Comments for October 29

26:2    Eloth was down in the sough by Ezion Geber of the Red Sea – 2Chron 8:17 – and as it was by Edom we might presume he took it out of the control of Edom.

27:1 Jotham’s reign started in the second year of Pekah in the north – 2Kin 15:32 – providing a chronological link between the two kingdoms.

26:5 Uzziah seems to have made a good start only to lose the plot over time (:16) . Those of us who are committed to Christ are in it “for the long haul”. Following Christ is no “flash in the pan” decision that we can discard when we see something else that appeals. Jesus’ parable of the sower – Matt 13:3-8, :18-22– comes to mind and we ask “what sort of ground are we?”

26:15-16 Uzziah was a good king but it seems as if the power and victories that he won emboldened him to see himself as more important than he really was. SO he, in reality, exalted himself above the status that God had given him.

26:19  The high priest Azariah wold have been wearing the mitre on which was inscribed “holiness to the Lord” – Exo 28:36 – highlighting his status before God. Uzziah, despite his status as king, on the other hand, had leprosy in his forehead – highlighting his status before God because of his presumption

v.2 - These four winds are finally held back and their destructive power stopped in Rev.7:1. The rule of the nations of the earth will be brought to a halt one day by the power of the Almighty God. We pray that day may be soon.

The vision of the four beasts matches the four metals of Daniel 2. Whereas Daniel 2 shows man's view of the Kingdom of men Daniel 7 shows Yahweh's view. Yahweh views the kingdom of men as beasts rather than the glorious metals that Nebuchadnezzar saw.

Elements of the beasts are utilised in the book of Revelation
7:4 Lion Revelation 13:2
7:5 Bear Revelation 13:2
7:6 Leopard Revelation 13:2
7:7 it had ten horns Revelation 12:3
7:8 mouth speaking great things Revelation 13:5
Other language is used in Revelation
7:10 ten thousand ... before him Revelation 5:11
7:10 the books were opened Revelation 20:12
7:13 son of man came with the cloud of heaven Revelation 10:1
7:21 same ... against them Revelation 11:7
7:25 times times dividing of times Revelation 12:14

On this point we should be careful to appreciate that whilst Scripture uses this phrase, 42 months and 1260 days which at one level are all three and a half years we should not assume that the reference is always being made to the same time period. The spirit chooses to use different language to speak of what appears to be the same length of time. There must be a reason for this.
7:17 There is no doubt about the interpretation. This verse confirms that we are speaking about four world empires.

v.28 - We do well to realise that men of God - prophets like this - did not have it easy. To be the vessel of God's revelation was not a joyful experience. It left one troubled and distressed. Whatever we suffer, let us realise first that the prophets of old suffered much more, and second that it is good for us, in shaping us for God's kingdom to come.

The repeated references to the everlasting nature of the kingdom of the saints (10 22 27) would have been a great encouragement to Daniel who had seen Jerusalem overthrown by the Babylonians.

7:13 Coming with the clouds of heaven speaks of the coming of Messiah. Jesus applies these words to himself a number of times Matthew 24:30 26:74 Revelation 10:11

7:13 The one who "came with the clouds of heaven" is seen from the New Testament to be Christ at his return (Matt 24:30)

V.28 We would suggest that there was much more to be understood by Daniel's words than Daniel himself understood. Peter tells us that we are not to limit the significance of prophecies to what the prophet themselves understood. 1Pet 1:11-12

V.1 etc. Daniel's vision here is a consideration of the world empires of Babylon, Medes/Persia, Greece, and Rome which were shown in the vision of chapter two.  Here they are illustrated as beasts. 

The development of the dreadful and terrible (KJV); terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong (ESV) beast is an end-time phenomenon. Briefly, the beast (called the dragon in Revelation) refers to Russia (Gog of Ezekiel 38). The little horn is representative of the Holy Roman Empire.

The modern unification of Europe (the beast of Revelation) will have a Catholic underpinning.  In effect, the Holy Roman Empire will be re-born.  It will ally itself with the dragon of Russia.  These enemies of Yahweh will be destroyed by Jesus and His saints when He returns. 

Ecclesiastical Rome had its seeds in the first century which manifest itself as an outward threat to true believers of Christ, certainly by the fourth century AD.  This threat has continued right down to the present day, sometimes with murderous outcomes for the brethren in Christ. 

The threat will continue until the final confrontation with the Lord Jesus who will finally destroy this European beast.  Daniel's visions are unsealed and further explained in the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) (Dan 12:4). 

ASK FOR HELP
 
The last few chapters of the book of Daniel are prophecies that have been puzzled over by many of the greatest minds in Biblical scholarship.  And along with those great minds, are the many thousands of the rest of us who have read them but not understood.
 
Daniel didn't understand his visions either, but a lack of understanding wasn't going to stop him!  Daniel tells us what he did about it.  "I Daniel was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this." (Dan 7:15-16)  Daniel's response to the visions he didn't understand was to ask for help in his understanding.  Sure enough, the rest of the chapter is devoted to an explanation of the mysterious dream he had just been given.
 
