In the book of Daniel, two corresponding visions are described of a multi-part statue and a variety of beasts. Each symbolize successive kingdoms that would rule over the people and land of Israel while they were either in exile or under occupation of these empires. These successive kingdoms would rule over the region/country of Israel from the perspective of the writer Daniel who lived six centuries before Christ. They were Babylon (who captured the Jews including Daniel himself), Medo-Persia, Greece and then Rome. The final kingdom of Rome is talked about as one that would in not truly be defeated, but instead would in some way extend into the future and rise again. This is where the image of the 10 divisions come in. One vision talks about the 10 toes of the statue (Daniel 2:41-44) and the other, the10 horns of a final beast kingdom, that will expand to cover the whole earth (Daniel 7:23-27).
After the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD, the land itself was left pretty desolate for nearly 2,000 years. Different empires have claimed it, but it has nationally been under Israel’s flag since 1948. The picture of the Roman empire in some way re-emerging at the end of the age to control not only Israel, but all nations, is the picture the Bible describes. Some would claim a connection with the Roman Catholic Church, and others with the European Union and even, by extension, America because to some degree our western legal system and government were birthed in ancient Rome. And others have seen a rise of middle eastern nations, possibly in connection with Islam, because these regions were also under the control of the original Roman Empire.
The image of the beast with the ten horns is picked up in Revelation 17:12-14 again, and seems to have some characteristics that have a global reach. For this reason, the Council of Rome, which has divided the world into ten regions, the United Nations, which divides the world into ten regions, and perhaps on a smaller scale, the European Union which could someday be divided into ten, have all been suggested as possible future fulfillments. So the full picture as it develops through the Bible, is that of a final empire with some root in the original Roman Empire, that will rise and extend to control the entire earth. This final Empire will have ten divisions. The evil world ruler will rise and uproot three regions somehow, ultimately advancing to rule the entire earth as the supreme ruler.
Daniel 7:8 talks about this future treacherous leader as a little horn that will come up among the ten horns. So in some way the ten will be established before he arises and comes on the scene. One important detail about this prophecy is that it says he will uproot three of the horns. So whatever the divisions end up being, this would be a tell-tale sign - when his coming to power affects three of the divisions. “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully” Daniel 7:8.
Revelation 6:1-2 begins with a rider who goes out ‘conquering and to conquer.’ Many believe this is the beginning of the world ruler’s rise. He begins small and rises from obscurity. He is the one who confirms the covenant with ‘many’ that affects Israel. The covenant must be for Seven Years and it is likely that the covenant contains a provision to rebuild the Jewish Temple. This is believed because the leader will break the covenant at the mid-point by desecrating the Jewish Temple, ending temple worship, erecting himself as God to be worshiped there, and beginning a campaign to destroy the Jews. He will at this time require that all people worship him and show him allegiance by taking his ‘mark’ on their right hand or forehead. With the ‘mark’ people will be able to ‘buy and sell.’ Without it, they will be hunted down, and if caught, beheaded. (Daniel 9:27, Revelation 13, 20:4).
It would seem that before the world leader begins his rise on the scene, that the ten-division world empire would already be forming. The ‘beginning of birth pangs’ of the Seven Years describes world-wide war (racial, civil and international), then the resulting economic crash, famine, sickness and death. This process continues to snowball, and billions will die (Matthew 24:1-8; Revelation 6). It would seem that the worldwide government rises during this unraveling devastation. And then the ultimate “answer” is a re-formed global government, with a leader at its head, who controls the financial access of the world population through something that is placed in and on human flesh. Revelation 16:2 states that the mark will cause the physical reaction of boils on people’s skin, possibly from the body rejection whatever was placed on or in it.
One doesn’t have to look too far to see that everything described in the Bible has, at the very least, roots in the experiences and direction of our world today. Many nations are descending into chaos from internal and external wars, financial collapse, sicknesses and looming famine. A Global Reset is proposed as the answer to the world’s problems. Some vaccine technologies offer with their implementation the ability to do banking and commerce with the swipe of a hand. And Israel is in talks with nations to normalize relations and the extension towards multiple faiths, (including the Jewish faith), to have increased access to worship on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Is the One World rising? Is the world leader soon to rise on the scene? Jesus continued command when talking about the signs of the end of the age was to ‘Watch!” And this sentiment is expressed throughout the New Testament. Know all the signs, and be watching for every last one to be fulfilled, because when they are, Jesus will appear on the scene, will destroy the evil ruler, and will set up His kingdom of justice and peace on the earth. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” Luke 21:27-28.
Scriptures
Daniel 2:41-44
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Daniel 7:23-27
Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be, a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
Revelation 17:12-14
The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 6:1-2
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Daniel 9:27
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one seven; but in the middle of the seven, he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.
Revelation 13:16-18
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Matthew 24:3-8
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Revelation 16:2
So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
Luke 21:27-28.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near
