A New Perspective on Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel Chapter 7: A New Perspective Teddy Lishan Desta, PhD 2006 Abstract Commentators on Daniel Chapter 7 often rely on the literal and historical in their interpretations. However, such methods fail to disclose the profound message God has encoded in the visions He had granted to Daniel. This article follows a different path in its search for the true meaning of Daniel’s vision. The article gives priority to the symbolic and figurative elements that invariably distinguish dreams and visions. To achieve objectivity, the interpretation method follows biblical patterns, relies on common symbolic figures and metaphors, and draws ideas from modern-day political realities. The Prevailing View Some of the most often quoted Biblical prophecies on end time events come from the Book of Daniel. Conservative Bible scholars, whose views currently predominate end times Biblical prophetic studies, generally agree on the interpretation of the visions of this 6th century B.C. Israelite prophet. It is important to note their perspective before presenting alternative interpretations of Daniel Chapter 7, one of the most frequently cited starting points for expounding end times Bible prophecies. The commonly accepted interpretation is as follows: First, the churning great sea represents the Mediterranean Sea, around which the major classical world empires arose. Second, the wild beasts arising from the stormy sea symbolize successive world empires - Neo-Babylonia, MedoPersia, Greece, and Rome. The ten horns of the fourth beast represent a future confederation of 1 European countries that will form a revived Roman Empire. The little horn emerging from among the ten horns signifies an individual (widely understood as the Antichrist) who will play a key role in reviving the Roman Empire. According to the traditional view, the Antichrist will defeat three states in the European Union on his path to global domination. He will be blasphemous, arrogant, and manifest deep hatred for God and God's people. His reign would last seven years, with the final three and a half years marked by intense persecution of the saints, known as the Great Tribulation. This persecution will be cut short only by Christ's blazing return, which will bring an end to the Antichrist's rule and inaugurate an eternal kingdom ruled by the saints. However, this common interpretation of Daniel’s vision has some exegetical flaws that compel us to reexamine the text. First, it is never clearly explained how conditions in the Mediterranean Sea led to the rise of these powerful empires. No historical evidence suggests turmoil in the Mediterranean was responsible for the birth or dominance of these kingdoms. On the contrary, each empire arose from dynamic domestic developments, taking anywhere from decades to centuries to become regional and world powers. Second, the text depicts all four beasts rising from a churning sea, likely a metaphor for societal turmoil that birthed mighty political forces. However, great empires rarely emerge from chaos. They typically result from evolutionary historical processes. The circumstances surrounding the rise of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome were unique to each; they do not share a common background of social and political upheaval. Third, it is indicated in the vision that the other three beasts still exist when God destroys the fourth beast (Dan. 7:12). Which fact requires to recognize that the four beasts are 2 contemporaneous, or co-exist. However, based on the literal and historical interpretation which sees the fours beasts as Neo-Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece, it is hard to admit that the earlier three will be present at the time God judges the revived Roman Empire at the Second Coming. Dispensationalists do not claim that these empires will be resurrected alongside a revived Roman Empire. Hence, for this reason, the literal and historical interpretation is flawed. Fourth, the interpretations provided by the historical school is flawed because it ignores the fact that at the time of Jesus Christ, He still looked forward to the fulfillment of the abomination of desolation, the horror caused by the little horn. Hence, the historical school’s claims that Antiochus Epiphanes caused horrors (171-167 B.C.) exhaustively fulfils Daniel’s vision would be wrong. On the other hand, the preterist view that Titus' destruction of the Second Temple (70 A.D.) fulfils Daniel Chapter vision ignores the fact the Roman Empire was not judged soon after and the saints started to reign over the world as predicted by the vision. Fifth, the dispensationalist dissects the fourth beast into two halves or periods. But there is no textual basis to warrant such an interpretation. It is plausible, either to make the fourth beast, as it is, an end times political phenomenon, or stick with the historical reality can confine the Roman Empire to its well-accepted time period. Cutting the fourth beast at its horns to insert an extended intermission is not supported by the text provided. Sixth the understanding of all schools about the Son of Man seen in Dan. 7:13-18 is flawed. Few interpret it in the context of end time events. The eschatological orientation of the vision requires us to give the Son of Man’s investiture of power end times interpretation. But few do. However, at least given Jesus’s words in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 and the vision in Chapter 12, an end time investiture of universal power should be accepted as a possibility. It has been this type of end times teaching which has dominated the protestant-evangelical world. The teaching has been highly popularized through paperbacks that focus on end times events. But the following alternative interpretation of end time prophecy is presented as a corrective viewpoint. 