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"And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a
bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his
seat (throne), and great authority" (13: 2).
(3)
Thrones were set (cast down as cushions, not overthrown), and the Ancient of Days did
sit, a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him, and
(4)
The beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. In
Rev. 19:, at the Apocalypse of Christ, John says:
"The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him,
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that
worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone"
(Rev. 19: 20).
By comparing these words with Rev. 13: 12-15 we are in no doubt but that the
Coming of Christ comes immediately after the period allowed by God for the reign of this
antichristian beast, namely, at the close of a period of forty-two months, of which more,
presently.
(5)
This beast developed ten horns, and one in particular had "a mouth that spake great
things".
"He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the
Most High . . . . . and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing
of time" (Dan. 7: 25).
In Rev. 13: we read:
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months . . . . . and it was given unto him
to make war with the saints, and to overcome them" (Rev. 13: 5-7).
We have noted the period denominated forty and two months, and time, times and the
dividing of time. In Rev. 11: 2, 3 we have a similar period, here given as forty and two
months and 1,260 days. In Rev. 12: 6 this number of days is repeated, and is equated in
verse fourteen with the cryptic enumeration "for a time, and times, and half a time".
Now this period of time is 3½ years, and the peculiar mode of reckoning links these
chapter once more with the book of Daniel, namely in Dan. 7: 25 and in 12: 7. The
prophecy of Dan. 9: speaks of a period of time as "the midst of the week" (Dan. 9: 27),
and if in this prophecy a week or heptad, is a period of seven years, then here, in
Dan. 9: 27, we reach the same period that we have found in Rev. 12: and 13: and so
by the other links with Rev. 19:
The image that formed the basis of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniel's great
prophecy of Gentile dominion extends to the time of the end. Whatever difference of
opinion there may be as to whether Rome was the fourth in the list, or whether, owing to
the rejector of Christ, the fourth kingdom is the one at the end does not for the moment
alter the fact that the END of Gentile dominion, and the BEGINNING of the kingdom of
God upon earth synchronize, there is no possible room for an interval of 5 MINUTES let