Now let us compare the beast described in Daniel and the beast described in Revelation to do determine if in fact the prophet Daniel and the apostle John referred to the same power.
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; 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. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 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. Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. Daniel 7:19-25
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 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. 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. 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. Revelation 12:3-6
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. Revelation 12:14
Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:2-7
We start seeing the similarities between these two beasts that are described. Later we will join the these prophecies with dream about a statue that Daniel interpreted in Chapter 2 to better understand which powers are represented.
Daniel 7 | Rev. 12, 13 |
"10 horns" | "10 horns" |
“mouth which spoke pompous words” | “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” |
“shall persecute the saints of the Most High” | “granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them” |
“shall speak pompous words against the Most High” | “blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name” |
“time and times and half a time” | “1260 days”, “time and times and half a time”, “forty-two months” |
7 Horns left | “seven heads” |
Lion, Bear, Leopard | “leopard”, “the feet of a bear”, “ mouth of a lion” |
I will not go into the interpretation of these beasts in this study. I just want to make clarify some points which are necessary to correctly interpret these prophecies. Daniel, a prophet of the Lord did not understand its significance until the angel revealed it to him. We can not enter the study of these prophecies without first asking for the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. Also the book was sealed until the end time, so that we would not understand its significance until certain events occurred. Finally, in order to understand the meaning of these prophecies we will need to look at the Bible as a whole and not as individual books written by individual authors. Men wrote what God revealed to them. The Bible is the word of God!
I conclude by leaving a question which will be important when we discuss the powers represented by this beast.
If God revealed this prophecy in symbols, using beasts, horns and water would it be logical then to conclude that the time marked in the prophecy would also be prophetic?
Let’s not forget that Daniel was a sealed book, with the intention of people not understanding most of it until the time was right.
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