3 Reinterpreting Daniel Chapter 7: An Alternative View The starting point to understand Daniel’s vision should be first to duly acknowledge that this is a vision. God, who is the author of such visions and dreams, rarely conveys His message in clear, literal terms. Rather, in all the visions and dreams God gives, he gives them in forms imbued with rich symbolism and metaphors (Num. 12:6-7; Ps 78:2; Prov. 25:2; Is. 29:9-12). This is made clearer to us as we examine the visions and dreams recorded in the Bible. Therefore, in attempting to interpret any prophetic vision or a dream like those of Daniel’s properly, every nuance of symbol and metaphor should be carefully considered. This could be done with success only through the gift of interpretation bestowed by the Holy Spirit and by the careful and diligent study of the Scriptures (Gen. 41:16; Dan. 1:17, 5:11; Prov. 1:3-6; 1 Cor. 2). For example, in the cases of Joseph and Daniel, their ability to interpret dreams and visions came directly from God, and we do not see them following a literal or historical method of dream interpretation. Rather as guided by the Holy Spirit they decoded the symbolism and metaphor of each dream before they could give the correct interpretation and based on that the right counsel. Another good example is the dream we read about in Judges 7:13-15. This dream pointed towards Gideon’s calling to destroy the Midianite army. Note how the message in the dream was wrapped up in symbolic form. When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend [about] a dream. He said, "Listen, I had a dream: a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed." His friend answered: "This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the 4 Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him." When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel's camp and said, "Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you. (Jud. 7: 13-15) Any literal interpretation of the above dream would have led to a wrong meaning and to a different outcome. Similarly, in the New Testament one good example to show that visions come in symbolic form is the trance St. Peter had in Acts 10:9-15. He saw heaven opened and an object coming down that resembled a large sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!" "No, Lord!" Peter said. "For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!" Again, a second time, a voice said to him, "What God has made clean, you must not call common." This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven. (Acts 10: 11-16) The intent of this vision was not to ask Peter to overcome his traditional inhibition about nonkosher food. Rather it was meant to convey to him his obligation to preach the Gospel to the gentiles whom he, like his fellow Jews, considered unclean. Had Peter failed to understand the symbolic nature of this vision, he would have totally missed the historic moment God had opened for him at the house of the Roman soldier Cornelius. 5 However, it is such symbolic and metaphorical nature of prophetic visions that most Bible prophetic students miss. Their emphasis has not been in decoding the symbols and metaphors which enrich the visions. Rather they focus heavily on finding historical patterns which easily fit the flow of events featured in the visions. For this reason, literalism and historicism have riddled the interpretation of Biblical prophetic visions. It would be hard to accept, therefore, that the Divine mind is correctly served by such an interpretative approach. There is also a second reason why we cannot apply the historical approach to the vision of the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel. Contrary to what he does in his other visions, in this chapter, he does not provide us with any historical event that could serve us as a clue to interpretation. For example, he makes no reference to any of the ancient empires which we come across in his other visions. There is no mention of Babylon, Persia, or Greece. Rather, the vision is told in overwhelmingly symbolic and figurative language. The vision, so to speak, is suspended in time. In doing this, there should be a Divine wisdom. But what is it? The absence of any historical reference makes us conceive the vision in abstract terms. Hence, first we have to decode the symbols and metaphors in universalistic terms before we try to tie down the prophesied events to any historical time period. Given the above-mentioned two reasons, paying proper attention to symbolism and metaphorical language is hereafter considered the crux of understanding the ultimate meaning of this vision. 6 Symbolism of the Vision The major protagonists of the prophetic drama are presented to us in the form of wild animals. As said earlier, the prophetic significance of these wild animals should come only after careful interpretation of the metaphor and symbolism implied by their features and actions. To do justice to the nature of the vision, therefore, first we will delve into the abstraction of the symbols and metaphors. That will allow us to extract the universal message first without making any historical association between vision and modern-day political event(s). Only the second part of this article will make the attempt to establish some connection between this vision and some relevant historical events. The Political Storm “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary of his account. Daniel said, ‘In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other’” (Dan 7:1-3). Sea or body of water in Scripture often symbolizes the masses of humanity, or a nation (cf. Num. 24:7; Is 17:12; Hab. 1:14; Rev. 17:15). The four winds churning the sea symbolize major contending ideas (cf. Eph. 4:14). Winds are emblematical of doctrines, ideas, or in terms of this highly politically charged vision, they are ideological forces. What we, therefore, observe is how the people are agitated and thrown into turbulence by contending and prevailing winds of 7 political doctrines. The number four symbolizes the four corners of the world, implying diversity and polarity of the political viewpoints fiercely blowing among the people. In short, the vision depicts, in a metaphorical way, a revolutionary situation brewing among the people. From the political flux, from the maelstrom, emerge four major contenders for power and make their presence felt on the political stage. The four wild beasts are metaphors for coalescing political forces, representing and shaping the turbulent situation through their conflict and interaction. Scripture employs the metaphor of wild animals to describe kings, nations, or individuals with political roles (see, for example, Num. 24:8; Ps. 80:13; Jer. 49:19, 21; Ezk. 32:2-3, etc). In the case of this vision, we can take the four animals as the coalescing or materialization of the four contending and clashing political ideas or forces. In modern terms, the four beasts are political animals, forms of political movements, parties, or institutions. These forces act and interact in the midst of the brewing political turmoil (possibly a revolution) as they vie for influence and dominance. One idea we have to recognize about the four beasts is that they are contemporaries, and not as hitherto taught, sequential political empires. Many have written saying that the four wild animals represent successive world empires. But it should be clear from Daniel’s narrative that the four animals manifest and operate almost within the same time period. Here are two reasons why the political forces symbolized by the four beasts should be considered contemporaries to each other and not sequential: First, the first three animals are present when God judges the fourth beast. This is impossible to happen if they succeeded one another on the world stage by destroying their 8 immediate predecessor. Second, Daniel tells us God would give extension of life to the three beasts when He totally destroys the fourth beast. This cannot be true unless all the four beasts are around at the time of judgment (see Dan. 7: 11-12). Another point we have to make is this. If the four beasts are contemporaries to each other and all will be around at Christ’s Second Coming, then in order to fully grasp each beast’s prophetic import we have to understand/ interpret each beast in terms of modern-day politics. If we say that we live in the last days — very close to Christ’s Second Coming — then we have to accept that political forces which He will subdue at His coming will be modern, and not ancient and classical political formations. If this is correct then we have to interpret the four beasts properly looking closely for its modern day parallel or manifestation. The symbolism inherent in each of the nature of the four beasts as well as the descriptions given to each beast in this vision help us to make the identification the beasts in modern terms easier. The Political Animals (i). The Lion The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind. (Dan. 7:4) The first animal Daniel observes emerging from the turbulent sea is the lion. As it is well known from both Scriptural and secular usage, the lion is the chosen symbol of might and majesty. Moreover, this lion has eagle’s wings. The wings give the lion an air of extra grandeur and loftiness. However, in due course, the wings get plucked. The mighty, dreadful lion ends up in the hands of its handlers, performing like a circus animal! 9 But in our search for symbolic meaning, what does such descriptions about the lion tell us about modern day political actors and events? The answer to this question lies through the proper decoding of the symbol of the lion and the metaphorical descriptions given about it. Through the centuries, the lion has been used as a symbol of kingdoms and empires, kings and strong leaders. Wings of the eagle the lion possesses serve additional metaphorical purpose. They likely signify all or any of the following attributes - an illustrious empire, a glorious and majestic king, an enduring dynasty, or some type of heavenly connection as in a claim of divine origin (Deut. 33:11). However, the plucking of wings predicts the subsequent downfall of the powerful and majestic lion. In the world of politics, clipping of wings is an often-used metaphor for the diminishing of power and influence. This does not come as a surprise given the pervading atmosphere of political turmoil cast in this vision. The lion could be the first to lose power and influence in the ensuing power struggle among the four political animals. However, the plucking of wings indicates the gradual nature of the removal of power and influence from the lion. In this sense, its enemies will sap the power and authority of the lion by working on it ‘one wing at a time.’ The weakening of its power, the trimming of its majesty, the stripping of its influence, the debunking of its claims, all will be accomplished in a gradual manner. In the end, the one-time dreaded lion will be tamed and controlled at the hands of its opponents. It will be caged and be made to learn to receive orders! If what has been said above about the lion is a fitting metaphor to describe a modern-day political event, and then what does it signify? God might have intended this to be a statement about the gradual downfall of a one-time powerful empire or an absolute ruler. As history attests, this is how absolute monarchs came to lose power - through popular unrest. Revolutions 10 curtailed the unlimited power and expansive authority of monarchs and princes. In the subsequent power struggle among forces representing the crown and the common people, kings and emperors have always lost the struggle eventually. As history attests, if not totally removed from power, absolute leaders are constrained by the rule (stick) of law and made to obey the will (voice) of the people. (ii). The Bear Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh. (Dan. 7:5) The bear is a bulky, slow moving, crouching animal with a tendency towards bitterness and vengeance. Scripture depicts it as a very strong, voracious and destructive wild animal (2 Sam. 17:34-37; 2 Kgs. 2:23-25; Pr. 17: 12, 28:18; Hos. 13:8). In this vision, the bear has two important additional features - it is lop-sided, and devours much flesh and crunches a lot of bones. In its metaphorical sense, therefore, the bear is intended to symbolize a political force, which is, - slow in developing and asserting its strength, - parochial in its operations, - implacable and intractable, and a cause of much death and destruction. As Daniel says, the bear, ‘raised up itself on one side’ (v. 5), and a political force, which fulfills such a metaphor in modern political terms, is a sectarian political movement operating in one side (corner) of a country. Such a political force usually engages in a war of attrition, fulfilling the Scriptural prophecy of, ‘arise and devour much flesh’ (v. 5). 11 A political movement of such nature, as history shows is most often organized around class, culture, or regional identity. Uprisings or insurgencies based on class, ideology and even religion, all tend to involve many people across the nation. On the other hand, political movements based on regional or ethnic identity turn out to be highly localized, limiting their operation to one part of the country. Moreover, they prove to be very intractable, difficult to placate or overcome. Hence, such conflicts drag out for years causing much destruction to human life and to the economy. As history shows us, such low scale, simmering regional conflicts turn out to be perpetual death machines. Like the bear in Daniel’s vision, the conflicts relentlessly grind human flesh and bones, killing soldiers and civilians by the thousands over the years. The three ribs in the mouth of the bear are, therefore, indicative of the completeness or enormity of the destructive power of such a political movement. (iii). The Leopard While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule. (Dan. 7:6) The leopard as a wild animal is best known for its speed, lurking steps and bloodthirsty habits. It is a master of hiding, of careful moves, and skillful ambushes. In its physical appearance, the leopard is a spotted animal (Jer. 13:23); the color of its skin allows it to camouflage and blend with its surrounding easily. The leopard in Daniel’s vision is depicted as having four heads and four wings on its back. Those these features make the animal grotesque, for our purpose they add metaphorical value to its political meaning. Based on the natural characters and these additional features of the leopard, we form the basis of our search for a modern-day political force that displays the following qualities, - It operates in the shadows: it’s covert, underground, and clandestine. 12 - It is ambushing: it engages in activities that are guerilla in type. - It is master of ambushes, assassinations or terrorist acts. - In appearance it is not monochrome: is composed of diverse followers. - It is universal in operation: its four heads and four wings imply this idea. - It has multiple heads: it will be composed of intellectuals. - It has multiple wings: it is active and agile. - It will have a certain dominion: it can be associated with a particular political base in terms of support. Therefore, based on the above characteristics, we can deduce the following regarding the most likely modern-day representation of Daniel’s leopard. First, the political organization will operate in the shadows, be a master in setting up ambushes and in launching sudden attacks. Second, the political organization will draw its supporters from various sections of society. Since it so diverse in its followers this organization can easily hide itself among the public (just as the leopard’s mottled skin allows it to be camouflaged in the forest). For this reason, this political organization will be hard to detect and confront. Third, the leopard’s four heads imply two