Regardless of how you interpret the symbols, we see in Revelation 12 a Dragon, who representing Satan, had Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice he had this description while he was in heaven. Are we to believe that these components existed prior to their establishment? Of course not. Interpreting these prophetic symbols from a linear view, would produce a misinterpretation of the prophecy and may cause us to believe these symbols actually existed during Satan's rebellion. Because we understand prophecy is non-linear, we understand that Revelation 12 views these future components as if they already existed.
the identity of the ten Kingdoms
๏ปฟThe Identity of the Ten Kingdoms
As a youth growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was traditionally taught that the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s Image, the Ten Horns that arose before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings of Revelation represented ten Germanic Tribes. If you are unfamiliar with these Germanic tribes and need a basic understanding of who they are and how they are interpreted as part of Bible prophecy, I hope this brief explanation will suffice:
TEN GERMANIC TRIBES
Somewhere around the fifth century, the Roman Empire was bombarded by tribes of individuals living north of its borders. The reason for this bombardment was due to an Asiatic tribe called the Huns. The Huns began attacking the other northern tribes and forced them to flood into the Roman Empire seeking shelter. Eventually, these tribes would cause the downfall of the Western Roman Empire, which most historians date approximately 476 AD. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, would continue for approximately a thousand years afterward.
MULTIPLE LISTS
Most Seventh-day Adventists believe that ten of these tribes represent the Ten Toes on Daniels’ statue, the Ten Horns before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings at the end of the world. According to Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation book (DAR), These ten tribes were the “Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards.” DAR 59
However, if you study the history of this theory, you will discover that even non-Adventist Christians have also historically believed that these Ten Horns represent ten Germanic tribes. For example, on page 98, of EB Elliot’s book, Horae Apocalypticae, he says the Ten Horns were the “Anglo Saxons, the Franks, Allemans, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, Vandals, Heruli, Bavarians, and Ostrogoths.”
On pages 5-6 in Nicco Macavelli’s book, The History of Florence, he says that the Ten Horns consisted of “Zeno, reigning in Constantinople, commanded the whole eastern empire; the Ostrogoths, ruled Mesia and Pannonia; the Visigoths, Suavi, and Alans held Gascony and Spain; The Vandals, Africa, the Franks and Burgundians, France; and the Eruli and Turingi, Italy.”
So who are the Ten Horns? It Depends on which Bible scholar you ask! And before you convince yourself that Adventists had the correct list of kingdoms, the following quotation will reveal to you that even our pioneers weren't settled on the identity of these Ten Kingdoms.
"Unfortunately, the discussion on the ten kingdoms, whether the Huns or the Alemanni constituted one of the kingdoms, took on the form of a debate and dragged over a period of several days. Jones held for the Alemanni, and Smith stood for the Huns, as in his original list published in Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. Feelings ran high. Cutting speeches were made over a rather inconsequential matter. It polarized the group and laid the foundation for bitter debate of subjects to follow..." 3BIO p. 394
Now, the reason why the subject of the Ten Kingdoms is no longer debated in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is because most Adventists eventually accepted Uriah Smith’s view of the Ten Horns. This mass acceptance has resulted in the majority of our members believing that the ten Germanic tribes is a Seventh-day Adventist "doctrine," but this is further from the truth. The Germanic tribe teaching is a traditionally held belief of our denomination, but it is not a pillar doctrine, nor is it foundational to Adventism. If it was, Ellen White would have stepped in and corrected whoever was challenging Uriah Smith's view. However, when we read the writings of the Lord's Messenger, we see no confirmation of Uriah Smith's list nor any other list.
I used to wonder why Ellen White never settled our understanding of the Ten Kingdoms. Most likely, because it's a non-salvific issue; however, I also believe that she never settled the issue because she simply had no light on the subject. And because she had no light, it left room for debate on the identity of the Ten Kingdoms.
In contemplating all of this, I sought to establish the true identity of these ten Germanic tribes once and for all. My goal was to produce a list of the ten Germanic tribes that was Biblically and historically undebatable. However, after going through various lists of tribes, and after eliminating some and adding others, I came to a conclusion that I now see as plain as day: There was never a time where Rome was divided into Ten Kingdoms! I know that sounds radical at the moment, but now that I see these Ten Kingdoms for what they are, it makes sense why there are so many lists of "ten Germanic tribes".
