See the source image

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue  with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; AND IT HAD TEN HORNS (capitals mine). I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

Daniel 7:7-8

When Daniel wrote the Book of Daniel in the sixth century B.C. the world had already witnessed two preceding world “empires”, the Egyptian and the Assyrian. At the time of his writing he was a young captive Jew advising Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Babylonian Empire which was at that time the most powerful empire in the world. What is so amazing is Daniel rose to prominence in Nebuchadnezzar’s court because he was able to interpret a dream the king had that no one else could decipher. Of course this dream was regarding the statue with the head of gold, the chest plate of silver, the waist band of brass, the legs of iron and the ten toes of iron and clay. Daniel correctly interpreted this dream to prophecy about the coming world empires. Biblical scholars have long positioned Babylon as the head of gold because that is what Daniel clearly told Nebuchadnezzar. Following Babylon, Daniel accurately prophesied the Medo-Persian Empire, the Greek Empire and then the Roman Empire. Of course if you add these up they only come to four, not the five prophesied in the Book of Revelation. That is because the fourth empire, the Roman Empire, was never defeated. Rather it simply “disintegrated” from within but would be eventually “reborn” in the Last Days.

When John wrote the Book of Revelation approximately 700 years later, the world by that time had seen the defeat of the Babylonian Empire by the Medo-Persian Empire; the defeat of the Medo-Persian Empire by the Greek Empire; and, the defeat of the Greek Empire by the Roman Empire. When John wrote the Book of Revelation he was living during the heyday of the Roman Empire BUT he prophesied there would be ONE more world empire.

“And there are seven kings (empires): five are fallen (Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Mede-Persia, Greek), and one is (Roman), and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space (3 1/2 years – Revelation 13:5, 3). And the beast (anti-christ) that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven (Rome), and goeth into perdition.”

Revelation 17:10-11

Now you might ask, “Hey, I thought you said there were seven empires but the Scripture above says there are eight. What’s this all about?” Well, remember the anti-christ will rise up out of the  seventh kingdom, the reborn Roman Empire creating his own “new” world empire: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, and ten horns (kingdoms), and upon his horn ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”(Revelation 13:1). How do we know the Roman Empire will be “reborn” in the Last Days? An angel of God not only tells us but he also tells us all those with a wise brain will know where the kingdom will be located!

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman (false prophet) sitteth.”

Revelation 17:9

Ask anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the world “What city sits on seven hills/mountains?” and I am sure the unanimous response will be Rome! Not long ago I saw a description of the countries that were part of the Roman Empire at the time of John. Interestingly, their ancient names correspond to today’s familiar names of the countries we today associate with Europe, like Spain, France, Italy, etc. Those countries are listed below:

  1. Visiogoths – Spain
  2. Anglo-Saxons – England
  3. Franks – France
  4. Alemani – Germany
  5. Burgundians – Switzerland
  6. Lombards – Italy
  7. Suevi – Portugal
  8. Heruli – Italy, Switzerland (Rooted up)
  9. Ostrogoths – Austria, Serbia, Bosnia, etc. (Rooted up)
  10. Vandals – North Africa (Rooted up)

Many people, myself included, assumed when the European Union was officially formed in 1993 with 10 original countries joining. This was related to the ten End Times countries which would give their power to the anti-christ. Do you know who those ten countries are? They are:

  1. Belgium
  2. France
  3. Germany
  4. Greece
  5. Italy
  6. Luxembourg
  7. Netherlands (Holland)
  8. Portugal
  9. Spain
  10. United Kingdom

Do you notice what countries are missing from the original ten of the Roman Empire? All of the Ostrogoths, Vandals and Heruli (Switzerland, except for Italy)

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots.”
Daniel 7:8

Three of the ten kingdoms were to be destroyed by the instigation of the little horn power. Only the Papacy fits this description. Three kingdoms that did not accept his papal mandates regarding Christ’s divinity were literally uprooted and mercilessly destroyed. Although the doctrine of the divinity of Christ was correct, the method of dealing with it was not.

Since the little horn made its appearance after the division of Rome into ten different states (after 476 AD) but before the destruction of three of them because it arises among all ten, we now have a very definite time frame for the rise of the potential Antichrist’s future “power”. The Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths were eliminated by the year 538 AD. This power arose between 476 AD and 538 AD.

These conquests strengthened the hand of the Papacy, which was established in the year 538 AD. It was known as the HOLY Roman Empire, not the Roman Empire. In that year, Vigilus, the bishop of Rome, ascended the papal throne under the protection of the Roman general Belisarius. The date for the establishment of papal Rome as an independent power can thus be pinned to 538 AD. Since that year until today there has been no single emperor over the Roman Empire but there has been an individual with power over “Christianity”, i.e., the pope. And yet, there have been many, many attempts to re-unite the Roman Empire, aka today’s European Union.

“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them: and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”

Daniel 7:24

Many of us were disappointed when the EU allowed more countries to join and their members today are 27 (although Great Britain has voted to leave in what is referred to as Brexit). Do not be surprised however, if they decide to rejoin. Nonetheless, the original ten countries remain the true policy makers of the EU and I believe Bible prophecy will be fulfilled with a reborn “Roman Empire” in the guise of the European Union when it comes under the reign of the anti-christ.

I find it incredibly fascinating as yet another example of prophesy coming true today. Here we have the vision of Daniel and John with a ten headed beast representing ten kingdoms. Three of those did not accept the papacy and yet those seven remaining today are back to ten countries which were and are the founding members of the European Union. As we witness these things coming true today we must remain vigilant as Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. And, do not hold this knowledge in! Tell others so they also will come to know the accuracy of God’s prophecies and how He wants us to be aware of what is coming!

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the saying of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:7

Take comfort in knowing God is with you. He gave His son Jesus Christ to come to earth as a man and to die for our sins. Accept His Gift of Pardon and repent of your sins and you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Pass this message on to others as we have all been told to do, and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” So much is happening TODAY! Don’t let anyone miss His Message.

May God Bless you!

 

%d bloggers like this: