The
Non-Descript Beast
Daniel 7:7
Following the four-headed leopard comes the non-descript beast of Daniel 7:7, representing the
fourth universal empire from the flood, but the fifth one from creation. Rome is represented by a more terrible symbol than the
kingdoms before it. There must be a
special reason why the Roman monarchy is represented by a non-descript
beast. The symbol reveals that the Roman
system of government was an arrangement that could not be described. The nearest approach to a correct name is the
term -- non-descript.
We shall now consider its government
administration. -- The crucifixion of
Christ and the martyrdom of the Christians give evidence that the Roman
executive authority was vested in paganism, which was at war with
Christianity. As these Christians were
put to death for refusal to worship the gods of the people, it is obvious that
the Jews used the civil arm of Rome to try and enforce their own religious customs;
Jesus being an example, for He was crucified as a result of religious
controversy. Rome in the first century persecuted the Christians, but
after adopting Christianity, she ill-treated the pagans; compelling them to
join the so-called Christian church.
From the evidence gathered, it is plain to see that the Roman monarchy
was a tool for either Pagan Jew, or Christian; alternating in favor of one, and
then of the other. Inasmuch as the
character of the Imperial Roman jurisdiction could not be defined as Pagan,
Jew, or Christian, "non-descript" is the only fitting symbol. It is said of Constantine at his death that his subjects knew not what kind of
burial to give him, since he was a professed Christian, but at heart a
Pagan. Perhaps many nations as well as
some professed Christians at this present time are non-descript like the
Romans, for the apostle has described their condition thusly: "For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall
turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:3, 4.)
Attempts To
Establish Ecclesiastical Governments
The question may arise: What hindered Satan
from establishing an ecclesiastical monarchy before the closing period of
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[Picture of Beast of Dan. 7:7]
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[Picture of Beast of Dan. 7:25]
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the Old Testament?
The only answer that can be given, is, the
Jewish nation permitted him to becloud their eyes. They were told not to make a confederacy with
the world, but, unmindful of the command they made a league with the Romans,
and that is what helped Satan to accomplish his scheme.
The following will show that this great
enemy of mankind tried this same procedure in the days of Babylon: "Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold
whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set
it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then an herald cried aloud, To
you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages... ye fall down and
worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth
shall the same hour be cast in the midst of a burning fiery furnace.... The
nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image."
(Dan. 3:1, 4-7.) But there were three
Hebrews found who rebelled against the king's command and refused to bow down
to the idol. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered
and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in
this matter. If it be so, our God whom
we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the
golden image which thou hast set up... And he commanded the most
mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery
furnace... Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace
exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar... answered and said, Lo,
I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt;
and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of
the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither." (Dan.
3:16-18, 20, 22-26.)
Then these men came forth unhurt. It is wonderful what God accomplished with
but three slaves against a world's empire.
These three men, with faith in God, broke the Satanic
contrivance, abolished the establishment of an ecclesiastical government and
brought the king's decree to naught.
Satan worked out a similar plot in the Medo-Persian government with plans that were carried out by
intrigue, taking the
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king unawares.
Though Daniel was cast into the lion's den, he too, came out unharmed,
but his enemies perished as did those who threw the three Hebrews into the
fiery furnace. Thus Satan's power was
broken in both of these ancient empires.
Had there been such men as these Hebrews in the days of the
establishment of the Roman monarchy, or at the closing of the Old Testament
history and during the commencement of the New,
conditions would have been entirely different. The world is in urgent need at
this time of men like the three Hebrews, who would rather yield this present
life than to offend their God -- men like Daniel, who looked with strong faith
to the Lord and was without fault in his religious and secular duties. By such men as these the world has been
blessed with everlasting benefits and rewards that no human lips can describe.
"How beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth
good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy
watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing for
they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." (Isa.
52:7, 8.)
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PICTURE
[Chart of Rev. 12]
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