Because I was so set on the Germanic tribe view, it never occurred to me that there was another potential view. However, after studying Daniel 7 one night, God got my attention. As I was studying these tribes, a thought entered my mind that I had never even considered. This thought literally changed my whole perspective—not just of the Ten Kingdoms, but how I view prophecy. And here was that thought:
A New Perspective
If you recall, in our study on the Seven Heads, we discovered that these heads were seven governments of the following world powers:
1). Egypt, 2). Assyria, 3). Babylon, 4). Medo-Persia, 5). Greece, 6). Pagan Rome, and 7). Papal Rome. Now, think about this:
If these Seven Heads represented seven governments, wouldn't these governments have kings?
If we count the kingships of the Seven Heads, then we can see that the Ten Horns (and the Little Horn) are the kingships of these seven governments. And those ten kingships are:
1). The Egyptian Kingship
2). The Assyrian Kingship
3). The Babylonian Kingship
4.) The Median Kingship
5). The Persian Kingship
6). The Greek Kingship
7). The Macedonian Kingship
8). The Asia Minor Kingship
9). The Seleucid Kingship
10). The Ptolemaic Kingship
In other words, the Seven Heads and the Ten Horns refer to the same entities—one refers to the governments of the seven powers who ruled the known world while persecuting God's people, and the other refers to the monarchs who ruled those governments.
As a youth growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was traditionally taught that the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s Image, the Ten Horns that arose before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings of Revelation represented ten Germanic Tribes. If you are unfamiliar with these Germanic tribes and need a basic understanding of who they are and how they are interpreted as part of Bible prophecy, I hope this brief explanation will suffice:
Ten Germanic Tribes
Somewhere around the fifth century, the Roman Empire was bombarded by tribes of individuals living north of its borders. The reason for this bombardment was due to an Asiatic tribe called the Huns. The Huns began attacking the other northern tribes and forced them to flood into the Roman Empire seeking shelter. Eventually, these tribes would cause the downfall of the Western Roman Empire, which most historians date approximately 476 AD. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, would continue for approximately a thousand years afterward.
Multiple Lists
Most Seventh-day Adventists believe that ten of these tribes represent the Ten Toes on Daniels’ statue, the Ten Horns before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings at the end of the world. According to Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation book (DAR), These ten tribes were the “Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards.” DAR 59
However, if you study the history of this theory, you will discover that even non-Adventist Christians have also historically believed that these Ten Horns represent ten Germanic tribes. For example, on page 98, of EB Elliot’s book, Horae Apocalypticae, he says the Ten Horns were the “Anglo Saxons, the Franks, Allemans, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, Vandals, Heruli, Bavarians, and Ostrogoths.”
On pages 5-6 in Nicco Macavelli’s book, The History of Florence, he says that the Ten Horns consisted of “Zeno, reigning in Constantinople, commanded the whole eastern empire; the Ostrogoths, ruled Mesia and Pannonia; the Visigoths, Suavi, and Alans held Gascony and Spain; The Vandals, Africa, the Franks and Burgundians, France; and the Eruli and Turingi, Italy.”
So who are the Ten Horns? It Depends on which Bible scholar you ask! And before you convince yourself that Adventists had the correct list of kingdoms, the following quotation will reveal to you that even our pioneers weren't settled on the identity of these Ten Kingdoms.
"Unfortunately, the discussion on the ten kingdoms, whether the Huns or the Alemanni constituted one of the kingdoms, took on the form of a debate and dragged over a period of several days. Jones held for the Alemanni, and Smith stood for the Huns, as in his original list published in Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. Feelings ran high. Cutting speeches were made over a rather inconsequential matter. It polarized the group and laid the foundation for bitter debate of subjects to follow..." 3BIO p. 394
Now, the reason why the subject of the Ten Kingdoms is no longer debated in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is because most Adventists eventually accepted Uriah Smith’s view of the Ten Horns. This mass acceptance has resulted in the majority of our members believing that the ten Germanic tribes is a Seventh-day Adventist "doctrine," but this is further from the truth. The Germanic tribe teaching is a traditionally held belief of our denomination, but it is not a pillar doctrine, nor is it foundational to Adventism. If it was, Ellen White would have stepped in and corrected whoever was challenging Uriah Smith's view. However, when we read the writings of the Lord's Messenger, we see no confirmation of Uriah Smith's list nor any other list.
I used to wonder why Ellen White never settled our understanding of the Ten Kingdoms. Most likely, because it's a non-salvific issue; however, I also believe that she never settled the issue because she simply had no light on the subject. And because she had no light, it left room for debate on the identity of the Ten Kingdoms.
