3.5 years or 1260 years

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Question does the 1260days correlate with Daniels 70weeks?

If it doesn't then I could see it more.

If the time,times and half a time are representative of half of Daniels 70th week, it would be inconsistent to break it into a half being 1260years.

The Seventy Weeks is a particular prophetic time period. The 1260 Days is a different prophetic time period. They do not include one another. In other words, the 1260 days is not a part of or section of the seventy weeks.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Esaias

They just happen to be sevens of days though, which were fulfilled as sevens of years.

The word "week" in the KJV old testament is "shabua":

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
(Gen 29:27-28)

But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
(Lev 12:5)

Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(Deu 16:9-10)

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
(Jer 5:24)

So when Daniel is told there are seventy shabuas, he and every Judean would understand there are seventy weeks, seventy Sabbath-cycles. Since the seventy weeks turned out to be seventy weeks of actual years, the prophecy in Daniel is a demonstration of the so called "Year-Day Principle". There are others in Scripture as well:

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
(Gen 29:27)

The marriage feast was a week (seven days), and corresponds to the seven years Jacob was willing to serve for his wife (and which Laban demanded of him for both Leah and Rachel). Both Jacob and Laban were familiar with the year-day correspondence, as it apparently was common practice to equate days with years, and to measure years in groups of seven, ie weeks of years, just as the regular week was seven days, the year-week was seven years. Calendrical time was created by God. The first element was the Day, which was then placed in groups of seven to make the week (the shabua) due to the sanctification of the seventh day of creation, the Sabbath. This is a wholly unnatural division of time, the only reason for a seven day week is because God blessed and sanctified and thus separated the seventh day as a demarcation in the time keeping. Later, this would be incorporated into the agricultural land sabbaths, every seven years, every week of years the land would enjoy a sabbath-year, just as man enjoyed a sabbath-day every week of days. (See Judges 14 for an example of a seven day wedding feast.)

It was also used in prophecy:

After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
(Num 14:34)

Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
(Eze 4:4-6)

I disagree. Shabua simply means SEVEN, period. Not days or years. And people knew it meant years by context. The temple would be rebuilt in seven sevens. It would have to be years and not days.

Strong said: "literally sevened,"

It would best be understood as HEPTAD which is akin to PAIR or DOZEN. No specific units are implied.

IT CAN be years or days, and was used in those cases. But strictly speaking, it does not actually contain the definition of DAYS or YEARS.

It's just a period of 7 somethings.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I disagree. Shabua simply means SEVEN, period. Not days or years.

Every occurrence of the word shabua in the old testament:

