Kingdom Commentaries on Prophecies in Daniel,...
Tablet Seven
"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." (Daniel 7:17)
<1>"Which are four kings" corresponds to the first four kingdoms in the metal image in king Nebuchadnezzar's dream. They will arise "out of the earth," that is, they are earthly kingdoms.
<2>It also should be noticed that these kings had arisen on earth after the Children of Israel rejected God as their king (I Samuel 8:7), so God again wanted to show the human how earthly kings and laws are limited and eventually will result in suffering. <3>Even the Roman peace could not last forever!
"But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (Daniel 7:18)
<4>But eventually those who have gone through much struggle in many lifetimes and have made themselves ready to become Paravipras will gain control of the world and will establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
"Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;"
"And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows." (Daniel 7:19-20)
<5>The real truth of the fourth beast and its importance is not that it is the Roman Empire, but that it is a symbol of the beginning of intellectual domination in the world and the belief of the human that he can create laws and regulations to govern himself, can scientifically overcome nature and explain all things, and can also give freedom to all individuals of doing whatever they want to do.
<6>This new view of human life and ability is what makes the Romans different than the rest of the beasts, "which was diverse from all the beasts that were before it..." (verse 7). After Rome we can see the domination of the intellectuals in human history. <7>Intellectuals control others not by their might but through the ideas and symbols that they create in society. They exploit the masses by spreading binding doctrines, superstitions, and creating differentiation between man and man by adopting classes in society (in fact the caste system in India was created with intellectual Brahmins, not the true Brahmins).
<8>That is why the very base of rejecting God in Communist ideology, the reliance on science in explaining the unexplainable, the belief of man that he can create his own laws and follow them, the intellectualized religions after Rome, and all things that have made man go astray and blaspheme the Lord, is from the confused intellect, which is symbolized by "the little horn with the eyes and mouth."
<9>Also later on in the time of the Industrial Revolution and the era of capitalism, the domination of the businessmen occurred. <10>Businessmen are those intellectuals who use their intelligence in controlling the resources and providing services to others. Also by controlling these resources, they exploit others to become workers in their establishments. <11>As nothing is bad in this universe until it is used in an improper way, intellect and business are not bad, but they become exploitative when they are used in the wrong ways. <12>We are still in this intellectual era until the era of intuition (purified heart) comes.
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;"
"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." (Daniel 7:21-22)
<13>The whole base of thought in recent centuries is that the intellect of man is superior to religious beliefs. Also intellectualized religions replaced the true religions. So this little "horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them."
<14>But its domination will not last forever. The truth will come, the imperfection of this little horn will be understood, and the true kingdom and understanding will eventually prevail when the Paravipras (Saints) (those true spiritualists who follow the Eternal Divine Path and have leadership abilities) will possess the kingdom.
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces." (Daniel 7:23)
<15>So this fourth beast is different than the previous three, because it will try to change all things and is based on the belief that there is no need for any other thing but man's intellect and abilities. It will create symbols, superstitions, false religions, change the time, change the old orders, etc. It will try to "tread it down, and break it in pieces."
"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." (Daniel 7:24)
<16>So these ten horns which are ten kings will come "out of this kingdom [the fourth kingdom]." Since each king should have a country, these ten kings are a united nation of ten countries. Then another kingdom will arise among them, and will subdue three kings. This little horn will destroy three kingdoms from their roots. <17>Also, the ten will be united through this little horn and will fail all together.
"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25)
<18>So this great horn will blaspheme the Lord, will prevail against the Saints, and also will "think to change times and laws." <19>The Romans brought the new calendar, the hours in the day, and changed the time of many festivals to suit themselves. Also they (intellectuals) tried and are trying to bring human laws to replace God's Laws. However it will not last forever.
"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end." (Daniel 7:26)
<20>When the truth comes, all this fallacy will eventually be destroyed.
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Daniel 7:27)
<21>Those who have made themselves ready will inherit the kingdom. The Saints will become the true leaders of humanity, and the kingdom will be His.
"Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart." (Daniel 7:28)
<22>"Hitherto is the end of the matter": It is the end of The Plan of God ("the matter") for the earth. His Will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven.