When the traditional interpretation of Daniel and Revelation explains the future kingdom of the Beast, it says that this coming kingdom is the heir of the Roman Empire as a result of several transformations. The most important argument to the alternative interpretation is that Israel is surrounded by states and their religious background is – ISLAM.
If so, what are the four beasts that exist at the same time at the end of time? Babylon / Iraq and Persia / Iran are quite possible, but what about Greece and Rome? Daniel’s vision of Greece was a conquering Alexander and his kingdom, but from the current Greece it is unthinkable in this sense. Similarly, it is with Rome. However, it seems that a vision of the four successive states depicted only historical consecutive states. Instead, it is worth exploring the fifth part of the body and its petition. If it is Islam, what is its core power, or is it the union of ten states described by the toes?
In the place of traditional interpretation, nowadays, Islam is the kingdom of the beast. The Ottoman Empire wished to expand strongly and managed to reach even the gates of Vienna. From the other direction, the Empire of the Mohammedans penetrated from north Africa to Spain, the European side of the Mediterranean. The Ottoman Empire, however, ceased to exist in the 1920s. The “wound of the sword” that Rev 13: 1> mentioned on one head of the beast with seven heads, but the beast has healed and is experiencing a new rise on a religious-political front. However, the Islamic field is fragmented and suffers from strong religious conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites. Two feet depict the two directions of Islam, and the clay between the ten toes depicts the loose essence of the alliance. Recently, terrorist movements have emerged among Muslims, such as Al Qaida and Isis. If this Islamic interpretation of the kingdom of beast turns out to be true, it means that in order to be realized, the Islamic world power must be able to bury its disagreements. The Antichrist appearing as Mahdi could be of great help.
The covenant of the Islamic beast includes Iraq, Iran and possibly Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey, Syria and other Islamic Middle East Arab states (Saudi Arabia?).
Psa 83 describes the alliance with Israel: 83:4 They have said, Come, and we will cut them off from being a nation; and, The name of Israel will not be recalled again.
5 For they plotted to together with one heart; they have cut a covenant against you;
6 even the tents of Edom, and of the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagarites;
7 Gebal and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.
8 Also, Assyria has joined with them; they were an arm to the sons of Lot. Selah.
The core of the alliance is in the Middle East, around Israel. However, the book of Revelation describes the kingdom of the beast: Rev 13:7 And it was given to it to war with the saints, and to overcome them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation. – The kingdom of the Beast will be world-wide, but short-lived.
The second alternative for the first beast is Islam, a covenant of Islamic states. This is accompanied by an interpretation that the feet of the person whom Nebuchadnezzar saw did not represent the “kings” of the European Union, but Islamic states. The clay between the toes depicts the fragmentation and looseness of the states in this union. Two feet could describe the division between the Islamic world in Sunnis and Shiites.
There is one feature in this interpretation that may cause it to fall: in the new interpretation, the feet are designated as the fifth body part. However, it should be a question of the fourth beast (Dan) and the fourth kingdom! Feet can be interpreted as a fifth part of the figure, but the beast is always depicted in the Bible as the fourth kingdom. Pins belong together with the leg. They do not show that the feet are weak. Their reinforcement is in iron pin bones. The clay between the toes can describe the alliance’s looseness. What if the eight clay parts describe weak states in alliance? And if we abandon the interpretation of feet being the fifth body part and accept them to be part of the body’s legs?
An Islamic beast might otherwise be possible, but how does it fit with the Harlot and the and the harlot Christian churches? Can the Antichrist connect two different religious worlds?
Rev 17:12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 They have one purpose: to give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and the ones with Him are the called and elect and faithful ones.
17 For God gave into their hearts to do His mind, and to act in one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
In these end-time visions, God emphasizes through his servants Daniel and the Apostle John: … the fourth beast … the fourth kingdom … again and again. It must be central when interpreting the end-time events.
Read about Satan’s role in the next article.