Our understanding of the prophecies of Daniel has the advantage of us being able to look back over history, and also having the complete Bible to compare these passages to.  But with all the extra knowledge that we have, we will still not get far if we do not do as Daniel did and ask for help.  Help is only a prayer away.  Before we attempt to make sense of these prophecies, or of any other part of the Bible, why don't we just humbly ask God to open our eyes to the message in his word that we may see what he is telling us and understand it better?

The four beasts equate to the four metals of Nebuchadnezzar’s image (Dan 2:31-35). This dream and vision troubled Daniel (Dan 7:28), and he kept the matter in his heart. He must have been thinking on these private revelations from God when he went into his house, opened his windows, and prayed to God as he had usually done. He might even have spent his night in with the lions thinking about the four beasts.(Dan 5:1 obviously comes after Dan 7:1).

7 - 12 Now we see God’s view of the kingdom of men culminating in the kingdom of God on earth in chapter 12.

7:9 When Daniel saw ‘the ancient of days’ he saw the time of the return of Jesus – hence the description of his garments matches what the disciples saw when Jesus was transfigured – Mark 9:3

7:8 The ‘mouth speaking great things’ is clearly a reference to a worldly power. However the idea is caught in the words of :16 where he speaks of false brethren. So it is possible for us to imitate the world in the way we conduct ourselves in the meeting. Beware!

7:1 We should realise that in this chapter we have gone back in time to record events in Daniel’s life when Belshazzar was on the throne. He saw the writing on the wall – Dan 5:5 and Daniel had revelations from God.

v 13,14,27 First Principles>Kingdom of God>To be Everlasting and world-wide
The Kingdom of God will be a literal kingdom on the earth and last for ever. For more details go to Dan 2:44

Christ will be in power on earth - Dan 7:13-14;Matt 24:30;25:31-34;Mark 14:61-62;Luke 21:25-31;Acts 1:9-11;Rev 1:7.

Christ's kingdom on earth will include the saints (faithful believers) - Dan 7:27;Luke 1:32-33;1Cor 15:24;Rev 11:15;20:4;22:5.

Dan 7:13;Rev 1:13;Rev 14:14.

Dan 7:18,22 First Principles>Sure Mercies of David>Government
This verse shows that others besides Jesus and the twelve apostles will rule in God's Kingdom.
For more about the government of God's Kingdom on earth, go to Matt 19:28.

V.1 It can be seen that Daniel Ch. 5 is out of place. Sequentially, Ch. 5 should be after this chapter.

V.2 The four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (ESV). The activity of the four beasts will agitate the political sea. Remember that the sea is representative of people and nations (e.g. Luke 21:25). And so, certain political entities will be stimulated to rise to dominance on the world scene.

V.10 Compare with Deut 33:2. When Jesus returns, He will enter into judgment in Sinai. Those accepted by Him will be changed from mortality to immortality (1Cor 15:53,54). This great number of saints will become the Redeemed destined to be with Jesus and Yahweh for ever (Rev 19:7-9).

Vs.13,14 Jesus was destined to be King of the World (Isa 9:7; Luke 1:32).

V.22 Those accepted at judgment will be invited into the Kingdom of God. Is the Kingdom our goal? Is it forefront of our thinking? Do we see the things of this life as just stuff. Can we always see the kingdom beyond the stuff? What is our vision of the Kingdom?

One needs a vision and a burning desire for the Kingdom, because one will not be invited into something of which one is not acquainted (Luke 12:32; Heb 11:16).

v14 picks up language from all the previous chapters, specifically Darius's words in 6:26 and Nebuchadnezzar's dream in 2:44. Why is that?

7:1 It is now time for a change. Up to now it has been Chaldean kings who have been the vehicle through whom God’s plan was revealed – expounded by a man of God. We now move into visions and dreams that Daniel was given by God. By contrast to the way in which he was able to interpret the Chaldean dreams he is at a loss to understand significant element s of his own dreams as we will see as we work through the rest of the prophecy of Daniel.

7:8-9    So the opponent of the things of God has a loud mouth. The one who is serving God is clothed in white.  The man speaks of himself. The servant of God is clothed – prepared – by God.

7:14    The phrase ‘not pass away’ echoes Dan 2:44 showing that this dream that Daniel had is related to the dream which Nebuchadnezzar had.

7:20    The ‘ten horns’ forms that basis of the horns in Rev 12:3, 13:1

1. Daniel 7 seems to be much like Daniel 2 with four empires, the end times of weak and strong kingdoms, and then the kingdom of God on earth. There is the addition of the little horn which seems to be expanded upon in Revelation.

2. Dan 7:4 - the Chaldean empires of Assyria and Babylon used the symbol of a lion (Jer 50:17).

3. Dan 7:5 - the bear was the Medo-Persian empire and the three ribs may have been the concept of devouring much flesh, or the three presidents interfering with the king's direct control.

