Facts of Faith

The Prophetic History of the World

THE prophecies of the Bible are not difficult to understand, if we follow the rules laid down in Scripture for interpreting prophecy. These rules are few in number, and they are not complicated. When used in connection with prophetic symbols, “sea,” or “waters,” stand for “multitudes” of people (Revelation 17:15; Isaiah 8:7; 17:12; Jeremiah 6:23); “wind ” stands for “war ” (Jeremiah 4:12, 13; 25:31, 32); “beasts” stand for “kingdoms” (Daniel 7:23); and “days” for “years” (Ezekiel 4:6). FAFA 34.1

The prophet Daniel saw in vision four winds of war, which strove upon the great sea of people, and four great beasts, or kingdoms, came up one after the other. “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings.” Daniel 7:2-4. In Jeremiah 49:19, 22, 28, a lion is used to symbolize the kingdom of Babylon (606-538 B. c). The second beast was like a bear (Daniel 7:5), and denoted Medo-Persia, the next world empire (538-331 B. C.). The ” three ribs in the mouth of it ” were the three chief countries which it conquered, Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt. FAFA 34.2

He next saw a leopard having four heads and four wings (v. 6), symbolizing the Grecian Empire (331-168 B. C). A leopard is very alert, and adding to this symbol four wings would indicate that Grecia would make rapid conquest, which was true. Alexander the Great marched his army 5,100 miles in eight years and conquered the then known civilized world. The four heads on the leopard denote the four divisions into which that empire was split up after the death of Alexander. FAFA 34.3

“The fourth beast,” the angel explained, “shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth.” V, 23. The fourth empire from Babylon was Rome (168 B. c. to 476 A. D). The angel also informs us that “the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.” V, 24. The Roman Empire was split up into just ten smaller kingdoms between the years 351 and 476 A. D. The following are their ancient and modern names: FAFA 34.4

1. Alemanni - Germany. 2. Franks - France. 3. Anglo-Saxons - England. 4. Burgundians - Switzerland. 5. Visigoths - Spain. 6. Suevi - Portugal. 7. Lombards - Italy. 8. Heruli. 9. Vandals. 10. Ostrogoths. FAFA 35.1

This prophecy is so plain, and the explanation so natural and easy to understand, that all commentators, both Protestant and Catholic, fully agree on it. (See Sir Isaac Newton’s “Observations upon the Prophecies,” pp. 157-159; Bishop Thomas Newton, “Dissertations on the Prophecies,” pp. 201-221; Joseph Tanner on “Daniel and the Revelation,” pp. 165-174; Martin Luther’s “Introduction,” pp. 32, 33, Frederikshald, 1853) FAFA 35.2

The Douay, or Catholic, version of the Bible has the following notes on Daniel 7:3, 7, 8. “Four great beasts. Viz., the Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires.” “Ten horns. That is, ten kingdoms, (as Apoc. 17. 12) among which the empire of the fourth beast shall be parcelled.” “Another little horn. This is commonly understood of Antichrist.” FAFA 35.3

In regard to these ten kingdoms, Sir Isaac Newton says: “Whatever was their number afterwards, they are still called the Ten Kings from their first number.” — “Daniel and the Apocalypse,” p. 187; first printed, 1733; reprinted, London: 1922. FAFA 35.4