The Roman Empire Was Predicted in the Bible
Did you know the Roman Empire was predicted in the book of Daniel in the Bible?
Daniel 2 and 7 teach that there will be four empires that rise up in world history, one after another. In chapter 7, Daniel sees a vision of these four empires symbolized by four “beasts” that come up out of the “great sea,” which is a biblical term for the Mediterranean.
In the book of Numbers in the Bible, God gives Israel the boundaries for the promised land. God says that the Great Sea will be the western border of the new promised land. Numbers 34:6 says that:
“As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea, that is, its coastline; this shall be your western border.” (Num. 34:6)
Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Mediterranean_Sea_16.61811E_38.99124N.jpg
The Mediterranean Sea is the largest body of water immediately west of Israel. Therefore, “the Great Sea” refers to the Mediterranean Sea. Theologian Dr. David Jeremiah agrees with this interpretation, saying that the beasts:
“... emerged out of the great sea, which in ancient times referred to the Mediterranean.” (Jeremiah and Carlson 2019, 131)
Daniel 2 describes the same four kingdoms, but from a different angle. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a giant statue. The statue’s body had four sections, each of which represented a different empire. Then a rock hits the feet of the statue, causing it to come tumbling down. (Dan. 2)
Source: AI Generated
Daniel 2 identifies the first empire as Babylon. Daniel 5 tells us that the Medo-Persian empire came after the Babylonian Empire. Furthermore, Daniel 8 says that Greece came after the Medo-Persian Empire. This leaves the fourth empire, which came after Greece. This was none other than the Roman empire. It was terrifying and dreadful, just like Daniel 7 describes.
As Daniel 7:23 says:
“This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it.’ (Dan. 7:23)
Furthermore, imagery in Daniel 7 matches what we know of the four empires.
The first beast in Daniel 7 is a lion that stands up, and is given the mind of a man. This image symbolizes Babylon, for two reasons. First, a lion was one of the main national symbols of Babylon. Second, because of his arrogance, God caused king Nebuchadnezzar to lose his mind. He went out and ate grass like an ox for seven years. But once the seven years were up, he stood up, and his mind and his kingdom were restored to him. In the vision, the lion stands up and is given a mind like a man. This symbolism matches king Nebuchadnezzar perfectly. (Pentecost 1985, 1350)
Source: Image is AI generated by Google Gemini
The same is true of the Medo-Persian empire, which came after the Babylonian empire. The vision depicts it as a bear that’s raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth. The Medo-Persian empire was lopsided, with the Persian “half” being much bigger than the “Medes” half. (Pentecost 1985, 1350)
Source: Image is AI generated by Google Gemini
Furthermore, the third kingdom is represented by a leopard with four wings and four heads. Leopards are really fast and would be even faster if they had four wings! This symbol accurately describes the speed at which Alexander the Great conquered the known world. The four heads of the leopard represent four of his successors that took his place after he died. (Pentecost 1985, 1350)
Source: Image is AI generated by Google Gemini
The fourth kingdom is not described as any specific animal. It is terrifying, ruthless and extremely strong, breaking everything to pieces. This matches what we know of the historical Roman Empire. It came after the Greek empire, brutally conquering everyone into submission. Furthermore, it was much bigger than the first three. (Pentecost 1985, 1350)
Source: Image is AI generated by Google Gemini
Conservative theologians generally agree that the fourth beast represents the Roman Empire.
Dr. John Walvoord, former President of Dallas Theological Seminary, states that:
“Conservative scholars with few exceptions generally identify the fourth beast as Rome.” (Walvoord 2012, 196)
This view goes way back into church history, regardless of what people think about the end times or other theological controversies. In the 1500’s, John Calvin stated that:
“I have no doubt that in this vision the Prophet was shown the figure of the Roman Empire…” (Calvin 1840, Daniel 7)
In the 1700’s, John Wesley referred to:
“A fourth beast — The Roman empire.” (Wesley 1765, Daniel 7)
In fact, I found quotes from about 50 commentaries and Study Bibles that state that the Roman Empire is the fourth kingdom mentioned in Daniel 7.
Source:
https://pixabay.com/photos/roman-soldier-rome-lucus-burns-lugo-1878213/
Nevertheless, the final ruler of the Roman Empire is defeated when God sets up an eternal kingdom, led by Messiah. Daniel 7:26 says:
But the court will convene for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.” (Dan. 7:26)
Furthermore, all empires will obey God and his people in his new kingdom. Daniel 7:27 says,
“Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will serve and obey Him.” (Dan. 7:27)
Source: own work
Due to this, Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel says,
“God sets up his ultimate and eternal kingdom and all rulers will worship and obey him.” (Gangel 2001, 211)
But this poses a serious problem. The Roman Empire as we know it fell in 476 A.D. God did not violently defeat the final ruler of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, God did not set up an eternal kingdom, where all empires serve him.
As a result, many professional theologians believe that the Roman Empire must be reborn in the end times to fulfill prophecies about the return of Christ. Check out the next article to learn the shocking truth about how the Roman Empire has already returned and is active on the world stage today.
Bibliography
Calvin, John. 1509-1564. Daniel 7. Translated by Thomas Meyers. Vol. II. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom25/calcom25.ii.viii.html
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Gangel, Kenneth O. 2001. "Holman Old Testament Commentary: Daniel." In Holman Old Testament Commentary: Daniel, by Kenneth O. Gangel, edited by Max Anders, 211. Nashville, Tennesee: B&H Publishing Group.
Jeremiah, David, and C. C. Carlson. 2019. The Handwriting on the Wall: Secrets from the Prophecies of Daniel. Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group.
Pentecost, J. Dwight. 1985. "Daniel." In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the SCriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty: Old Testament, by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 1323-1375. Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books.
Walvoord, John F. 2012. The John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries: Daniel. Edited by Charles H. Dyer and Philip E. Rawley. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers.
Wesley, John. 1703-1791. "Notes on the Book of Daniel." In John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/wesley/notes/notes.ii.xxviii.viii.ii.html
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