things. First, they entail the pervasive influence of the party. Its influence will be felt throughout the four corners of the nation. Secondly, the leopard’s 13 multiple heads imply the exceptional mental acumen and intellectual sophistication this political organization will possess. In this implies that this organization will rely on intellectual persuasion to make its influence felt. Meaning in order to get acceptance this party will not rely on appeal to the status quo or history (lion), ethnic identity (bear), or brute force (fourth beast). It will rather try to establish legitimacy and influence through its brain power. Similarly, the four wings of the fowl on the leopard’s back signify two things about the organization. First, this political entity will be highly mobile or agile. That may mean that it can quickly change its location or positions for security or tactical reasons. Or, possibly its cadres can nimbly move around throughout the land. Secondly, unlike the wings of the lion, the leopard possesses weak wings like those of a fowl. Hence, metaphorically speaking, compared to the lion with eagle wings, the leopard will not soar high or travel long. That means this organization will have neither a celebrated career nor a long political life like the monarchy. Given these features then we ask which of the modern-day political forces can closely represent the Daniel’s cryptic leopard. Which modern day political force is clandestine, uses ambushes and terrorist tactics, recruits its followers from various ethnic groups, is nationwide in its operations, has strong intellectual (secular) predisposition, and is made of followers young in age. However, there is one last thing we have to consider about the leopard as a political metaphor. According to Scripture and secular history, there are two types of shadowy (clandestine) ambushing political forces. For example, the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 5:6) makes the wolf a rural and the leopard an urban symbol of clandestine ambushing forces. In that sense, the leopard in 14 Daniel’s vision, represents an urban-based clandestine party, made up of intellectuals, with a nationwide operation, and engaging in terroristic (hit-and-run urban guerilla) tactics. (iv). The Hideous Fourth Beast While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns. While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man's, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly. (Dan 7:7-8) The fourth beast in its appearance is out of the ordinary. It is grotesque and most terrifying. It is also very powerful to easily overcome the rest of the three animals. Since Daniel could not easily find a match that looked like the fourth beast, he left it nameless. As Daniel saw it, the beast was, “Diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet... it shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces” (vv. 19, 23). Moreover, some of the unique features of the Beast are its ten horns. What was surprising about these horns was not their numbers, but that they apparently possessed a life of their own! They engage in what appears to be a power struggle among each other. Literally, they remove each other from position! The victorious one from such a struggle, as Daniel calls it, is a ‘little horn’. 15 This little horn first has to overthrow three other prominent horns, before it made itself supreme. Moreover, the little horn showed great antipathy to God and His people. It had all the features of utter arrogance and cruelty. As Daniel noted, the little horn had, Eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things… whose look was more stout than its fellows” (v. 20). How can then we translate this terrifying and all-conquering Beast and the little horn in terms of modern politics? In this regard, a few options are open to us. The metaphors implied by such descriptions as - hideous and most powerful animal, powerful teeth, power to overcome all the other animals, devouring the land, multiple horns that competed among each other for position, and immense antipathy to God and the saints – should make us think in very limited directions. We can conclude that this organization is something in the order of an atheistic authoritarian system or a military dictatorship with left-wing tendencies. Such a supposition is defended on the following grounds. (i). Diverse looks: - Political entities as atheistic authoritarian systems or military dictatorships infuse dread among the people rather than respect and consent. Anything operating through the force of arms in politics is a political anomaly rather than a natural phenomenon. Particularly, a military in power will be out of the ordinary, very unnatural. (ii). Hideous and terrifying appearance: - A totalitarian party or the military in state power are most terrifying to conceive or deal with. The military which possesses massive (fire) power and 16 discipline can easily inspire terror, followed by subservient obedience among the public. Hence, the appellation given to this political organization - the Beast. (iii). Destructive: – As modern history attests, the military or a militarized party has been responsible for oppression and suffering in almost every nation they have taken power. The first political edict such parties usually impose include the banning of other political parties, and the suppression of the people’s rights of assembly and free speech. Moreover, due to their amateur approach to politics, or as the result of ideological rigidity, such parties often cause incalculable damage to society, in terms of its economy, or cultural and political life. (iv). Ten horns: - This metaphor implies that this organization will be led by a select powerful individual representing the larger movement or institution. The number “ten” in its figurative use in the Scriptures means numerous or excessive (See for example, Gen. 31: 41; Num. 14: 22; Neh. 4:12; Job. 19:3; Zach. 8:23; Rev. 2: 10, etc.) That means the fourth political force will consist of a large group of individuals, who exercise collective leadership. The number “ten” is, therefore, intended to indicate an unusually large number of individuals who make up the collective leadership. In this sense, the fourth political force operates in the form of a leadership committee, which in modern political terms suggests the idea of a revolutionary council, a junta, or a central committee of a communist party. In a revolutionary condition, where there is much turbulence and uncertainty, an organization with an iron-will and iron-discipline emerges victorious over its other political rivals. This often happens among political organizations which possess an armed wing or use raw force to grab 17 power. Historically, a fascist, Nazi, or communist party, or a revolutionary armed group fit this billing. The fourth beast type could equally be the military that turns itself into a political institution through coup d’etats. In many developing countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Sub-Sahara Africa, the military has taken power in different places. The military has nearly always acted through a collective leadership and acted repressive. (v). The little horn: – Revolutionary councils, central committees, or military juntas, soon or later, manifest internal power struggles. Factions develop and personalities clash, often leading to political purges that could lead to executions, imprisonment, or exiles to those who lose in the power struggle. The power struggle ends once a powerful person emerges as a dictator. Daniel’s vision predicts exactly such a power struggle among the personalities that make the collective leadership of the fourth political force. The vision intimates that it would be an obscure or insignificant person (i.e., “little horn”) who through intrigue and ruthlessness will emerge victorious in the ensuing power struggle.1 According to the vision, the ‘little horn’ dictator would gain absolute power only after removing three prominent leaders (i.e., “horns”) who came before him. It is possible that the little horn could be using the three senior members as a front before he makes his series of moves to take absolute power. As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. (Dan. 8:8) According to Scriptures, ‘little’ is a figure of speech for an insignificant or despised person (Ps. 119:140), and ‘horn’ is a metaphor for might or ruler (Ps. 132:17; Lk. 1:70). Daniel 8:23-24 highlights some of the unique characteristics of the “little horn”, emphasizing the dictator’s cunning powers and ruthlessness. 1 18 The words that he has eyes like human eyes is intended to mean that this leader is of unusual intelligence. He has the skill to acquire and hold power. He is a master tactician able to outmaneuver all his rivals. Moreover, his mouth speaks arrogantly; he even becomes defiant of God. He unleashes persecution against the church. This to be true, the political organization represented by the fourth beast more than likely will have a rabid secularist ideology which will make take a stance that is anti-God and anti-church.1 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. (Dan. 7: 21 - 22) Moreover, it will be the fourth political organization that will subdue the other three forces. Its governance will be ruinous to the economy. The Beast will unleash an unprecedented The end times dictator would be atheistic and militaristic is indicated by the words of Daniel Chapter 11: 36-39. What is equally interesting in his ideology is that its political beliefs are not indigenous, but of foreign origin or import. That means that this leader converts over to a foreign ideology in order to consolidate power. For further details on this please see my commentary on Daniel 8, a separate work. 1 19 persecution against the saints of God (v. 25). Ultimately, God will take action against the fourth political force, by orchestrating events that will destroy it totally. In the meantime, as God judges the fourth beast, He will spare the other three political organizations from annihilation. God allows them to operate before the Kingdom of God is finally inaugurated on earth (vv. 11-12). (A). The Kingdom of God and the Son of Man When God judges the fourth beast and removes governmental power from its hands, He will at the same time bestow kingdom power and authority on the Son of Man (Dan 7: 13). Many understand the Son of Man to be the Lord Jesus Christ receiving Kingdom power and authority. Jesus is now seated at the right side of God, His father, waiting until God makes His enemies His footstool. Jesus will enter into His Kingdom rule at the end times after the demise of the kingdom of the Antichrist (Ps. 110; 2 The:2). However, there are also a few others who consider the Son of Man figure in Daniel’s vision as a figure for the collective body of all the saints of God (Dan. 7: 27). In end times revelatory terms, there are many who consider this Son of Man figure as an appellation for the ‘man-child company’, or as the ‘overcomer remnant.’ If this second line of interpretation of the Son of Man right then it will be a band of overcoming saints, represented by the Son of Man figure, who will receive Kingdom power, ushering in God’s rule on earth (Rom 8: 18-23). The son of man figure could also be an individual person who God can designates to be a leader. This idea can draw support from places such as Rev. 2:17, 26-27; 3:12; 21; 12:5; Zach. 6:13; Lk 17:22-25). In that sense, Dan. 7: 13-14, the vision about the son of man figure, need to be taken as one of end-times events. As the world passes through end time predicted convulsions and the political events as 20 described in Daniel’s visions unfold, as part of such phenomena, the Bible also makes us to expect the grandest investiture of power, of universal government, on God’s elect. Chapter 7 Fulfillment: Towards a Rubric Daniel Chapter 7 depicts a political turmoil with key players. The unfolding political turmoil, linked with the other visions of Daniel, amounts to a revolution that upends a monarchy and a traditional order. The revolutionary process creates a power struggle among various groups and culminates in the rise of an anti-God tyrannical dictator. Daniel’s visions pertain to happenings in the last days, which can be associated with the modern age. The Age of Enlightenment can be taken as a dawn of the modern age. Inspired by the values of the Enlightenment, several well-known political revolutions have taken place. However, which of these revolutions closely matches the events prophesied in Chapter 7 and other chapters. To help the search for a close match, the following criteria are developed and applied. The criteria are based on the new interpretation of Daniel Chapter 7 presented.1 1. A Monarch debased: Does the revolution overthrow or undermine a monarchy? 2. An intractable regional movement destroys: Does the revolution face a destructive regional secessionist movement? 3. A nationwide urban guerrilla movement born: Does the revolution feature a nationwide urban based guerrilla movement led by intellectuals and the youth? 1 See here: https://www.academia.edu/114003173/A_New_Perspective_on_Daniel_Chapter_7 21 4. A powerful organization dominates the revolution: Does the revolution cause a strong, oppressive, and suppressive political regime to arise? 5. Series of internal power struggles create a dictator: Does the organization called the fourth beast lead to the rise of a smart, but cruel dictator through intrigue and ruthlessness? 6. Did the dictator come to dominance only after eliminating three leaders who were above him in power and authority? 7. The revolution culminates in a fractious state: Does the unified state under the iron leg dictatorship of the anti-Christ end as a fractious state, plagued by ostensibly by ethnic or regional divisions? Rubric for Evaluating Revolutions A monarch Revolution dethroned & debased Regional insurgency Urban guerrilla movement Ruthless Dictator Fractious Oppressive dictator overthrows ethnic regime through three federal intrigue leaders state American Yes No No No No No No French Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Russian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Mexican No Yes No Yes Yes No No Chinese No No No Yes Yes No No Egyptian Yes No No Yes Yes No No Ethiopian Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Iranian Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes 22 Explanation 1. A Monarch Debased: o Yes: Indicates that the revolution successfully overthrew or significantly undermined the monarchy. o No: Indicates that the monarchy remained largely unaffected or was not a central target of the revolution. 2. Regional Secessionist Movement: o Yes: Indicates that the revolution faced a significant and destructive regional secessionist movement. o No: Indicates that no such movement posed a major challenge during the revolution. 3. Urban Guerrilla Movement: o Yes: Indicates the presence of a nationwide urban guerrilla movement led by intellectuals and the youth. o No: Indicates that no such movement was a prominent feature of the revolution. 4. Oppressive Regime: o Yes: Indicates that the revolution resulted in the rise of a strong, oppressive, and suppressive political regime. o No: Indicates that the new regime did not display strong oppressive and suppressive characteristics. 5. Dictator Through Intrigue: o Yes: Indicates that a dictator rose to power through intrigue and ruthlessness, often involving internal power struggles. o No: Indicates that no such dictator emerged, or their rise was not characterized by significant intrigue and ruthlessness. 6. Dictator overthrows three predecessors: o Yes: Indicates that the dictator came to dominate the state and party only after eliminating, one after the other, three leaders who were above him. o No: Indicates that the dictator though he engaged in a power struggle, he did not come to power after eliminating three leaders who were his predecessors. 7. Fractious State: o Yes: Indicates that the revolution resulted in a fractious state, plagued by ethnic or regional divisions. 23 o No: Indicates that the state remained unified and did not experience significant fractious divisions post-revolution. 24 END NOTES End Note 1: Comparison to Revolution Leaders 1. Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) Stalin was a member of the Bolshevik Party and rose to prominence after the Russian Revolution. Stalin did not initially target those who were above him but rather those who were his peers or potential rivals within the Communist Party. After Lenin's death, Stalin maneuvered to outflank his rivals, such as Leon Trotsky, Grigory Zinoviev, and Lev Kamenev. Stalin consolidated power by eliminating rivals through purges and show trials, but he did not stage an internal coup against higher-ranking officials during Lenin's time. 2. Mao Zedong (China): Mao was a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party and rose to power through the Long March and subsequent civil war. Mao faced internal party struggles but did not eliminate those above him in a coup-like manner. His purges, such as during the Cultural Revolution, targeted a broad range of party members and intellectuals but came after he had already consolidated significant power. Mao's consolidation of power involved ideological purges rather than an internal coup against higher-ranking officials during his rise. 3. Saddam Hussein (Iraq): Saddam rose through the ranks of the Ba'ath Party and became the de facto leader of Iraq before formally taking the presidency. 25 Saddam used fear and repression to eliminate rivals within the Ba'ath Party, but he did not stage an internal coup against higherranking officials in a single decisive move. Instead, he consolidated power gradually. Saddam's rise was characterized by eliminating peers and potential rivals, but not by directly overthrowing those above him in the hierarchy. 4. Adolf Hitler (Germany): Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party before becoming Chancellor of Germany. Hitler did use the Reichstag Fire and the Night of the Long Knives to eliminate political opponents and consolidate power. However, these were aimed at rivals and potential threats rather than a coup against those above him. Hitler's consolidation of power involved purges and the elimination of rivals, but not an internal coup against higher-ranking Nazi officials. 5. Mengistu Haile Mariam (Ethiopia) Mengistu Haile Mariam's rise to power was indeed characterized by the elimination of those who were above him in the political hierarchy, which makes his ascent somewhat distinct compared to others like Stalin, Mao, or Saddam. Mengistu's rise is notable for the direct elimination of those who were above him in the hierarchy of the Derg, essentially staging an internal coup. This is somewhat distinct from the methods used by Stalin, Mao, and Saddam, who primarily eliminated peers and potential rivals rather than directly overthrowing their superiors. Mengistu's actions reflect a particularly aggressive and 26 ruthless approach to gaining power within a military junta, making his ascent to leadership unique among these historical figures. Mengistu was initially a lower-ranking officer in the Derg, the military junta that took power in Ethiopia after overthrowing Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. Mengistu used ruthless tactics to rise to the top of the Derg. He eliminated key figures who were more prominent or held higher positions within the junta. This included the orchestrated assassination of General Aman Andom, the first chairman of the Derg, and later other rivals such as Tafari Benti and Atnafu Abate. Mengistu's systematic elimination of higher-ranking officials within the Derg allowed him to consolidate his power and eventually become the undisputed leader of Ethiopia. Mengistu Haile Mariam is widely known for his ruthless tactics in consolidating power within the Derg. His ascent to the top of the Derg was marked by the elimination of key rivals who were more prominent or influential than him. Notable instances include: Mengistu's rise to and maintenance of power were characterized by a significant degree of intrigue, betrayal, and ruthlessness: Mengistu was known for his skill in political maneuvering and manipulation. He frequently used accusations of counterrevolutionary activities and conspiracy to eliminate rivals. His ability to navigate the complex and often dangerous political landscape of the Derg was key to his survival and dominance. Mengistu’s ruthlessness is epitomized by the Red Terror campaign, during which tens of thousands of suspected political opponents, including students, intellectuals, and even members 27 of the Derg, were tortured and executed. This campaign instilled fear and suppressed dissent, consolidating Mengistu's grip on power. Mengistu maintained a pervasive security apparatus to monitor and suppress any potential opposition. The military and secret police were used extensively to root out dissent within the Derg and among the general population. To eliminate opposition and instill fear, Mengistu conducted show trials and public executions of those deemed threats. These acts were meant to serve as warnings to others who might consider challenging his authority. End Note 2: Ethiopians in an end-times ministry #1] At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers— the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty. [Isaiah 18:7] #2] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. [Zeph 3:10] #3] Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? [Amos 9:7] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 28 © TLD, 2024 - 2075. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Teddy L. Desta and with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 29