The Image of the Beast and the Four World Empires -- Newly Updated

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The Image of the Beast
And the Four World Empires

By John of AllFaith � 01.27.2009 (updated 6.2.09)

The Scriptures give a lot of concrete information about the past, present and future however there are still points that are debated. Sometimes this is because the information simply is not in the texts, sometimes its because there appears to be conflicting information in the texts, sometimes its because people read into the texts based on assumptions from their current situations, and sometimes its simply due to honest differences of interpretation.

In the case of the image of the Beast described by Prophets Daniel and John the interpretation is crystal clear in my opinion and yet there is still debate and confusion. This study will examine the Image of the Beast and demonstrate from the texts of the prophecies that there is no reference to the United States found in the image. As we are currently watching the prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes I can only think of one reason for the absence of the United States from the prophecies. I believe we are now witnessing the fall of the American Empire into irrelevance. The EU will soon replace the U.S. in international affairs and from there the Rex Mundi will arise. This event could happen at any time or it may be a few years in the future. Prophetically speaking, all we are waiting for is the signing of a specific treaty with Israel and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple.

Daniel's prophesy:

Daniel 2:
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon called his wisest servants and demanded that they reveal not only what his dream meant but the dream itself! Anyone can fabricate an interpretation of a dream but only one inspired by God could reveal both the dream and its interpretation.

There is a very important point here. People often try to identify prophetic characters based on appearances: Ronald Wilson Reagan was thought by some to be the Antichrist because of his name (three series of 6 letters: 666), Hillary Clinton is believed by some to be the Whore of Babylon because she is a politically powerful demon possessed woman. However all such interpretations stand in contradiction to key prophecies and so should not be accepted as accurate. Interpretations must be arrived at carefully and must be based solely on the Word of Prophecy. This would eliminate much confusion.

9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

The term "wise men" used here is chakkiym (Aramaic -- "khak-keem"). These were the emperor's consultants. With this act Nebuchadnezzar was rejecting human reasoning. This commitment to discovering the truth is why HaShem chose to reveal these things to him.

13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego), along with Daniel (Belteshazzar) knew that only God can reveal such things. Unlike the other wise men of the kingdom and many of those claiming to reveal truth today who rely on their own intellectual determinations, these holy men sought God's mercy and revelations. Note that these Hebrews sought God's mercy in humility. This is diametrically opposed to the general trend of the modern Laodicean (Nicean/Nicolatian) Church as John foretold at Revelation 3:15-20. As the following information was granted by HaShem due to their requests it is important that we not add to what is said.

18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

The dream therefore concerns real governments that will be seated in the course of human affairs. Let's skip forward a few verses now. You may wish to read these in your Bible.

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

God grants individuals and nations free will; many events and choices can be changed or avoided. The prophecies are not based on predestination as though we were the victims of inescapable fate, but rather are the foretellings of the decisions the involved parties will make and how HaShem will react to those choices. This is very important to understand.

There are two prophecies in effect: one Light the other Dark. We humans are free agents. We choose to submit to God and to the Prophecies of Light or we choose to rebel and embrace the Darkness. Terrans (Earthlings) can change and improve our world or we can drive it into deeper Darkness. AND all such choices are incorporated into the prophecies due to the foreknowledge of God! For God there is no time. God is beyond time. Therefore when the Prophets are shown "what shall come to pass" it is certain to occur.

30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

The Image of the Beast:

32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

As will be shown below, this image is the personification of the future of world government. Understanding the symbolism of this prophetic image is essential to undercovering the prophetic presentation of the New World Order and its coming master, the Rex Mundi. It also will explain a lot about the future establishment of Moshiach's coming Kingdom as represented by the "stone cut without hands" that will destroy the image and the nations of rebellious humans. Not only does Prophet Daniel reveal this information under divine inspiration, Prophet Y'shua references it and Prophet John expands our knowledge of it (Matt 24:25, Luke 21:24, Rev. 13:14, 14:11, 20:4 etc.).

34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

The Interpretation of the Image of the Beast:

Now the meaning of these symbols will be shared. We should accept them as they are without undue interpretation. When we do this, its all quite clear.

37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

The Head of the Image: Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian Empire. We know from the text that the image has to do with empires. We also know that King Nebuchadnezzar is the head and leader of Babylonia. For the rest we will be looking for other empires and rulers that at this point in Daniel's life did not exist.

39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

Altogether four world empires are presented here. The first of these is Babylon. The other three will be clearly identified below. The fourth of these kingdoms does not actually fall like the earlier three, it divides into separate kingdoms according to the next verses.

41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

So we learn here that the first three empires will fall but the fourth will crumble into separate countries. Each of these countries will maintain their individual powers and influences and be at odds with one another. This situation will continue for an unspecified period of time.

And then:

44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

These individual countries will not fall from power until they are destroyed by the Moshiach.

The Four Winds and the Great Sea:

We know from verse 38 cited above that the "head" of the Image of the Beast is the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel identifies all four kingdoms in chapter seven of his book. Again the information comes to us from a dream, this one of Daniel himself:

Daniel 7:

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

The "four winds" striving "upon the great sea" refers to the same influences referenced as the Four Horsemen (of the Apocalypse) at Zechariah 6:2-5 and Revelation 6:1-8. These are:

• White Horse: False prophets, deception, religious hypocrisy
• Red Horse: War
• Black Horse: Famine
• Pale Horse: Death

The "Great Sea" refers to the sea of humanity. This is confirmed at places like Isa. 60:5, Matt. 13:47 and so on. These four influences have been the bane of mankind since the beginning. In his End Time prophecies found in Matthew 24 Prophet Y'shua speaks of the increase in these conditions as the world approaches the end of the age.

We can therefore understand that what follows is another reference to the future of world governance. Human history is the story of how the leaders of the world react to and utilize the four influences of the four winds to craft their affairs. The four superpowers rule over the great sea. Now the identities of these four superpower empires will be revealed:

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

These four superpowers arise from the sea of humanity are likened unto beasts. It is no coincidence that the coming Rex Mundi is referred to by the prophets as "the Beast." His New World Order reign will be the culmination of all human government. Just as King Nebuchadnezzar stood for the first beast (Babylon) so too the Rex Mundi will rule over a global empire.

The Four Superpowers

Babylon:

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

We know from chapter two (2:37.38) that the first of these "beasts" or powers is Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. This is varied by Prophet Jeremiah as follows:

Jeremiah 4:7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
and:
25:9: Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Referring to this, Prophet Y'shua references the Times of the Gentiles:

Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

These "Times of the Gentiles" began with the destruction of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces. From that point there was no independent Israel until 1948 CE. In the days of Prophet Y'shua Israel was a Roman province (Judea). The First Beast roamed the earth therefore just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and consumed it. Likewise the Fourth Beast will be destroyed shortly after Israel was reborn in 1948. As Prophet Y'shua said about the generation that witnessed Israel's rebirth:

Matthew 24:34 This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

With the rebirth of Israel in 1948 the Last Days began. With the destruction of Rex Mundi and his New World Order the Times of the Gentiles will close and the Times of Moshiach and his theocratic kingdom will begin. We now continue with Daniel 7 and identifying the Four Beasts.

Medio-Persia:

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

This is the referenced, "kingdom inferior to thee" at chapter 2:39. Medio-Persia followed Babylon as world superpower. The identity of this second Beast is later confirmed by Daniel where he discusses the victory of Greece (the third power) over the Medio-Persians:

8:20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

The three ribs probably represent the three countries that made up this kingdom: Media, Persia and Babylonia. This kingdom devoured much flesh including Lydia, Babylonia, Egypt and others.

Greece:

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

This is the third kingdom noted at 2:39. Daniel discuses them more at 8:21:

And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

And again at 10:20:

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come...

Under the reign of Alexander the Great Greece was like a great leopard that moved swiftly and decisively throughout the known world.

The Roman Empire:

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

The Roman Empire is described this way in chapter two of Daniel:

2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Here in chapter seven we read of the ten horns of the Beast. These "horns" or authorities represent the leadership of the divided kingdoms that Rome disintegrated into.

In the Scriptures horns are often used in this way:

Deuteronomy 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

John gives us more information:

Rev. 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Three and a half years into his seven year reign the resurrected Fourth Beast, the Rex Mundi, ruler of the coming Global Union, will turn against the woman and her child (the Jews and the Moshiach). I discuss this elsewhere, but for now it is important to understand that the Beast spoken of in Daniel is the same Fourth Beast described by Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon, Alexander was ruler of Greece and Rex Mundi will be ruler of the Novus Ordo Seclorum once it comes to power. More on this below.

Unlike any other nation in ancient history Rome never fell. It continues to exist today in the royal European (Merovingian) families who control the European Union, the Bavarian Illuminati, the Bilderberg group, the CFR etc. as well as the nation of Vatican City.

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.

Again, the Fourth Beast never fell. The divided Roman Empire has ruled the world ever since its inception and yet despite the various historical attempts to re-unite the Empire, the countries of Europa never again united (Dan 2:43) although under Adolf Hitler they came close.

But now the European Union has almost finalized this reunification of Rome, thereby preparing the way for Rex Mundi.

The Image of the Beast is described here as a human figure. According to the prophet and history when the Roman Empire "fell" it divided into two "legs." Some people hoping to find a biblical, prophetic reference to the United States believe they find it here. What is meant by this reference to the two legs of the Image?

