Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. (Daniel 7:2-3)
Daniel receives a dream from God. In this dream, he sees a succession of "beasts" representing 4 great empires rising and falling.
Why the difference? This event happened in the first year of the Babylonian king, Belshazzar. According to most Bible scholars, Chapter 7 occurred before chapter 5 (Belshazzar’s banquet). Therefore, Daniel’s dream occurred 14 years before the overnight transition from the Babylonian empire to the Medo-Persian empire, about the year 550 BC
Cyrus was just being inaugurated as king over the burgeoning Medo-Persian empire. Could it be that the Lord was signaling Daniel that the last king of Babylon was on the throne and He was about to move from the Gold section of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue to the Silver section?
Ever hear of the winds of change? Well, the Lord is in charge of the wind (Genesis 8:1; Exodus 10:13, 19; Numbers 11:31; 1 Kings 19:11; Psalm 135:7). Even the wind brought by Satan against Job was only with God's permission (Job 1:9-12, 19). Metaphorically, the wind is a picture of God's action on the face of the earth.
In this Chapter, God's wind (action) stirs the nations. The result is the rise and fall of kingdoms/empires. People may think they are in charge of world events, but a cursory reading of Daniel shows that God is in full control!
Today, we see many nations in turmoil. Civil strife and mass demonstrations abound … Venezuela, Hong Kong, France, England, Lebanon, Chili, the United States. Just read the news … no, not the sanitized agenda-driven garbage of American Media, but world media sources from outside the propaganda bubble. The winds of change are blowing.
What is coming? Judging by Daniel (which is a pun because Daniel means "my God is Judge") we might be seeing a precursor to the fall of kingdoms and a rise in another empire, a final stage empire.
Why do I say that? Because there are two milestones along the prophetic path ... Israel becoming a nation in 1948 and the Jews taking Jerusalem in 1967. The stage is set for the return of the Jews to Israel (which has been happening and continues to do so - another sign) in preparation for Messiah's appearing. Satan's plan has always been to oppose God's dominion over the earth. As God's kingdom approaches with His Messiah at the head, so we should also expect Satan's final power grab over earth to arise with his Anti-Messiah (Opposing-Messiah).
The winds are shifting. The wind is rising. What will God's wind bring? "He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind." (Psalm 18:10)
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts