The Great Apostasy

The history of the church is outlined in the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. From its apostolic fervor, Christianity left its first love (Revelation 2:4), suffered tribulation for a while (2:9, 10), then began to hold false doctrine (2:14, 15). Although it performed works of charity and service (2:19), it gave in to fornication for a space of time (2:20-22). With a few faithful overcomers (3:4, 5), new prospects finally opened up (3:8). The closing picture is a lukewarm church lovingly counseled to obtain a genuine spiritual experience (3:16-19).

A similar history is seen in the opening of the seven seals of Revelation 6. The white horse of early gospel advancement (6:2) is followed by the red horse of affliction (6:4), the black horse of a compromised Christianity (6:5, 6), and the pale horse of spiritual death (6:8). Martyrs slain for the word of God must rest (6:11) until the Lord would finally set things right (6:14-17).

1. In vision, Daniel saw the four winds of heaven as they strove upon what?

"The great sea" Daniel 7:2

2. In prophetic symbolism, what do bodies of water represent?

"The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" Revelation 17:15

3. What came up from this "sea"?

"Four great beasts" Daniel 7:3

4. What did these beasts represent?

"Four kings, which shall arise" Daniel 7:17

5. What was the first beast like?

"The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings" Daniel 7:4

6. What nation, as a lion, broke Israel’s bones?

"Babylon" Jeremiah 50:17

7. What nation had great eagle’s wings?

"Babylon" Ezekiel 17:3, 12

8. What was the second beast like?

"A bear" Daniel 7:5 

9. What was the third beast like?

"A leopard" Daniel 7:6

10. The fourth beast was dreadful, terrible and what?

"Strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth" Daniel 7:7

11. What did this fourth beast represent?

"The fourth kingdom upon earth" Daniel 7:23

The kingdoms represented by these four beasts are the same as foretold in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel chapter 2:  Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome.

12. How many horns did the fourth beast have?

"It had ten horns" Daniel 7:7 

13. What did the horns represent?

"The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise" Daniel 7:24

These were the barbarian kingdoms that reshaped the western Roman empire in the fifth century.

14. What came up among these horns?

"Another little horn" Daniel 7:8

15. How did this little horn look, compared to the others?

"More stout than his fellows" Daniel 7:20

16. What happened as the little horn arose?

"There were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots" Daniel 7:8

17. What kind of eyes did the little horn have?

"Eyes like the eyes of man" Daniel 7:8

18. What else did he have?

"A mouth speaking great things" Daniel 7:8

19. Revelation describes this same power as a beast rising up where?

"Out of the sea" Revelation 13:1

20. With seven heads and ten horns, what name was upon his heads?

"Blasphemy" Revelation 13:1

21. This beast showed characteristics of what three earlier beasts?

"Like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion" Revelation 13:2

22. Where did this beast get its authority?

"The dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority" Revelation 13:2

With allusions in this verse to the first three beasts of Daniel 7, the dragon here must be identified with the fourth kingdom, Rome.

23. There was given unto the beast a mouth doing what?

"Speaking great things and blasphemies" Revelation 13:5

24. Blasphemy is when you, being a man, do what?

"Makest thyself God" John 10:33

25. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against whom?

"Against God" Revelation 13:6

26. What was he allowed to do?

"To make war with the saints" Revelation 13:7

27. In Daniel's vision, the little horn did what?

"Made war with the saints of the most High" Daniel 7:21

28. What strikes would he make against God?

"He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High" Daniel 7:25

29. He would even do what?

"Think to change times and laws" Daniel 7:25

It is implied that these are the times and laws of the most High.

30. How long would they be given into his hand?

"Until a time and times and the dividing of time" Daniel 7:25

This prophetic time period, mentioned also in Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:14, is equivalent to the 1260 days of Revelation 12:6 and 11:3, and also to the 42 months of Revelation 11:2 and 13:5. With "each day for a year" (See Faith Point 17 - Prophetic Dates), the period covers 1260 years of church history.

31. How extensive was his power?

"Power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" Revelation 13:7

32. John saw one of his heads as it were what?

"Wounded to death" Revelation 13:3

33. Did it stay wounded for ever?

"His deadly wound was healed" Revelation 13:3

34. How popular would he become after that?

"All the world wondered after the beast" Revelation 13:3

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life" Revelation 13:8