The Book of Daniel: The Russian Bear taking Ukraine, Georgia and Belarus foretold?

In the only book recommended by Christ when asked about the end of the world, we see nations represented by fierce beasts of prey. There is a double application for Daniel; once in history and again in the end-time. The lion with eagle’s wings fits the emblems of the UK/US; the bear fits Russia; the leopard with four heads could be China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand and the dragon with 10 horns can again represent the European nations (EU).

The book of Daniel begins with Daniel in captivity. Could this mean martial law is impending?

Was Sarah Palin reading Daniel when she predicted Russia would invade the Ukraine?

In Daniel 2, the king had a dream. He was impressed with its importance, but he couldn’t remember it. He was about to execute his wisemen who claimed to know the gods, because they couldn’t tell him the dream. Daniel was included, but appealed for time because he said the God of heaven (Creator) could make known the dream and its meaning.

God revealed to Daniel the dream of the king of Babylon and its meaning that’s expanded in Daniel 7 where four kingdoms are represented by a lion, bear, leopard and dragon. Daniel’s dream near the end of Babylon’s supremacy (606-538 BC).

The instruction given to Daniel was, “These great beasts which are four, are four kings [kingdoms] which shall arise out of the earth.” Daniel 7:17 is in the context of the end-time judgment, verses 9-18. At the time of Daniel’s dream, Babylon was declining, so the vision of “four kings [kingdoms] which shall arise” again supports an end-time application.

The bear had three ribs in it’s mouth. Could they be the Ukraine, Georgia and Belarus? “Arise and devour much flesh” seems ominous. Arise, because Russia has been down, but clearly a world power.

In the historical application, the four beasts represented Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia and Rome. Out of the fourth beast grew a little horn that became great, spoke words of blasphemy against God, persecuted the saints and changed times and laws.

The Protestant Reformers were united in their belief that the imagery fit the papacy which grew out of the Roman Empire like the little horn grew out of the beast. They considered one of the pope’s titles, “Lord God the Pope” to be blasphemous. Conservative historians says 50-100 million Christians died in protest during those “Dark Ages,” and there is no denying the change in times (Gregorian Calendar) and laws (catechism deletes the 2nd Commandment against image worship and divides the 10th to maintain ten.) Daniel 7:25.

It’s in the context of the little horn’s great words that the judgment begins and the kingdom is given to “the Son of man,” verses 9-14. This article is an appeal to consider Christ’s words that could refer to martial law when He said, “when you see an abomination standing where it ought not, flee…Let him that reads [Daniel] understand…” Mark 13:14.

I wrote, “Not one in a hundred ministers sees America in prophecy, yet once understood, we can appreciate that God “declares the end from the beginning.” I offer a dozen reasons why Christians who count on a rapture should consider a better alternative.