Daniel and Revelation: Following the Trail!

Introduction

InFollowing the Trail: Daniel and Revelation, we will explore the connection between these two prophecies and reveal how their symbols intertwine to reveal future events. Throughout the study, we will analyze Daniel’s visions of the kingdoms of the world and compare them with the descriptions in Revelation of the great spiritual battle. We will explore the meaning of the beast, the little horn, and the prophetic periods, seeking answers directly from Scripture. By carefully examining the clues left in the sacred text, we will discover how these prophecies complement each other and what they will reveal about the end times.

Revelation Given by Jesus

Revelation: for many, a book that holds impenetrable mysteries. For others, a book full of mythological stories based on imagination or popular belief. For Jesus Christ, its Author, a wonderful book of abundant revelations about the future:

Revelation 1:1,3 – “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place… Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near“.

Jesus’ revelation, as expressed in Revelation, was not given in direct language, but in symbolic language. Just as an army general sends instructions over the radio in code words so that only his soldiers (who know the meaning) will receive the message, Jesus sends his revelation in code to ensure that the message reaches only sincere followers of his Word in the end times. We will begin our study of the books of Daniel and Revelation.

The Wise Will Understand

The Lord said to the prophet Daniel:

Daniel 12:9-10 – “… Go, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand“.

How will the wise understand? The Holy Spirit has concentrated in the Bible all the knowledge necessary for the complete discernment of its prophecies. No one is authorized to deviate from the interpretation given by the Word of God. No one is authorized to explain it according to his own criteria or personal point of view:

2 Peter 1:20,21 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation: for no prophecy came in old time by the will of man: but the saints of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost“.

Even though the Bible contains within itself the interpretation of its symbols, it is necessary for whoever reads it to discern spiritually.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned“.

Getting Closer to God

This means that anyone who wants to understand the prophecies must first seek to draw close to God and make Him his best friend. In fact, this is the first and most important step. As one of the greatest reformers of all time, Martin Luther, states:

“The Scriptures cannot be understood either by study or by intelligence; therefore, your first duty is to begin with prayer. Ask the Lord that He may be worthy, in His great mercy, to grant you a true knowledge of His Word. There is no other interpreter of the Word of God than the Author of this Word, according to what has been said: ‘All will be taught by God’. Expect nothing from your studies or your intelligence; trust only in God and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe in the man who has experienced this“. – D’Aubigné, book 3, chap. 7

We can conclude, then, that the only sure way to understand any prophecy is to ask God in prayer with a humble and teachable heart. If we set aside our own judgment and allow God to speak to us through His Word, we will be amazed at the clarity of what previously seemed so confusing and meaningless. With this in mind, we will continue our study of Daniel and Revelation.

Interpretation Method: Comparison

The method we will use to identify the beast will be the same that Jesus Christ used when explaining his prophecies:

Luke 24:25-27 – “And he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself“.

This method consists of taking the passage that we want to understand and comparing it with others that talk about the same topic, in order to find clues and similarities that allow us to arrive at a safe and clear identification.

The Beasts of Revelation

In the previous chapter, we saw that all those who join the beast in his purpose of persecuting God’s people will receive just divine retribution:

Revelation 14:9-12 – “And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus“.

Where did this beast come from? Let the Bible itself give us the answer:

Revelation 13:1-10,14,18 – “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and ten diadems, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over every kindred, and tongue, and nation. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity, into captivity shall he go: and he that killeth with the sword, with the sword must he be killed…the beast that had the wound by the sword, and yet lived. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is six hundred and sixty and six“.

Listing the Features

Using this passage as a basis, I invite you to take a piece of paper and write your own list of all the characteristics of the beast that you can find. Place them one below the other and leave enough space in front of each one to write what I will show you later.

Ready? After this first step, you should have a list similar to this:

The beast comes up out of the sea (v.1).
It has seven heads (v.1).
It has ten horns (v.1).
It has characteristics of three other animals: a leopard, a bear and a lion (v.2).
Receives the power of another animal: a dragon (v.2).
There is a mouth that speaks arrogance (v.5).
Blasphemes against God (v.6).
Blasphemes against the Tabernacle (v.6).
Blasphemes those who dwell in heaven (v.6).
He receives authority to rule for 42 months (v.5).
His authority is over every tribe, people, language and nation (v.7).
He makes war against the saints and overcomes them (v.7).
He finally receives a mortal wound (v.10).
His wound is healed (vs. 3,14).

Please read these features as many times as necessary to familiarize yourself with them. If possible, repeat them until you have memorized them.

