DANIEL'S PROPHECIES

---

In the year 605 BC, the Children of Israel were taken captive by the Babylonian Empire.  It was during this captivity that a Hebrew named Daniel began to receive visions and dreams from the Most High. Although the Book of Daniel is one literary work, there appears to be two segments to this book. Chapters 1-6 are seen as historical, and chapters 7-12 are seen as prophetic. However, when it comes to the prophecies of this book, we see Daniel 2, 7, 8-9, and 10-12 as the main focus.

In order to understand the prophecies of Daniel, we need to understand a concept called Repeat and Expand. Repeat and Expand is a term that shows that the visions occurring in chapters 2,7,8, and 11 refer to the same prophecy but each time the prophecy repeats, it provides more detail. Nebuchadnezzar's Image in Daniel 2 is a revelation of four world powers. However, Repeat and Expand prevents us from misinterpreting Daniel's later prophecies as different kingdoms. In essence, the same nations referred to in Daniel 2, are the same referred to in Daniel 7 and so forth.

As you begin to understand more about this book, you will begin to understand that Daniel's prophecies are centered around kings and kingdoms and often use symbolism as a representation of empires. The reason for this is that prophecy is telling us the story of the succession of the rulers of this world. Once you understand what prophecy is telling us, we then see that the controversy between Christ and Satan is a war for human souls. Satan has made claim to this world as its current ruler. Remember what he told Christ?

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time." Luke 4:5

And notice what he offered the Savior vs. 7: "If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."

This is at the heart of Daniel's prophecies. Since the fall of humanity, Satan has laid claim to this world through the reign of Gentile empires; however, prophecy reveals that Satan's reign won't last forever. Prophecy culminates when Christ comes through the clouds and overthrows Satan's kingdom and all his subjects. Thus, Christ becomes the final king and ruler of the earth, and His kingdom will forever reign and supersede all other world powers. It will be more glorious than Babylon, more dominant than Greece, and more powerful than Rome. This kingdom of heaven is what prophecy is all about.

The prophecies found in Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ are a large part of our message to the world. And because of this, we must ensure that we understand as much of the symbolism in these books as has been revealed. Some of the symbols that often appear in the two prophetic books are horns, heads, and beasts.

Horn: A horn is not just a king…it’s a kingship. A kingship is all the kings that ruled a particular kingdom or empire. 

Head: A nation’s government or a ruling body of clergy organized into order or ranks, each subordinate to the one above it and inclusive of the kings who rule over them.

Beasts: All the inhabitants of a nation—which are inclusive of the government, which is also inclusive of its kings.

The prophecy of Daniel, with its straightforward interpretation, forms a solid foundation upon which additional prophecies are expanded, including Revelation, Joel and Jesus' Olivet Discourse.