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In the Book of Daniel Chapter 2, God told, through the dream of Nebuchadnessar, about a series of empires in history which rose and fell from the time of Babylonian Empire through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Then, in Chapter 7, a dream of Daniel was told. The dream was also about
the same empires appeared in chapter 2 but told in the different way. God
repeated the same story probably because there is a significant meaning
in those empires which rose and fell before the Latter Days. In Chapter
7, those empires were represented by beasts. A lion, a bear, a leopard
and a dreadful and terrible one which appeared in Chapter 7 corresponded
to fine gold, silver, bronze and iron in Chapter 2 respectively.
"The first was like a lion, and had a eagle's wings." ( Daniel 7:4 )
The lion must have implied Babylonian Empire as the national crest of ancient
Babylon was a lion. And its wings symbolized the quickness of action. It
is well known that King Nebuchadnessar's invasions into the neighboring
countries were made very rapidly.
The next empire mentioned in Daniel 7:5: "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."
The next one must have been Medo-Persia Empire. As a bear is bigger than
a lion but slower in motion, it was bigger than Babylon but slower in actions.
"Three ribs in its mouth" is thought to represent Lydia, Egypt
and Babylon which this empire destroyed.
The third one is mentioned in Daniel 7: 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 third empire is Greek. Alexander the great conquered vast territory
in very short period of time, 4700 square kilos in 8 years. His army reached
to the Indian border. Four wings is thought to represent this rapidness
of his conquest. it had four heads. His empire was divided into four countries
after his death.
The fourth one is mentioned in Daniel 7:7 as "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." This
surely is the description of Roman Empire. Rome had exeedingly strong power
and conquered many countries using its unparalleled military strength.
We would learn more about the Roman Empire from the Book of Daniel Chapter 7 next time.
September 2008
The Lord's Cross Christian Center Machida Church
Contact:080-3444-6407(Pastor Yumino)
E-mail: tlcccmachida@gmail.com