Pieces of the Puzzle: Convergence of End Time Prophecies

   Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isaiah 46:10  

   In my humble opinion, man likes to rush God, in order to 'adjust God's time clock' and 'move things along.' Impatience is a human character flaw, contrasting with the fruit of the spirit: Galatians 5:22. But, in the end, our God, who is infinite, beyond the constraints of time and space, is the one in control, and all things are done according to His will.  

   His timing is not our timing, for his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are higher than our understanding. For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts: Isaiah 55:9. 

   Delays can be seen as preparations, preparing for events that will soon transpire and come to pass. Some delays are things that affect us personally, while others are part of a bigger picture, pointing to future prophetic events. 

   One of these future events is the convergence of prophecies found in Revelation 13, 17 and 18, which lay out a series of events that transpire at the end of days, the final few years of world history before the second coming - the return of Christ Jesus. Revelation 13 presents an overview of the Antichrist kingdom, the beast of ten horns (iron) who rises from the sea R 13:1-4, with its religious system - a beast of two horns who rises from the earth (clay). These two systems rise to seize world power, in the latter days: 

Daniel 7: Order of Events - The Final King

Daniel 7: Order of events Part 1: Four Beast Kingdoms: 

   Daniel had a dream, a night vision in the first year of Belshazzar. Belshazzar was regent king who ruled in place of his Father, King Nabonidus who ruled the Babylon kingdom  from: 556-539 B.C.. King Nabonidus spent most of his time traveling to Arabia to worship the crescent moon god, whose origins can be traced to the ancient city of UR. He spent more time in Arabia, then he did in Babylon worshiping Marduk, the god of Babylon. 

   As Daniel's night vision unfolds, he sees the four winds of heaven stir the great sea with such force, that four beast rose from the churning depths. Beast is translated from the Aramaic חֵיוְתָא which means - animal. An animal can be a beast of the field such as oxen: Daniel 4.32 or, a beast that prowls the wilderness in search of prey, a lion, bear, leopard or, beast of ten horns: Daniel 7. Daniel tells us that each beast represents a kingdom. 

   The four beast are four kingdoms which parallel four metals in Nebuchadnezzars dream image; gold, silver, brass and the iron - which is mixed with the shard clay. Three kingdoms ruled the middle east with kings who lived in Babylon. The Chaldeans ruled the middle east from Babylon, King Darius took the kingdom the night of the writing on the wall: Daniel 5; 5:31; 6:28, and, the prophesized fall of Babylon began. Alexander the Great ruled the middle east from his home-base in Babylon, where he later died. Alexander was the last ruling king connected to the dream image in Daniel 2, which provides the historical timeline of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom and, the future role of Babylon in the latter days. 

  Three kings have come and gone... the fourth kingdom provides the final king. 

Expecting the Little Horn aka: Antichrist? Not so fast!

 The Fourth Kingdom - the Kingdom of Antichrist, the King's Image and the Beast:  

   Before the Antichrist can waltz out on the world stage and fill the role of global dictator, several things must be in place; Daniel's fourth kingdom, the beast of ten horns, must be in position of global dominance and, ten kings must rise out of this kingdom. 

   There are two prophetic portrayals of the fourth kingdom found in Daniel; the fourth beast of ten horns: Daniel 7:7-25 and, the feet and toes of iron and shard clay: Daniel 2:40--45. The fourth beast, is the kingdom from where ten horns or ten kings will rise, followed by a little horn aka: antichrist - making the fourth kingdom, the tribulation-antichrist kingdom. This is the kingdom which rises from the sea before the second coming of Christ Jesus: Daniel 2:44; Revelation 13:1-4. 

   Daniel 2:44 sets the time period for the reign of the fourth beast; in the days of these kings, the God of heaven shall set up his kingdom which will never be destroyed. By scriptural reference, the feet and toes are the fourth kingdom, paralleling the beast of ten horns, which rises in the end of days as the tribulation - antichrist kingdom. After the prophetic time period of of Babylon's decline and desolation - the fall of Babylon has been fulfilled, Nebuchadnezzar's fourth kingdom will rise to seize world power. God decides when this will be. 

