Wenstrom Bible Ministries Marion, Iowa Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom www.wenstrom.org

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Wenstrom Bible MinistriesMarion,
IowaPastor-Teacher Bill Wenstromwww.wenstrom.o
rg
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Wednesday June 12, 2013Daniel Daniel 723-The
Interpretation of the Fourth BeastLesson 222
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Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 71.
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Daniel 71 During Belshazzars, Babylons king,
first year, Daniel saw a dream specifically
visions in his mind on his bed. Then, he wrote
down the dream. He declares the beginning of the
account. 2 Daniel began to speak and said, I was
in a trance like state, staring because of my
vision during the night as behold the heavens
four winds were blowing violently against the
great sea.
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3 Then, four great beasts, one different from the
other, came up out from the sea. 4 The first
beast was like a lion with eagles wings attached
to it. I was in a trance like state staring when
its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up
from the ground for the purpose of it standing on
two feet like a human being. A human mind was
also given to it.
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5 Next, another beast, a second one, resembling a
bear with it raised up to one side with three
ribs in its mouth between its teeth. Then, they
issued orders to it, Arise, devour much flesh!
6 After this, I was staring in a trance like
state as behold, another one, was like a leopard
with it having four birds wings on its back.
Also, the beast had four heads. Indeed,
governmental dominion was given to it.
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7 After this, I was continuing to stare in a
trance like state because of these night visions
as behold, a fourth beast, intimidating, yes even
terrifying as well as extremely powerful,
possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It
devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it
violently crushed the rest with its feet. Indeed,
it was characterized as different from all the
beasts which were before it in the sense of
possessing ten horns.
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8 I was contemplating in a trance like state
because of these horns as behold, another little
horn emerged out from among them. Then, the first
three originating from the horns was torn out by
being in the presence of it. In fact, behold, on
this horn, were eyes like a human beings eyes as
well as a mouth speaking boastfully.
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9 I was continuing to stare in a trance like
state when thrones were set up. Then, the One
Ancient in Days sat. His clothing was white like
snow. Also, the hair of His head was like lambs
wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels
were a blazing fire.
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10 A river composed of fire was flowing, yes
issuing forth from His presence. A thousand times
a thousand were continually rendering worshipful
service to Him. In fact, ten thousand times ten
thousand were continually standing in His
presence. The court convened resulting in scrolls
being opened.
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11 I was continuing to stare in a trance like
state at that time because of the sound coming
from the boastful words which the horn was making
a habit of speaking. I was continuing to stare in
a trance like state when the beast was killed. In
fact, its body was destroyed. Specifically, it
was given over to the consuming fire.
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12 On the other hand, the rest of the beasts,
their governmental dominion was taken away,
though for their benefit an extension of life was
granted for a period of time, yes an appointed
period of time. 13 I was continuing to stare in a
trance like state because of these visions as
behold One like a Son of Man was coming upon the
clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the
One Ancient in Days in the sense that He
approached His presence.
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14 Then, governmental dominion was given to Him
as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in
order that each and every person belonging to the
nations, ethnicities as well as language groups
would serve Him. His governmental dominion is an
eternal governmental dominion which can never be
taken away so that His kingdom is one which can
never be destroyed.
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15 As for me, Daniel, my soul was distressed in
the midst of my body. Specifically, the visions
in my mind caused me to be terrified. 16 I went
up to one from those standing nearby in order to
request from him the truth regarding all this.
Consequently, he spoke to me in order to make
known to me the interpretation of these events.
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17 These great beasts, which are four in number
are four kings who will arise from the earths
inhabitants. 18 However, the saints belonging to
the Most High will receive the kingdom. Indeed,
they will possess the kingdom throughout
eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages.
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19 Then, I desired to know the meaning concerning
the fourth beast which was different from all the
others, extraordinarily intimidating, its two
rows of teeth composed of iron as well as its
claws composed of bronze. It devoured as well as
crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the
rest with its feet.
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20 Also, I desired to know the meaning concerning
the ten horns which were on its head as well as
the one which emerged and in addition three fell
by being in the presence of it. Specifically,
that horn possessing eyes as well as a mouth
making it a habit of speaking boastfully. Indeed,
its appearance was more distinguished than its
contemporaries.
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21 I was continuing to stare in a trance like
state as that horn was continually waging war
against the saints so as to overpower them 22
until the One Ancient in Days intervened.
Specifically, He rendered judgment in favor of
the saints. Then, the moment arrived when the
saints took possession of the kingdom. (My
translation)
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Daniel 723 Thus he said The fourth beast will
be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be
different from all the other kingdoms and will
devour the whole earth and tread it down and
crush it. (NASB95)
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Daniel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
is employing the figure of asyndeton.
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His purpose is to emphasize with the reader that
he is transitioning from requesting an
interpretation of the fourth beast from an
unidentified individual who was by the throne of
the Ancient of Days to receiving this
interpretation from this individual.
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The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on
the earth teaches that the fourth beast
represents a fourth kingdom which will come into
existence after the three kingdoms represented by
the first three beasts, which refer to Babylon,
Medo-Persia and Greece respectively.
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Which will be different from all the other
kingdoms indicates that this fourth kingdom was
different from the previous three in the sense
that unlike the first three it would devour the
entire earth and tread it down as well as crush
it.
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This relative pronoun clause indicates the fourth
kingdom will be different in comparison to the
first three or it was different from the other
three.
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And will devour the whole earth explains
specifically what the interpreter meant by the
previous relative pronoun clause in which he
describes the fourth kingdom as different from
the three kingdoms preceding it in history.
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And tread it down explains the previous
statement that the fourth kingdom will devour the
entire earth.
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And crush it presents the result of the
previous statement in which the interpreter told
Daniel that the fourth kingdom will trample down
the entire earth.
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Daniel 723 Thus, he said, The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will
be different from all these kingdoms in the sense
that it will devour the entire earth.
Specifically, it will trample it down so that it
crushes it. (My translation)
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Daniel does not identify for the reader this
individual who gave him the interpretation of the
vision but it would appear to be the elect-angel
Gabriel since he is the one who gives him the
interpretation of the visions recorded in Daniel
chapter eight (see 816, 21).
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Gabriel also appears to Daniel to give him the
prophecy of the seventy weeks in Daniel chapter
nine (see 921).
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So in Daniel 723, this unidentified individual
who is more than likely the elect archangel
Gabriel spoke to Daniel in order to make known to
him the interpretation of the fourth non-descript
beast.
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Gabriel informs Daniel that this fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom which will be different
from the three world-empires preceding it which
were Babylon, Media-Persia and Alexander the
Greats Greece, which were represented in the
vision by the first three beasts.
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History tells us that this fourth kingdom was of
course the Roman Empire.
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The angel tells Daniel that Rome would be
different than these previous three world-empires
in the sense that it will devour the entire
earth.
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Specifically, it will trample down the
inhabitants and nations of the earth so that it
crushes the inhabitants and nations of the earth.
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This fourth beast represents the Roman Empire
since it corresponds to the legs of iron in the
image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzars dream in
Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented
the Roman Empire.
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The mention of this fourth kingdom here in verse
23 as devouring the entire earth and specifically
trampling down the inhabitants and nations of the
earth so that it crushes the inhabitants and
nations of the earth characterized the Roman
Empire.
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The Roman armies were known for their iron armor
which led some to refer to them as the Iron
Legions of Rome, emphasizing their strength and
invincibility.
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The Roman armies were also known for violently
crushing countries and civilizations enslaving
many peoples.
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Daniel 240 records this fourth kingdom is
compared to iron because it would crush and
shatter other kingdoms just as iron shatters and
crushes all things.
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This comparison indicates that this fourth
kingdom will be more powerful and destructive
than the previous three empires which were
represented on the statue by the gold head, the
silver arms and chest and bronze belly and
thighs, which history records as Babylon,
Medo-Persia and Greece respectively.
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This verse also says that this fourth kingdom,
which history records as the Roman Empire will
crush as well as break in pieces every kingdom it
confronts in war just like iron breaks into
pieces gold, silver and bronze.
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Daniel 723 corresponds with Daniel 240 since
Gabriel tells Daniel that Rome would be different
than these previous three world-empires in the
sense that it will devour the entire earth.
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Specifically, it will trample down the
inhabitants and nations of the earth so that it
crushes the inhabitants and nations of the earth.

