the number 10 in revelation could also simply be a number that represents the world powers as a whole... you are looking for 10 specific nations but the reality could simply be that the number 10 is representative of the entire worlds political system.
and if you think of that in terms of the feet of Daniels image, it isnt divided into ten equal parts...its just completely divided. So this is why I dont take the '10 kings' in Revelation to mean 10 literal nations... i take it to mean the entire world of politics. Daniel says that its "in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom...it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms" in Daniel 2:44 so the most likely answer is that the 10 kings of revelation stands for the complete polictical system today.
Hi Pegg,
There are three clearly defined aspects to the Daniel 2 Image of Metals.
#1. Daniel 2:45 says there are FIVE distinct world empires.
#2. The Fifth empire is "divided" between some number of co-existing dominant powers (i.e., ~super~ powers). Please note that the "divided" ~super~ powers are NOT the toes, because that division is self evident. Thus we must anticipate (and discover) that the greater portion of the Feet are "divided" as provided, and the lessor portion (the toes) are presented as a concluding total of 10 primary nations under some potential consolidation, typical of the United Nations. (Please note that prophecy interpretation is first of all, literal; secondly, figurative; and finally, spiritual. As such I would propose that the first hierarchy is met.)
#3. The 10 toes of this Image have been identified as of August 1993, as both the
Current (5ea) and
Nominated (5ea) Permanent Membership of the Security Council, .
Next, Daniel 7 provides clarification of two considerations. The first is that this chapter covers end-time specifics as dictated by the angelic guidance in Daniel 12:4 & 9. Secondly, these end-time government are the three internationally recognized SuperPowers, -- the U.S., Russia, and China.
Thus Scripture and History both agree, without any handwavium, miraculum, proposalloy, ridiculum, or unobtainium.
Regarding your second post, you miss what the Abbingdon Commentators correctly note:
“[The] five of whom are fallen [presumes John’s work to be written in] Vespasian’s reign. Titus is to come, but only to last for a short time. Perhaps the writer knew of the hopeless condition of Titus’ health. He is therefore either using a literary convention, and assuming an earlier date than is the fact to give his words the force of a prophecy concerning Titus, or, more likely, his is using here material written in Vespasian’s reign which partly suits his purpose and partly not; for there are very good reasons for thinking that this book was written, not in Vespasian’s reign, but in Domitian’s.”[1]
[1] Eiselen, Frederick, Edwin Lewis, & David Downey, The Abingdon Bible Commentary, Abingdon Press, NY, 1929, p. 1392
Thus either John is lying about the point of history in which he is writing, or there is another answer to this ~riddle~. And I would propose that when Russia attacks israel, the whole world will wonder at this prophecy, making it correct in a ~
future-present-tense~ context.
And where you took issue with the outline as presented, please accept this revision:
1. Gold, Babylonian
2. Silver, Medo/Persian
3. Bronze, Grecian
4. Iron, Roman
-- Clay, "divided"
-- 5. Lion/Eagle, U.K./U.S.
-- 6. Bear, Russia
-- 7. Leopard, China
-- 8. "dreadful", United Nations
9. Great Stone, Millennial Kingdom
10. New Jerusalem, Eternity in Heaven
However, the sequence is the same, the number is the same, Scripture is the same, and History is the same. But of course we know that Empire #9 will replace the "metropolis" model which is evident not only since it's application in the Babylonian Empire (~mystery Babylon~, throughout the ages), as the creator of Superman correctly ascribed as New York City, -- but which shall be recognized in the near future as Jerusalem.
But Pegg, this is only a small portion of this interwoven picture. Daniel 8 & 11, and Revelation 13 all join in concert to validate this end time depiction.
BibleScribe