World history and the kingdom of God
1) It is important to study the kingdom through the eyes of Daniel (he was living in Babylon).
2) At this time Babylon (625-538 B.C.) was the dominant world power.
3) Dan. 2:32 : Describe the image: ____________________________________________
4) Dan. 2:36-37: What part of the image represented Babylon/the king? ______________
5) Compare Isa. 14:4.
6) What happens in Dan. 5:5? ___________________________________________
7) Dan. 5 also discusses the ancient world powers – Dan. 5:18, 25-28 – READ.
8) This information is then discussed a third time in Dan. 7 using the image of “beasts.”
9) Dan. 7:3-7 – the four beasts are: __________________________________________
10) The “lion” in premillennial thought is said to represent: _____________________
11) The “eagle’s wings” on the lion are said to refer to: ______________________________
12) Why REJECT these interpretations as completely false (Dan. 7:4, 5, 6)? __________________
13) What is the bear falsely said to represent (Dan. 7:5)? ______________________
14) Why REJECT this view? _____________________________________
15) What was the third beast like (Dan. 7:6)? ____________________________________
16) This beast is often referred to as the nation of Germany.
17) One wild claim is that it must be Germany because this nation has produced “leopard tanks.”
18) The “four heads” are often interpreted as “four German reichs.”
a) Germany had two reichs, there was Hitler’s third reich, and now supposedly a “fourth reich.”
b) The fourth beast had how many horns (Dan. 7:7-8)? ___________________
c) False teachers say each horn represents a king and all will one day be joined together.
d) This accounts for much of the talk about a recreated “soviet union” or the “European union.”
e) Right now the European Union has 15 members—that does not fit premillennial doctrine.”
f) They think the number will one day be reduced to ten.
g) They further say one day this power will dominate the entire world—one world government.
h) Finally, it is said from this group a single person will emerge – a skillful politician.
i) This individual (a few think it could be a woman) will be the “beast” or “anti-Christ.”
j) Also false: In the future this leader will lead international forces in attacking Israel in “Armageddon.”
19) People forget that Dan. 7 has the same information as Dan. 2—world kingdoms from the past.
20) What Daniel said was future history for him; for us, it is in the past.
21) Babylon was the first kingdom (lion/eagle) and God said it would fall – 2:39; 5:20-21, 28.
22) In Dan. 2, Babylon was compared to fine gold.
23) After Babylon came another world empire (the Persian Empire). Dan. 5:30-31.
24) In 538 B.C. the Medes and Persians united together and formed this kingdom).
25) This is the kingdom compared to silver (Dan. 2:32) and a “bear” in Dan. 7:5. Compare Dan. 5:28, 31.
26) This kingdom lasted until 330 B.C. and then came Greece, the third kingdom (330-323 B.C.)
27) In the image of Dan. 2, this was like “brass” (Dan. 2:39). In Dan. 7:6 it is compared to a: _________
28) The fourth kingdom was Rome (B.C. 31-476 A.D.)
29) See Dan. 2:33 and 7:7. There were to be four world kingdoms and no more.
30) These world kingdoms have all come!
Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.
Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).