4. Dan 7:6 - the four headed leopard represents Alexander the Great's empire which upon his death was divided into four parts by Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Cassander.

5. Dan 7:7 - "a fourth beast 'dreadful'"(<1763> corresponds to <2119> which means to crawl, to fear, serpent - and perhaps suggests the crocodile) may represent Rome but echoes the dragon of human sin operating through the beast  i.e. the system that uses sin (Isa 26:21;27:1;Rev 12:9;13:1-8,11-18;17:3-18); "it had great iron teeth" connects it with iron legs of Rome in the image (Dan 2:40); "it had ten horns" which connects it to the ten toes of the image (Dan 2:41-45) - is "ten" a figurative or literal number? H.A. Whittaker believes the number ten may represent judgment in some instances.

6. Dan 7:8 - "another little horn" is illustrated further and with prophecy of the coming apostate man of sin (Zech 5:1,8;2Thess 2:3-4,7-11;Rev 13:1-18); "in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man" which perhaps reminds us of the Holy See; "a mouth speaking 'great things'<7260>" i.e. blasphemies against God (Dan 7:25;Rev 13:5-8).

7. Dan 7:9 - "the Ancient of days did sit" (Dan 7:13 Ancient of days refers to God; Dan 7:22 Ancient of days refers to Christ in the role of God-manifestation Matt 28:17;1Pet 3:22;Rev 1:14).

8. Dan 7:9-10 - "his throne ...a fiery stream issued" a sea of glass mingled with fire (Rev 15:2), the fire of judgment (Psa 50:3-4), the judgment of the nations (1Pet 4:17;Psa 149:7-9); "thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood befvore him:the judgment was set" (Rev 5:9-11).

9. Dan 7:11,25,26 - blasphemous words from the horn and the fourth beast that is slain, destroyed, and given to the fire (Rev 19:20).

10. Dan 7:13 - "one like the Son of man" (the Father has committed all judgment to the Son John 5:25-27); "came with the clouds of heaven" (Matt 26:64;16:17;19:28;24:30;25:31;Acts 1:9-11); "and came to the Ancient of days" (the ascension of Jesus to God in heaven).

11. Dan 7:14 - "there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom...everlasting" (Christ as king returning to earth to rule in the glory of his Father Matt 28:18;16:17;Psa 145:13;Rev 11:15).

12. Dan 7:17-18 - the four beasts or dynasties followed by "saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever" - this refers to those redeemed (Matt 5:5).

13. Dan 7:19 - "teeth were of iron and his nails of brass" - perhaps this iron suggests the western or Latin section of the Roman empire from which evolved Roman Catholicism, while the brass suggests the eastern or Grecian section of the Roman empire from which evolved Greek Orthodox Catholicism.

14. Dan 7:20,25 - this horn with eyes and a mouth is thought by many scholars to be the Pope.

15. Dan 7:21 - the horn prevailed against the saints (Rev 13:4-8;17:1-9).

16. Dan 7:22 - "Until the Ancient of days came" Christ will come in the glory of his Father (Mic 5:2;1Tim 6:15-16;Matt 16:27); the immortalized saints are to execute judgments after they are judged (Psa 149:4-9;1Pet 4:17); "saints possessed the kingdom" (Matt 5:5;Rev 5:9-10;Isa 2:1-4;Dan 7:27).

17. Dan 7:23 - "the fourth beast shall shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth...shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces" (Dan 2:40 - Rome).

18. Dan 7:24 - the ten horns will come out of the fourth beast which reminds of the feet of the image (Dan 2:41-43); the eleventh (the number 11 is thought to represent disorder, disorganization, disintegration) horn (apostate anti-christ from Rome Dan 7:7,8,20,24,25) is a combination of the leopard beast and the lamb beast (Rev 13:1-18); the Popes were given three territories as the beginning of their temporal power in A.D.754.

19. Dan 7:25 - "he shall speak great words against the most High" (Dan 7:8,11,20;Rev 13:5-6); "'shall wear out'<1080> the saints of the most High" (suppression and erosion of truth); "change times and laws" (2Thess 2:3-11); "they shall be given into his hand" (the little horn had temporary power against the saints Rev 13:7); "a time and times and the dividing of time" (period of tribulation 3 1/2 years? 1260 years? figurative or literal time? Eze 4:6;Dan 12:6-7;Rev 11:2-3;12:6,14;13:5).

20. Dan 7:26-27 - "the judgment shall sit...the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High...an everlasting kingdom" (judgment of the fourth beast and the little horn and their replacement by the saints Rev 17:14;Matt 5:5;Dan 2:44;7:14;Isa 2:1-4;Acts 1:9-11;Zech 9:10;Matt 28:18;1Pet 3:22;Psa 102:21-22;Isa 60:12).

