occurred in A.D. 476. (Then Daniel saw the Second Coming of
Jesus.) This is illustrated below:
The second vision-outline, of four symbolic "beasts"
of Daniel 7, locks into the same scenes of Daniel 2 by repetition, so that one outline
interprets the next outline. However, the second outline of empires adds the
rise and fall of an additional or fifth empire, referred to as the "little
horn." This "little horn," described the Papal Supremacy that reigned over
the old world from A.D. 538 to 1798. The second vision-outline moves the scene
forward in datable time to A.D. 1798. (All four vision-outlines
conclude with the Second Coming of Jesus.) Each additional vision-outline adds
more information and moves ever closer to the endtime. This is illustrated below:
The third vison-outline again repeats the description of the rise and
fall of empires, but adds a 2300 day-year timeline which began in 457 B.C.
and ended in A.D. 1844, at the time of the opening of the investigative judgment in
heaven. The computation of this 2300 day-year timeline of Dan. 8:14 moves still further forward
in datable time to A.D. 1844.
The fourth vision-outline of chapter 11:1-45 and 12:1-4, (which also
concludes with the Second Coming of Jesus,) reveals a sixth* and seventh empire! The
seventh empire is a future Papal Supremacy also described in Revelation 13
as the "beast," with his "mark" of authority over "all the
world." Dan. 11:45 declares that "he shall come to his end and none shall help
him." This fourth vision-outline, continuing on into Dan. 12:1-4, then describes the
resurrection of the dead and brings the history of the world to an end. This is
illustrated below:
