The Visions of Daniel and John

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Are Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and Revelation 12, 13, 17, and 18 all connected, or are we given clues that shine a light on the nuance of these prophecies and their relationship to each other?

TL;DR

Through the millennia, those who study God’s Word have been attempting to understand the complex web of the prophetic narrative written throughout the collection of books, here a little and there a little. So many prophets received visions of the future in various scopes through time. Some of what was revealed to them they did not understand and were told that it was not for them to understand. God used His prophets to communicate important information relevant to the future of His people, even if they didn’t fully understand.

Amos 3:6-8
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Daniel and John are two central prophets that stand out in scripture because they speak of many similar things, sometimes with different context. But aspects of these visions and prophecies can be tied together to build out a better view of the prophetic narrative. It’s like a puzzle where each piece has its little part of the whole picture. These pieces can be put together to reveal an expanded picture of an event, contributed to by other visions and prophets. Sometimes these have connections to other pieces that begin to allow us to connect the groups of a partially completed puzzle together for a larger and more vast picture.

Even though we can find pieces that fit together in shape, sometimes the picture doesn’t match up. You see, this puzzle of prophecy has similarly cut pieces and sometimes we can assume the fit is good when it is not. Every aspect of the puzzle must be in alignment for the whole picture to be properly revealed. And this is why each piece must be examined first on its own, to understand what it reveals before connecting it to another piece that must also be examined on its own. This is how I tried to approached my study of the visions of Daniel and John.

These visions were given at different times, for different purposes, and with different scopes. Yes, there are definitely some commonalities, but similarity does not mean equality. We must be discerning on the small things, we must examine the words used and their meanings within each prophecy, and we must accept each as being true to their word. Do those words mean two different prophecies are mutually exclusive, or do they confirm a connection? Each puzzle piece must be fully examined alone before attempting to connect it elsewhere.

It would be too long to detail each vision and prophecy in one article. Instead, this is an introduction to a series of articles I will post, looking at the main visions of Daniel and John on their own first to see what logical insights can be revealed from the text. Each vision contains characters symbolized in different ways. Scripture must interpret scripture and so the understanding of these symbolic characters will be searched out in scripture. Then, other clearly connected passages related to the defined characters may be examined to get a more holistic view of that character.

The final article in the series will then address, based on what is discovered in each vision individually, what characters in time we can connect together and what might stand on its own. Hopefully, this will help you in your journey of discovery of God’s plan for all of our lives and give you the comfort intended in knowing that God is in control and giving you the detail to understand how.

The Visions of Daniel and John

Many paradigms have been built around Bible prophecy as those trying to understand it have been trying to piece it together over the past millennia. While different paradigms may be accurate in certain aspects, they are sometimes proven to be inaccurate in others. However, I believe there is one objective paradigm that must be fully accurate, but is difficult to nail down because of the nature of prophecy.

Isaiah 28:9-13
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Some make scripture too allegorical and others too literal, and with each perspective a different paradigm begins to form. I prefer to say that I take scripture seriously, not allegorically or literally. This means that I recognize there is prophetic symbolism throughout the prophetic narrative and I look to scripture to interpret that for me. At the same time there are literal statements that I likewise take as such. When scripture is clearly saying a thing, especially with some higher level of detail, I will take God at His Word. Regardless, even the symbolic references are meant to express a literal reality, we must just determine what that is.

Some view prophecy as fully fulfilled and others expect it all is yet to come. Similarly, I look for key terms that I’ve come to recognize as focused on certain end time events when looking at where to place a particular prophecy. At the same time, I recognize there is, as Dr. Michael Heiser would say, an "already but not yet" nature to much of prophecy that must be taken into account and we’ll see that in Daniel 2 later. A lot of prophecy is foreshadow and fulfillment, creating echoes through time.

The goal of this series of articles is to look at key points from the visions of Daniel and John, two of the most central prophets regarding visions they had or interpreted of the end of the age. However, it is my contention that we must first and foremost examine each clear vision and prophecy on its own first. They were given as separate visions and interpretations in the case of Daniel, so we must be careful not to leap to making connections between them until each has been fully fleshed out. In the case of John, it would appear to be one continuous vision, but there are clear delineated points we can reasonably examine.

The Bible should interpret the Bible, and not our private interpretations. Sometimes that means we don’t fully understand some things right away and we tend to look for the best explanation, we just need to understand that before we think we have it all figured out. I do not, but these studies are what I have figured out so far with a lot of help of little pieces of insight picked up from others who study God’s Word and what I’ve likewise seen in the text.

