Bible outlook

During the seventy-year exile of ancient Judah, a young man named Daniel was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. Everything that was foretold by the prophet Isaiah was becoming true. The city of Jerusalem had been besieged because the Jews refused to listen to the prophets who warned them of judgment coming upon them over serving false gods. When Isaiah warned the people of this invasion, they did not take heed; but instead, they continued their evil ways, just as they did in the days of Jeremiah, in the days of Ezekiel, and finally, throughout the years that Daniel experienced. 

After Daniel was held captive, he was thrown into a lion’s den by Nebuchadnezzar, who was troubled by these dreams that he kept receiving from God. But God gave Daniel a chance to interpret his visions by delivering him from the wild beasts. Instead of allowing him to be devoured by them, he gave him the ability to see what will take place at the end times, by interpreting symbols that were shown to the king, who was unable to discern their meaning.

Daniel saw the first beast come up out of the sea, including a lion which had eagle’s wings, with the mind of a man that was given to it, and another beast, one that was like a bear, having three ribs in its mouth that was told to devour much flesh. And the third beast was like a leopard, having four heads and wings on its back, that was given dominion over the nations. Finally, there was the fourth beast that was different from all the other creatures that Daniel saw. It had ten horns that led to a little horn which rises up to represent the Antichrist himself.

These four creatures are to represent four separate kingdoms:

• Babylon — the lion with eagle wings
• Medo-Persia — the bear
• Greece — the leopard
• The Roman Empire — the seven headed beast

All Roads Lead to Rome

As for the little horn, it represents the papal system, of which the Antichrist uses to lead people into his mark of the beast technology—or the number of his name—that will bring people into perdition; thus, if they choose to receive it. Those who do not receive his mark will suffer much and be under attack by the antichrist during the seventieth week that’s also taught in the book of Daniel. That will be the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period in which those who are left behind will have the option to receive his mark or to escape final judgment.

Each symbol that is discussed in the book of Daniel ultimately points to Rome and the revived Roman Empire that will take over the whole planet, leading people astray into a false religious system. But he will use Israel by making people believe that a third temple will be rebuilt in the holy city. The third temple, also known as the abomination of desolation, is taught to mean that God will put an end to pagan sacrifices and offerings set up by the antichrist in Jerusalem.

The northern king will send his army to do terrible things to the temple in Jerusalem. They will stop the people from offering the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up that terrible thing that causes destruction.

Daniel 11:31

According to dispensationalists, a third temple will be built there after the second coming, and the Jews will accept Jesus as their messiah. However, there will not be a third temple reconstructed in the holy land of Jerusalem, but in the resurrected body of Jesus. The rebuilding of a physical temple in Jerusalem was abandoned by Christ in judgment against the Jewish people to restore the gentile world.

There was also a statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that only Daniel could interpret: it was a giant sculpture made of different metals and clay, much like the creatures mentioned earlier, with both visions representing the same four kingdoms. The golden head represents Babylon; its legs of iron, Rome; its silver arms and chest, Medo-Persia; its bronze belly and thighs, Grecia; and the stone that’s thrown at it represents Christ.

After Daniel saw these visions, the Lord spoke to him by saying:

“I will set up my kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and bring to an end all of these empires that are standing in my way, just as you saw a stone break into pieces this statue made of iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold” (2:44–45).