The book of Daniel describes the prelude to the rise of the antichrist and the great tribulation. At no other time in history have people been able to watch world events unfold as they happen. The rise of four dominions preceding the return of Jesus and the characteristics by which they can be identified are subjects of the visions given Daniel. The question for us is, do the visions apply to our generation?
God chose not to give us a direct answer. His decision requires that His disciples believe His words by faith, unlike the world which requires proof before believing. Even then the world does not accept God’s word. God does give His disciples encouragement that they would recognize the season of the end-times (Matthew 24:32-35) and He does give the gift of discernment by the His Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:4-11).
Today it is not difficult to identify three dominions that qualify as beasts of Daniel seven. The news headlines daily proclaim the growing hegemony of China, Russia, and Iran. No other nations are seen rising except one. The great powers of the past and present generation are subsiding. An unavoidable financial collapse is rolling onto the European Union and the United States leaving Middle East nations aligned with them alienated. Not even the vast oil wealth of Saudi Arabia can carry the enormous weight of a twenty one trillion dollar debt. The world will flock to China, Russia, and Iran to sustain their economies while turning a blind eye to the economic collapse of the nation that once stood as a beacon of hope and prosperity as it wans into the pages of history. Do not despair, all is as it should be.
What nation is the one exception that appears to be rising with China, Russia, and Iran? Turkey, given the unaffectionate nickname by Europeans as the “sick man of Europe”, has become the transit hub for energy passing from Russia and Asia Minor to Europe. Even Israel is considering a pipeline through Turkey. Why? Because Turkey has the largest military in the Middle East and is not shy at using force to insure its security; as it has demonstrated in Syria and Iraq. Remember that Turkey shot down a Russian military jet violating its air space. Yet today they are allied with Russia and Iran as guarantors of a plan for the governance of Syria following the defeat of ISIS.
Still, Turkey is not the fourth beast of Daniel seven but it is the nucleus of that dominion. The visions of Daniel eight and eleven describe the rise of the fourth beast occurring from a war started by the fourth Persian king against the land of Javan. Turkey occupies the land of Javan today and Iran the land of Persia. The vast dominion created from that war will be the fourth beast and from that beast the antichrist will rise. News articles concerning Turkey and Iran may appear unrelated but they clearly indicate that the two are on a collision course as they vie for the hearts and minds of Muslims to become the undisputed leader of the Muslim world. Their support for the Muslim Brotherhood and for Qatar in the recent crisis with Gulf States are examples. For those who think that Iran and Turkey do not have kings, the modern state of Iran is governed with the permission of a Supreme Leader; I believe the title is an apt description of his role. To date Iran is ruled by its second Supreme Leader. Turkey has voted for a new constitution giving the President’s office authority unfettered with the checks and balances of secular law. That constitution will be implemented in 2018. While the confrontation between the ram and goat of Daniel eight, synonymous with the kings of Persia and Javan in Daniel eleven, is not imminent, the leaves are appearing (Matthew 24:32-33).
Are the visions of Daniel for our generation? It is difficult to imagine that the prophecies concerning the establishment of the nation of Israel in a day (Isaiah 66:8-9) and the rising of the four beasts (Daniel seven) are for a future generation. We cannot know the day or the hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36-37) but we are to recognize the season (Matthew 24:32-35). God gives us these prophecies so that we are not caught unaware and can prepare our hearts for the tribulation we face because of the commitment to our hope in Jesus the Christ (Matthew 24:25-27). Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:16-17).
May God bless you in your study of His word.