Study Guide # 7 – Chains of Prophecy
VII.
That the world’s history from specified dates in the past, the rise and fall of empires, and chronological succession of events down to the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, are outlined
in numerous great chains of prophecy; and that these prophecies are now all fulfilled except the
closing scenes.
1. That the world's history from specified dates in the past, the rise and fall of empires,
and chronological succession of events down to the setting up of God's everlasting
kingdom, are outlined in numerous great chains of prophecy;

Prophecy in its strictest sense, as found in Daniel and Revelation, is this world’s history that is
yet to come to pass, not a relation of current events, or simply exhortation, etc.:
“I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I
spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee,
saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 24:14
“As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.” Daniel 2:29
 Daniel and Revelation contain great chains of prophecy
“Chain, n. 6. A series of things linked together; a series of things connected or following in succession; as a chain of causes, of ideas, or events; a chain of being.’ - Noah Webster
◦ Their symbols express a chronological succession of events:
▪ Parts of the image in Daniel 2 represent a succession of kings or kingdoms
“. . . Thou art this head of gold. (39) And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” (Daniel 2:38-39)
▪ Different beasts of Daniel 7 & 8 represent successive kings or kingdoms:
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” Daniel 7:17
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all
kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” Daniel
7:23
▪ Revelation’s 7 churches show a chronological succession of conditions in the church:
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the
seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” Revelation 2:1
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth.” Revelation 3:16
Note: Christ starts out holding the stars (messengers of the churches) and walking in the
midst of the candlesticks (churches), but by the last church, conditions have changed and
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he threatens to spew them out of his mouth.
▪ Revelation’s 7 trumpets show a chronological succession of world events:
“And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven
trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and
there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all
saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense,
[which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s
hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into
the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.”
Revelation 8:2-6
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark
of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Revelation 11:19
Note: The trumpets are introduced, and a scene is depicted showing incense being offered, intercession taking place. The scene continues until the censer is thrown down,
indicating the close of intercession, the close of probation. At the time of this close of intercession, there were “voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake verse 5. These
exact events take place under the 7th trumpet at the close of the judgment. Thus we see
that the 7 trumpets encompass the time of the beginning of the intercession of Christ as
our high priest to its close.
 All the great chains of prophecy point to the Great Consummation
The image: “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and
that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made
known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation
thereof sure.” Daniel 2:45
The four beasts: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole
heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:27
The 7 Trumpets: (See revelation 11:15 above.)

The Seven Seals: “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;”
“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:12, 17
Thought Questions:
1. How do the great chains of prophecy differ with the rest of prophecy?
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2. and that these prophecies are now all fulfilled except the closing scenes.

We are at the feet of iron and of clay; in the time of the little horn of fourth beast of Daniel 7;
and the little horn of the he-goat of Daniel 8:
◦ Head of Gold/Lion – Babylon (606 BC - 538 BC)
▪ Its history is recorded in the books of 2nd Kings and 2nd Chronicles
◦ Breast & Arms of Silver/Bear/Ram – Medo-Persia (538 BC - 331 BC)
▪ The beginning of this kingdom is found in Daniel 5 (not a prophetic chapter), and some
of its history is found in the books of Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah
◦ Belly & Thighs of Brass/Leopard/He-goat – Greece (331 BC - 168 BC)
▪ recorded in secular history
◦ Legs of Iron/Terrible beast/Little horn – Rome (168 BC - 476 AD)
▪ recorded in secular history
◦ Feet of Iron & of Clay/Little horn of Dan. 7&8 – Rome Divided (476 AD – present)
▪ recorded in secular history
Thought Questions:
1. What current or historical events indicate where we are in these great chains of prophecy.
◦ Daniel 2
◦ Daniel 7
◦ 7 churches
◦ 7 seals
◦ 7 trumpets
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