Most Christians probably don’t realize the connection between the end-time Babylon of Daniel two and the book of Revelation. Missing the connection is understandable since Daniel speaks to the formation of the end-time Babylon just prior to the dawn of the tribulation while Revelation speaks to its destruction at the end of the tribulation. A greater appreciation for the closeness of the tribulation immerges when the scriptures of the end-time Babylon are harmonized from the two books
In the first apocalyptic vision of Daniel, God reveals to Nebuchadnezzar what is to be the final state of Babylon. It is composed of five parts; a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, stomach and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. It is the Babylon that exists at Christ’s return and the Babylon destroyed in the book of Revelation (Daniel 2:31-35). The following apocalyptic visions of Daniel concern the forming of the statue, using the term rising, and the struggles that lead to the ascension of the antichrist.
Daniel seven changes the end-time Babylonian metaphor of chapter two to that of four beasts rising from a great sea corresponding to the silver, bronze, iron, and iron-clay of the statue. The head of gold is not included because the characteristics of the head of gold in the end-time Babylon was already given; Nebuchadnezzar represents the head of gold (Daniel 2:36-38). The four beasts are a lion, bear, leopard, and one that is different. Most of Daniel seven focuses on the fourth beast that rises out of the sea, different from the others. The Greek word interpreted different means being diverse or a composite and is the link to the end-time Babylon in Revelation (Daniel 7:7).
In Revelation thirteen a diverse beast rises out of the sea composed of parts of a lion, bear, and leopard (Revelation 13:1-4). At this point in the tribulation the union of the end-time Babylon and it’s rule by the antichrist is complete. The conflicts that form the diverse beast and ascension of the antichrist is the subject of Daniel eleven while revelation is concerned with the destruction of end-time Babylon.
Where confusion arises is when the end-time Babylon is thought of as a city alone. All references to the end-time Babylon in the book of Revelation describe Babylon as great, meaning in the broadest sense of the object and in this case the object is Babylon (Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21). The end-time Babylon in its broadest sense is the statue of Daniel two. Even where Revelation implies that a city will be synonymous with the end-time Babylon by calling it Babylon the great city (Revelation 18:10, 21) it is evident that no single city meets the characteristics of the scale of commerce described at its destruction. It is more likely that a city will come to represent the religious, political, and economic dominance of end-time Babylon and its destruction in Revelation eighteen coincides with the crushing of the feet of iron-clay and the destruction of the statue of Daniel two.
The rise of the four beasts of Daniel seven that complete the statue of Daniel two occur before the start of the tribulation. Even if you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture you will be here for the events described in apocalyptic visions in Daniel. If you follow this blog you know that three of those beasts are identified as China, Russia, and Iran. The fourth beast will rise out of a conflict between the fourth Supreme Leader of Iran and Turkey. The makeup of the dominion of the last beast is unknown because it doesn’t exist today; the map of the Middle East will be re-drawn (Daniel 11).
Anyone who follows the news recognizes the rise of China, Russia, and Iran over the last year while the other super powers are waning. If these countries are indeed the rising beasts then expect Iran to gain in wealth and hegemony. Israel will not be able to stop Iran’s efforts to establish a land corridor to the Mediterranean through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Iran’s presence on the Med will set the stage for the conflict between Iran and Turkey.
China will influence governance throughout the world by massive funding of infrastructure projects. Look for China to gain influence in the U.N. as well as dominate the South China Sea.
At some time expect Russia to abandon its clever guise of supporting Russian speaking nationals in bordering countries for a full-fledged military conflict in Eastern Europe that the West is unprepared to match.
All of this and more is prophesied to happen before the tribulation.
May God bless you in your study of His word.