GLOBAL  IMPACT  STUDIES

If you find the truth, will you believe it?

If any man desires to do God's will, he will have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and on my own accord.  John 7:17 

Chapter 7

Daniel Chapter 7

In Daniel chapter two, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he could not remember that Elohim revealed to Daniel along with its interpretation. In Daniel chapter seven, Daniel has a dream that contains a vision he remembered.

At the end of this vision, we are told his "thoughts troubled and alarmed me and my cheerfulness of countenance was changed in me, but I kept the matter in my heart and mind" (Dan. 7:28, Amplified Version). In this chapter, Daniel relates his troubling dream and its interpretation. He begins by telling us he saw "four great beasts come up from the sea, diverse one from [one] another" (Dan. 7:3).

In Revelation 13:1-2, a different beast will "rise up out of the sea." This beast has some of the features of the beasts described in Daniel chapter seven. The ten horns, the lion, the bear, and the leopard are mentioned as they are in Daniel chapter seven.

We read in Daniel 7:12, "As concerning the rest of the beasts [lion, bear, and leopard – the fourth beast was not included], they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time" (emphasis added). In Daniel chapter seven, they represent separate individual kingdoms, and in Revelation chapter thirteen, they form a composite beast made up of parts of all three beasts. We will be looking more closely at this seven-headed, ten-horned beast when we get to the study of Revelation chapter thirteen.

Daniel relates what he was shown during his dream in Daniel 7:2-14, and in conclusion, Daniel says, "I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me" (Dan. 7:15).

Very similar language is used in describing the recipients' experiences as seen throughout the Bible. There is no ecstatic joy or rapture. These visions and dreams from Elohim, as recorded in the Bible, seemed to have a very sobering effect on the recipients, unlike what we read about in recent occurrences of this nature and are often claimed to be of Elohim. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of Elohim: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1, emphasis added).

We are told, "the whole world" (Rev. 12:9) is being deceived by Satan, and that can include you and me. He is after all of us, and no one is immune to his devices and attacks. Satan attacked Yahushua and His disciples, so unless we are aware of his devices and methods, we also may fall for his deceptions and lies. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11, emphasis added). We can see Satan at work throughout the Bible, and we need to be aware of how he is at work today to deceive and lead us away from Elohim and the truths found in the Bible.

The interpretation of Daniel's dream is given in Daniel 7:16-28. In Daniel chapters two and seven, the interpretations of the dreams are given along with the dream or vision giving us an example of how the Bible interprets itself. In these two chapters, Elohim makes it relatively easy for us by providing the interpretation of the dream or vision.

We can see the principles we discussed in chapter one of this book. It is not quite that easy with the other visions Daniel and John received. They require careful searching and thought, and most of all prayer, to find out what is the Biblical interpretation. We do not want to put our spin on it. We must let the Bible interpret itself as we ask for Elohim's Spirit to guide us in our studies (John 16:13).

In Daniel 7:3-7, four beasts are described. Who and what did these four beasts represent? In Daniel 7:17, Daniel was told, "These great beasts which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." In Daniel 7:23, Daniel was told, "Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shalt tread it down, and break it in pieces."

Daniel was told this because, in Daniel 7:19, he asked, "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from the others, exceeding dreadful whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet."

Daniel's attention was focused on the fourth beast. He is not given any further information on the previous three beasts, nor did he ask for any. He was told that the "beasts, which are four, are four kings" (Dan. 7:17), but in verse twenty-three, he was told, "the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth." Did the other three beasts represent kingdoms also? From the descriptions given in Daniel chapter seven for each of the four creatures, we can figure out which kingdoms they represent.

"Verse four. ‘The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.'

"The Lion. – In the vision of Daniel seven, the first beast seen by the prophet was a lion. For the use of the lion as a symbol, read Jeremiah 4:7; 50:17, 43, 44. The lion as first seen in the vision before us had eagle's wings. The symbolic use of wings is impressively described in Habakkuk 1:6-8, where it is said that the Chaldeans should ‘fly as the eagle that hastes to eat.'