Gen_29:27.. FulfilH4390 herH2063 week,H7620 and we will giveH5414 thee(H853) thisH2063 alsoH1571 for the serviceH5656 whichH834 thou shalt serveH5647 withH5973 me yetH5750 sevenH7651 otherH312 years.H8141
Gen_29:28.. And JacobH3290 didH6213 so,H3651 and fulfilledH4390 herH2063 week:H7620 and he gaveH5414 him(H853) RachelH7354 his daughterH1323 to wifeH802 also.
Exo_34:22.. And thou shalt observeH6213 the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 of the firstfruitsH1061 of wheatH2406 harvest,H7105 and the feastH2282 of ingatheringH614 at the year'sH8141 end.H8622
Lev_12:5.. But ifH518 she bearH3205 a maid child,H5347 then she shall be uncleanH2930 two weeks,H7620 as in her separation:H5079 and she shall continueH3427 inH5921 the bloodH1818 of her purifyingH2893 threescoreH8346 and sixH8337 days.H3117
Num_28:26.. Also in the dayH3117 of the firstfruits,H1061 when ye bringH7126 a newH2319 meat offeringH4503 unto the LORD,H3068 after your weeksH7620 be out, ye shall haveH1961 an holyH6944 convocation;H4744 ye shall doH6213 noH3808 H3605 servileH5656 work:H4399
Deu_16:9.. SevenH7651 weeksH7620 shalt thou numberH5608 unto thee: beginH2490 to numberH5608 the sevenH7651 weeksH7620 from such time as thou beginnestH4480 H2490 to put the sickleH2770 to the corn.H7054
Deu_16:10.. And thou shalt keepH6213 the feastH2282 of weeksH7620 unto the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 with a tributeH4530 of a freewill offeringH5071 of thine hand,H3027 whichH834 thou shalt giveH5414 unto the LORD thy God, according asH834 the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath blessedH1288 thee:
Deu_16:16.. ThreeH7969 timesH6471 in a yearH8141 shall allH3605 thy malesH2138 appearH7200 (H853) beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 in the placeH4725 whichH834 he shall choose;H977 in the feastH2282 of unleavened bread,H4682 and in the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 and in the feastH2282 of tabernacles:H5521 and they shall notH3808 appearH7200 (H853) beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 empty:H7387
2Ch_8:13.. Even after a certain rateH1697 every day,H3117 H3117 offeringH5927 according to the commandmentH4687 of Moses,H4872 on the sabbaths,H7676 and on the new moons,H2320 and on the solemn feasts,H4150 threeH7969 timesH6471 in the year,H8141 even in the feastH2282 of unleavened bread,H4682 and in the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 and in the feastH2282 of tabernacles.H5521
Jer_5:24.. NeitherH3808 sayH559 they in their heart,H3824 Let us nowH4994 fearH3372 (H853) the LORDH3068 our God,H430 that givethH5414 rain,H1653 both the formerH3138 and the latter,H4456 in his season:H6256 he reservethH8104 unto us the appointedH2708 weeksH7620 of the harvest.H7105
Dan_9:24.. SeventyH7657 weeksH7620 are determinedH2852 uponH5921 thy peopleH5971 and uponH5921 thy holyH6944 city,H5892 to finishH3607 the transgression,H6588 and to make an endH2856 of sins,H2403 and to make reconciliationH3722 for iniquity,H5771 and to bring inH935 everlastingH5769 righteousness,H6664 and to seal upH2856 the visionH2377 and prophecy,H5030 and to anointH4886 the most Holy.H6944 H6944
Dan_9:25.. KnowH3045 therefore and understand,H7919 that fromH4480 the going forthH4161 of the commandmentH1697 to restoreH7725 and to buildH1129 JerusalemH3389 untoH5704 the MessiahH4899 the PrinceH5057 shall be sevenH7651 weeks,H7620 and threescoreH8346 and twoH8147 weeks:H7620 the streetH7339 shall be builtH1129 again,H7725 and the wall,H2742 even in troublousH6695 times.H6256
Dan_9:26.. And afterH310 threescoreH8346 and twoH8147 weeksH7620 shall MessiahH4899 be cut off,H3772 but notH369 for himself: and the peopleH5971 of the princeH5057 that shall comeH935 shall destroyH7843 the cityH5892 and the sanctuary;H6944 and the endH7093 thereof shall be with a flood,H7858 and untoH5704 the endH7093 of the warH4421 desolationsH8074 are determined.H2782
Dan_9:27.. And he shall confirmH1396 the covenantH1285 with manyH7227 for oneH259 week:H7620 and in the midstH2677 of the weekH7620 he shall cause the sacrificeH2077 and the oblationH4503 to cease,H7673 and forH5921 the overspreadingH3671 of abominationsH8251 he shall make it desolate,H8074 even untilH5704 the consummation,H3617 and that determinedH2782 shall be pouredH5413 uponH5921 the desolate.H8076
Dan_10:2.. In thoseH1992 daysH3117 IH589 DanielH1840 wasH1961 mourningH56 threeH7969 fullH3117 weeks.H7620
Dan_10:3.. I ateH398 noH3808 pleasantH2530 bread,H3899 neitherH3808 cameH935 fleshH1320 nor wineH3196 inH413 my mouth,H6310 neitherH3808 did I anoint myself at all,H5480 H5480 tillH5704 threeH7969 wholeH3117 weeksH7620 were fulfilled.H4390

The word occurs 19 times. Of those 19 times, it occurs in Daniel 8 times. Of those 8 times, 6 are in reference to the Seventy Weeks prophesied time period. So out of 19 instances of the word shabua, 6 are the particularly disputed ones in Daniel, and the other 13 throughout the rest of the old testament (including twice in Daniel outside the Seventy Weeks prophecy). The 13 occurrences of shabua ALL refer to a week. A week of DAYS. There is no other word in Hebrew for a week except shabua, and the word shabua is not used for anything OTHER than a week of seven days.

