| Subject: Dan. Chap. 7 vss 1-7 (part 2) post 35 |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 20:09:16 01/15/10 Fri
The first beast was a lion with the wings of a foul which had it's wings plucked. The prophecy doesn't state how the wings were plucked but they could be plucked from within. If the wings truly is the U.S then we have a communist movement in this very day that is bringing America down from the lofty heights she has soared to in the last 200 plus years. I would definitely say we are doing a good job of plucking our own wings with this present government.
The first beast then was a lion and we don't need to lose sight of that. The wings were incidental to the lion. The lion was the primary beast. We then go on down in the chapter and come to the next beast: "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."
In trying to determine what kingdom each beast represents we must recognize one very large fact. No one knows for sure what kingdoms these beasts represent. We may guess based on the hints given but it doesn't take much searching and reading to realize their are more theories on these beasts than there are books in the Bible. If the 1st beast was the English Empire including the United States of America (and I say if) then we are looking for a rising power that will "pluck" the wings and alter the ferocity and influence of the lion. We need to see also that the prophecy does not state the lion will be destroyed. Notice this statement in Daniel7:12: "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." We also should remember that in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2 that all four kingdoms fell at the same time when the Stone struck the feet of the statue. One kingdom had replaced another as far as dominion was concerned but the nations still existed. Think, if you will, of the Soviet block of nations. We had the tendency to identify them as the Soviet Union but within that union was Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Georgia, Chechnya, East Germany etc. Russia had conquered but they still had recognizable borders and governments albeit puppet governments. In the time of Jesus, Rome had conquered but Israel had a government of their own that ruled within the Roman authority. This is probably the way it will work with these 4 beasts that we are looking at now.
As to the bear it's pre-Messiah identity must be reckoned as Greece or Macedonia but to me the fit is not good. Greece would fit the leopard better especially with the 4 wings and heads matching the 4 generals and divisions of the Macedonian Empire. As we shall see later the Bible gives clear indication that Greece or Macedonia is much in this scenario. In order to make Greece the leopard we have to find another nation between Persia and Greece and it just won't work. You could I suppose reckon Media and Persia as two separate beasts but the Bible lumps them as one. Having said that I would like to state clearly that I see the primary aim of the prophecy to be the end times. The era we live in today.
As to this post crucifixion era I would have to, at this point, guess on the bear being the kingdom we identify with the bear today. Almost everyone knows of the "Russian Bear". Russia for years has had great influence in the Middle East. All of the nations in that area have had much dealings with Russia and many have been allied with Russia. When you look at Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Iraq you can readily see the great influence Russia has in this tinderbox that is to explode one day.
All that remains for Russia to move in is for the wings of the U.S. to get plucked from without or from within.
The prophecy states the bear will raise up one side and devour "much flesh". In the vision Daniel sees three ribs in it's mouth which will represent three distinct nations or areas of conquest. Since we are concerned with the Middle East and Israel we would suspect the direction the bear will face as it rises will be south. All indications are the invasion of the middle east will come from the north. If you look at Ezekiel chapters 38-39 you will see this northern invasion and the enemy is almost universally thought to be Russia and it's alliance.
I don't know what the specifics are of the 3 ribs but Syria, Turkey and Iran would fit nicely. All of these are either in the Russian sphere or are moving quickly in that direction. The much flesh devoured would be all those killed at the hand of the bear (or by her proxy nations) in her conquest of the middle east.
Lumbering clumsily and creating much destruction, havoc and misery. We should again take note that it is not said this beast destroys the lion with wings nor does it say it plucked the wings from the lion. The command to: "Arise, devour much flesh" comes again from none other than the illusive "they". Again I will state I believe the devils crew are much in evidence in the governments of the world. From the fallen angels in Genesis 6 to the iron mixed with the clay of Daniel two and the watchers and holy ones that drove Nebuchadnezzar in to the fields to graze as a cow, we have evidence that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:12)
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