7:4    Seeing a national power as a “lion” reminds us that David, on seeing the Philistine giant, felt that just as God had delivered him from a lion he would deliver him from the Philistine – 1Sam 17:34

7:28   Daniel had been given a detailed revelation about future events. He did not understand what he had been shown so he exercised his mind on what he had heard. It troubled him that he did not understand. Do we have a similar desire to understand what is going to happen and is happening in our days?

7:25 The “time and times and the dividing of times” is quoted in Rev 12:14 so we should expect there to be some connection between what Daniel says and what is prophesied in Revelation.

Dan 7:1-7

Scripture used a variety of symbolic representations. A beast represents a king or kingdom (Dan 7:17,23). Winds represent strife, war, or conflict (Jer 49:36,37). Water represents multitudes, peoples, and nations (Rev 17:15).

The first beast was like a lion symbolized Babylon. A lion with eagle’s wings was a prominent symbol on Babylonian coins and walls. The lion, the king of beast, and an eagle, the chief of birds, aptly describe the powerful rule of Babylon.

The second beast was like a bear. Fierceness is depicted of the Medo-Persian soldiers represented by the bear lifting itself up on one side when he is ready to devour flesh. The three ribs refer to the three nations it conquered: Babylon, Lydia and Egypt.

The third beast was like a leopard. The leopard is the symbol of Greece. Alexander the Great was the Greek king who conquered the Medo-Persian Empires with the swiftness of a leopard flying with eagle’s wings. Its four heads are Alexander’s four generals who succeeded him when he died suddenly. They are Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.

The fourth beast was dreadful, terrible, exceeding strong with great teeth of iron. Rome defeated Greece at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. Rome was known for its “iron grip” and referred to as an Empire "as strong as iron." Its armour and weapons were made of the hardest iron. Rome conquered the world, but was not conquered by a fifth world power. Instead, it split into two political areas. The Western Empire ruled from Rome and the Eastern Empire ruled from Constantinople (Turkey).

The ten horns or ten kings/kingdoms developed into the countries of Western Europe. They are: Visigoths (Spain), Anglo-Saxons (England), Franks (France), Alemani (Germany), Burgundians (Switzerland), Lombards (Italy), Suevi (Portugal), Heruli (uprooted), Ostrogoths (uprooted), Vandals (uprooted) (cf. Dan 7:8).

Dan 7:8

“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.”

By far, Daniel gives more details about the fourth world empire of Nebuchadnezzar’s image than he does the first three. The little horn is a boastful horn having a mouth and eyes, and represents a man with great power and authority.

The Bible identifies the little horn as follows:

It came from the fourth most dreadful beast from the Mediterranean Sea, the Roman Empire (cf. Dan 7:2,3).

It came up from the 10 kingdoms of Western Europe; it would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms. Western Europe was largely Catholic and supported the papacy in growth and authority. The three Arian kingdoms, the Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths did not support the papacy, so they were subdued by the Catholic emperors, Zeno and Justinian.

It would be diverse or different from the other kingdoms. The papacy was a religious power, and differed from the 10 secular kingdoms.

It would make war and persecute the saints. The papacy is well known for is brutal tortures in killing millions upon millions who would not convert to Catholicism. Through the centuries, Historians document all this in great detail. Millions of people in Europe were tortured and killed by the Catholic judicial system for rejecting their beliefs.

It would have a mouth speaking great things. Catholicism teaches the pope teaches that he is not just a representative of Christ, but Christ, himself, on earth! Furthermore, Pope Francis said, “… Jesus Christ, Jehovah, Allah. These are all names employed to describe an entity that is distinctly the same across the world.” The blasphemies are virtually endless.

It would think to change times and laws. The Amplified Bible translates “laws” as “the law.” That is, God’s law, which no man can really change. They omitted the second commandment, shortened the fourth commandment, and divided the tenth commandment into two.

It is the same beast of Rev 13, which also tells us it will exist till Christ returns and puts an end to it

No other agency fits this description except the papacy.

Daniel gave us the four stages of a one world government, which has become a reality. He told us from which nations the solidification of this government would transpire, and we are the generation that lives to see it come to pass.

Though in its fragile state, the New World Order, a political order known as the United Nations (will be challenged), offers the world peace and prosperity to all that follow and conform to their standards (cf. 1Thess 5:3)! Yet, Europe is a mess; the Middle East is a mess, the world is a mess. Iron cannot mix with clay. Though tough and brutal as the Roman Empire was, the final beast power is very unstable and will not succeed.

7:14      Peoples nations languages echoes Daniel 3:7. So the establishment of God’s kingdom contrasts with Nebuchadnezzar’s plan.

Dan 7:3

“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another...”
These four beasts parallel the earlier prophetic dream of the metallic image Yahweh gave to Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted by the prophet Daniel (Dan 2).