Since the Seventy Weeks prophecy does not include any information specifying that it concerns a heptad of years, the only reasonable and sane conclusion is that the word means literally "week". Now, it just so happens that the prophecy was fulfilled over a timespan of not literal weeks, but years. Specifically, "weeks of years". This is incontrovertible proof that the prophecied weeks (shabua, 7 day period) was fulfilled across literal "weeks of years" (hebdomads of years), that is to say, the Year-Day Principle is clearly on display.

The word shabua means week. The reason Strong mentions "or of years" is because of its particular use in Daniel's Seventy Weeks Prophecy, which everybody acknowledges concerned literal years not literal days. That it to say, even though the prophecy uses the word for weeks, it is universally understood to be fulfilled in hebdomads ("weeks") of years. IE the Year-Day Principle.

Once again, the word is never used in Scripture to mean anything other than the same thing the English word "week" is used to mean.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Every occurrence of the word shabua in the old testament:

Gen_29:27.. FulfilH4390 herH2063 week,H7620 and we will giveH5414 thee(H853) thisH2063 alsoH1571 for the serviceH5656 whichH834 thou shalt serveH5647 withH5973 me yetH5750 sevenH7651 otherH312 years.H8141
Gen_29:28.. And JacobH3290 didH6213 so,H3651 and fulfilledH4390 herH2063 week:H7620 and he gaveH5414 him(H853) RachelH7354 his daughterH1323 to wifeH802 also.
Exo_34:22.. And thou shalt observeH6213 the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 of the firstfruitsH1061 of wheatH2406 harvest,H7105 and the feastH2282 of ingatheringH614 at the year'sH8141 end.H8622
Lev_12:5.. But ifH518 she bearH3205 a maid child,H5347 then she shall be uncleanH2930 two weeks,H7620 as in her separation:H5079 and she shall continueH3427 inH5921 the bloodH1818 of her purifyingH2893 threescoreH8346 and sixH8337 days.H3117
Num_28:26.. Also in the dayH3117 of the firstfruits,H1061 when ye bringH7126 a newH2319 meat offeringH4503 unto the LORD,H3068 after your weeksH7620 be out, ye shall haveH1961 an holyH6944 convocation;H4744 ye shall doH6213 noH3808 H3605 servileH5656 work:H4399
Deu_16:9.. SevenH7651 weeksH7620 shalt thou numberH5608 unto thee: beginH2490 to numberH5608 the sevenH7651 weeksH7620 from such time as thou beginnestH4480 H2490 to put the sickleH2770 to the corn.H7054
Deu_16:10.. And thou shalt keepH6213 the feastH2282 of weeksH7620 unto the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 with a tributeH4530 of a freewill offeringH5071 of thine hand,H3027 whichH834 thou shalt giveH5414 unto the LORD thy God, according asH834 the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath blessedH1288 thee:
Deu_16:16.. ThreeH7969 timesH6471 in a yearH8141 shall allH3605 thy malesH2138 appearH7200 (H853) beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 in the placeH4725 whichH834 he shall choose;H977 in the feastH2282 of unleavened bread,H4682 and in the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 and in the feastH2282 of tabernacles:H5521 and they shall notH3808 appearH7200 (H853) beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 empty:H7387
2Ch_8:13.. Even after a certain rateH1697 every day,H3117 H3117 offeringH5927 according to the commandmentH4687 of Moses,H4872 on the sabbaths,H7676 and on the new moons,H2320 and on the solemn feasts,H4150 threeH7969 timesH6471 in the year,H8141 even in the feastH2282 of unleavened bread,H4682 and in the feastH2282 of weeks,H7620 and in the feastH2282 of tabernacles.H5521
Jer_5:24.. NeitherH3808 sayH559 they in their heart,H3824 Let us nowH4994 fearH3372 (H853) the LORDH3068 our God,H430 that givethH5414 rain,H1653 both the formerH3138 and the latter,H4456 in his season:H6256 he reservethH8104 unto us the appointedH2708 weeksH7620 of the harvest.H7105
Dan_9:24.. SeventyH7657 weeksH7620 are determinedH2852 uponH5921 thy peopleH5971 and uponH5921 thy holyH6944 city,H5892 to finishH3607 the transgression,H6588 and to make an endH2856 of sins,H2403 and to make reconciliationH3722 for iniquity,H5771 and to bring inH935 everlastingH5769 righteousness,H6664 and to seal upH2856 the visionH2377 and prophecy,H5030 and to anointH4886 the most Holy.H6944 H6944
Dan_9:25.. KnowH3045 therefore and understand,H7919 that fromH4480 the going forthH4161 of the commandmentH1697 to restoreH7725 and to buildH1129 JerusalemH3389 untoH5704 the MessiahH4899 the PrinceH5057 shall be sevenH7651 weeks,H7620 and threescoreH8346 and twoH8147 weeks:H7620 the streetH7339 shall be builtH1129 again,H7725 and the wall,H2742 even in troublousH6695 times.H6256
Dan_9:26.. And afterH310 threescoreH8346 and twoH8147 weeksH7620 shall MessiahH4899 be cut off,H3772 but notH369 for himself: and the peopleH5971 of the princeH5057 that shall comeH935 shall destroyH7843 the cityH5892 and the sanctuary;H6944 and the endH7093 thereof shall be with a flood,H7858 and untoH5704 the endH7093 of the warH4421 desolationsH8074 are determined.H2782
Dan_9:27.. And he shall confirmH1396 the covenantH1285 with manyH7227 for oneH259 week:H7620 and in the midstH2677 of the weekH7620 he shall cause the sacrificeH2077 and the oblationH4503 to cease,H7673 and forH5921 the overspreadingH3671 of abominationsH8251 he shall make it desolate,H8074 even untilH5704 the consummation,H3617 and that determinedH2782 shall be pouredH5413 uponH5921 the desolate.H8076
Dan_10:2.. In thoseH1992 daysH3117 IH589 DanielH1840 wasH1961 mourningH56 threeH7969 fullH3117 weeks.H7620
Dan_10:3.. I ateH398 noH3808 pleasantH2530 bread,H3899 neitherH3808 cameH935 fleshH1320 nor wineH3196 inH413 my mouth,H6310 neitherH3808 did I anoint myself at all,H5480 H5480 tillH5704 threeH7969 wholeH3117 weeksH7620 were fulfilled.H4390