"From these symbols we may easily deduct that Babylon was a kingdom of great strength, and that under Nebuchadnezzar its conquests were extended with great rapidity. But there came a time when the wings were plucked. It no longer rushed upon its prey like an eagle. The boldness and spirit of the lion were gone. A man's heart – weak and faint – took the place of a lion's strength. Such was the case with this nation during the closing years of its history, when it had become enfeebled and effeminate through wealth and luxury. This corresponds to the head of gold in Daniel chapter two.

"Verse five. ‘And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.'

"The Bear. – As in the image of Daniel two, so in this series of symbols a marked deterioration is noticed as we descend from one kingdom to another. The silver of the breast and arms is inferior to the gold of the head. The bear is inferior to the lion. Medo-Persia fell short of Babylon in wealth, magnificence, and brilliance. The bear raised itself up on one side. The kingdom was composed of two nationalities - the Medes and the Persians. The same fact is represented by the two horns of the ram in Daniel chapter eight. Of these horns, in Daniel chapter eight, it is said that the higher came up last; and of the bear; that it raised itself up on one side. This was fulfilled by the Persian division of the kingdom, for although it came up last, it attained the higher eminence, becoming the dominant influence in the nation. The three ribs signify the three provinces of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which were especially oppressed by Medo-Persia. The command, ‘Arise, devour much flesh,' would refer to the stimulus given to the Medes and Persians of these provinces. The character of the power is well represented by the bear. The Medes and Persians were cruel robbers and spoilers of the people. The Medo-Persian kingdom continued from the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus to the battle of Arbela in 331 B.C., a period of two hundred and seven years. The bear corresponds to the chest and arms of silver in Daniel chapter two.

"Verse six. ‘After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given unto it.'

"The Leopard. – The third kingdom, Greece, is here represented by the symbol of a leopard. If wings upon the lion signified rapidity of conquest, they would signify the same here. The leopard itself is a swift-footed beast, but this was not sufficient to represent the character of the nation here symbolized. It must have wings in addition. Two wings, the number the lion had, were not sufficient; the leopard must have four. This would denote unprecedented swiftness of movement, which we find to be a historical fact in the Grecian kingdom. The conquests of Greece under Alexander had no parallel in ancient times for suddenness and rapidity. His military achievements are summarized by W.W. Tarn: ‘He was a master in the combination of various arms; he taught the world the advantages of campaigning in the winter, the value of pressing pursuit to the utmost, and the principle of ‘march divided, fight united'. He marched usually in two divisions, one conducting the impediments and his own (division) traveling light; his speed of movement was extraordinary. It is said that he attributed his military success to ‘never putting anything off.' The enormous distances traversed in unknown country imply a very high degree of organizing ability; in ten years he had only two serious breakdowns . . . Had a lesser man attempted what he achieved, and failed, we should have heard enough of the hopeless military difficulties of the undertaking.'

"The beast had also four heads." The Grecian Empire maintained its unity but little longer than the lifetime of Alexander. After his brilliant career ended in a fever induced by a drunken debauch, the empire was divided among his four leading generals. Cassander had Macedonia and Greece in the west; Lysimachus had Thrace and the parts of Asia on the Hellespont and Bosphorus in the north; Ptolemy had Egypt, Lydia, Arabia, Palestine, and Coele-Syria in the south; and Seleucus had Syria and all the rest of Alexander's dominions in the east. By the year 301 B.C., with the death of Antigonus, the division of the kingdom of Alexander into four parts was completed by his generals. These divisions were denoted by the four heads of the leopard.

"Thus accurately were the words of the prophet fulfilled. As Alexander left no available successor, why did not the huge empire break up into countless petty fragments? Why into just four major parts? – For reasons that the prophecy foresaw and foretold. The leopard had four heads, the rough goat of Daniel chapter eight had four horns, the kingdom was to have four divisions; and so it proved to be. The four-headed leopard corresponds to the thighs of brass in Daniel chapter two.

"Verse seven. ‘After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.'

"A Dreadful Beast. – Inspiration finds no beast in nature to symbolize the power here illustrated. This power is diverse from all the others, and the symbol is wholly different from anything found in the animal kingdom.

"The foundation for a volume is laid in verse seven, but for lack of space we are compelled to treat it briefly here. This beast corresponds to the fourth division of the great image – the legs of iron. How accurately Rome answered to the iron portion of the image! How accurately it answers to the beast before us! In the dread and terror which it inspired, and in its strength, the fourth beast answered admirably to the prophetic description. The world had never seen it's equal. It devoured as with teeth of iron, and broke in pieces all that stood in its way. It ground the nations into dust beneath its brazen feet. It had ten horns, which are explained in verse twenty-four to be ten kings, or kingdoms, which should arise out of its empire. These divisions have ever since been spoken of as the ten kingdoms of the Roman Empire."4 These are the same four kingdoms that we saw in Daniel chapter two.

Daniel did not want to "know the truth of the fourth beast," but "of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other [horn] which came up, and before whom three [horns] fell, even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout [obstinate] than his fellows" (Dan. 7:20).

Who were the ten horns? In Daniel 7:24, we are told the ten horns arise "out of this kingdom [fourth beast] are ten kings."

When the Roman Empire came to an end, it was divided into ten kingdoms. We have seen in Daniel's interpretation of this vision he uses the words kings and kingdoms interchangeably. The ten kingdoms which arose out of the Roman Empire were the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Suevi, Visigoths, Burgundians, Huns, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruli, and Vandals.

"The division of the Western Roman Empire was accomplished between AD 351 and AD 476.  The era of dissolution thus covered a hundred and twenty-five years . . . No historians of whom we are aware, places the beginning of this work of the dismemberment of the Roman Empire earlier than AD 351, and there is general agreement in assigning its close in AD 476.  Concerning the intermediate dates, that is, the precise time from which each of the ten kingdoms that arose on the ruins of the Roman Empire is to be dated, there is some difference of views among historians. Nor does it seem strange, when we consider that there was an era of great confusion, that the map of the Roman Empire during that time underwent many sudden and violent changes, and that the paths of hostile nations charging upon its territory crossed and recrossed each other in a labyrinth of confusion. But all historians agree in this, that out of the territory of Western Rome, ten separate kingdoms were ultimately established, and we may safely assign them to the time between the dates above named: namely, AD 351 and AD 476.

"The ten nations which were most instrumental in breaking up the Roman Empire, and which at some time in their history held respectively portions of Roman territory as separate and independent kingdoms, may be enumerated (without respect to the time of their establishment) as follows: Huns, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Heruli, Anglo-Saxon, and Lombards. The connection between these and some of the modern nations of Europe is still traceable in the names, as England, Burgundy, Lombardy, France, etc."5

It is then said, "Another [horn] shall rise after them, and he shall be diverse from the first [ten horns] and he shall subdue three kings [of the original ten]" (Dan. 7:24). This horn is described in the vision as "another little horn, before whom there were three of the first [ten] horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things" (Dan. 7:8). Daniel 7:25 mentions this "little horn," "and he shall speak great words against the most High [Elohim], and shall wear out the saints of the most High" (emphasis added).

The ten horns rose to prominence from AD 351 to AD 476 as political kingdoms. But the "little horn" was to "be diverse from the first [ten horns]” (Dan. 7:24). Since AD 476, has any kingdom risen from among those ten kingdoms, which was "diverse from the first [ten]?" The answer is yes; the religious-political kingdom of the papacy. It answers to the narrative found in Daniel chapter seven in every particular, as we shall see.

It is written that this "little horn" shall "oppress His [Elohim's] saints" (Dan. 7:25, NIV). Has the papacy done this? History tells us between fifty million and two hundred million persons were put to death by the papacy since its rise to power in AD 538.

It is written that this "little horn" shall "subdue three kings." During the papacy's rise to power, its doctrine of the Trinity was severely challenged by the teachings of Arianism and was violently opposed by three Arian-believing nations. Without getting into the differences between the two, an Arian-believing king ruled Italy, thus significantly limiting the dissemination of papal doctrine.

"While Catholics were thus feeling the restraining power of an Arian king in Italy, they were suffering from violent persecution from the Arian Vandals in Africa."6

"The Vandal kings were not only Arians, but persecutors of the Catholics; in Sardinia and Corsica under the Roman Episcopate, we may presume as well, as in Africa."7

"Such was the state of affairs when in AD 533, Justinian entered upon his Vandal and Gothic wars. Wishing to obtain the influence of the pope and the Catholic party, he issued that memorable decree which was to constitute the pope as the head of all the churches, and from the carrying out of which in AD 538, the period of papal supremacy is to be dated. And whoever will read the history of the African campaign, during AD 533-534, and the Italian campaign, during AD 534-538, will notice that the Catholics everywhere hailed as deliverers the army of Belisarius, the general of Justinian.

"But the little horn could not come into absolute power until the Arian horns which stood in its way were overthrown. A turn came, however, in the tide of affairs, for in the military campaign in Africa and Italy the victorious legions of Belisarius dealt a crushing blow to Arianism, so much so that its final supporters were vanquished."8

The topics of Arianism and Daniel 7:24 are the subject of a series of studies on my website and discuss the doctrine of the Deity as found in the Bible. The Arians believed quite differently from what the papacy taught on the composition of the Deity. The Arians had the truth, which was nearly buried by the forces teaching the Trinitarian doctrine of the papacy. The Arian view, with some minor adjustments, is being resurrected during these last days and is one part "of [the] restitution of all things" mentioned in Acts 3:19-21.

Another identifying mark of the "little horn" is that "he will intend to make alterations in times" (Dan. 7:25 NAS). "Under the reign of Constantius (AD 337-362), the persecution of the Jews reached such a height that . . . the computation of the [Biblical] calendar was forbidden under pain of severe punishment."9

"Sabbath and New Moon (Rosh Chodesh), both periodically recur in the course of the year. The New Moon is still, and the Sabbath originally was, dependent upon the lunar cycle [Biblical Lunar-solar calendar]."10

"The Sabbath, as marking the end of the week, reveals its lunar origin; the phases of the moon having taught . . . to divide the period elapsing between two new moons into four equal groups (weeks), the last day of each - in imitation of the moon's coming to rest, as it were – becoming the day of rest. Indications are not wanting that at first the New Moon festival was not counted among the seven days of the week; but after seven times four days(equals twenty-eight) had elapsed, one or two days intercalated as New Moon days, whereupon a new cycle of four weeks began, so that the Sabbath was a moveable festival [in contrast to the fixed seven-day weekly cycle of the Roman calendar]. Later the week and the Sabbath became fixed [fourth Century AD], and this gradually resulted in taking away the New Moon festival from its popular [Biblical] importance."11

Numerous historical statements similar to those above could have been added. From my website, Global Impact Studies, the following article will show you additional Historical References for Calendar and Sabbath Changes.  From the historical evidence available, Hillel II, the last president of the Jewish council, excused the Jews from calculating their Sabbath days by the Biblical Lunar-solar calendation method. Talmudic tradition teaches if one does not know when the Sabbath occurs, all is required is that a person observes one day in seven. Under this rabbinical tradition, where ignorance exists, no law is broken. Thus, if knowledge of the true calendation is lost, the Jews believe that worshipping on Saturday on a continuously fixed weekly cycle of the solar year is acceptable. This was done under the urging of the papacy. But is this acceptable to Elohim? It was not lost, but it was intentionally changed. 

In 1 Samuel chapter twenty, we have an illustration of how the New Moon Day was numbered as the first day of the month, and the following day was the second day of the month. "And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat" (1 Sam. 20:5). "Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon" (1 Sam. 20:18). "And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore comes not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor today" (1 Sam. 20:27). 

The Sabbaths for each of the Biblical months are on the eighth, fifteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-ninth days according to the Biblical Lunar-solar calendar.  Every seven days beginning on the new moon day.

The fact is neither Saturday, the seventh day of the Gregorian calendar, nor Sunday, what is claimed to be the Lord's Day and is the first day of the week of the Gregorian calendar, is correct. Yahushua said, "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9). Worshipping Elohim on Saturday or Sunday based on the Gregorian calendar is no more acceptable to Elohim than was Cain’s offering of the fruit of his labors.  The new moon determines the Biblical Sabbath day of worship (Gen. 1:14, Lev. 23:2, Ps. 104:19). This is also another part "of [the] restitution of all things" spoken of in Acts 3:19-21. A future chapter explores the possibility that there have been other changes in "times" mentioned in the Bible.    

And the last identifying mark of the "little horn" is "he will intend to make alterations . . . in the law" (Dan. 7:25 NAS). Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 contain the Ten Commandments as given by Elohim. This is the only thing in the Bible that was written by Elohim on stone tablets. "If nothing is permanent unless it is written in stone," then how permanent is the Ten Commandments Law of Elohim written in stone by Elohim's finger? Does any man have the right to make any changes to the Ten Commandments Law of Elohim? Elohim does not change (Mal. 3:6), nor does He change His laws.

We saw in Daniel chapter two that only Elohim could change "the times and the seasons." "And He [Elohim] changes the times and the seasons" (Dan. 2:21).

Many tell us Elohim's Law was done away with at the cross. Yahushua said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matt. 5:17-18). Have “heaven and earth” passed away?

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross" (Col. 2:14). The ordinances were "handwriting[s]" and not etched in stone! The ordinances that governed the sacrificial system for the Temple came to an end and not the law of Elohim. Webster's Dictionary describes “ordinance” as "a religious ceremony or rite."

When Yahushua was crucified the entire system of ordinances ("sacrifice and oblation" [Dan. 9:27]) that had been given by Yahuwah ended, as evidenced by the tearing of the veil that separated the holiest of holies from the holy place in the sanctuary. "And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Matt. 27:51). This was not done by any natural means but by the hand of Elohim, Who had foretold it in Daniel 9:27. "And in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease" (emphasis added) thus bringing to an end the sacrificial system that had been instituted by Elohim and had pointed forward to the Lamb of Elohim being slain for the sins of humanity.

If you have access to a Roman Catholic catechism, you will see how the papacy changed the law, and it is not bashful or ashamed about claiming responsibility for that act. Many Protestant denominations maintain the papal change in their catechisms also. The second commandment forbidding the worship of idols was removed, and the tenth commandment was divided into two separate commandments to maintain the full number of ten. The original wording for the fourth commandment, which became the third, was also changed (Ex. 20:8-11).

"It pleased the church of God [But did it please Elohim?] that the religious celebration of the Sabbath day should be transferred to ‘the Lord's day' [meaning Sunday]; for as on that day light first shone on the world; so by the resurrection of our Redeemer on that day, who opened to us the gate to life eternal, our life was recalled out of darkness into light; whence also the Apostles would have it named ‘the Lord's day.' [Though there is no evidence in the Scriptures that the Apostles had done this.] We also observe in the Sacred Scriptures that this day was held sacred [No Biblical evidence to support this claim either.] because on that day the creation of the world commenced, and the Holy Ghost [Spirit] was given to the Apostles."12 

Pentecost always falls on the ninth day of the third lunation (month) of the Biblical calendar.  There was no Sunday or any other named days of the week during that time of this earth’s history.  There was no seven-day Gregorian calendar in existence at that time.  There was an eight-day Julian calendar that came into existence around 45 BC which preceded the Gregorian calendar, and there was the Biblical Lunar-solar calendar.

Yahushua, Who observed the Biblical Sabbath while He was on the earth, said this: "Therefore the Son of man (Yahushua) is Master also of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28) of the Lunar-solar calendar found in the Bible. He is not the Master of Sunday or of Saturday based on the Gregorian calendar. 

The reason the papacy can get away with such outrageous claims is few are studying the Bible and do not know what It does say on such matters. Protestant ministers simply repeat what their denominations have taught them. Often when they are made aware of this change, they keep quiet to retain their positions. Truth be told, few are "valiant for the truth" (Jer. 9:3), and most go through life not wanting to cause a disturbance.  They remain “dumb dogs” that will not bark.  “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber” (Isa. 56:10, emphasis added).

Elohim had set aside the seventh day as determined by the Biblical calendation method and not the seventh day (Saturday) of the Gregorian calendar as the Sabbath at the time of Creation (Gen. 2:2-3, 1:14). Only Elohim has the right to change His law (Dan. 2:21) and those who have changed it and maintain that change will be answerable to Elohim along with those who knowingly observe a false day of worship.  Those who remain willfully ignorant will also be answerable to Elohim. 

Many contend the seven-day-weekly cycle has gone on uninterrupted since Creation, but they fail to show any proof from the Scriptures to support it.  One only has to go back to AD 1752 and see how eleven days were removed from the month of September to see that the weekly cycle has gone through a disruption.

Here is the declaration by the papacy that it changed the time for observing the Sabbath according to the Decalogue from the seventh day of the Biblical calendar (not Saturday, which is Saturn's day of the Gregorian calendar) to the first day of the week of the Gregorian calendar, erroneously calling it "the Lord's day." It will be observed the papacy made the change from the seventh day of the Biblical Calendar to the first day of the Gregorian calendar without any proof of authority from the Scriptures because there is none authorizing them to do so. All the reasons for the change given in the above declaration are of human usurped authority, an ecclesiastical invention, and are claims that cannot be verified from the Scriptures or from history.

Elohim decreed that according to His calendar, a new month would commence on the day of the new moon (Ps. 104:19). Seven days later would be the first Sabbath of that month; another seven days later would be the second Sabbath (Luke 6:1); another seven days later would be the third Sabbath; and finally, another seven days later would be the fourth and final Sabbath of that month. Thus the eighth, fifteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-ninth days of the Biblical Lunar-solar calendar months are Sabbaths.

This was the case during the ministry of Yahushua, where we read in Luke 6:1: "And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first [Sabbath], He went through the corn fields" (emphasis added). The phrase it was "the second Sabbath" is Lunar–solar language and is used to denote the second Sabbath of the month, which fell on the fifteenth day of the Biblical month according to the Biblical Lunar-solar calendar.

There are approximately two hundred verses in the Old Testament containing Lunar–solar language in them. Here is just one example: "And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen" (Gen. 8:4-5, emphasis added).

All times mentioned in the Old Testament are always given in Lunar-solar language, never in solar-year language because there was not a solar-year calendar in existence during Biblical times except for the eight-day Julian calendar that came into existence in 45 BC.  The days of the month are always given and never the days of the week.

As noted earlier in Daniel 2:21, only Elohim "changes the times and the seasons."  Elohim has never delegated the right to change “the times and the seasons” to any man or church, not even to His apostles and disciples.

The previous testimonies are sufficient to show how the papacy has thought to change the times and laws. As was stated previously, neither Saturday nor Sunday according to the Gregorian calendar is the correct day of worship that Yahuwah set aside to commune and fellowship with His people. This is how the papacy, in conjunction with pagan rulers and Satan himself, has thought to do away with Elohim's days of convocation (Lev. 23) and His method of determining when they are to be observed (Ps. 104:19).

We do not have the right to pick on which day we will worship Elohim.  But there is an Elohim in heaven Who will call to account all those who have made those changes, those who knowingly maintain and follow those changes, and those who remain willingly ignorant concerning this vital subject. We are told that instead of being bold and blasphemous on the day Yahushua returns, they will cry "to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. 6:16).

Daniel wrote, "I beheld till thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame and His wheels [Eze. 1:15-16] as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the judgment was set and the books were opened" (Dan. 7:9-10, emphasis added).

When we come to the study of Revelation chapters four and five, you will see this same language used there. When did the judgment begin? As we noted in chapter one of this book, the events given within a vision or dream are given in sequence. Elohim does not want us to become confused in our search for truth, so He does things in an orderly manner. In Daniel 7:26, we read, "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his (papacy's) dominion."

The discussion of the "little horn" in verses twenty-four and twenty-five continues into verse twenty-six. "The judgment shall sit" occurs before the papacy's dominion is taken away. This may be a shock to some who have believed otherwise. In this case, however, the events pictured in Daniel 7:26 do not occur in the order given but occur simultaneously. An event in heaven ("judgment shall sit") coincides with an event on the earth ("his [papacy's] dominion" shall be taken away). This is what the Bible says, and not what any denomination says. Events in heaven are connected with events occurring on the earth that enable us to follow Yahushua in His High Priest ministry.

This is the same principle as was seen in Revelation 8:5. The heavenly event ("golden censer being thrown down") and an earthly event (a global “earthquake” accompanied by "voices, and thunderings and lightnings") occur simultaneously. This is Elohim's method of communicating to us vital information about the progression of heavenly events by the observation of earthly events.

