EUROPE (2)

THE REVELATION OF THE DREAM

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM

The Kingdom of Gold: Babylon

Daniel 2:38 (NKJV)

and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom began in 606 BC and lasted 70 years.

It was known as the “Golden Kingdom” because of it’s immense wealth and everything was lavished on gold.

The Kingdom of Silver: Medo-Persia

Daniel 2:39 (NKJV)

But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours;

The kingdom that followed would be inferior to Babylon

It was represented by silver in the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

The two arms on the statue represented the Medes & the Persians.

Medo-Persia overthrew Babylon & Belshazzar after an unattached hand appeared on the wall writing out the fate of Babylon.

Daniel 5:28 NKJV

Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

The Kingdom of Bronze: Greece

Daniel 2:39 (NKJV)

then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

Greece was the kingdom of Philip of Macedon whose son was Alexander the Great.

Alexander’s Greek empire extended over the known world.

The Kingdom of Iron: Rome

Daniel 2:40 NKJV

And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

This 4th Kingdom conquered Greece and became the most dominant and influential kingdom in world history.

Rome came to power some 50 years before the birth of Christ and ruled Palestine through His ministry and throughout the expansion of the Church.

The Kingdom of Iron/Clay: The Revived Roman Empire

Daniel 2:41 NKJV

Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.

Daniel 2:44 (NKJV)

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

The final aspect of the Roman Empire - the mixture of iron and clay - is the most important for us since it is still in the future (Daniel 2:41)

Ten toes represent 10 divisions. Didn’t exist in the past but will in the future.

The original Roman Empire wasn’t destroyed, but just dissolved over time.

European Economic Community was founded in 1948 in Brussels, Belgium.

1957 - Treaty of Rome was signed and brought 6 European nations together to form the “Common Market.”

1973- England, Ireland, and Denmark.

1981 - Greece joins bringing the total number of nations to 10.

1986 - Spain & Portugal were added.

1992 - the Economic borders between European nations were removed.

1995 - Austria, Finland, & Sweden joined.

2002 - the “Euro” currency was introduced. 80 billion coins were made.

2013 - 13 additional nations had joined the European Union. The expanded population was more than 400 million people.

THE IMPLICATION OF THE DREAM

The Consolidation of World Powers

Daniel 7:24 NKJV

The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

In the days of the Roman Empire, Rome was the ruling empire in the Western world.

This has been tried by other world leaders and failed.

However, before the Return of Christ, world power will once again be consolidated in one man.

Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 closely paralleled the dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 7.

Daniel 7:24 NKJV

The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.

If world conditions - war, oil or food shortages, natural disasters - ever cause people to become desperate enough to give their allegiance to one leader, this leader could easily become the ruler of a majority of the world’s population.

The Coming of One World Leader

Daniel 7:25 NKJV

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

This coming one world leader is referred to as the Antichrist.

He will rise up as the leader of the Revived Roman Empire and in direct opposition to the God of heaven and to God’s people.

For his emergence, there must be a confederation of states for him to lead.

Hence - the European Nations.

Paul-Henri Spaak, the first president of the UN General Assembly, first president of the European Parliament, and one-time secretary general of NATO, is credited with making this stunning statement: "We do not need another committee. We have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man and, be he god or devil, we will receive him."

The coming Great Tribulation is going to create a situation like nothing the world has ever seen.

Imagine the reality of people doing things to save themselves which would also include submitting to a “one-world ruler” who promises to deliver them from the judgments of God.

The Condition for the Treaty with Israel

Daniel 9:26–27 NKJV

“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

This leader (Antichrist) of the revived Roman Empire is going to establish a peace treaty with Israel for 7-years.

Many US Presidents and other leaders have attempted over the years to bring the Jews and the Arabs together in peace, but to no avail.

The Antichrist’s treaty will not last:

Daniel 7:27 NKJV

Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

The treaty will have allowed Israel to carry out her religious life under the banner of so-called peace for 3-1/2 years.

He will then break the treaty which will begin the countdown to Armageddon.

The stage is being set now for these events in the future and the prophetic clock is ticking.

Paul said in Romans 13:11

Romans 13:11 NKJV

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

What’s Next?

The return of Christ is closer than it was when we were first saved and closer than it was yesterday.

We may not know the day or the hour, but judging from the prophecies and warnings of Jesus, we can know the season.

The signs from God’s Word certainly seem to indicate that we are nearing, or in the season of His return.

Think about the Last 100 years or so!

1948 - Israel was reestablished as a nation.

There is in place a community of nations closely resembling the old Roman Empire.

The Arab nations control most of the world’s oil and this equals great influence and power in the world’s economy.

Are You Ready for This Season?

God’s plans & purposes wait for no man.

You need to be in step with God’s timetable or risk being “left behind.”

You can be ready by placing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting Him to forgive you and save you.