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This description in Daniel 723 is a perfect
characterization of the Roman Empire, which had
superior military power than Babylon,
Media-Persia and Greece.
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In fact, as we noted in Daniel chapter two, since
the metals of the statue in the vision of
Nebuchadnezzars dream in Daniel chapter two
decrease in value but increase in strength, the
iron lower legs of the statue indicate that the
character of the authority in rulership of the
Roman Empire was inferior to Alexanders Greece,
Media-Persia and Nebuchadnezzars Babylon.
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However, its military power or strength was
superior to these three.
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The Roman Empire broke into pieces and shattered
to pieces more kingdoms and brought them into
greater subjection than Babylon, Medo-Persia and
Greece.
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The Roman Empire deserved its representation as
the iron empire since it subdued and destroyed
the remnants of the preceding empires as well as
many other nations.
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In Daniel 723, Gabriel tells Daniel that this
fourth kingdom which history records as Rome will
be different than the world-wide empires which
preceded it in history.
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Rome was different than Babylon, Media-Persia and
Greece in the sense that it devoured the entire
earth and tread it down as well as crushed it.
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It would be different in the sense that it would
be much more powerful than the three previous
kingdoms.
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Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece were all
world-wide empires like Rome.
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However, the manner in which they became a
world-wide empire makes it unique than the other
three since the other three are never said to
devour the entire earth, and tread it down and
crush it.
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However, this was the case with Rome.
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So Rome is different from these three world
empires in that it not only ruled the earth but
did so in a much ferocious, ruthless and
destructive manner.
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Daniel 724 also indicates that this fourth
kingdom would be different than the other three
kingdoms in that it would have at some point in
its history a ten nation confederacy which will
be led by a man who will be against God and His
people but will be judged by God.
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Nowhere in the history of Babylon, Media-Persia
and Greece did any of these empires have such a
confederacy of ten nations in which three would
be destroyed by a ruler who stridently opposed
God and His people and then was destroyed by God.

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Elements of Babylon, Media-Persia and Greece were
absorbed into the Roman Empire and were never
destroyed by God.
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However, the Roman Empire will be destroyed by
God, which will result in the destruction of the
other three kingdoms which were absorbed into it.

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When Gabriel informs Daniel that this fourth
kingdom will devour the entire earth, this
indicates that it will subjugate its inhabitants
and consume its resources for its own benefit.
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Therefore, the fourth kingdoms reign upon planet
earth will be total and complete in the sense
that every person will be under its jurisdiction.

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The angel describes this fourth kingdom as
trampling down the entire earth which speaks of
the fourth kingdom exercising overwhelming
military power against the nations of planet
earth so as to bring them into subjection to
itself.
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The fourth kingdom is said to crush the earth
which speaks of the Roman Empire crushing the
nations of the earth in the sense of subduing
them completely.
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This fourth kingdom is pictured as a wild animal
trampling upon people with the result that it
crushes these people.
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The picture here in Daniel 723 is that this
fourth kingdom will totally and completely
conquer and bring into subjection to itself the
nations of the earth and its inhabitants with
overwhelming military power.
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It will have no rivals on the earth which can
challenge it.
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Now, when the Old Testament uses the phrase
entire earth it is not referring to all of
planet earth but rather to the territory of the
Near and Middle East which in some respect
relates to Israel and Jerusalem.
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However, the ten horns of this fourth beast refer
to the Revived Form of the Roman Empire during
Daniels Seventieth Week under Antichrist.
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Also, Revelation 13 says that this empire led by
Antichrist will rule the entire earth.
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Thus, we can conclude that when Gabriel tells
Daniel in Daniel 723 that this fourth kingdom
will devour the entire earth he means the entire
earth literally and not just the region of the
Near and Middle East as related to Israel.
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The Old Roman Empire devoured and trampled down
so as to crush the nations of the Near and Middle
East but not the entire globe.
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However, the final form of the Roman Empire
during Daniels Seventieth Week under Antichrist
will in fact rule the entire earth (cf.
Revelation 137).
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