Daniel 7 and 8

Once you have done this, carefully read the following excerpt from chapters 7 and 8 of the book of the prophet Daniel, trying to find as many similarities as possible and write them in the blank space you left in front of each statement on your list.

Daniel 7:1-28 – “And four great beasts, diverse one from another, came up out of the sea. The first was like a lion… After this I looked, and behold another, like a leopard… this beast also had four heads… After this… and behold, the fourth beast [the dragon], terrible and dreadful and strong exceedingly, which had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was considering the horns, behold, there came up among them another little horn… that horn, I say, which had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and its appearance was stronger than its fellows. I looked, and behold, this horn made war with the saints, and overcame them. And it shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall destroy the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and laws: and they will be given into your hand for a time, and times, and half a time“.

Daniel 8:1-27 – “…And out of one of them came forth a horn, very small, and it waxed exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even unto the host of heaven… And it waxed great, even unto the prince of the host: and by him was taken away the daily sacrifice, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down to the ground. And the host was given unto him, with the daily sacrifice, because of transgressions; and he cast down the truth to the ground: and he did this, and prospered. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy marvelously, and shall prosper, and do as he pleaseth; and he shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people. And by his understanding he shall cause deceit also to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by reason of quietness he shall destroy many; and he shall rise up against the Prince of princes, but without hand he shall be broken“.

Comparison Between Daniel and Revelation

Amazing, isn’t it? The similarity between chapters 7 and 8 of Daniel and chapter 13 of Revelation is evident. Without a doubt, Daniel contains the keys to identifying the beast. Now compare your findings with the information below and draw your own conclusions:

Part 1

Revelation 13:1 presents a beast that comes up out of the sea; Daniel 7:3 presents us with not one, but four beasts that come up out of the sea.
Revelation 13:1 shows a beast with seven heads; Daniel 7:6 shows us another beast with the same characteristic, although with three fewer heads than the first.
Revelation 13:1 and Daniel 7:7 speak of ten horns.
Revelation 13:2 presents a beast that has features taken from a leopard, a bear, and a lion; Daniel 7:4-6 presents us with these same three wild animals, not as simple features, but as free and independent animals.
Revelation 13:2 shows a dragon giving his power to the beast; Daniel 7:7-8 shows us that the same dragon (the fourth terrible beast) gives his power to the little horn, making it as terrible as the beast that emerged.
Revelation 13:5 tells us that the beast has a mouth speaking great things; Daniel 7:20 presents us with a little horn with a mouth speaking great things.

Part 2

Revelation 13:6 says that the beast blasphemes God; Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 8:11,25 say that the little horn speaks words against the Most High and exalts itself against the Prince of princes.
Revelation 13:6 says the beast will blaspheme the tabernacle; Daniel 8:11 says the little horn will cast down the place of the sanctuary.
Revelation 13:6 shows the beast blaspheming those who dwell in heaven; likewise, Daniel 8:10 shows the little horn growing until it reaches the host of heaven.
Revelation 13:5 says the beast will rule for 42 months; Daniel 7:25 says the little horn will rule for the same period: three and a half years.
Revelation 13:7 shows the beast having authority over every tribe, people, language and nation; Daniel 8:9 shows this same territorial power when it says that the little horn grew very great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Revelation 13:7 says the beast would make war with the saints and overcome them; Daniel 7:21 and Daniel 8:24 show the little horn making war with the saints and overcoming them.

The Beast of Revelation 13 and the Little Horn of Daniel 7 and 8

Taking into account the previous text, we can conclude with certainty that the beast of Revelation 13 and the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8 are equivalent representations of the same entity.

Do not be concerned about the apparent complexity of these symbols, because in the following chapters we will analyze each of them in a simple and understandable way. As we advance in our study, you will be convinced that the prophecy is easy to understand and that it was given to be understood especially by the most humble and sincere.

Conclusion: Daniel and Revelation Following the Trail!

The following summary of Daniel and Revelation will help clarify the main points of this chapter:

The Apocalypse is a coded message that reveals events that will happen in the future. This message is expressed through the use of different symbols.
The Apocalypse is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, in one way or another, it must be understood, because if it were not so, it would not be a revelation.
The interpretation of Revelation cannot be based on assumptions or speculation, but on a careful study of the keys that God left us in His Word.
Intelligence and studies are not enough; man needs God and the influence of His Spirit to understand prophecy without becoming confused.
The Scriptures mention the existence of more than one beast: lion, bear, leopard, dragon, etc.
The characteristics of the beast in Revelation 13 direct our gaze to the book of Daniel.
The beast of Revelation 13 and the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8 are representations of the same entity.