2500 years ago in the land of Babylon a Hebrew prophet named Daniel wrote about future events involving the whole world and all mankind. The angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel how his nation, Israel, and his holy city Jerusalem would play the central role in God's plan for all mankind. They serve as God's prophetic clock for mankind and the world allowing us to see God's plan unfold before our eyes.The book of Daniel displays an extraordinary prophetic foreknowledge of the succession of empires from Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, about 600 B.C. to the Roman Empire which came into power around 241 B.C. Daniel chapter 11 spans the centuries from Cyrus The Great to the reign of the antichrist and unto the Millennium. Daniel predicted events which were global in nature and many of his predictions have already come true.!
Daniel lived in Judah which was conquered by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar between 598 and 588 BC. Nebuchadnezzar enlisted the most promising young men from Judah into his service and they were assigned the names of false gods of Babylon.Ý The native tongue of Daniel and the others was Hebrew. The language of Babylon was Aramaic. (Called Imperial Aramaic to distinguish it from the Aramaic which evolvedÝ later on and was still spoken in the Middle East at the time of the Roman Empire). It was this language that was used in the Royal court at the time Babylon was the dominant power in theÝ Middle East. Portions of the Book of Daniel are written in Imperial Aramaic, which allows us to date the writings of Daniel back to the time of Babylonian dominance.
Found in Chapter 2 of the Book of Daniel, this prophecy concerns the interpretation of a dream Nebuchadnezzar had one night. He wanted the Magicians or Soothsayers to give it's contents and then to explain the meaning thus proving that they were not giving a worthless interpretation. Failure to construct his dream would prove them to be charlatans and they would be cut to pieces The wise men were unanimous in their insistence that the king's demand was unreasonable, unprecedented and beyond mortal means, which prompted the king to issue a warrant for the arrest and execution of all the wise men including Daniel and his friends. Daniel then requested a stay to consult His God who revealed both the dream and it's interpretation to him in a night vision. Verses 20-23 display the Biblical faith of Daniel.
Daniel disclosed the main theme of the dream- the colossal image composed of a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron with feet of iron mixed with clay. This composite statue was then reduced to powder by a huge stone, and the powder was blown away by the wind. Where the image had stood, the Rock grw to the size of a mountain and filled the earth. This is the Second Coming of Jesus with the Saints to establish His Kingdom, which will last forever !
Daniel said that the statue's golden head represented King Nebuchadnezzar himself. The first world empire, then, was the Babylonian. The second empire is said to be inferior to Babylon and was to be Medo-Persia, a combination of two peoples, the Medes and the Persian This parallels the statue in that the statue had two shoulders and arms. The silver empire began with Cyrus the great who conquered Babylon in 539 BC, and was supreme in the Near and Middle East for about two centuries.
The bronze torso and thighs represent the nation that was to follow the Medo/Persian Empire. From history, we know that the Greeks under Alexander the Great conquered the Medo/Persian Empire. Alexander conquered the eastern Mediterranean area, the Middle East, and marched as far east as the Indus River. Legend has it that when Alexander reached the Indus River he wept because there were no more worlds for him to conquer. But despite Alexander's greatness, his empire was split into four realms after his death ruled over by his former generals.
The Greek Empire was eventually replaced by the Roman Empire. This is what the iron legs and feet in the statue represent. Rome ruled for hundreds of years. Eventually the Roman empire split into two factions, an Eastern Empire and a Western Empire.
The dream goes on to portray yet another empire symbolized by the 10 toes which are partly iron and partly clay. Iron connotes toughness and ruthlessness and while iron and clay may co-exist they cannot combine into a strong and durable world power. The implication being that this final phase would be marked by a kind of federation such as the European Union rather than by a single powerful realm.
Daniel 2:41, "And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay."
Daniel 2:43, "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."
This biblical prediction is confirmed in Revelation 13:1 which shows the modern-day Roman countries wearing individual crowns of power and authority even though they will be a part of the Antichrist's empire. "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Revelation 17:13
This signifies that these Roman countries will retain their national identities and a significant amount of political sovereignty as members of the European Union, precisely as Daniel predicted they would.
The ten countries mentioned in Revelation 17:12 The ancient Roman Empire weakened and was attacked by barbarian nations that resulted in the defeat of Rome. Each nation took a piece of what was left of the Roman Empire. These nations were ten in number. Seven of them originated European nations, but the other three disappeared completely.