The decline and fall of the Roman Empire took place over a long period of time and through several battles and intrigues. Space (and probably reader interest) forbids a detailed discussion of these fascinating twists and turns and even Roman scholars do not agree on when the Empire actually finished its collapsed. There are two basic views:

• September 4, 476 CE: This is the date given by Roman historian Edward Gibbon and is widely accepted. According to this view Rome lasted for a thousand years, until a German General in the Roman army named Odoacer deposed emperor Romulus Augustulus (the last western Roman Emperor). This was the end of Imperial Roman control of Western Europa.
• Others date the Fall of Rome to May 29, 1453 when Ottoman Turks, lead by Caliph of Islam Mehmed II Fath El-Istanbul, took Byzantium (Constantinople) destroying the last remnants of the established Empire.

Caliph Mehmed II destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire as Islam sought to and almost succeeded at conquering the world last time, but in the West the Empire lives on still through Vatican City, the Merovingian and other Royal European bloodlines and now the EU. Among these lineages is the San Grael -- the "Holy Blood" -- through which the Rex Mundi has doubtless already taken his birth.

Clearly these are the "two legs" of governmental development foretold by Daniel, the Eastern and Western Roman Empire followed by Eastern and Western Europe. The division of Empire contributed to the establishment of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox patriarchates and the eventual splitting of the Nicean/Nicolatian Church established by Constantine east and west. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall was a major if symbolic sign that Rome was re-emerging in our days.

From the restored Roman Empire -- the European Union -- the Rex Mundi will unite the world into a Global Union.

A few mainly American students of the prophecies believe these "legs" represent Europa and the United States as though the Image of the Beast were striding the Atlantic. It does seem logical to assume that the United States would be directly involved in the fulfillment of the prophecies, however there simply is no scriptural evidence that this is so. As an American I'd love to see my nation mentioned by the biblical prophets (preferably in a favorable light) but the fact is we're just not there. This is probably due in large to the fact that the illegal immigrant currently occupying the post of President has recently declared his intention to surrender Holy Jerusalem to al Ikhwan (the Muslim Brotherhood). This may well be in the final nail in the U.S. coffin.

Genesis 12:1 Now HaShem said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee:
2 and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;
3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

The United States government is now officially cursing Israel.

The events described by the prophets foretell earth shaking occurrences the likes of which the world has never experienced. Prophet Y'shua describes the seven year tribulation as the most devastating period in world history (especially the final 3 1/2 years)! Certainly the United States would be right in the middle of such events unless the nation no longer exists as a player on the world stage when these events come about. Our exit from that stage is now being implemented an should be obvious to everyone within a few months.

I discuss the events of the final seven years elsewhere. For now I will merely say that the absence of the United States from the prophecies can only foretell our national demise. It seems quite likely that the turmoil and power vacuum accompanying the fall of the United States will empower the final unification of the European Continent (the Roman Empire reborn) and then the Global Union (the Novus Ordo Seclorum) over which the Rex Mundi (Antichrist/Dijal) will preside. The Novus Ordo Mundi (New World Order) is the process through which the nations are even now being united. Upon completion of this unification the Novus Order Seclorum (New Secular Order) will be born and the Rex Mundi will take his global throne crushing all who oppose him.

It may well be the collapse of the United States that brings about the final unification of the EU and their role as leaders of the Western World. The United States will probably continue as a corporate fiction but the North American Union will be a state (federation) under Imperial, Corporate Rome (the European based Global Union.)

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

The soon coming global unification will usher in the Rex Mundi. He will be the Ultimate Beast, the powerful, deceitful and evil ruler in world history. Rex Mundi will have the characteristics, strengths and abilities or King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, of the rulers of Medio-Persia, of Alexander and his Greek Empire and of the Roman Empire and its rulers, all combined in one man, one Beast. And just like Nebuchadnezzar and the other historic despots Rex Mundi WILL be an individual person, not a political system despite what some are now teaching.

Understand that there are two essential prophecies at work: One Light, the other Dark. BOTH have adherents and supporters. As people desiring the privilege of serving the Most High God we are committed to HaShem, to Israel and to the coming Moshiach. Even now we Stand in opposition and if need be as willing martyrs as the Beast rises. We join together, despite our diversity, in prayer for the victory of the Jewish people and the saving of the world from the New World Order Elite. According to the Prophecies of Light Moshiach will be victorious and will establish his thousand year kingdom. We pray for and work toward that day!

I discuss the events that are now and will soon occur according to the prophets in some detail in my study: Aftergeddon: The World After Armageddon: Paradise Restored! study.

Maranatha!

Moshiach is Coming!

But until then...

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