By Gavin Finley MD - endtimepilgrim.org
An investigation into the Aramaic wording of Daniel 7:7.
The PDF
of the
PowerPoint
used to make the
video to the left.
In the conversations relating to Bible prophecy one question comes up very frequently.
Is America in Bible prophecy? Is it to be found anywhere in the pages of Holy Scripture?
The fact is, there are a number of references to the USA in Bible prophecy. But that is not all! As we shall see, here are no less than five superpowers referenced in Daniel chapter 7. How-pray tell, does one come to that conclusion? Well, that we shall be looking into as we launch out on this study.
We shall go though this deep dive methodically, step by step. Here are the steps.
1 We have been told that the four beasts of Daniel chapter 7 are a repeat of Daniel 2. But there are definitely problems with that interpretation. If Medo-Persia in Daniel 2, the chest of silver, answers to the bear in Daniel 7 then why is the icon of Medo-Persia in Daniel chapter 8 switched from a bear to a ram? And if Greece in Daniel 2, the belly and thighs of brass, answers to the leopard in Daniel 7 then why is the icon for Greece in the following chapter, (Daniel chapter 8). switched around and changed from a leopard to a he-goat? Then too how are the legs of iron in Daniel chapter 2, (representing Rome), presented in Daniel chapter 7? That matter is left hanging.
2 The next issue is simply this. What does Daniel 7 verse 7 actually tell us about the relationship between the four beasts that Daniel saw in his dream? If the first three beasts, the lion with eagle's wings, the bear, and the leopard, are to be reckoned to be past empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece and the fourth beast is the future New World Order then that wide separation in time and relegating the first three beasts to the remote past may be comforting. But is it true? That is where we need to look carefully at verse seven of Daniel 7,
Daniel 7
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
3 And so, we come to the next waypoint on our journey of discovery. As we look at verse 7 specifically, what does the word "before" mean in the context? That is where this whole matter becomes extremely interesting. It has been translated in rather sloppy fashion using an ambiguous word "before" which can have two meanings or in some modern translations deliberately mis-translated in opposition to the true meaning of the word in the original text?
2 If we are to consider the fourth beast with the ten horns to be the New World Order regime then what are we to say about its character, specifically, does it appear to be dominant in the end--time?
3 Does it appear from verse 7 that the first three beasts are present there in the end-time arena at the very same time as the fourth beast?
4 If they are on the scene at the same time as the fourth beast the what is the relationship of the first three beasts with the fourth beast?
5 Having discovered that the first three beasts are in the presence of the ten-horned fourth beast of the end-time and therefore all contemporaneous in the same time window, does that not that force us to identify those first three beasts as modern day superpowers?
6 If there are key superpowers today on the world stage who are easily recognized by their animal iconography how might they be identified with the beasts we see described in Daniel chapter 7?
As we shall see, any seventh grader will be able to follow along with the readily available biblical references. And then for the next stage they can readily see what the first three beasts represent when the spotlight is shone on the icons by which modern superpowers are identified, as we see them in political cartoons in printed and online media as well as the movie media.
In this article, in the YouTube, the PowerPoint, and the PDF of that PowerPoint text linked up above we shall take note of the well-recognized icons we see today that represent these modern superpowers. Then we shall link them with the first three beasts that Daniel saw 2575 odd years ago and described for us in Daniel chapter 7.
Yes, Daniel's extraordinary prophecies are being unsealed before our very eyes. Our first task in this investigation is to examine Daniel 7 verse 7.
discover a certain Aramaic word sitting there incompletely and improperly translated in
The key to unlocking the true meaning of Daniel's prophecy in chapter 7 is Daniel 7 verse 7. That shall be the focus of this study.
In fact, the true meaning of the entire prophecy in Daniel 7 lies hidden in the original Hebrew or Aramaic text specifically a certain key Aramaic word in verse 7 that has been improperly translated.
