rapture. This eighth kingdom last for only 3-1/2 years (Rev. 12:6, 13:5). It is the period when the bowls of wrath take place (Rev. 11:15-18).

The harlot Babylon rides the beast (Rev. 17 & 18).

Daniel 7:3-14

THE LION, BEAR, AND LEOPARD KINGDOMS

AND THE TERRIBLE KINGDOM

THE LITTLE HORN AND THE TEN HORNS

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

5 “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

THE FOURTH KINGDOM - THE TERRIBLE BEAST

A LITTLE HORN WILL COME UP AMONG 10 HORNS

THREE OF THE FIRST HORNS WILL BE REMOVED

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Remember! This court trial ends the divided kingdom. The three other beasts (kingdoms) are allowed to continue for a while.

The large horn on the goat in Daniel 8 is Alexander the Great. Therefore horns are associated with military power.

THE COURT JUDGES THE FOUR KINGDOMS

The Dominion of The First Three Beasts (Kingdoms)

Was Taken Away

Yet Their Lives Were Prolonged For A While

The Fourth Beast (Kingdom) Is Slain

9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire;

10 a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. - Daniel 7:3-14 NKJV (1982)

19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. - Dan. 7:19-22 NKJV (1982)

THE SIGN OF THE COMING OF JESUS AND THE END OF THE AGE

TRIBULATION THEN GATHERING

Matthew 24:1-31

Jesus Foretells The Destruction of The Temple

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

What Will Be The Sign of Your Coming

And The End of The Age?

3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

They Will Deliver You Up To Tribulation

And Put You To Death

Many Will Fall Away And Hate One Another

False Prophets, Lawlessness

The Love of Many Will Grow Cold

This Gospel of The Kingdom Will Be Preached

To All The World Then The End Will Come

9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

When You See The Abomination

Spoken Of By Daniel The Prophet

Then Let Those In Judea Flee To The Mountains

15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

THE TRIBULATION AND RAPTURE

17Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

For Then There Will Be Great Tribulation

But For The Sake of The Elect

Those Days Will Be Cut Short

21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Son of Man Will Come Immediately After

The Tribulation of Those Days

29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” - Matt. 24:15-31 ESV (2016)

1 Thess. 4:13-18

THE CATCHING UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR

Thus We Shall Always Be With The Lord

13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words. - 1 Thess. 4:13-18 NKJV (1982)

JESUS WILL RETURN AND SAVE JUDAH AND THEN ISRAEL

FROM THE NATIONS THAT HAVE COME AGAINST THEM

This apparently takes place when Jesus returns with the armies of heaven and He destroys the armies that have come to fight against Him (Revelation 19:19).

Zechariah 12:1-11

The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2“Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’

6“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

7“And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them. 9And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

They Will Look On Him Whom They Have Pierced

10“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. - Zechariah 12:1-11 ESV (2016)

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES

A LITTLE HORN IN THE PAST FROM THE SYRIAN BRANCH

OF THE GREEK EMPIRE

In Daniel 8 the large horn on the male goat is Alexander the Great. The little horn here is Antiochus Epiphanes of the Syrian branch of the Greek Empire. He seems to be a forerunner of the little horn in the latter days in Daniel 7.

Daniel 8:5-14

5As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6He came to the ram with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath. 7I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him and struck the ram and broke his two horns. And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. And there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. 8Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.

9Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. 11It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. 12And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. 13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?” 14And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.” - Daniel 8:5-14 ESV (2016)

No One Comes To The Father Except Through Jesus

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 ESV (2016)

37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” - John 6:37 NASB (1995

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all. - Psalm 34:19 NKJV (1982)

Animal Photographs From Wikipedia

The Holy Bible, New King James Version

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

TYNDALE, New Living Translation, NLT, the New Living Translation logo, and Tyndale’s Quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers