Posted: July 9, 2023
From the Bible and history, Daniel’s Fourth Kingdom discusses each of the four [successive] gentile kingdoms [referred to in chapters 2 and 7 of the Book of Daniel. (The fulfillment of these “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24 NIV) points to the season of the return of Jesus Christ.)]. They [(the four kingdoms)] are described
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Posted: March 29, 2023
The March/April 2023 issue of National Geographic History magazine contains an interesting feature article about Persian King Xerxes (reign 486–465 BC) entitled, “Triumph of Engineering: Canal of Xerxes,” by Antonio Penades.[1] It examines evidence confirming King Xerxes’ excavation of a 1.25-mile-long canal across a narrow portion of the Mount Athos Peninsula of Greece, in
Continue Reading “Medo-Persia and Greece in Bible Prophecy”
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Posted: January 26, 2023
The idea that the Roman Empire still exists today is not strange. Ample support exists for it in the Bible and world history. Two historical phases of the single Roman Empire are depicted in Daniel 2, the first phase of iron and the second phase of iron and clay. Interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel foresaw
Continue Reading “Two historical phases of the Roman Empire (book excerpt)”
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Posted: December 3, 2022
National Geographic History is one of my favorite magazines. The November/December 2022 issue contains an interesting article about King Herod (reign 37–4 BC), whose tyrannical rule over Judea impacted the childhood of Jesus (as mentioned in Matthew 2).[1] Antipater, Herod’s father, “a wealthy Jewish noble who admired Roman culture and was friendly with Julius Caesar,”
Continue Reading “Herod: Rome’s appointed King of Judea (reign 37-4 BC)”
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Posted: October 8, 2022
I say the [certain] return of Jesus Christ because the New Testament speaks with certainty about His return. Consider the following verses for example: . . . John 14:2–3 KJV; Acts 1:11 KJV; [and] Hebrews 9:28 KJV. . .. [I especially like Acts 1:11 KJV, which emphatically reads (in part): “. . . [T]his
Continue Reading “The Certain Return of Jesus Christ (book excerpt)”
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Posted: September 22, 2022
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV). Lawlessness is evil . . .. Lawlessness is the work of Satan, even as righteousness is the work of
Continue Reading “The mystery of lawlessness (book excerpt)”
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Posted: September 16, 2022
We now further examine the meanings of the symbols of iron and clay located in the feet and toes of the human-shaped statue described in Daniel 2. Concerning the meaning of the “iron,” Bishop writes in 1886 that: “Iron is the character of Rome. The crown of Charlemagne was iron. The crown of Charles
Continue Reading “Monarchy is the “iron” in Daniel 2 (book excerpt)”
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Tags: A. C. Gaebelein, Charlemagne, Charles V, constitutional monarchies, Daniel 2, democracy, democracy is the clay, democratic principles, democratic rule, divided and weaker fourth kingdom, feet and toes of iron and clay, fourth kingdom, George S. Bishop, government, history, human-shaped statue, Humbert, iron, iron and clay, iron crown, iron reign, iron represents hardness and severity, iron-monarchy, Jesus Christ, kings, law, mixture of iron and clay, monarchical form of government, monarchy, monarchy is the iron, multiparty republics, Napoleon, Nebuchadnezzar, pretribulation rapture, Roman Empire, Roman monarchs, royal dynasties, second coming of Christ, stone cut out of the mountain without hands, ten nations, Western European successor nations
Posted: September 8, 2022
[T]he present darkness caused by evil [in the world] creates a great opportunity for the church (through the power of the Holy Spirit) to shine brightly for Christ, for we are told: “[L]et your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV);
Continue Reading “Faith is expressed through love (book excerpt)”
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Posted: July 3, 2022
Interestingly and ironically, the Founding Father who was principally responsible for America’s First Amendment religious freedom also struggled with his own personal faith. That person was Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Jefferson’s intellect was an obstacle to his faith. As a so-called “enlightened” thinker, he believed that human reason alone was the sole judge of spiritual
Continue Reading “Jefferson and Jesus”
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Democracy is the “clay” in Daniel 2 (book excerpt)
By Melvin L. Hawkins, LLC
Posted: August 7, 2022
Hippolytus (AD 170–235), an early church theologian in Rome, understood Daniel’s prophecies about the clay component or element in the feet and toes of the fourth kingdom [consisting of iron and clay, Daniel 2:32–33, 40–43]. In the third century, even during a time when emperors ruled the Roman Empire with iron authority, he confidently wrote
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