Apple of God’s Eye

Before getting into the visions, it is critically important to understand the filter through which we should examine these prophecies. This isn’t a filter of our own making, it is born of scripture and sometimes needs to be applied to the eyes of the Gentile church that has lost touch with the Hebrew roots of our faith.

Deuteronomy 32:8-11
When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD’S portion [is] his people; Jacob [is] the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple[pupil - H380] of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

Psalm 17:7-8
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them]. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Zechariah 2:7-8
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye..

The meaning of apple is “the pupil or ball; hence, the middle,” which is to say that God’s eyes are focused on His people, Israel that dwell in His holy mountain, Zion. They were chosen from among the nations to be His people and it was with them He made His covenant and through them the Messiah came that allowed us to be married into the family of Abraham through faith as the bride of Christ.

That isn’t to say His bride is not also the apple of His eye. For two millennia during the diaspora of the Jews, the growing church has also been His focus. God is able to handle two things at the same time. Having closed their eyes to Yeshua, Israel did not gain the relationship they desired and for less than two millennia that diaspora broke Israel’s relationship with God as His house and their appointed place to meet with Him was left desolate and destroyed. But for His bride, we are His temple in cohabitation with the Spirit of God as we remain obedient and without abominations in our hearts. We have gained what we desire for His people as He likewise desires, personal relationship with the God of creation.

But when we are speaking of prophecy of the end, we are seeing the drawing of the blind remnant of faithful Israel back to Himself so that they will one day see and accept Him. Israel, whom He has not yet redeemed in their blindness, and Jerusalem, the place He chose as His dwelling place on earth, are central to this narrative.

Prophecy of old reflects this when Gabriel said in Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Israel] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem]…" and in Jeremiah 30:4, "these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah." and Daniel 12:1, "at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. [Israel]" The examples are everywhere, and it should be no surprise if Israel and Jerusalem are the pupil of God’s eye. It should be even more understood in that those who have accepted Yeshua as the Messiah and remained obedient to Him have already received the promise of salvation. We have gained what Israel closed their eyes to, but the final prophetic events of the end are focused on the salvation of all of faithful Israel at His coming prior to His judgement.

Romans 11:25-33
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Notice the salvation of Israel in the removal of her blindness is tied to the fullness of the Gentiles. There is a coming singular event that brings these together in time, the redemption of God’s faithful people, and that is the parousia of Yeshua, the day of Christ.

So when we are looking at prophecy of the end, while the faithful church is a participant and part of these events, their unfolding is more directly tied to the redemption of the people that do not yet see, and their trying as gold is tried so that the remnant who refuse to bow down to Baal will come out of spiritual Egypt into the wilderness and then later into the Promised Land with our Messiah ruling from a new Jerusalem. This brings me to probably the most important keys to keep in mind during these studies.

Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Yeshua

Revelation 19:10b
…worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Bible prophecy is about the revealing of God’s plan of redemption for mankind put in place before man was created. It has a figure that is at the center of that story of redemption. The New Covenant brought the spirit of the Law in our hearts so that in obedience we follow the Law by nature and not by letter. In a similar way, the spirit of prophecy is not about the details of knowing the future, it’s about knowing the Savior behind those events.

So while we may be motivated to understand the future in obedience to the command to watch or figure out the prophetic puzzle, the most important thing that we must put first is relationship with the Savior behind the prophecy. Obedience to His command to love God and each other selflessly with lovingkindness is the Spirit that produces the fruit in our lives that fulfills the Law. And that relationship fosters understanding as the Spirit of God in you opens your mind to understanding the things we are warned of in scripture about the end.

His eternal kingdom is the promised end of prophecy and in some way Yeshua is a part of it because it all points to Him. This is important because when we study prophecy it is often mysterious, couched in strange symbology, parables, foreshadows, echoes, and the beginning of fulfillment, yet not quite there.

Prophecy is evidence of God existing outside of space and time and is focused on His plans to bring us back into relationship with Him through Yeshua. So I think it’s important when reading scripture and these studies, to keep this in mind. As you see the precision of prophecy coming from the examination of scripture and history, understand that however the text got to us, its precision is validated in what God has revealed through His servants the prophets guided by His Spirit. May this strengthen your faith, or trust, in God’s Word as it has mine.

The Bible Interprets Itself

2 Peter 1:19-21
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost..

As one who studies Bible prophecy, this is probably one of my favorite verses because it gives the foundation for why we should have faith in God’s Word and how we should approach it as believers in all things. In our focus on prophecy, this is especially significant given the multiplicity of views and interpretations out there.

In today’s morally relativistic world, truth is subjective and objective reality is scoffed at by many. This is a result of a world obsessed with self and their own desires, where their truth is real to them and in many cases the world is expected to agree with their perceived truth. The selfless love of many has grown cold because of this turn inward, resulting in the very world prophesied to be primed for the coming great deception. But I digress.

The point is that there is an objective reality, an objective Truth. The problem is that we don’t fully comprehend it, not being able to see from outside of time. We’ve been given the handbook of understanding that objective reality, but in trying to understand what it is saying, we must not be like the world in mindset.

What does it mean that "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation?" We are told that we should first know this one thing, so perhaps it is important. The translation "of any private" is the Greek idios[G2398], meaning pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self. The translation "interpretation" is the Greek epilysis [G1955], from G1956; explanation, i.e. application: -interpretation. I think this is a very key point being made, which I would boil down to this, the Bible interprets itself. There is an objective Truth in scripture, it’s written here a little and there a little requiring the wise to discern it, but it’s there. At the same time, we also don’t have every detail fully fleshed out, so there will always be some speculation about some things.

But the only way that the body of Christ can arrive at a common objective reality about the future prophesied for us is to not have every person with their own private interpretation like the world has their subjective realities. The only way we can arrive to an objective Truth about our future is to trust the Author to give that Truth to us and take Him at His Word. Trust the interpretations God has spelled out in mysteries and not the traditions of men.

Proverbs 25:2
[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

Revelation 1:4-6
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

I have faith that the big things are clarified within the text itself. I have seen enough examples that this faith is unwavering. Sure there are things I don’t understand, but when I started studying twenty years ago there were many more holes in my understanding than there are today. And what I’m sharing in part now has so much more to come.

I also relied in the beginning on the paradigms of understanding built by those I saw as more learned than I, because they were. But there is one thing that I’ve discovered in my journey to understand God’s future for us and that is when I take Him at His Word and think outside of the boxes of these paradigms, the Word reveals itself in great detail. You don’t need a degree for God to reveal His Word to you, you need His Spirit, the Author, dwelling within you. And you need to listen to the Author, which is done by logically examining the Word and believing it.

Now not every part of these paradigms is wrong, I will listen to other teachers and gain great insights from aspects of what they bring to the table and I don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. But often times as soon as I hear an idea or scripture from a teaching I immediately begin my own study apart from that teaching. And I hope you do so as well with these presentations.

Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

In these studies the focus will be first on gathering the depictions of the characters often symbolized in the prophetic visions and accepting first the explicit interpretations given in the text for those symbols. I will then examine the characteristics symbolized, yet not defined, in light of where else in scripture they appear. Only after examining each vision, or part of the vision in the case of Revelation, will the defined characteristics be compared with the other visions to see the similarities and differences that define when the characters of these prophecies are playing out their actions.

The goal is to clarify what visions of Daniel and John are connected and how, as well as what visions are completely separate from each other, covering completely different scopes in our history and our future.

The Book of Daniel

Daniel 1:1-4, 6
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. ... Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

In 597 BC, following the first siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the king’s family and thousands of those that were left of Jerusalem were taken with the treasure of the house of God back to Babylon. Among these was Daniel, who would remain in Babylon for the rest of his life and be elevated in position because of his faithfulness to God and the resulting blessings of wisdom, vision, and interpretation.

I think it is important to recognize the time frame in which many of the visions we will be looking at took place. We look back from over 2,500 years in the future and sometimes forget that everything given to Daniel was future to him. We don’t know how long he lived exactly, but we are introduced to him in the first chapter following the siege. We also know that Daniel was present at the transition of Babylon to control by Medo-Persia in 539 BC some 60 years later. Daniel 5

There are some who hold a late date for the authorship of the latter books containing the visions of Daniel, and many who refuse to believe that the precision of the fulfillment we see looking back through history can be explained any other way. Personally, I do not find it odd that this precision of fulfillment is there given 2 Peter 1:19-21. Yahweh has always been and knows the end from the beginning and His Spirit worked through the prophets to reveal that knowledge and understanding for our benefit.

However, we also have the Dead Sea Scrolls from the first to second century BC, which is right around the period of some of that detailed fulfillment. The fragments show the consistency of the text between our modern copies and those discovered almost 80 years ago in Qumran, including prophecies that were not yet fulfilled at that time. These unfulfilled prophecies at the time of the oldest known writings of Daniel would be fulfilled with the same kind of precision in the centuries to come, and there are more yet to be fulfilled.

It should also be noted that each of the visions that will be examined from the book of Daniel is given a particular time in which it was received during the reigns of the various kings Daniel served. Thanks to Daniel documenting this, the books are arranged in order of vision received with the exception of Daniel 10, which is the final vision. However, I’m not including that in this study because there is no real revelation given from it about the future except that what Daniel saw regarding what would befall his people in the latter days caused him great sorrow.

Daniel 2 - (584 BC) Second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign after conquering Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Daniel 7 - (553 BC) First year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. He was regent while his father was in exile from 553-543/2 BC, so assuming his first year Daniel would have considered him king of Babylon to be 553/2 BC.

Daniel 8 - (550 BC) Third year of the reign of king Belshazzar.

Daniel 9 - (539 BC) First year of Darius of the Medes following the conquer of Babylon by Cyrus the Great.

Daniel 11-12 - (539 BC) First year of Darius the Mede.

Daniel 10 - (536 BC) Third year of Cyrus king of Persia following the conquer of Babylon.

I hope you will see the consistency in the coming examinations of these visions of Daniel both in the historic fulfillment and the connections with the revelation of Yeshua given to John regarding many of those same future events. These visions are shrouded in prophetic imagery and can be very confusing, but I believe we are given the tools to have these interpreted for us straight from the Word itself. While it may not be easy to find some things, it takes the burden of interpretation off of us and onto the capable shoulders of God. Some interpretations might not be clear, and that’s ok, because what is important will be revealed in time. We don’t have to know it all, just enough. This has profoundly strengthened my faith and I pray it does yours as well.

The Book of Revelation

Revelation 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

While John was persecuted like the other apostles, he is believed the only one not to have been killed for his faith in Yeshua, living out his natural life. John tells us where his vision was given to him, on the island of Patmos, which informs us to when it was given. There is debate, as with everything scriptural, about when this vision was given to John, but I’ve come to the comfortable conclusion that those closest to the events should be considered good sources. Additionally they were well before any need to enter into debates on the timing because there was no debate at the time.

Irenaeus (130-202 AD) wrote, in speaking of not naming the antichrist, that John received the vision recorded in Revelation toward the end of Domitian’s reign, who was emperor of Rome from 81 to 96 AD. This wasn’t an attempt to prove when John received his vision, but an off-hand comment that provides us a clue.

“We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign.” | Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 30), Irenaeus (130-202 AD)

Eusebius (260-339 AD) documented the Greek Olympiads, often used to announce changes in leadership. In 77 AD Titus served as co-regent until his father Vespasian’s death in 79, where he ruled until his death in 81 AD. And so in the 215th Olympiad, Domitian’s reign was recorded.

“[70] The Greek Olympiads
[A list] from the first Olympiad to the 247th, when Antoninus the son of Severus was emperor of the Romans.
…
212th [69 A.D.] - Polites of Ceramus, stadion race [g308]. [During this Olympiad] Vespasianus became emperor of the Romans.
213th [73 A.D.] - Rhodon of Cyme, or Theodotus, stadion race.
214th [77 A.D.] - Straton of Alexandria, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Titus became emperor of the Romans.
[81] 215th [81 A.D.] - Hermogenes of Xanthus, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Domitian became emperor of the Romans.
216th [85 A.D.] - Apollophanes Papis of Tarsus, stadion race.
217th [89 A.D.] - Hermogenes of Xanthus for a second time, stadion race.
218th [93 A.D.] - Apollonius of Alexandria, or Heliodorus, stadion race.
219th [97 A.D.] - Stephanus of Cappadocia, stadion race. [During this Olympiad] Nerva became emperor of the Romans, followed by Trajan [g309]. …” | Chronicle (Book 1), Eusebius (260-339 AD)

It is likewise said in Chronicle that Eusebius depicts the persecution of Christians, including John being banished under Domitian to Patmos. I could not find this directly, but include the reference below.

“In the Chronicle, Eusebius lists these events in the fourteenth year of Domitian: ‘Persecution of Christians and under him the apostle John is banished to Patmos and sees his Apocalypse, as Irenaeus mentions.’” | 2.11.4.2 - External Evidence for a Late Date

Eusebius likewise tells us that it was after Domitian’s reign had ended that those he had unjustly banished should be returned, tying this to John leaving the Island of Patmos.

“But after Domitian had reigned fifteen years, and Nerva had succeeded to the empire, the Roman Senate, according to the writers that record the history of those days, voted that Domitian’s honors should be cancelled, and that those who had been unjustly banished should return to their homes and have their property restored to them. It was at this time that the apostle John returned from his banishment in the island and took up his abode at Ephesus, according to an ancient Christian tradition.” | Church History (Book 3, Chapter 20:10-11), Eusebius (260-339 AD)

Eusebius ties the persecution of Christians and John’s banishment to Patmos in the fourteenth year of Domitian, which is 95 AD. Since Domitian died in September of 96 AD, and John was released after that, we know that the revelation of Yeshua would have been given between 95 and 97 AD according to Irenaeus and Eusebius.

So Daniel, writing over six centuries before John, is no doubt seen echoed in many places of John’s vision. Even this is sometimes spoken of as if John is just using his knowledge of Daniel and adding to that, as if Daniel’s ancient visions influence what he writes.

I would say that both Daniel and John state they had visions and then proceed to describe them. Any common points are related to the visions they saw and wrote down and the same Author influencing two different people about the same events that were known to happen from before the foundation of the earth. Both Daniel and John had visions and interpretations given that they wrote about.

While I’m sure John had moments of recognition that what he was seeing echoed what Daniel saw, we should keep in mind that they were both seeing visions presented to them and told to write them down for our benefit. We should not interpret man’s collaboration for what the God of creation revealed to each of His prophets. We should take God at His Word and look for how the different perspectives of the viewer of these visions expound on each other and be discerning for the places they do not.

My Ask

And so I would ask when approaching these studies, that you set aside your long-held paradigms, that you loose your tight grip on what you know and approach the Word of God with fresh eyes. Don’t forget what you know, just suspend the strong desire to jump to long-held conclusions as well as immediately making surface level connections to other prophecies. This is a journey of singular focus with each prophecy standing on their own at first, we’ll get to what connects and disconnects these prophecies from each other at the end of the journey.

These dreams, visions, and interpretations were given individually at different times and I think it is best to assume no connections first. In the case of Daniel, read them first as they were given, alone and apart from each other. Trust God’s Word to say what is meant and go from there. Some connections are crystal clear, and I will address some of those in each study because the characters that connect these visions are critically important to understand. The point is to carefully link them only with clear and well-examined connections.

I would also encourage you, since we’re starting from the beginning, to begin this journey now, before you read my thoughts, one dream and vision at a time. Hang on each word and sentence and use tools like Blue Letter Bible’s interlinear tools to see what the original Hebrew and Greek words mean and how they are used elsewhere in scripture. Words have meaning, and those are the foundation of truly understanding. Perhaps you will gain some insight that I’ve missed, feel free to share in the comments of the posts.

I’m excited to share the insights I’ve gained from these pivotal dreams and visions of God’s plan for mankind. I hope they build your faith in the Word of God as they have mine. As you approach each one, pause and pray that the Author dwelling within you open your heart and mind to understanding what He wants you to understand in the end of this present age. Approach with faith and He will be faithful to bring understanding.

The Visions and Prophecies

As with all things, do not take my word for this as being true. Search the scriptures yourself to see if they say what I’ve understood them to say. I could be wrong, though I hope to show you how taking scripture at its word brings a lot of clarity if we accept it as written and let it interpret itself.

This was not intended to be an exhaustive study, but is really focused on determining what visions and prophecies should be tied together and how. To examine what prophecies may contain elements or apparent similarities, yet have a different scope. I will focus first on those with the widest scope of time, Revelation 17-18 and Daniel 2, and then address the next visions in order of oldest beginning and/or fulfillment.

• Revelation 17-18: Jerusalem, the Harlot, and the Dragon
• Daniel 2: Babylon to the Messianic Kingdom
• Daniel 8: Abomination of Desolation Foreshadowed
• Daniel 9: 70 Weeks for Israel and Jerusalem
• Revelation 12: The Dragon and Faithful, Persecuted Israel
• Daniel 11-12: Persia to Antiochus IV To False Messiah
• Daniel 7: Rise of the False Messianic Kingdom
• Revelation 13: The False Messiah’s Kingdom
• The Visions of Daniel and John: Similarities & Differences

May God continue to bless you as you remain in Him.