First beast (v. 4): The Lion with Eagle’s Wings describes the Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar. It is represented by the head of Gold (Dan 2:32) and was the most glorious of all the successive Kingdoms. It is depicted as a Lion here.

Second beast (v. 5): The Bear describes the Medo-Persian Empire, and is also the chest and arms of Silver in Dan 2:32. It is depicted as a ram in Dan 8:4. Darius the Mede, and King Cyrus of Persia (Iran), united their Kingdoms when Cyrus married Darius’ daughter.

Third beast (v. 6): The Leopard with four Wings and four Heads describes the Grecian Empire, which Constantine divided in two, Rome and Constantinople. After his death, the Empire was split into four kingdoms, but still very powerful, and is also the belly and thighs of Brass (or Bronze ), as read in Dan 2:32. They were ruled by his four Generals. The stronger two kingdoms were Syria, the Seleucid Empire, the King of the North, and Egypt, the Ptolemaic Empire, and King of the South (Dan 11:1-39). It is depicted as a goat in Dan 8:5.

Fourth beast (v. 7): is described as Dreadful and Terrible with Iron Teeth and Ten Horns. Iron Teeth connects with the Iron Legs, and the Ten Horns connect with the feet with Ten Toes and Ten Kings of Dan 2:33; Dan 7:23,24 and made of part Iron and part Clay. It becomes a powerful Little Horn in Dan 8:9. The Roman Empire was led by General Pompey the Great, who consolidated all the nations they conquered creating an enormous political and military machine.

The times of the Gentiles began with Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Judah and Jerusalem around 606 BC (cf. Luke 21:24). While each successive metal, representing the four Gentile powers, were of lesser value and lower specific gravity, yet they were stronger than their predecessor/s (Dan 8), and as history documents, more aggressive!

Emperor Constantine’s empire was divided in two. The Western Empire was based in Rome; the Eastern Empire was based in Constantinople, which is today Istanbul, Turkey, a Muslim nation. The Western Empire ceased to exist when Rome was defeated by the Goths in 476 A.D. The Eastern Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire, ruled Turkey, Syria, North Africa, Spain, and portions of Italy. It continued for another one thousand years until the Ottoman Turks defeated the Goths in 1453 and established the Ottoman Empire. It was destroyed in 1923 and gave rise to modern Turkey.

We witness the formation and revival of the Fourth beast, or Roman Empire, which began in 1948 after Israel became a nation. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed that year to defend Europe against the Soviet Union. In 1957, the European Community was founded and its policies strengthened by establishing the European Union in 1993. The reunification of Europe was reviving. Still, it is mixed with strong and weak nations and is unstable at the center and worse on the edges. Iron will not mix with clay. We further witness the ancient Eastern Empire, today Turkey, rising with President Erdogan planning to form a new Islamic Union in attempting to revive the Ottoman Empire!

The Kingdoms of the North and South will also play a very significant part as we near the end of this Age. Syria will push at Egypt and many other nations, including Israel (Dan 8:40-43). These powers will be the most powerful and cruelest powers in the history of mankind (cf. Matt 24:21,22).

7:7   The inference is that the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo Persia and Greece were similar to each other whilst the Roman empire was quite different.

Dan 7:25

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saint of the most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be give into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (cf. Rev 11:2,3).

“That Papalism should be the subject of these measures is most fitting in view of four things.

That Papalism is of Rome and Latin, with which Jesus directly identifies the abomination that maketh desolate ‘spoken of by Daniel the prophet’ (Matt 24:15).

That Papalism is the counterfeit of the Kingdom to be established at the end of the 1,335 days.

That Papalism has been the destroyer of the saints who are then to reign; the hater of the Jews who are then to be restored; the desolator of all things divine in the earth, which are then to flourish; the fountain, holder and teacher of the lies that are then to be blown away with the tempest.

That Papalism is actually and without controversy the subject of this identical measurement (1,260) in the vision of the four beasts (Dan 8), which had been previously shown to Daniel and which at the time of the vision of Dan 12, already formed part of ‘that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth’ which the angel said he had come to further show him (Dan 10:21).”

Brother Robert Roberts

7:13 the one who Daniel saw coming clearly is Jesus returning to set up God’s kingdom and answers to the stone which struck the image in Dan 2:34

7:15-16  It seems Daniel was “grieved … and troubled” because he did not understand the vision. How do we feel if we don’t understand scripture?

7:1 in speaking of the first year of Belshazzar we are reading about events that took place before the “writing on the wall” of chapter 5. The rest of the record now focusses on how world events will impact on the Jews and the land of Israel.

Dan 7:8,23

Daniel’s interpretation of the fourth beast, as given to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, spoke of a system that is part of the beast system that would encompass the world religiously (beast of the sea) and politically (beast of the earth). This “little horn” that came out of the beast or earthly power would exist up until Christ’s return. The head of this system, the false prophet, works with the beast to bring about a New World Order.  Pope Francis: The Vicar of the New World Order Podcast with Jan Markell (truthnetwork.com). Pope calls for a new world order | World news | The Guardian

The apostle John describes the “little horn” in Rev 13:5, as having a “mouth like a lion” and speaks, “great things and blasphemies” against God and His name (Rev 13:1-8).

