Visions of the Apocalypse
March 21, 2015
8 comments
Let us travel back to the year 605 BC and follow the Israelite people
into Babylon. Now, let us fast forward to the 1st century AD and visit
John on the island of Patmos. We invite you to follow us on our quest to
comprehend the great mysteries of the end like never before.
Introduction
For Daniel, it all began around 605 BC when Judah was defeated and he along with members of the elite were taken into captivity by Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Eight years later in 597 BC, the king of Judah, Jehoiakim was killed and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin whom three months and ten days later was replaced by king Zedekiah and he too was taken captive. Finally, in 587-586 BC Jerusalem fell and all, but a small minority of folks, were taken captive.
The book of Daniel tells us in chapter 8 that his vision occurred
during the reign of king Belshazzar. For centuries opponents of biblical
inerrancy claimed that king Belshazzar was a figment of Daniel’s
imagination; however, in 1854 a clay cylinder, dated 540 BC, known as
the Nabonidus Cylinder of Ur, removed all doubt. In fact, if one studies
the Nabonidus Cylinder of Ur, then one discovers that king Belshazzar
was not only real, but that he was also the eldest son of king
Nabonidus.
Moreover, in the Verse Account of Nabonidus, (thought to have been
inscribed during the reign of Cyrus II, sometime shortly after the fall
of Babylonia), we learn that king Belshazzar was given the kingdom and
control over his father’s army -most likely sometime between 542-541 BC.
In the autumn of 540 BC, Cyrus II set his sights on the capital, Babylon. According to Herodotus, using a basin that was dug by the queen Nitokris of Babylonia to hold off the Assyrians, the Persian army diverted the water into a canal; thus lowering the water level to about waist high, which allowed the Persian army to march into the city at night via the basin and avoid armed conflict. By this time, Nabonidus had returned to Babylonia and was hiding out in the capital. On October 29th, 539 BC, Cyrus II entered Babylon, arrested Nabonidus, and the Babylonian empire fell.
Finally, in 538 BC, all surviving Jewish captives were set free!
The physical location of Daniel’s vision took place in the city of
Shushan (Susa) which is located in the lower Zargos Mountains about 250
km (160 mi) east of the Tigris river, between the Karkeh and Dez rivers
in the province of Elam stretching from the lowlands of what is now the
Khuzestan and Ilam provinces, as well as, a small portion of southern
Iraq. The spiritual location of Daniel’s vision was located some 20
miles north-west of the city Susa near the river Ulai. During the time
of Daniel this region was known as Babylonia, but today we know it as
the country, Iran.
Prelude
Daniel 7 is our main source for a sneak peek into the end of times; however, Daniel 8 is that same vision except with a focus on our final earthly hour; therefore, we must examine both chapters in correlation with Revelation 13 in order to obtain the full gruesome picture, but before we dive into our complete study, let’s first discuss the New Testament book of Revelation.
Revelation
The book of Revelation was authored by a man known only as John. John’s testimony reveals that he was exiled to the Greek island of Patmos where he both recorded and had his vision. Later to be known as Saint John of Patmos, today the islanders still celebrate this historic legend.
The island of Patmos is among the northernmost Greek islands located in the Aegean sea and the island inhabitants believe that John wrote the book of Revelation while residing in the Cave of the Apocalypse, which today has been converted into a church and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. The Cave of the Apocalypse is open for tours and is located about halfway up the Aegean Mountain, between the villages of Chora and Skala, below St. John’s Monastery.
The LORD, Jesus Christ died in 33 AD, John is thought to have died in
100 AD, and the Grand Royal Basilica was built to honor Saint John of
Patmos in 300 AD; therefore, Saint John of Patmos must have recorded his
vision sometime between 33 AD and 100 AD, and no later than 300 AD.
Visions of the Apocalypse
Information pertaining to the end of times exists in two major places: 1) Daniel, and 2) Revelation; however, bits and pieces can be found peppered all throughout the Holy Bible, which only appear to reference Daniel, rather than to contribute new information. One exception is found in the book of Revelation; therefore, in this section of our article we will fuse together Daniel 7-8 with Revelation 13 in order to obtain a full, unadulterated behind-the-scenes look at the end of times.
The book of Revelation 13 describes a beast with 7 heads, 10 horns, and 10 crowns; however, Daniel 7 describes the same beast, except that he saw them as 4 separate beasts where 3 beasts had 1 head and 1 beast had 4 heads. Because, unlike in Revelation 13, Daniel saw separate beasts, we might conclude that each beast will rise up at different times, in succession, but will at some point converge into a single beast, as is described in Revelation 13.
Daniel 7 tells us that each horn represents a king; therefore, by extension that would mean that each head is a region and that each beast is a nation. Therefore, in the end of times this world will be divided into 7 regions, which, of course, begs the question: Why are there 10 kings?
The answer is simple and can be found in both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13:
So, we learn that there are 10 kings total, but 3 are removed, making
the sub-total 7, then one more rises up, making the grand total 8
kings; therefore, in our last days on earth, there will be 7 nations, 7
kings, with 1 king above all kings, and sadly that king will be the
Anti-Christ.
The characteristics of this false king of kings will be like that of a lamb (he will outwardly represent peace), but he will speak like a serpent (cunning and wise) and will blaspheme the things of God and God Himself. The Anti-Christ will persecute God’s people and will cause them to be arrested and murdered. He will disgrace the Holy city of Jerusalem and cause its people to flee.
This false messiah will deceive the entire world, causing them to worship the new world system and to receive a mark either in their right hand or in their forehead, which if they refuse to take the mark, then they will not be able to buy nor sell, therefore crippling them economically.
Unfortunately, that’s not all, because apparently there will be no room for those who refuse to take the mark, because Revelation 13 tells us that anyone who refuses the mark will not just be taken forcibly off the grid, but that they will also be killed. Both Daniel and Revelation calls these people Saints, which is appropriate because the word “saint” means “holy” and the word “holy” means “to be set apart” and that’s exactly what happens to all those who refuse to take the mark:
As soon as a government begins mandating its people to receive this
mark, it is obvious who their greatest earthly opponents will be, which
is of course the Christian Community. Both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13
describes this world-wide war against the saints, stating that this
false king of kings will wear us down and ultimately defeat us. Which is
no surprise considering that we wont be able to buy or sell anything,
which of course includes food, supplies, and especially ammo.
Then, soon after our collective demise, in comes the Wrath of God!
The Kingship of Our Lord
Despite the many delusional attempts of satan to prove otherwise, the true King of Kings, is the Son of God, our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Indeed, both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 describe the LORD’s Kingship here on earth, stating that He will first cast down their thrones and remove them from the earth, then He will give their dominion to the Saints and we will be made Kings, while the Son of God, Jesus Christ will rule over all as our true King of Kings!
Conclusion
In a nutshell, before the end of days the whole world will be divided into 7 regions, having 7 kings, with 1 king above all kings. During this time God’s people will be at war with the false king above all kings and he will change laws and make us guilty. Because we choose not to worship the beast nor take his mark, then we will be arrested, detained and killed for our dissidence.
And, then the end will come and our LORD, Jesus Christ will punish the wicked and will strip them of their kingdoms. The LORD will make of us Kings and we will inherit the kingdoms of the earth! For all eternity, we will live free once more, in the glory that He shares with the Father!
Amen.
DIVINECODERS
For Daniel, it all began around 605 BC when Judah was defeated and he along with members of the elite were taken into captivity by Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Eight years later in 597 BC, the king of Judah, Jehoiakim was killed and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin whom three months and ten days later was replaced by king Zedekiah and he too was taken captive. Finally, in 587-586 BC Jerusalem fell and all, but a small minority of folks, were taken captive.
In the autumn of 540 BC, Cyrus II set his sights on the capital, Babylon. According to Herodotus, using a basin that was dug by the queen Nitokris of Babylonia to hold off the Assyrians, the Persian army diverted the water into a canal; thus lowering the water level to about waist high, which allowed the Persian army to march into the city at night via the basin and avoid armed conflict. By this time, Nabonidus had returned to Babylonia and was hiding out in the capital. On October 29th, 539 BC, Cyrus II entered Babylon, arrested Nabonidus, and the Babylonian empire fell.
