As we examine scripture, we see that the seven kingdoms referred to in John’s vision all centred on the city of Babylon, which is why God gave the earlier quoted dream of the end times to the king of Babylon. In other words, God’s prophetic timeline so to speak, for both Daniel’s and John’s visions, began with the Babylonian empire. And so, in that light we see that the first of the seven kingdoms, mentioned by the angel in John’s vision, is the same first kingdom as revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, i.e. the Babylonian empire (the head of gold). The second of the seven kingdoms mentioned by the angel, refers to the second kingdom as revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, i.e. the Median empire (the chest and arms of silver), which succeeded the Babylonian empire. The third of the seven kingdoms mentioned by the angel, refers to the third kingdom as revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, i.e. the Persian Empire (the belly and thighs of bronze), which succeeded the Median empire. The fourth of the seven kingdoms mentioned by the angel, refers to the fourth kingdom as revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, i.e. the Grecian empire (the legs of iron), which succeeded the Persian Empire. These four kingdoms are also clearly listed for us in Daniel’s visions that we have looked at in the previous section (Daniel 7 & 8). And in all four of these kingdoms, the city of Babylon, featured as a focal point, including the Grecian empire, for it was in the city of Babylon, that the ruler of that empire, Alexander the Great, died. Bearing in mind, that because all seven kingdoms mentioned by the angel in John’s vision, are linked to the city of Babylon, the fifth of the seven kingdoms, would then have been the Seleucid empire, which succeeded the Grecian empire. For the Seleucid Empire also controlled the city of Babylon. You will recall that we have already seen how the Seleucid Empire relates to end time events, in the previous section. By the time that John received his vision from the Lord; the Seleucid Empire no longer existed. And so, as stated by the angel, we see that five of the seven kingdoms, had fallen by that time. The kingdom that replaced the Seleucid Empire was the Parthian empire, and that empire also encompassed the city of Babylon. However, by that time, the city of Babylon had begun to decline quite dramatically in stature, but nevertheless the city remained. It was the Parthian empire that was in existence when John received his vision, and this sixth empire is the kingdom that the angel referred to, as being present on the earth at that time.
Michael E.B. Maher
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