The following short list will illustrate how the Papal “little horn” system, presumes to change times and laws, in direct defiance and in violation of God (Dan 7:25)!

Please use search engine for the references given.

Blasphemy 1: Pope is referred to as the “Holy Father.” The Papal system takes the authority, name, position, and prerogative that belong only to God. In believing it has the attributes of Deity, he has the power to change God’s times and laws. It is claimed the Pope, as the “Holy Father,” represents God on earth and is infallible (cf. John 17:11)! The Pope Claims to be God on Earth | Papal Infallibility (amazingdiscoveries.org)  Library : The Appropriateness of the Title of Holy Father | Catholic Culture (cf. Isa 42:8).

Blasphemy 2: Image worship (cf. Exo 20:4,5; Deut 4:16-18.23,24; Isa 42:8; Isa 44:9,10; Jer 10:14,15; Hab 2:18; 1Cor 12:2; Rev 9:20. At the 25^th session of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) images were upheld which had been adopted in 787 AD Council of Trent. They concluded: “The Council of Trent noted that ‘images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and of the other saints, are to be had and retained particularly in temples, and that due honor and veneration are to be given them; not that any divinity, or virtue, is believed to be in them.’ Images were not to be worshipped as idols, but to help channel a devotee’s thoughts to the individual represented.” The Council of Trent and the call to reform art – Smarthistory/  (under The Tridentine decrees about mages) What is the difference between veneration and worship? | GotQuestions.org

Blasphemy 3: Apostles can forgive sin (John 20:23). This is true, but it is used to justify why priests can forgive sins. However, in context, two conditions were required. Priests are not Disciples of Christ, neither did Christ directly breathe on them the Holy Spirit (John 20:19-23).  There is no record of succession of their authority to do so being passed on after their death to anyone. Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 2 SECTION 2 CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 4 (scborromeo.org).

Blasphemy 4: “The second commandment forbids the abuse of God’s name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 1081, section 2146. They have added to this command, which is actually the third Commandment, but incorporated it into their first! Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 2146 (scborromeo.org) Catholicism and the Ten Commandments - dummies/  (cf. Exo 20:1-5).

Blasphemy 5: Mary is our mediator. : “Holy Mary, mother of God,” (The Hail Mary prayer). Mary is worshipped (oops, venerated) and exalted above Jesus by interceding for us directly to God bypassing Jesus. The Hail Mary - Prayers - Vatican News/ Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 1325, section 2677 reads: “’Pray for us now and at ‘the hour of our death:’ By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All-Holy One… to surrender the hour of our death wholly to her care… welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise.” Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 2677 (scborromeo.org) (cf. John 10:1: John 14:6; 1Tim 2:5; Heb 7:25).

A FRESH LOOK AT DANIEL 7:

Like Daniel 2 this nightmare is about kings, kingdoms and empires, but this is Daniel’s nightmare, not Nebuchadnezzar's.

The four beast out of the sea represent the four kingdoms that would persecute the Jews in Judea and the diaspora:

¹⁷ These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

¹⁸ But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

The fourth monster has been a puzzle for many years, because the body is not described.

¹⁹ Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

The iron teeth relate it to the Roman empire, not an organization nor a church.

The beast is a symbol for the emperor, so we looked at heraldry.

The emblem on the standards of the Roman legion was the imperial Eagle, but this beast is not a bird.

The dragon (“Draco”) was a type of flag used in about the 4^th century AD by a Roman legion in Bactria. It was not connected with Roman persecution of the Jews.

However, the Roman legion, Legio Fretensis X, that overwhelmed the Jews in Jerusalem in AD 70 and AD 135, and besieged and conquered Masada and Qumran used a boar on its standards. Many remnants of roof tiles that were used in Jerusalem in the 1^st and 2^nd centuries AD have been uncovered. Bronze coins found in Jerusalem bore the boar emblem.

The Jews have regarded Daniel’s 4^th beast as a boar for a long while. (Pesahim188b in the Talmud in 2^nd century AD) .

They relate it to Psalm 80, where the vine is the Jewish nation:

⁸ Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. ⁹ Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. ¹⁰ The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. ¹¹ She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. ¹² Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

¹³ The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. ¹⁴ Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; ¹⁵ And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.

Swine were an abomination to the Jews. This is possibly one reason why Daniel did not describe the beast he saw in his nightmare.

Jesus warned about casting pearls before swine because they would turn and rend, and trample them under feet. (Matt 7:26, & etc.).  This is what the 4^th beast does.

The ten horns on the head of the beast are 10 kings that arise late in the life of the beast.

