Literal Tribulation. More detail about the stone and the mountain are provided in Daniel 7 and 9. In Daniel 7, the imagery changes to four beasts: lion, bear, leopard, and a dreadful beast (Dan. 7:2-8). History tells us the lion, bear, and leopard were symbols of the first three nations. The last animal is not really described.      After describing each beast, Daniel describes ten horns on the last beast. It is important to remember that the statue in Daniel 2 had legs of iron and feet or ten toes made of iron and clay. These two dreams are connected. Only this dream goes farther. Now we are told a new horn arises and kills three of the horns. After that the kingdom comes, judgment follows and the eternal kingdom is set-up (Dan. 7:9-14).      When we look at Revelation 13 and 17 we will find the same symbolism used there.     . . . And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.. (NASB) Rev. 13:1-2   And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast. (NASB) Rev. 17:11-13   Revelation is expanding on the dreams we saw in the book of Daniel. Most of Revelation is about the tribulation period. In chapter 20 we see the earthly kingdom and judgment.      Daniel's 70th Week. The third major dream is found in Daniel 9:25-27. This prophecy predicts when Jesus will die, and predicts a future tribulation. You may want to download two timelines which explain in detail the seventy weeks to Jesus' death and a timeline of Jesus life. This is a major prediction here in Daniel. Jesus did come according to Old Testament prophecies, just like the others in the book of Daniel.      Daniel 9:26-27 goes on to tell us that after Jesus' death - sometime in the future - the "prince who is to come" will make a peace treaty with Israel for one week, which is seven years. But in the middle of this week he will break the agreement and declare that he is God. This seven year period is divided into two parts. Each part is three and one half years. The first 3.5 years are peaceful, and the last 3.5 years Jesus called the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21). The book of Revelation also calls it the great tribulation (Rev. 7:14). However, Daniel 9 does not include the kingdom because its main focus is the coming of Messiah.   Conclusion:The book of Daniel, and our Lord's comment on the end times (Matt. 24:1-25:46) help us to understood the book of Revelation. Daniel used symbolism that was easily understand and was literally fulfilled. Jesus treats Daniel as an authority when he refers to the future tribulation period (Matt. 24;15). So when Revelation uses the same symbolism used in Daniel, we should understand it to have the same meaning as in Daniel. The old Roman Empire will return to power and the tribulation will start. There will be a time of peace followed by a time of great pain. This will literally happen, just as the sequence of nations was literal and the death of Jesus was literal.         < Back
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