This may be in 2 parts.
While I love political debates and even love lively heated exchanges, I wish to bring this hot topic to a more biblical look.
The. invasion of Ukraine is little more than an east-west proxy war between the Marxist east and the democratic west. It is the latest of several proxy wars since the Iron curtain went up. It is a publicized fact by Putin himself that he believes the greatest shame of Russia was the collapse of the Soviet Union, and he plans to try to reconstitute the old empire. So it is no surprise he invaded the Ukraine after invading Georgia, Chechnya, Crimea and the Donbas region.
Both America and Russia are imperialistic nations. America has been less violent but is guilty of many atrocities in its imperialism. America offers greater freedom than Russia and greater opportunities to expand and live as one wishes, good or bad. That is why last year there were 2 million captures of illegals at our southern border and who knows how many that got in without notice. The same is not true for Russia.
But how is this part of a biblical view? It goes back to Nebuchadnezzars dream in Daniel 2 and Daniels dream in Daniel 7. The vision of the statue and the four bests all culminating with the return of Jesus to earth.
These visions show the continual run of gentiles over Jerusalem from the time of Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem until Jesus returns. Many may disagree it is continuous, and that can be an argument for another thread. But both visions show a non stop ruling of Gentile empires from c. 587 B.C. till Jesus returns. Jesus himself called this the time of the Gentiles!
So what does the US And Russia have to do with this? Very simple.
Most all agree on the first three parts of the statue and the first three beasts, Babylon, Medeo-Persia, and Greece. Nearly all agree Rome is the fourth, but then splinters into many interpretations. I acknowledge many well studied and sincere believers have many ideas here, but I shall focus on what I have been taught. I wish to acknowledge Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum and His Eschatological work "Footsteps of the Messiah" for what I will be sharing. Though it is not perfect, after over 35 years of being an ardent student of eschatology and have studied it from many many opinions and interpretations, I have found this to be the best by far.
I agree that the fourth beast starts as Rome! The fourth beast/legs/feet of iron/ironclay is the gentile power that conquered Israel by conquering Greece. But I am convinced that the Roman Empire was the first phase of the fourth gentile empire that sill exists today!
When we see the beast vision of Chptr 7 we see written that the fourth beast was different from all the rest and was not identified as any one beast. We will see why later. But let us focus on the fact that the fourth beast is different from the rest! what one big thing made Rome different from all the rest? Simply it was its form of governing conquered lands. They established a form of government we know as Imperialism and it still lives today.
End Part 1.
While I love political debates and even love lively heated exchanges, I wish to bring this hot topic to a more biblical look.
The. invasion of Ukraine is little more than an east-west proxy war between the Marxist east and the democratic west. It is the latest of several proxy wars since the Iron curtain went up. It is a publicized fact by Putin himself that he believes the greatest shame of Russia was the collapse of the Soviet Union, and he plans to try to reconstitute the old empire. So it is no surprise he invaded the Ukraine after invading Georgia, Chechnya, Crimea and the Donbas region.
Both America and Russia are imperialistic nations. America has been less violent but is guilty of many atrocities in its imperialism. America offers greater freedom than Russia and greater opportunities to expand and live as one wishes, good or bad. That is why last year there were 2 million captures of illegals at our southern border and who knows how many that got in without notice. The same is not true for Russia.
But how is this part of a biblical view? It goes back to Nebuchadnezzars dream in Daniel 2 and Daniels dream in Daniel 7. The vision of the statue and the four bests all culminating with the return of Jesus to earth.
These visions show the continual run of gentiles over Jerusalem from the time of Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem until Jesus returns. Many may disagree it is continuous, and that can be an argument for another thread. But both visions show a non stop ruling of Gentile empires from c. 587 B.C. till Jesus returns. Jesus himself called this the time of the Gentiles!
So what does the US And Russia have to do with this? Very simple.
Most all agree on the first three parts of the statue and the first three beasts, Babylon, Medeo-Persia, and Greece. Nearly all agree Rome is the fourth, but then splinters into many interpretations. I acknowledge many well studied and sincere believers have many ideas here, but I shall focus on what I have been taught. I wish to acknowledge Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum and His Eschatological work "Footsteps of the Messiah" for what I will be sharing. Though it is not perfect, after over 35 years of being an ardent student of eschatology and have studied it from many many opinions and interpretations, I have found this to be the best by far.
I agree that the fourth beast starts as Rome! The fourth beast/legs/feet of iron/ironclay is the gentile power that conquered Israel by conquering Greece. But I am convinced that the Roman Empire was the first phase of the fourth gentile empire that sill exists today!
When we see the beast vision of Chptr 7 we see written that the fourth beast was different from all the rest and was not identified as any one beast. We will see why later. But let us focus on the fact that the fourth beast is different from the rest! what one big thing made Rome different from all the rest? Simply it was its form of governing conquered lands. They established a form of government we know as Imperialism and it still lives today.
End Part 1.