²⁴ And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:

These kings are the same as the 10 toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare image. They arise at the end of the Roman empires. The empires ended in 1918, not the 5^th century AD when Rome fell to the Barbarian hordes.

and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. ²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The little horn arises after the 10 kings. It is another king, possibly Gog, the king of the north. It is not an organisation or nation. The explanation of the nightmare is that “he” shall speak great words, and would subdue 3 kings, and they (the Jews – Daniel’s people) will be given into “his hand”.

7:21-22 Maybe the key word of encouragement here is the word “until”. What Daniel saw relates to a time yet future to our day. However we will still suffer the oppression of opponents of God’s truth. It may not come in physical persecution but it is all around us in the godless values of the world. We may feel that we are not prevailing against the onslaught but there will come a time when God’s laws will be seen in the earth. And we can be there because the saints – you and I – will possess the kingdom. 

7:1  we read of many dreams in scripture. Dreams had by faithful men and gentile kings. However it is rare to read that the dream was written down by the one who was given the dream from God.

7:1      Up this point is has been the political leaders who have been given dreams. Dreams which spoke to them of future events. Dreams which required a man of God to explain. But, whilst Daniel needed instruction, the God of heaven provided the instruction directly to him via the angel.

v.16 - This incident, recorded in Gen 33:19 is mentioned again in Exo.13:19 and Joshua 24:32. It was an event of some note therefore. This was probably because of the way things developed in the next chapter of Genesis. (34:6-26)

Notice that in his 'defence' Stephen is repeatedly making the point that the God of Israel appeared to men outside the land of Israel - that is outside the confines of the limits defined by the religious leaders.

Quotations
As mentioned in the April readings last year the marginal references and your memory will highlight many echoes from the Old Testament. If you have not done so you might find it helpful to mark the quotations - not only here but elsewhere in Scripture.

AS FORGIVING AS STEPHEN
They were the spiritual leaders of the people but Stephen's description of them is much less than flattering. They may have been the spiritual leaders but in actual fact they were rogues, power hungry, money hungry and opposed to anyone who got in their way. As Stephen said, they were just like their fathers who killed the prophets God sent to them - in fact even worse - because they killed the Messiah. "You stiff necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: you always resist the Holy Spirit!"
Now they had turned on Stephen. The more truth they heard, the more rage they had. And when he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the throne of God," they completely lost their self control. They dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him.
But Stephen's last words must have made some of them stop to think. "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." How could Stephen be so forgiving to these hypocritical wicked people? The answer is because he loved them and followed the example of Christ. When we are wronged (and usually it is a lot less than murder), let us do the same and be as forgiving as Stephen

The Jews laid great emphasis on the idea that God dwelt- and was confined - to the temple in Jerusalem. Stephen makes the point a number of times that God did appear to men outside the confines of the temple, He even appeared to men outside the boundary of the land of Israel.

7:49 Stephen quotes, but modifies,Isa 66:1-2. Whereas Isaiah has 'where' Stephen has 'what' when speaking of the place of God's rest.  The change from 'where' to 'what' is to mark the point that it is not the location of the temple that matters but rather the people, who could be anywhere, who worship God faithfully. Continuing the reading in Isaiah highlights this point. God wants to dwell in men's hearts - but the leaders in Stephen's days were so stiff necked that their hearts were not suitable dwelling places for God.

V.52 During his defence, Stephen does not mention Christ. We see however, that one of the two charges against him was that he had said that Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place. ( the temple) The other charge was speaking against the customs that Moses had delivered. Acts 6:14

V.16 Stephen's deliberation provides a useful synopsis of Jewish history.  It is interesting that he states Abraham bought land in Shechem from the sons of Emmor (Hamor). 

Abraham bought land in Hebron for a burial place (Gen 49:30,31), but nowhere in scripture is it recorded that he bought land in Shechem.  However, it is recorded that Jacob purchased land in Shechem in which Joseph's bones (and presumably his) were buried (Gen 33:18,19; Josh 24:32). 

And so, why did Stephen make that statement?  Perhaps he was using Abraham in a patriarchal sense as father of all faithful (Rom 4:16).  Certainly, Jacob qualified as being of the same faith as Abraham (Matt 8:11). 

Like Jesus who came in the spirit of His father and was called by His Name, perhaps Stephen is applying the same measure to Jacob vis-à-vis Abraham.

V.17 Although Stephen talks about "the promise", he does not refer to all the Promises of God which He gave to Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob. The promise to which he refers is the first promise Gen 12:2-3 The promises of Gen 13:14-17;, Gen 17:8;, Gen 22:17-18;, Gen 26:3-4;, Gen 28:13-14, are yet to be fulfilled, for according to them,, the possession of the land is for ever and a blessing is to come in the seed. The extension of the promise was not given in Gen 12:2-3. It was to this promise, repeated by Moses in Exo 12:25 and mentioned by Solomon in 1Kin 8:56, that Stephen is referring to in his address before the Sanhedrin. 

7:5 It cannot be over emphasized that Abraham, though promised the land, did not view it as his present possession. This should be our attitude to the things of this age. They are to pass away. It does not matter how real they seem. They are but a vapour. Eternal inheritance of the land is the certainty.

V.23 As Moses was sent by the God of Abraham to liberate the Children of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians, so was Christ sent to free the people from bondage; not from the bondage of the Romans, but, from the Law of Moses. This the Jews could not understand, for they regarded the Law as a ritual of worship, rather than a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. (Gal 3:24)

7:12 When Jacob heard there was corn in Egypt (Gen 42:1) he was being cared for by God – in Egypt, outside the land of Israel. This is a major theme in Acts 7.

V.60 When Stephen said of his murderers: Lord, do not hold this sin against them, he echoed Jesus' plea for his murderers: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

Why these entreaties? Would Yahweh forgive the murderers of His servants, which included His Son? We are told that murderers will not be permitted in the kingdom (Rev 21:8; 22:15).

But, what if the murderers of Jesus and Stephen (and by extension, others) saw the error of their ways and asked for forgiveness in order to follow the Lord? They would be forgiven because the pleas of Jesus and Stephen kept that door open.

Case in point, Saul was an accomplice to Stephen's murder (v.58; 8:1). After creating further havoc to believers, he repented and became the apostle Paul.

Today, there are those who have committed murder and have repented.  I know one who has accepted the true Gospel and is now a follower of Jesus. Praise Yahweh!

7:13 That Joseph was made known to his brethren ‘the second time’ is typical of the Jew’s reaction to Jesus. They did not recognise him as their saviour when he came first, just as the brothers did not recognise Joseph as their saviour on their first visit to Egypt. However, like the brothers recognised Joseph and understood that he was their saviour the second time they visited Egypt the nation will recognise Jesus as saviour when he returns to set up God’s kingdom here on earth.

7:9 The behaviour of the Jewish leaders towards Jesus matched the behaviour of the brothers of Joseph – Matt 27:18, Mark 15:10

Acts 7 provides a handy historical summary of God's dealings with His people Israel from Abraham to early first century AD. There are other summation chapters, like Psalm 78.

7:45 ‘Jesus’ is actually ‘Joshua’ Joshua is the Hebrew name of which ‘Jesus’ is the Greek equivalent. The force of this point would doubtless not be lost upon those who Stephen was speaking to.

7:51  Stephen, in quoting Jer 6:10 ‘uncircumcised ear’ is likening the leaders of his day to those who should have cared for the inhabitants of Jerusalem around the time of  its overthrow by the Babylonians – very fitting as in a few years the city would be destroyed by the Romans.

Acts 7:55-56.  Stephen draws our attention to Isaiah 66 when he quotes Isa 66:1-2, in Acts 7:49-50.  When Stephen died he looked to the heavens and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the hand of God.  Isa 66:5 has a bearing on Stephen's experience.  "Your brethren that hated you and cast you out for my name's sake,".

7:25  Maybe here we are given the explanation as to why Moses said that the people would not believe him – Exo 4:1

7:2   ‘before he dwelt in Haran’ is indicating that God spoke to Abram before he had received the promises – indicating an aspect of Stephen’s speech. That God is interested in all nations. Not just the Jews.

7:56   In seeing ‘the heavens opened’  Stephen’s experience was rather like that of the prophet Ezekiel who, before the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, had a similar vision- Eze 1:1

7:9      In saying that God was with Joseph when he was sold into Egypt is part of Stephen’s argument that God is not confined either to a building or even the land of Israel.

TIME TRAVEL REVEALS ALL

Stephen's speech took his hearers on a time travel trip back through history to the beginning of the nation of Israel. As he began, he noted the faith of Abraham and the other early faithful beginnings of the story of his people. But slowly a recurring theme begins to emerge. The people began to develop a stubbornness, a rebellious nature that put them at odds with God.

Stephen briefly followed the nation through to his own day, concluding with this thought: "You stiff necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers. You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet that your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him - you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." (Acts 7:51-53).

I could almost guarantee that if we looked back through our family tree we wouldn't find anything any better if we traced ours back 3000 years or so. It just goes to show how much we need God's grace in our lives. Genetically we would all follow the same path as Adam and Eve and all their descendants who have rebelled against God. It is only by His grace that we can live a new life that is pleasing to him. 

7:54  The reaction of the leaders here where they killed Stephen because of what they hears matches exactly the intentions of, probably, the same people with regard to Peter and John – Acts 5:33

7:55      Jesus is now “sitting” at God’s right hand – Col 3:1 – the way in which Stephen saw Jesus “standing” highlights the way I which Jesus associated with Stephen’s death. He stood out of respect.

7:11     The famine in the middle east at this time was not an accident. The God who had made everything was in control of the weather also. So he used his power over the weather to bring about His plan – namely that Israel would go to Egypt which would fulfil what He had said to Abraham – Gen 15:13

Acts 7:52,53

“… Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Gal 3:19).