When was the papacy's dominion taken away? In the year AD 1798, a French army entered Rome, took the pope prisoner, and inflicted what has been called the "deadly wound" on the papacy (Rev. 13:3). Though it has never since enjoyed all the privileges and immunities the papacy once possessed before AD 1798, we are seeing a gradual restoration to its former power. The deadly wound given to the papacy has not yet been healed.

The "little horn" did not take power until AD 538 when the last Arian king ruling Italy was removed, and the "little horn's" dominion was taken away in AD 1798, which makes one thousand two hundred and sixty years. Daniel 7:25 tells us, "They [‘saints of the most High'] shall be given into his (‘little horn’) hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."

Time                   360 years
Times   720 years (360 x 2)
Dividing of Time   180 years (360/2)
1,260 years

We arrive at these figures by taking "time" to equal one year (Dan. 4:23, 32). The Chaldean word (iddan) for "time" used in these verses also could be translated as "a year." King Nebuchadnezzar was in the field for seven years (Dan. 4:32).

We read in Genesis 7:1, "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened" (emphasis added).

And in Genesis 8:3-4 we read, "And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters abated, and the [following day] the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat" (emphasis added).

One hundred and fifty days divided by five months gives us thirty days for each month. "Second month, the seventeenth day" until the day before "the seventh month, on the seventeenth day" was one hundred and fifty days according to what we just read in Genesis 7:1, 8:3-4. In Biblical prophecies, a year contains three hundred and sixty days, and each day represents a year (Eze. 4:6), also known as prophetic time.

At the time of the flood, it appears that there were thirty days in each month and three hundred and sixty days in a year which is not true today. Today, there are either twenty-nine or thirty days in each month according to the Biblical calendation method, and there are either twelve or thirteen months in each year. Why these changes occurred, we are not told, but perhaps there was a shift in the earth's rotation at the time of the flood in the days of Noah when the water that was above the firmament (Gen. 1:7) came down upon this earth and remains on its surface?

There is also a more noteworthy change since the flood that most are not aware of. To see what other changes occurred at the time of the flood, you may go to my website, Global Impact Studies, and find the link entitled Beginning of the Month.

It appears from all the criteria which needed to be met the "little horn" of Daniel chapter seven is unquestioningly the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. Daniel wanted to know the truth concerning "that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows" (Dan. 7:20).

Daniel 7:27 gives us great news. "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."

There will be no kingdom to come after the kingdom "the most High" shall set up. Unlike the kingdoms pictured in this chapter and in Daniel chapter two that succeeded one another, this kingdom will be given to "the people of the saints of the most High" and no kingdom will follow it. Nothing shall deter Elohim from setting up His everlasting kingdom. "Hitherto is the end of the matter" (Dan. 7:28).  “I [Elohim] will work, and who shall let [stop] it?” (Isa. 43:13). 

But before that everlasting kingdom is to be set up, there will be one more earthly kingdom coming on the scene.  We will read about it in Revelation chapter thirteen, and we read about it in Daniel 2:44. Even that earthly/human kingdom shall come to an end before the return of Yahushua when Satan sets up his kingdom for a short period ("one hour") before it too comes to an end (Rev. 17:12).

In no wise should it be misunderstood that the membership of the Roman Catholic Church is responsible for what the papacy has done. The membership of the Catholic Church is deceived and has been kept in the dark, as has most of the world, of what the papal power has taken upon itself to do.

Many will come out of this system when the call is given to "Come out of her, My people" (Rev. 18:4, emphasis added). Yahuwah has His people who are living up to all the light they now have in all the churches and religions of the world that have been corrupted by the "abominations and filthiness of her [Babylon's] fornication" (Rev. 17:5).

When Elohim's last call of mercy is given, they will respond to the call to "Come out of her [Babylon], My people" and will help comprise the "great multitude" spoken of by John in Revelation 7:9-17.

____________________

      1. Who is the "little horn" pictured in this chapter?

      2. When did the judgment begin?

      3. What Commandment did the "little horn" think to change?

      4. Did it have the right to do that?

      5. When did the "little horn" begin its reign? When did the "little horn" have its reign                end?

      6. What calendar should you be following to determine Elohim's "appointed times" for              meeting with His people – including the weekly Sabbath, if you go by the Bible and              the Bible alone?