What would you say if I told you that America was mentioned in your Bible? If you saw it for yourself, would it make that old book not seem so outdated and archaic? Grab your Bible and some curiosity. Let’s take a look together.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 7, the prophet had a dream of four great beasts. Don’t let this word spook you. It doesn’t mean literal creatures. It’s a WORD PICTURE or IMAGERY depicting nations and their leaders.
The Lion With Eagle’s Wings
“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” (Daniel 7:4)
The first beast (nation) was like a LION. Is there a modern country whose national symbol is the lion? Think. Great Britain. The official national animal symbol of Great Britain is the Barbary Lion. You will find the image of the lion very frequently on most anything related to Great Britain.
The lion had EAGLE’s wings. What modern nation’s symbol is the EAGLE? You guessed it, the United States of America! Where did we originate from? Great Britain.
In his dream, Daniel watched until the EAGLE’S wings (America) were plucked from the back of the lion. Daniel 7:4 precisely and clearly shows the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in our Bible. Our founding fathers only thought they came up with the idea to break away from Great Britain and set forth across the ocean to find a land where they could freely serve their Creator. In truth, they were “plucked” by the very hand of God, transported across the sea, and divinely established in a new land.
It is worth noting here that once the eagle’s wings (America) were plucked from the back of the lion (Great Britain), they were no longer part of any of the four beasts in Daniel’s dream.
The final thing mentioned about the eagle’s wings in this passage is that “a man’s heart was given to it.” No other nation on earth, with the possible exception of Israel, operates with such conscience, showing compassion and benevolence all over the world. A secondary image relating to America is introduced here, a man with a heart lead by conscience. Uncle Sam.
Isn’t it exciting to realize that our All-Knowing God chose to use symbols in His Word that would be recognizable and have meaning to the last day Church? We can take comfort in where we are in history, knowing that He is in control.
I hope you will join me as we identify the bear and the leopard of Daniel chapter seven in THE BEAR AND THE LEOPARD -Daniel 7, Part 2. http://www.patvick.com/the-bear-and-the-leopard-daniel-7-part-2/
May God bless your study of His Word,
-Pat