Understanding the past requires more than historical facts alone. Facts do not speak for themselves. They can be interpreted in a thousand different ways. Depending on the method of interpretation used, the result will correspond more or less to reality. In order to know as accurately as possible what happened in the past, you must choose the right method. A false view of history leads to a false opinion about current affairs.
This short text cannot cover all the details that must be considered when applying an ideal method of interpretation. However, I have another suggestion. I can offer a helpful tip on how to recognize historical facts at a glance. This intuitive approach provides an accurate understanding of the facts by applying a specific method of interpretation.
In most cases, we adopt the views of others who have already grappled with the question of how interpret facts correctly. But whose opinion should we follow to guide our own thinking in the right direction? There is only one source that provides us with truth in every respect: the Word of God in the Bible.
The Holy Scriptures provide the proper criteria for interpreting world history. The prophet Daniel answered Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s question about the future (Dan. 2:27-29; NASB 1995):
27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.
Throughout history, four world empires have emerged, each characterized by a specific metal. Gold symbolizes the ancient Babylonian empire, silver the Medo-Persian empire, copper the Macedonian empire, and iron the Roman empire. In the end times, the Roman Empire will reappear, completely permeated by the Babylonian spirit of idolatry.
Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the early 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, endured until 1453. It exercised enormous power over the known world at the time. It was replaced by an even more powerful empire ruled by the “New Romans,” as they called themselves. Their descendants continue to have a significant influence on world politics to this day.
In further “Musings of the Court Jester,” I will illustrate the identity of the “New Romans” with examples. In doing so, I will also address the effects of the Babylonian spirit emanating from them.
Question. Is there not 2 beasts in Rev.13? And 2 legs in Daniel's statue? East and West? Maybe New Romans and Islamic?