In contemplating all of this, I sought to establish the true identity of these ten Germanic tribes once and for all. My goal was to produce a list of the ten Germanic tribes that was Biblically and historically undebatable. However, after going through various lists of tribes, and after eliminating some and adding others, I came to a conclusion that I now see as plain as day: There was never a time where Rome was divided into Ten Kingdoms! I know that sounds radical at the moment, but now that I see these Ten Kingdoms for what they are, it makes sense why there are so many lists of "ten Germanic tribes".
Because I was so set on the Germanic tribe view, it never occurred to me that there was another potential view. However, after studying Daniel 7 one night, God got my attention. As I was studying these tribes, a thought entered my mind that I had never even considered. This thought literally changed my whole perspective—not just of the Ten Kingdoms, but how I view prophecy. And here was that thought:
A New Perspective
If you recall, in our study on the Seven Heads, we discovered that these heads were seven governments of the following world powers:
1). Egypt, 2). Assyria, 3). Babylon, 4). Medo-Persia, 5). Greece, 6). Pagan Rome, and 7). Papal Rome. Now, think about this: If these Seven Heads represented seven governments, wouldn't these governments have kings?
If we count the kingships of the Seven Heads, then we can see that the Ten Horns (and the Little Horn) are the kingships of these seven governments. And those ten kingships are:
1). The Egyptian Kingship
2). The Assyrian Kingship
3). The Babylonian Kingship
4.) The Median Kingship
5). The Persian Kingship
6). The Greek Kingship
7). The Macedonian Kingship
8). The Asia Minor Kingship
9). The Seleucid Kingship
10). The Ptolemaic Kingship
In other words, the Seven Heads and the Ten Horns refer to the same entities—one refers to the governments of the seven powers who ruled the known world while persecuting God's people, and the other refers to the monarchs who ruled those governments.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, you may be offended by this view, but this is probably because you've never heard this before. Many will immediately dismiss this idea simply because the SDA Church has taught the Germanic tribe interpretation since the days of the Pioneers. And maybe a few of you who understand that God is still blessing his Church with a deeper understanding of prophecy will be open to this view. Whatever reaction you have, there's one thing you must understand about prophecy—and that is that prophecy is non-linear.
๏ปฟ
Prophecy is Non-Linear
Linear means in a straight or sequential line. As a Seventh-day Adventist, you must understand prophecy as non-linear. In other words, prophecy does not always see symbols and their attributes in a linear fashion. Let me give you a few examples:
The Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
The Beast with the attributes of a Lion, Bear, and Leopard
In Revelation 13:2, we see a Beast that "was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion..."
Knowing the Roman Empire never conquered Babylon or Persia, we can see that the attributes of the three world power that ruled prior to Rome were considered still part of the Roman Empire, which were inherited by the Papal Roman Empire.
The State of the Dead doesn't apply to symbolic Prophecy
Once we understand prophecy's non-linear stance when it comes to attributes, we can begin to see that the state of the dead doesn't apply to prophetic symbols. In essence, the dead are still living when it comes to prophecy. Even if we didn't have the above examples, Daniel 7 confirms this idea. Notice what verse 12 says:
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Do you see it yet? Prophecy views attributes of previous kingdoms as still existing, even though the kingdoms have already been destroyed. This is why the Lion, Bear, and Leopard had already passed, but continued to live for a season and time. This idea is central to understanding how prophecy views the Ten Horns.
As a youth growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was traditionally taught that the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s Image, the Ten Horns that arose before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings of Revelation represented ten Germanic Tribes. If you are unfamiliar with these Germanic tribes and need a basic understanding of who they are and how they are interpreted as part of Bible prophecy, I hope this brief explanation will suffice:
TEN GERMANIC TRIBES
Somewhere around the fifth century, the Roman Empire was bombarded by tribes of individuals living north of its borders. The reason for this bombardment was due to an Asiatic tribe called the Huns. The Huns began attacking the other northern tribes and forced them to flood into the Roman Empire seeking shelter. Eventually, these tribes would cause the downfall of the Western Roman Empire, which most historians date approximately 476 AD. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, would continue for approximately a thousand years afterward.
MULTIPLE LISTS
Most Seventh-day Adventists believe that ten of these tribes represent the Ten Toes on Daniels’ statue, the Ten Horns before the Little Horn, and the Ten Kings at the end of the world. According to Uriah Smith’s Daniel and Revelation book (DAR), These ten tribes were the “Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons, and Lombards.” DAR 59
However, if you study the history of this theory, you will discover that even non-Adventist Christians have also historically believed that these Ten Horns represent ten Germanic tribes. For example, on page 98, of EB Elliot’s book, Horae Apocalypticae, he says the Ten Horns were the “Anglo Saxons, the Franks, Allemans, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, Vandals, Heruli, Bavarians, and Ostrogoths.”
On pages 5-6 in Nicco Macavelli’s book, The History of Florence, he says that the Ten Horns consisted of “Zeno, reigning in Constantinople, commanded the whole eastern empire; the Ostrogoths, ruled Mesia and Pannonia; the Visigoths, Suavi, and Alans held Gascony and Spain; The Vandals, Africa, the Franks and Burgundians, France; and the Eruli and Turingi, Italy.”
So who are the Ten Horns? It Depends on which Bible scholar you ask! And before you convince yourself that Adventists had the correct list of kingdoms, the following quotation will reveal to you that even our pioneers weren't settled on the identity of these Ten Kingdoms.
"Unfortunately, the discussion on the ten kingdoms, whether the Huns or the Alemanni constituted one of the kingdoms, took on the form of a debate and dragged over a period of several days. Jones held for the Alemanni, and Smith stood for the Huns, as in his original list published in Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. Feelings ran high. Cutting speeches were made over a rather inconsequential matter. It polarized the group and laid the foundation for bitter debate of subjects to follow..." 3BIO p. 394
Now, the reason why the subject of the Ten Kingdoms is no longer debated in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is because most Adventists eventually accepted Uriah Smith’s view of the Ten Horns. This mass acceptance has resulted in the majority of our members believing that the ten Germanic tribes is a Seventh-day Adventist "doctrine," but this is further from the truth. The Germanic tribe teaching is a traditionally held belief of our denomination, but it is not a pillar doctrine, nor is it foundational to Adventism. If it was, Ellen White would have stepped in and corrected whoever was challenging Uriah Smith's view. However, when we read the writings of the Lord's Messenger, we see no confirmation of Uriah Smith's list nor any other list.
I used to wonder why Ellen White never settled our understanding of the Ten Kingdoms. Most likely, because it's a non-salvific issue; however, I also believe that she never settled the issue because she simply had no light on the subject. And because she had no light, it left room for debate on the identity of the Ten Kingdoms.
In contemplating all of this, I sought to establish the true identity of these ten Germanic tribes once and for all. My goal was to produce a list of the ten Germanic tribes that was Biblically and historically undebatable. However, after going through various lists of tribes, and after eliminating some and adding others, I came to a conclusion that I now see as plain as day: There was never a time where Rome was divided into Ten Kingdoms! I know that sounds radical at the moment, but now that I see these Ten Kingdoms for what they are, it makes sense why there are so many lists of "ten Germanic tribes".
Because I was so set on the Germanic tribe view, it never occurred to me that there was another potential view. However, after studying Daniel 7 one night, God got my attention. As I was studying these tribes, a thought entered my mind that I had never even considered. This thought literally changed my whole perspective—not just of the Ten Kingdoms, but how I view prophecy. And here was that thought:
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
If you recall, in our study on the Seven Heads, we discovered that these heads were seven governments of the following world powers:
1). Egypt, 2). Assyria, 3). Babylon, 4). Medo-Persia, 5). Greece, 6). Pagan Rome, and 7). Papal Rome. Now, think about this: If these Seven Heads represented seven governments, wouldn't these governments have kings?
If we count the kingships of the Seven Heads, then we can see that the Ten Horns (and the Little Horn) are the kingships of these seven governments. And those ten kingships are:
1). The Egyptian Kingship
2). The Assyrian Kingship
3). The Babylonian Kingship
4.) The Median Kingship
5). The Persian Kingship
6). The Greek Kingship
7). The Macedonian Kingship
8). The Asia Minor Kingship
9). The Seleucid Kingship
10). The Ptolemaic Kingship
In other words, the Seven Heads and the Ten Horns refer to the same entities—one refers to the governments of the seven powers who ruled the known world while persecuting God's people, and the other refers to the monarchs who ruled those governments.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, you may be offended by this view, but this is probably because you've never heard this before. Many will immediately dismiss this idea simply because the SDA Church has taught the Germanic tribe interpretation since the days of the Pioneers. And maybe a few of you who understand that God is still blessing his Church with a deeper understanding of prophecy will be open to this view. Whatever reaction you have, there's one thing you must understand about prophecy—and that is that prophecy is non-linear.
Prophecy is Non-Linear
Linear means in a straight or sequential line. As a Seventh-day Adventist, you must understand prophecy as non-linear. In other words, prophecy does not always see symbols and their attributes in a linear fashion. Let me give you a few examples:
The Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
Regardless of how you interpret the symbols, we see in Revelation 12 a Dragon, who representing Satan, had Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice he had this description while he was in heaven. Are we to believe that these components existed prior to their establishment? Of course not. Interpreting these prophetic symbols from a linear view, would produce a misinterpretation of the prophecy and may cause us to believe these symbols actually existed during Satan's rebellion. Because we understand prophecy is non-linear, we understand that Revelation 12 views these future components as if they already existed.
The Beast with the attributes of a Lion, Bear, and Leopard
In Revelation 13:2, we see a Beast that "was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion..."
Knowing the Roman Empire never conquered Babylon or Persia, we can see that the attributes of the three world power that ruled prior to Rome were considered still part of the Roman Empire, which were inherited by the Papal Roman Empire.
The State of the Dead doesn't apply to symbolic Prophecy
Once we understand prophecy's non-linear stance when it comes to attributes, we can begin to see that the state of the dead doesn't apply to prophetic symbols. In essence, the dead are still living when it comes to prophecy. Even if we didn't have the above examples, Daniel 7 confirms this idea. Notice what verse 12 says:
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Do you see it yet? Prophecy views attributes of previous kingdoms as still existing, even though the kingdoms have already been destroyed. This is why the Lion, Bear, and Leopard had already passed, but continued to live for a season and time. This idea is central to understanding how prophecy views the Ten Horns.
As I attempt to make this idea resonate with you, I want you to see the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar's Image in a new light. Notice that when the Toes of Iron and Clay were destroyed, they weren't destroyed by themselves:
"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Daniel 2:34-35
Notice when the Ten Toes were destroyed, the Gold, Silver, and Brass were destroyed along with the Iron and Clay. This is consistent with Daniel 7:12—which reveals that even though the dominion Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece had been taken, they continued to live. And where did they continue to live? In the Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay.
Thus the Ten Toes of Iron and Clay represent all the world powers that existed from the time God called a people to himself until the end of the world. (If you are curious how Egypt and Assyria are part of the image, please see my page regarding the Three Ribs in the Bears Mouth.)
In earlier versions of Uriah Smith's Daniel and Revelation, he also understood the idea that all kingships exist in the Toes of Iron and Clay. Notice how he explains the destruction of the Image:
"No objection really exists in the point under consideration; for all the kingdoms symbolized by the image, are, in a certain sense, still in existence. Chaldea and Assyria are still the first divisions of the image; Media and Persia, the second; Macedonia, Greece, Thrace, Asia Minor, and Egypt, the third. Political life and dominion, it is true, have passed from one to the other, till, so far as the image is concerned, it is all now concentrated in the divisions of the fourth kingdom; but the others, in location and substance, though without dominion, are still there; and together all will be dashed to pieces when the fifth kingdom is introduced." 1897 DAN p. 57
I hope you can see the precedence for these Ten Horns to be the kingships of world powers that existed prior to the Roman Empire. And hopefully you will see why this understanding of these symbols is crucial for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, you may be offended by this view, but this is probably because you've never heard this before. Many will immediately dismiss this idea simply because the SDA Church has taught the Germanic tribe interpretation since the days of the Pioneers. And maybe a few of you who understand that God is still blessing his Church with a deeper understanding of prophecy will be open to this view. Whatever reaction you have, there's one thing you must understand about prophecy—and that is that prophecy is non-linear.
Prophecy is Non-Linear
Linear means in a straight or sequential line. As a Seventh-day Adventist, you must understand prophecy as non-linear. In other words, prophecy does not always see symbols and their attributes in a linear fashion. Let me give you a few examples:
The Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns
Regardless of how you interpret the symbols, we see in Revelation 12 a Dragon, who representing Satan, had Seven Heads and Ten Horns. But notice he had this description while he was in heaven. Are we to believe that these components existed prior to their establishment? Of course not. Interpreting these prophetic symbols from a linear view, would produce a misinterpretation of the prophecy and may cause us to believe these symbols actually existed during Satan's rebellion. Because we understand prophecy is non-linear, we understand that Revelation 12 views these future components as if they already existed.
The Beast with the attributes of a Lion, Bear, and Leopard
In Revelation 13:2, we see a Beast that "was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion..."
Knowing the Roman Empire never conquered Babylon or Persia, we can see that the attributes of the three world power that ruled prior to Rome were considered still part of the Roman Empire, which were inherited by the Papal Roman Empire.
The State of the Dead doesn't apply to symbolic Prophecy
Once we understand prophecy's non-linear stance when it comes to attributes, we can begin to see that the state of the dead doesn't apply to prophetic symbols. In essence, the dead are still living when it comes to prophecy. Even if we didn't have the above examples, Daniel 7 confirms this idea. Notice what verse 12 says:
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Do you see it yet? Prophecy views attributes of previous kingdoms as still existing, even though the kingdoms have already been destroyed. This is why the Lion, Bear, and Leopard had already passed, but continued to live for a season and time. This idea is central to understanding how prophecy views the Ten Horns.
The Ten Toes are destroyed with the previous world powers
As I attempt to make this idea resonate with you, I want you to see the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar's Image in a new light. Notice that when the Toes of Iron and Clay were destroyed, they weren't destroyed by themselves:
"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Daniel 2:34-35
Notice when the Ten Toes were destroyed, the Gold, Silver, and Brass were destroyed along with the Iron and Clay. This is consistent with Daniel 7:12—which reveals that even though the dominion of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece had been taken, they continued to live. And where did they continue to live? In the Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay.
Thus the Ten Toes of Iron and Clay represent all the world powers that existed from the time God called a people to himself until the end of the world. (If you are curious how Egypt and Assyria are part of the image, please see my page regarding the Three Ribs in the Bears Mouth.)
In earlier versions of Uriah Smith's Daniel and Revelation, he also understood the idea that all kingships exist in the Toes of Iron and Clay. Notice how he explains the destruction of the Image:
"No objection really exists in the point under consideration; for all the kingdoms symbolized by the image, are, in a certain sense, still in existence. Chaldea and Assyria are still the first divisions of the image; Media and Persia, the second; Macedonia, Greece, Thrace, Asia Minor, and Egypt, the third. Political life and dominion, it is true, have passed from one to the other, till, so far as the image is concerned, it is all now concentrated in the divisions of the fourth kingdom; but the others, in location and substance, though without dominion, are still there; and together all will be dashed to pieces when the fifth kingdom is introduced." 1897 DAN p. 57
I hope you can see the precedence for these Ten Horns to be the kingships of world powers that existed prior to the Roman Empire. And hopefully you will see why this understanding of these symbols is crucial for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Ten Toes are destroyed with the previous world powers
As I attempt to make this idea resonate with you, I want you to see the Ten Toes on Nebuchadnezzar's Image in a new light. Notice that when the Toes of Iron and Clay were destroyed, they weren't destroyed by themselves:
"Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Daniel 2:34-35
Notice when the Ten Toes were destroyed, the Gold, Silver, and Brass were destroyed along with the Iron and Clay. This is consistent with Daniel 7:12—which reveals that even though the dominion Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece had been taken, they continued to live. And where did they continue to live? In the Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay.
Thus the Ten Toes of Iron and Clay represent all the world powers that existed from the time God called a people to himself until the end of the world. (If you are curious how Egypt and Assyria are part of the image, please see my page regarding the Three Ribs in the Bears Mouth.)
In earlier versions of Uriah Smith's Daniel and Revelation, he also understood the idea that all kingships exist in the Toes of Iron and Clay. Notice how he explains the destruction of the Image:
"No objection really exists in the point under consideration; for all the kingdoms symbolized by the image, are, in a certain sense, still in existence. Chaldea and Assyria are still the first divisions of the image; Media and Persia, the second; Macedonia, Greece, Thrace, Asia Minor, and Egypt, the third. Political life and dominion, it is true, have passed from one to the other, till, so far as the image is concerned, it is all now concentrated in the divisions of the fourth kingdom; but the others, in location and substance, though without dominion, are still there; and together all will be dashed to pieces when the fifth kingdom is introduced." 1897 DAN p. 57
I hope you can see the precedence for these Ten Horns to be the kingships of world powers that existed prior to the Roman Empire. And hopefully you will see why this understanding of these symbols is crucial for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