1. The Saxons, originating the English nation. - 406 A.D.
2. The Franks, originating the French nation. - 410 A.D.
3. The Alamanni, originating the German nation. - 356 A.D.
4. The Visigoths, originating the Spanish nation. - 378 A.D.
5. The Suevi, originating the Portuguese nation. - 407 A.D.
6. The Lombards, originating the Italian nation. - 568 A.D.
7. The Burgundians, originating the Swiss nation. - 407 A.D.
8. The Heruli, in 268 - 568 A.D. who have since disappeared.
9. The Vandals, in 428 - 477 A.D. who have since disappeared.
10. The Ostrogoths, - in 377 A.D. who have since disappeared.The final scene of the statue being reduced to dust by the Rock which then becomes a mountain and fills the earth is God's established Kingdom which is destined to endure forever. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Daniel 2:44,
Daniel 2:45, "Forasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." The symbol of the stone is often used to represent the Lord Jesus Christ. and the Kingdom He sets up will be an eternal Kingdom that will never end!
Acts 4:11, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." ... Ephesians 2:20, "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" ... 1 Corinthians 10, "...And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. " ... When Jesus Christ returns, all eyes will see the fulfillment of this prophetic dream right before their very eyes. ALL nations on earth will crumble to dust at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is plainly written ... Daniel 2:45, " the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."
Every aspect of this prophecy has been proven to be true by simply reading a history book! Even the non-believing historian would have to admit this reality.
The European Union Participants: His Majesty The King of the Belgians, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, the President of the French Republic, the President of the Italian Republic, Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Her Majesty The Queen of the Netherlands.....The European Union, now has 25 member states and 450 million people and encompasses virtually all of the modern-day countries within the ancient Roman Empire. If it were a country it would be the world's third largest in population, after China and India. In 1992: The European Community and the seven-nation European Free Trade Association struck a final deal, clearing the way for the creation of the world's biggest single free market, exceeding that of the combined markets of the United States and Canada.
Surveys show a sharp decline in Church attendance in most European countries to 20% of the population since 1970. Some see the emergence of a post-Christian era in Europe in which the ruling class and cultural leaders are anti- religious or "Christophobic". A fierce controversy over any mention of Europe's Christian heritage prompted French former President d'Estang who presided over the drafting of the constitution to say "Europeans live in a purely secular political system , where religion does not play an important role" The goal of many American liberals according to Patrick Buchanan is a de-Christianized America. which has abandoned religion ... USA TODAY January 9. 2006
The Antichrist's empire The European Union is important, prophetically, because it has been preparing people in that part of the world philosophically and politically and economically for their participation as members of the new world empire which the Antichrist will forge into existence within the near future. Thus, the EU is moving towards a form of unification so that they will be ready to swear collective allegiance to the Antichrist.
EU Battle Groups ready for 2007 The European Union hopes to have initial operability of the Battle Groups concept up and running with the first Battle Group formation ready for deployment by 2007 - according to a EurActiv report. Reminiscent of the old Roman legions, each Battle Group will be formed by around 1500 troops, from one or more EU nations. The Battle Groups should be able to launch within 5 days of a decision by the European Council, and be on the ground no later than 10 days. Although the Battle Groups will be formed by mainly European nations, NATO states that are in the process of an accession treaty with the European Union may also form part of a Battle Group. ... "The first Battlegroup project was launched by the UK, France and Germany in February 2004, and within the space of two months EU defence ministers approved it, and turned it into a European concept, which was formally launched by the 22 November 2004 Military Capabilities Commitment Conference. According to this Conference's Declaration on European Military Capabilities: Battlegroups will be employable across the full range of tasks listed in the TEU Art. 17.2, and those identified in the European Security Strategy, in particular in tasks of combat forces in crisis management,
The Battle Groups concept is a strategic part of the 2010 Headline Goal, being spear-headed by Javier Solana, as the head of the European Defence Agency, and Secretary General of the Western European Union. By the year 2010, the aim is to have around 13 Battle Groups that can respond to a "crisis" any where in the world within 5-10 days. The timing of the formation of this "European Army" is significant, for if this European Policy turns out to be the "covenant with many", as spoken of in Daniel chapter 9, the Battle Groups will be ready for deployment into the Middle East around the mid-point of the tribulation period.