Finally, in 538 BC, all surviving Jewish captives were set free!
Daniel 7 is our main source for a sneak peek into the end of times; however, Daniel 8 is that same vision except with a focus on our final earthly hour; therefore, we must examine both chapters in correlation with Revelation 13 in order to obtain the full gruesome picture, but before we dive into our complete study, let’s first discuss the New Testament book of Revelation.
Revelation
The book of Revelation was authored by a man known only as John. John’s testimony reveals that he was exiled to the Greek island of Patmos where he both recorded and had his vision. Later to be known as Saint John of Patmos, today the islanders still celebrate this historic legend.
The island of Patmos is among the northernmost Greek islands located in the Aegean sea and the island inhabitants believe that John wrote the book of Revelation while residing in the Cave of the Apocalypse, which today has been converted into a church and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. The Cave of the Apocalypse is open for tours and is located about halfway up the Aegean Mountain, between the villages of Chora and Skala, below St. John’s Monastery.
Visions of the Apocalypse
Information pertaining to the end of times exists in two major places: 1) Daniel, and 2) Revelation; however, bits and pieces can be found peppered all throughout the Holy Bible, which only appear to reference Daniel, rather than to contribute new information. One exception is found in the book of Revelation; therefore, in this section of our article we will fuse together Daniel 7-8 with Revelation 13 in order to obtain a full, unadulterated behind-the-scenes look at the end of times.
The book of Revelation 13 describes a beast with 7 heads, 10 horns, and 10 crowns; however, Daniel 7 describes the same beast, except that he saw them as 4 separate beasts where 3 beasts had 1 head and 1 beast had 4 heads. Because, unlike in Revelation 13, Daniel saw separate beasts, we might conclude that each beast will rise up at different times, in succession, but will at some point converge into a single beast, as is described in Revelation 13.
Daniel 7 tells us that each horn represents a king; therefore, by extension that would mean that each head is a region and that each beast is a nation. Therefore, in the end of times this world will be divided into 7 regions, which, of course, begs the question: Why are there 10 kings?
The answer is simple and can be found in both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13:
| Daniel 7:8 |
| 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. |
| Revelation 13:3 |
| 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. |
The characteristics of this false king of kings will be like that of a lamb (he will outwardly represent peace), but he will speak like a serpent (cunning and wise) and will blaspheme the things of God and God Himself. The Anti-Christ will persecute God’s people and will cause them to be arrested and murdered. He will disgrace the Holy city of Jerusalem and cause its people to flee.
This false messiah will deceive the entire world, causing them to worship the new world system and to receive a mark either in their right hand or in their forehead, which if they refuse to take the mark, then they will not be able to buy nor sell, therefore crippling them economically.
Unfortunately, that’s not all, because apparently there will be no room for those who refuse to take the mark, because Revelation 13 tells us that anyone who refuses the mark will not just be taken forcibly off the grid, but that they will also be killed. Both Daniel and Revelation calls these people Saints, which is appropriate because the word “saint” means “holy” and the word “holy” means “to be set apart” and that’s exactly what happens to all those who refuse to take the mark:
| Revelation 20:4 |
| 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. |
Then, soon after our collective demise, in comes the Wrath of God!
The Kingship of Our Lord
Despite the many delusional attempts of satan to prove otherwise, the true King of Kings, is the Son of God, our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Indeed, both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 describe the LORD’s Kingship here on earth, stating that He will first cast down their thrones and remove them from the earth, then He will give their dominion to the Saints and we will be made Kings, while the Son of God, Jesus Christ will rule over all as our true King of Kings!
Conclusion
In a nutshell, before the end of days the whole world will be divided into 7 regions, having 7 kings, with 1 king above all kings. During this time God’s people will be at war with the false king above all kings and he will change laws and make us guilty. Because we choose not to worship the beast nor take his mark, then we will be arrested, detained and killed for our dissidence.
And, then the end will come and our LORD, Jesus Christ will punish the wicked and will strip them of their kingdoms. The LORD will make of us Kings and we will inherit the kingdoms of the earth! For all eternity, we will live free once more, in the glory that He shares with the Father!
Amen.
DIVINECODERS
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