End Time Timelines

Daniel chapters 2 and 7 reveal a timeline of four empires, such that during the time of the fourth empire, the Messiah will establish his kingdom throughout the earth. In my analysis of that timeline, I explain why I believe the fourth empire represents the Islamic Empire, not the Roman Empire as commonly taught.

The book of Revelation is similar in style to Daniel, in that it uses visions full of symbols and metaphors to portray future events. Both books are examples of a genre of literature known as apocalyptic literature.

Daniel 7 portrays the four empires as four beasts, of which the fourth beast is the most terrifying.

Daniel 7:7-8 says, "After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared – one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns. As I was contemplating the horns, another horn – a small one – came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things".

This is the same empire that in Daniel 2 is represented as legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. The feet represent the weak state of this empire when it is restored in the end-times. Likewise, in chapter 7, the horns, which represent rulers, reveal characteristics of its restored state. It will be restored initially as a coalition of ten rulers. Later, an eleventh ruler arises to take over, and deposes three of the original coalition rulers. This boastful ruler is identified elsewhere in the bible as the Antichrist.

Revelation gives us new perspectives of the fourth empire. In Revelation 12, John has a vision of a dragon with seven heads and ten horns, that is then clearly identified as representing Satan.

Revelation 12:3-9 says, "Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born…So that huge dragon – the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him".

The dragon is cast out of heaven onto the earth, and likely causes political chaos on the earth. Chaos is represented metaphorically by the sea in the creation story of Genesis 1. Out of a world that was empty and void and covered by sea, God created life and order.

In Revelation 13, John then sees a beast emerge out of the sea that has similar characteristics to those of the dragon. It also has seven heads and ten horns. Furthermore, in verse 2 we see that it is a composite of the first three empires of Daniel 7, represented by a lion, a bear and a leopard. So this end-time empire is like all the former empires combined into one. It also represents Satan's earthly kingdom and it is empowered by him.

Revelation 13:1-8 says, "Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed".

The significance of the seven heads is explained when we come across this same beast again in Revelation 17.

Revelation 17:8-14 says, " The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth – all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world – will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful".

Verse 8 reveals that the end-time empire is a restored historic empire, because it once 'was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss'. But rather than this beast representing just a single empire, the seven heads represent seven empires. We are told they are seven hills, or mountains. In several Old Testament passages mountains metaphorically represent kingdoms (e.g. Isaiah 2:2). We are also told they are seven kings, and kings are synonymous with kingdoms or empires.

The heads of the beast in Revelation 13 represent an overview of Satan's earthly kingdom throughout history. These are seven empires, with a likeness of Satan himself, through which Satan has exerted his influence and rule over the earth. So these seven heads represent a timeline of seven empires.

In verse 10, John was told, "five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time". John received this vision in the 1st Century AD, by which time the first three empires of Daniel 2 and 7 had already fallen. Because John names five here, not three, that had already fallen, we need to go two empires further back in Israel's history. That gives us the following timeline: