31 Metals These four sources of ancient past writings show that it - PDF document

31 Metals These four sources of ancient past writings show that it is not a new thing to interpret the metals of the statues of the dream in the Book of Daniel as the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. Hippolytus in the third century discusses the toes as well. Hence Hippolytus, Josephus and Gibbon all use the same identification of Empires for the metals and kingdoms as described. Some point out that the metals progress from greatest to least value. Gold, silver,bronze,iron. They also point out that even as we progress from the precious to the base metals the metals become stronger and more suitable for warfare. The ten toes are both strong and weak however. Isaac Newto n, b. Christmas 1643 . His father died before his birth. His mother remarried leaving him to grandparents. At Cambridge University he studied mathematics, optics, physics and astronomy. In 1665 a plague closed the university . At home for two years he thought about gravity, optics , mathematics, and ‘fluxions’ (calculus). Returning he became professor of mathematics. His reflecting telescope made him a fellow of the Royal Society. He discovered light is composed of rainbow colors (modern optics) . Newton’s work, ’Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy’ showed gravity applied to all objects in the universe. Edward Gibbon (1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788. The Decline and Fall is known principally for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources. Isaac Asimov in his writing of The Foundation Trilogy, said it involved “a little bit of cribbin’ from the works of Edward Gibbon” Josephu s (37 – c. 100 AD) also Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph son of Matthias) and Titus Flavius Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded first century Jewish history, such as the First Jewish–Roman War which resulted in the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Newton understood that Revelation and Daniel are books to be studied together . His book on this topic is found in the Library of Congress having arrived in the initial donation by Thomas Jefferson to start the Library of Congress. Surprisingly showing the bias of this age his other Christian writings were found and offered to Harvard among other Ivy League schools who turned down the

opportunity to be the storehouse of these writings. Ironically or providentially the Hebrew University of Israel accepted them. Should they study his works they will need to study the New Testament. Without Revelation the book of Daniel is not as readily understood. In summary in Prophecy there are 4 major kingdoms The Bible desires to inform the reader concerning. The last ten toes of the statue are the resurgence of the fourth kingdom. It will somehow have 10 principle kings. It will occur in the time of the end and its brutal reign would be successful except for the return of Christ who shall destroy it and set up his 1000 year kingdom. 32 Ten Kings Starting at the lower right one may see the Bibles decription of the ten kings . In the left hand upper corner is a quote from a 19th century book predicting the rise of a Roman Empire. The other two corners are quotes from an academic book of the 1990′s describing the prophecy subculture. The author does an excellent job of describing the consensus theory of the day. The consensus theory was described as involving ten kings. The ten toes or horns or kings are to be the final kingdom upon the earth that shall in some manner occupy Israel again as did all of the previous four kingdoms who are represented by the other metals in the statue of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.

33 European Antichrist rules Ten kings Note the consensus theory was that the Antichrist would be a European. The book ”When Time shall be no More” was written in 1992 and is helpful for our discussion so that you may understand the following: 1) The consensus of the many books this author read was that the “Antichrist” who would rise to rule the ten nation toes of the statue of Daniel was to arise from Europe. The term Antichrist simply means he will be an enemy of Christians and Christ. He may also attempt to take the place of Christ in the hearts of his citizens even as recent leaders such as Mao in China attempted to do. 2) His comment referencing Hippolytus demonstrates that this consensus view has roots going back to the early days of Christianity. 34 European Antichrist Leads Ten and extends his Influence Globally Note that the consensus theory was the Antichrist would extend his domain worldwide. These are important main points which may be used to help some generation understand and identify this leader. Most authors suggest that the Antichrist will rise in a manner that the general world will not have an idea as to his identity. Only in the later part of his reign and for a short time will he be revealed as a brutal but brilliant world ruler. Somehow and in some manner his rule has influence worldwide. Most authors do not think his influence is universal nor anywhere near complete. For some period of time however his influence is dramatic across the globe and unfortunately it is in a time of great warfare in which he shows brilliance.

35 Israel and the Ten Kings Note that all of the four metal empires occupied Israel. As a contrary example to the left one sees the Parthian Empire which while a major Empire did not occupy Israel and therefor was not part of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. All of the nations who occupied the AREA of Israel at other times such as the Ottoman Empire or Britain are also NOT part of the prophetic picture because Israel did not exist when they occupied Israel. The history of the first four Kingdoms occurring while Israel was in the land provides the implication that the future fulfillment with the ten kingdoms represented by the ten toes will also be a time when Israel is in the land.

At some time Israel will come under the influence of the revived fourth kingdom as a new fifth kingdom with a ten nation component. In some manner Israel will at first see this fifth kingdom to be a friend but at a later time it will become an adversary who will control Israel until in the last years of the kingdom Jerusalem will be trodden down by the gentile nations of the world. The gentiles are believed to be predominately from the revised Roman Empire and to include military forces. It is to be a time of ever increasing difficulty called by some areas of scripture as the “Time of Jacobs trouble”. 36 Codependency Note that this book from 1916 stated that the rise of Rome and Israel would occur at essentially the same time period. The understanding of this as a principle in the future fulfillment of prophecy was well understood nearly one hundred years ago. It was expected that Israel and a revived Roman empire would need to be in existence again together. In 1916 when this was written those requirements had not existed for nearly two thousand years. The concept was not something derived more recently. It was also expected that a ten fold form would be seen. In 1850 both of these were unlikely impossibilities. Certainly Napoleon Bonaparte and the later Napoleonic generation had pretensions to European rule and Bonaparte had almost succeeded in the first decade of the 19th century. The picture was incomplete until Israel could also arise on the scene. It was not until late in the 19th century that the world Zionist movement began. the Zionist movement hoped for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. 37 Keep things in Order Two books are referenced in this slide. In the book “ Revelation Expounded ” the author makes it clear that the little horn arises after the ten kingdoms and not before. This cannot be over emphasized. The ten nations arrive before the arrival of the little horn. It is this little horn that is identified as the Antichrist. The little horn is separate and distinct from the other ten horns. The little horn arises AFTER the ten horns, ten Kings or ten Toes. Applying this understanding narrows the field.