   Nebuchadnezzar, ruled the entire middle east from Babylon. This kingdom was given to him by the God of heaven and, he became God's servant: Daniel 2:37-38, also Jeremiah 27:6-7; 43:10. The King was plagued by a dream that haunted his waking hours and he tossed and turned in his bed. Nebuchadnezzar, the prideful king: Daniel 4:20, dreamt about the future of his kingdom and what it would become in the last days: Daniel 2:28,29. The dream image reveals the answers while, Rev 13:1-4 is the prophetic fulfillment of the fourth kingdom; the tribulation - antichrist kingdom, which rises in the latter days.  

The Image and the Mark: Revelation 13:11-17

   Which comes first, the baby or the birth pains? Any mother will tell you, that birth pains arrive before the baby does. What we are witnessing, is the rise of global birth pains; wars and threats of wars, famines and earthquakes, the beginning of sorrows - the birth pains that precede the baby's arrival. The baby represents the birth of a new era; the second coming of Christ Jesus. 

   The same logic applies to the image and the mark. You can not have the mark without the image. The image must be in existence before the mark is enforced. Just as the birth pains come before the baby, the image comes before the mark. 

   So, where is it? 

   We often hear about how this or that is the 'mark of the beast.' It's a barcode, a jab, A.I., a microchip, digital I.D., Sunday law, a fingerprint, an eye scan, our cell phones, a brain implant, an electronic pill.... If 'this and that' is the 'mark of the beast', then, where is the image? What is it and, when was submission to an image required to make everyday purchases? 

Simplified Overview Revelation 13 - Rise of the Beast Kingdom

    Revelation 13 can be broken down into four distinct characters, the red dragon, the beast kingdom, the little horn (antichrist), the beast out of the earth, aka: the false prophet: the  magician or sorcerer.

    Mesopotamian kingdoms had a slew of false prophets: magicians, sorcerers, star gazers,  necromancers, mediums with familiar spirits, wise men, and dream interpreters in the kings court. This is what the false prophet represents, a master magician who rules in the kings court, in service to the king and his kingdom. 

The Simplified Overview:  

Rise of the beast kingdom. Revelation 13:1-4

Rise of the little horn or antichrist: Revelation 13:5 - 10 

Rise of the false prophet: Revelation 13:11-16 

Rise of the dragons power: Revelation 13:2b, 5b 

   Of the four, the rise of the beast is the most complicated as it is the most complex. What makes it so complex is the amount of detail involved in his genetic makeup. The beast has many parts and pieces, which work together as a collective whole. There are three previous beast kingdoms, ten horns with crowns, and seven heads; and, one of his heads was slain and mortally wounded. But, when John saw the beast rise from the sea, the mortal wound was healed. There is also a bit of Biblical and historical knowledge needed to navigate the rise of previous 'beast' kingdoms and, their geographical locations. 

   Middle eastern kingdoms simply absorbed the conquered ones, expanding their territorial boundaries. These ancient territorial markers set the boundaries for the antichrist kingdom. 

Seven Heads of the Beast Revelation 13

   1) "And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast (kingdom) rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2) And the beast that I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat (throne) and great authority. 3) And I saw one of his heads as it were (slain) wounded to death,(εσφαγμενην), and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." 

   John is instructed to document and record a series of events: the things which he had seen, the things that are, and the things which shall be hereafter. (Revelation 1:19). After the seven letters to the seven churches, John is shown a door in heaven and is taken in the spirit. The large majority of the things recorded in Revelation consists of futuristic events, that extended far beyond John's world, to the end of the age. These events transpire during the last seven years of human history and move the reader forward, into the the time of the end. 

  We are told that Revelation is full of prophetic symbolic imagery and it's hard to understand so, we expect to be confounded and confused. We were told how scripture should be interpreted and now, we hold onto centuries-old interpretations for dear life and pass them on, conditioning future generations. One of these ancient interpretations is the theory, that the seven heads of the beast, are the seven hills of Rome, moving the beast back in time. 

   The majority of Revelation consists of the witness statement written by John; the  documented account of the events he viewed 'which shall be hereafter,' These events were witnessed and recorded while John was in the spirit on the Lords day. Much of his witness statement is contested by bible students and scholars who don't quite agree with the timing or, the imagery that John saw and documented. Most of the symbology and imagery is found in the prophetic books of the old testament and, Revelation can be viewed from a biblical perspective based upon these ancient writings. 

   Many religious sects add more to scripture then what is detailed by John. It's important to read scripture as written and avoid the additional inflections that may add or, take away from the words that John had written: Revelation 22:18-19. 

Revelation 13:3 King or Kingdom?

    I was a little late to the Revelation 13:3 social media party and almost missed it completely. After the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald J Trump, social media lit up with Revelation 13:3 quotes. This was mostly from those who don't study scripture but, are quick to use it to serve their purposes or, fit a specific narrative which has become common practice. Most comments were quite misguided, even delusional, misquoting scripture. 

   "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast" 

   The bullet grazed former President Trump's ear, whereas, the alleged shooter received a deadly head wound which ended his life and no, he will not rise again. But, the scriptural reference was directed at former President Trump and his wounded ear. Heads represent kingdoms, horns represent kings, Is Trump a kingdom? Is he a kingdom that belongs to the beast that rises from the sea, mid-tribulation? Is he even a sitting President right now? Is he a leader (king) of a middle eastern world kingdom? No, of course not. 

   Why doesn't scripture say one of the horns was wounded as to death if this verse represents a deadly head wound upon a man; a king? Because it's not a man, it's a kingdom. 

   Let me explain: 

   Revelation 13:1-4 details the rise of the antichrist-tribulation kingdom aka: the beast of ten horns, who parallels the feet and toes of iron and clay.  

Dreams of a King Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar's Prophetic Dream

   Upon claiming the throne (605 BC) after the death of his father, King Nabopolassar, King Nebuchadnezzar II inherited a bunch of mystic advisors that had once served his father. These wise men were collaborators of the dark arts who worked in service to the King. The mystic advisors were the best the kingdom had to offer, Egyptian magicians, Canaanite fortunetellers, Aramaic astrologers, and Chaldean dream interpreters. There were also soothsayers, diviners,  sorcerers, enchanters, conjurers, and illusionist available to provide counsel unto the new king.  

   But none would come close to doing what the king requested.

   King Nebuchadnezzar II was haunted by a dream that mesmerized his soul. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, the details of his dream evaporating as soon as he woke. It intrigued  him so deeply that he called upon his court of dream translators, sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians to reveal his dream, and the meaning of it.   

   He was desperate to know the interpretation of the mysterious dream that evaded his waking moments. 

Daniels Fourth Beast from the Sea

   The interpretation of Daniel 7 can be a bit perplexing. I thought I would attempt a quick and hopefully simple breakdown of Daniels four beasts that rise from the sea. It will aid in the interpretation of the beast kingdom in Revelation 13, and 17, and perhaps offer some clarity concerning the fourth kingdom which rises in the latter days, prior to the second coming of Christ Jesus - Yeshua Hamashiach.

    The writing below is simply a reiteration of scripture. The Bible is interconnecting as  scripture defines scripture. Daniels night vision interconnects with Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar was perplexed by a dream that prophesized the future of his kingdom. His dream began with his role as King of Babylon, the head of gold which ruled the middle east. This kingdom was  followed by two additional kingdoms, one of silver and another of brass. These future kingdoms rose to rule the middle east - the kingdom of Babylon. The dream ended with a fourth and final kingdom that will rise to seize world power in the latter days. The Bible doesn't require outside sources to interpret scripture but, we often find that historical events fill in the gaps. 

   Daniel 7 adds additional information which parallels the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The kings dream presents an historical timeline of Babylon, which revolves around four metals indicating the decline of his kingdom, and two additional kingdoms that rose to rule the middle east - the kingdom of Babylon. There is one kingdom left, the fourth kingdom which rises in the latter days. 

   The four beasts parallel four metals from the dream image: 

   Four Beast: 1) Lion - Babylon 2) Bear- Mede-Persian 3) Leopard - Greek, Grecian 4) Beast of ten horns - Tribulation-Antichrist kingdom. 

   Four Metals: 1) Gold - Babylon, 2) Silver - Mede-Persian, 3) Brass - Grecian, 4a) Iron - God's judgement, fall of Babylon, 4b) Iron mixed with clay - Tribulation - Antichrist.