The word occurs 19 times. Of those 19 times, it occurs in Daniel 8 times. Of those 8 times, 6 are in reference to the Seventy Weeks prophesied time period. So out of 19 instances of the word shabua, 6 are the particularly disputed ones in Daniel, and the other 13 throughout the rest of the old testament (including twice in Daniel outside the Seventy Weeks prophecy). The 13 occurrences of shabua ALL refer to a week. A week of DAYS. There is no other word in Hebrew for a week except shabua, and the word shabua is not used for anything OTHER than a week of seven days.

Since the Seventy Weeks prophecy does not include any information specifying that it concerns a heptad of years, the only reasonable and sane conclusion is that the word means literally "week". Now, it just so happens that the prophecy was fulfilled over a timespan of not literal weeks, but years. Specifically, "weeks of years". This is incontrovertible proof that the prophecied weeks (shabua, 7 day period) was fulfilled across literal "weeks of years" (hebdomads of years), that is to say, the Year-Day Principle is clearly on display.

The word shabua means week. The reason Strong mentions "or of years" is because of its particular use in Daniel's Seventy Weeks Prophecy, which everybody acknowledges concerned literal years not literal days. That it to say, even though the prophecy uses the word for weeks, it is universally understood to be fulfilled in hebdomads ("weeks") of years. IE the Year-Day Principle.

Once again, the word is never used in Scripture to mean anything other than the same thing the English word "week" is used to mean.

I maintain that shabua means SEVEN, period. It has been translated as "week" but more correctly, it is merely a SEVEN. It's just the Hebrew definition. And the best definition is HEPTAD, which is merely a set of seven, like dozen is a set of 12.

You're going more by the translation than the Hebrew definition. But I am just repeating myself.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I maintain that shabua means SEVEN, period. It has been translated as "week" but more correctly, it is merely a SEVEN. It's just the Hebrew definition. And the best definition is HEPTAD, which is merely a set of seven, like dozen is a set of 12.

You're going more by the translation than the Hebrew definition. But I am just repeating myself.

Bless his heart, hope brother Blume is doing well.

[coksiw]

I hope is doing well too.

Esaias is absolutely correct that the word means week of days. A word means what it means by context and what the original readers would have understood at first. You can't take it out and say "it means 7, nothing else!"

Since, it is apocalyptic, it is also possible the original readers had the ultimate meaning hidden to them as well, however, at first the readers would have understood it as weeks of day, in their literal sense, and then after more reading, would have realized there is a non-literal symbolic meaning to it because of the impossibility of some of the things mentioned in regard to that timeline.

The only way in the context I can see someone would figure out in this case that this prophecy of Dan 9 means years, not days, is by the context as well:

* The city was going to be rebuilt: ...To restore and build Jerusalem...Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. .... No way that Jerusalem and the Temple were going to be rebuilt that quick. The original readers could have figured it out that those weeks were symbolic.

* The day-to-years principle is always in the context of judgment for the sins of the recipient of the judgments. This point actually could cut both ways.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by coksiw

* The day-to-years principle is always in the context of judgment for the sins of the recipient of the judgments. This point actually could cut both ways.

Is it? The little horn of Daniel 7 was to continue to oppress the holy people for a time, times, and dividing of a time. There was no mention or indication of this being a judgment upon the holy people for sins. The same can be said for the sea-beast's persecution of the saints in Revelation for 1260 days or 42 months or time, times, and half a time.

Or are you saying the only locations where the Year-Day Principle is explicitly stated is in the context of judgment (the forty years wandering in the wilderness, Ezekiel's tow time statements for Israel and Jerusalem, for example)?

[coksiw]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Is it? The little horn of Daniel 7 was to continue to oppress the holy people for a time, times, and dividing of a time. There was no mention or indication of this being a judgment upon the holy people for sins. The same can be said for the sea-beast's persecution of the saints in Revelation for 1260 days or 42 months or time, times, and half a time.

Or are you saying the only locations where the Year-Day Principle is explicitly stated is in the context of judgment (the forty years wandering in the wilderness, Ezekiel's tow time statements for Israel and Jerusalem, for example)?

^ that.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by coksiw

^ that.

OK, I understand. so then perhaps we could say that whenever the Year-Day Principle is used (not necessarily stated) that it signifies a temporal limit indicating judgment. So that for example the beast's persecutions for 1260 "days" is a delimited time imposed by God as part of His judgments concerning the beast? In fact, the more I think about it, the more it looks like the beast's reign of terror for 1260 days isn't just limited to "persecution of the saints", although was a prominent feature of the prophesied time period. But rather the beast's reign was in fact itself a judgment of sorts against all those willing to be carried away by the beast (those who didn't have a love of the truth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life), that is, they would suffer the tyranny and rule of a beast sent for judgment against the wicked and those who loved unrighteousness. Since said beast was a tyranny of evil, it would follow as a matter of course that it would persecute the saints, BUT it didn't come into existence simply to be a persecuting power.

The Romans for example were a persecuting power against the saints, but they didn't come into existence specifically and only for that purpose. The world got the government it deserved, in other words. As for the saints, in the world we will have tribulation (persecution and trouble) because the world hates God and therefore will hate His people as a natural by-product. But that doesn't mean the world powers are raised up by God to harass His own people, but for other primary purposes.

[coksiw]

Originally Posted by Esaias

OK, I understand. so then perhaps we could say that whenever the Year-Day Principle is used (not necessarily stated) that it signifies a temporal limit indicating judgment. So that for example the beast's persecutions for 1260 "days" is a delimited time imposed by God as part of His judgments concerning the beast? In fact, the more I think about it, the more it looks like the beast's reign of terror for 1260 days isn't just limited to "persecution of the saints", although was a prominent feature of the prophesied time period. But rather the beast's reign was in fact itself a judgment of sorts against all those willing to be carried away by the beast (those who didn't have a love of the truth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life), that is, they would suffer the tyranny and rule of a beast sent for judgment against the wicked and those who loved unrighteousness. Since said beast was a tyranny of evil, it would follow as a matter of course that it would persecute the saints, BUT it didn't come into existence simply to be a persecuting power.

The Romans for example were a persecuting power against the saints, but they didn't come into existence specifically and only for that purpose. The world got the government it deserved, in other words. As for the saints, in the world we will have tribulation (persecution and trouble) because the world hates God and therefore will hate His people as a natural by-product. But that doesn't mean the world powers are raised up by God to harass His own people, but for other primary purposes.

Interesting thought.

What do you think about the 2300 in Daniel 8:13? Epiphanes did his persecution for roughly that amount of time, making that interpretation of days literal days. If you believe they are literal days, what criteria do you use? the "mornings and evenings"?


On a different, but similar note, I read (skimming) a couple of Joel Richardson books. Inspire on his possibility of the Islamic Caliphate being the center, not the Romans, I came with these interpretation ideas for Revelation 13 and 17 regarding the 7 headed beast (Joel says the seventh is the Islamic Caliphate and the eighth is the revival, which doesn't make sense to me)

**Five have fallen**. The original readers would relate to specific kingdoms that have had an important impact on God's people and the Middle East: the Egyptian (the house of bondage, Ex 20:2), Assyrian (exalted herself against God, Isa 37:23), Babylonian (the hammer of the whole earth, Jer 50:23), Medo-Persian (the ones that persecuted the Jews, Esther), and Grecian empire (the little horn that spoke blasphemes and rose against the people of God, Daniel 8).

**One is**. The Roman empire. It was the current context of the readers, and had the Middle East and Judea under control.

**The other has not yet...must continue a short time**. The Sasanian empire. This empire was mainly away east from the Middle East, but around the 7th century, they marched towards the west, occupied the Middle East, Egypt, and even part of Asia Minor (where the original readers of Revelation were). During the occupation, they slaughtered tens of thousands of Christians, and destroyed churches in Jerusalem. The occupation only lasted 20 years, because the Byzantine emperor Heraclius reconquered the region.

**The beast, the eighth king, of the seven**. We are told the beast was like a leopard, had feet like a bear, a mouth like a lion. That is an allusion to Daniel's vision in chapter 7, and are the Grecian, Medo-Persian, and Babylonian empires respectively. For that reason, the beast was also going to be an eighth king which comes out of the previous seven. The beast was going to resemble those empires geographically, and in character or effect. The beast was, and is not, and will be. So the beast was, because it resembles those past empires, the beast is not, because at the time of the book of Revelation, there was no empire like those; Rome didn't go that far east, the Parthians and the Sasanians didn't go that far west, either. Rome was the empire at the time, so Rome *is*; therefore, it cannot be the beast that *is not*. What empire came next that dominated much of the Grecian, Medo-Persian, and Babylonian territories, and was crushing the people of God? Here is an idea: The Islamic Caliphate starting since 632 AD with Rashidun. If that's the case, this kingdom was going to expand, and crush, and eventually morph into a ten kings alliance (the 10 horns), and become the beast that will be destroyed at the return of Christ. The last Islamic Caliphate ended in 1922. That is, according to the historians determination of beginning and end, lasted 1290 years. At this moment, Islamic nations are together larger than the previous Islamic Caliphates.

**One of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed**. The text that follows those details says "And all the world marveled and followed the beast," and the thing they marveled about was its military power saying "Who is able to make war with him?" What is this head that was mortally wounded but it is seen as healed, and how does it relate with a great military power people marvel about? The beast is like a leopard as a whole, but with feet like bear and mouth like lion. Since the predominant appearance is the leopard, I believe it is a special reference to the Grecian empire and its military power. The Grecian empire has unique descriptions in Daniel: "shall rule over all the earth" (Dan 2:39), "dominion was given to it" (Dan 7:6), "a male goat" that "came from the west" a great speed "across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground", speaking of its rapid military success (Daniel 8:5). But the most notorious thing about the Grecian empire is what later comes out of it: a very wicked king. It says that "And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious *Land*," (v9) and "He even exalted *himself* as high as the Prince of the host." (v11) This is a reference to a king coming out of this Grecian empire: "And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features." (v23) That was fulfilled in part by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, but it is also a reference to the last beast because the passage places the fulfillment in the last-days: "Therefore seal up the vision, For *it refers* to many days *in the future*." (v26) The Grecian empire not only conquered with great military power, but also attempted to impose their language, culture, and religion in the Middle East as displayed by the very things Antiochus IV Epiphanes did. Therefore, my conclusion is that the last beast kingdom in Relevation 13 and 17 will have a significant resemblance to the military success and crushing character of the Grecian empire, causing the admiration of world as they see their success like the Grecian empire of ancient times. To some extent, the Islamic Caliphates did resemble the Grecian crushing character for 1290 years, having a significant military success and imposing new language, culture, and religion where it went, but its future revival (the 10 horns), will likely be more successful causing the worship and admiration of many.

Thoughts?