So let's delve into the details of this strange turn of events. Let us we begin by opening the Hebrew lexicon and with our examination of a single word in Daniel 7:7, the word translated widely by most, if not all of the Bible translations, the English word "before". Yes, sadly, this is an ambiguous word, poorly translated from the Aramaic word "qodam". The word "before can have two meanings. But the Aramaic word "qodam" has only one meaning. The word "before" can mean "existing in a previous time". It can also mean, "in the presence of".
Let's cut to the chase here. What are the consequences of this Aramaic word "qodam" being improperly translated and slapping down an ambiguous word that can have two meanings?
A quick accessing of Brown-Driver-Briggs or the Blue Letter Bible tells us the real story. There is no question about it. The word "qodam" means "in the presence of" or "in front of".
This could have been picked up a century ago by any diligent Bible scholar who was able to access the Hebrew Lexicon. . That would have unlocked the true meaning of that word in verse 7 of Daniel chapter 7. But that has not happened. Here we are now in 2025, and the verse is still not being properly translated. And so, to this day, we still do not have a faithful commentary on what is obviously an end-time prophecy in Daniel chapter 7.
This startling blockbuster prophecy in Daniel 7 could have been unsealed well before now.
That would have propelled him into an effort to discover what it means for the superpowers of the 20th Century as they march on into the 21st Century. And why? Because the meaning of that word in Daniel 7:7 FORCES us to accept an end-time reality that may seem startling.
and the true meaning recognized based on national icons. But I guess we were not looking. So, we let the matter slide on from the misplaced speculations of earlier Bible translators and commentators. The same translation of the Aramaic word in question has been repeated foe 300 years. It dates back to Matthew Henry with that first Bible commentary published in the early 1700's.
At that time the iconic imagery of the modern superpowers were beginning to take on a more distinct character. With a bit of diligent Berean inquiry into the Aramaic wording of Daniel 7:7 the second vital clue was sitting there in the Aramaic waiting for someone to make the discovery. All that was needed was for someone to take a look at the
Aramaic word "qodam" which has been translated into our English rather sloppily and in a foggy way as "before". This "mistake", (or was it a mistake), in bringing in an English word that is ambiguous as a translation of the word "qodam" is extremely interesting, because the Bible translators are extremely intelligent and knowledgeable in Greek and Hebrew. So their translation of the word "qodam" as the ambiguous and indistinct word "before" is the big untold story here. What is going on here?
The other part to the story involves the now well recognized icons of modern nations, specifically the G-8 superpowers. To be fair, this identification of modern superpowers by their iconography was something barely able to be discerned before the 20th Century. But now? Well, there is no excuse. It is truly sad to have to report that modern Bible translations are using the wrong meaning instead of the right meaning of the ambiguous word they insist on using. One cannot help but believe that the message the Holy Spirit wishes to bring to us is being subverted. We are left to ponder the matter, and wonder why that was done.
So according to most of our Bible translators, Bible commentators and Bible prophecy teachers Daniel 7 has been said to be just a repeat of Daniel 2. They assume that the word "before" means "in a previous time".
That is, the first three beasts are said to be "in a previous time" to the fourth beast of the end-time New World Order. That But when we do our homework we discover that this is very definitely the WRONG MEANING!
There in Daniel 2 God lays out the history of ancient Gentile empires then stretching out to the modern era, declaring the end-time story before it happens. So is Daniel chapter 7 just a recap of Daniel 2 as we are continually being told? Absolutely not!
And why not? Because of one Aramaic word, the word “qodam” in Daniel 7 verse 7. The word “qodam” has almost invariably been translated as “before”. This is a word that can have two meanings. It can mean, “before” as in the sense of “preceding in time”. And it can mean “before” as in “in the presence of”.
So which is it? Well, it is the latter. And that, dear saints, changes everything. This forces us to conclude that Daniel 7 is a much narrower closer-in time focus, namely the 21st Century. And the first three beasts of Daniel 7?
They are MODERN SUPERPOWERS!
So as we look into the beasts of does Daniel 7 what is the Holy Spirit telling us? Does Daniel 7 lay out more recent world history, even the history of prominent Western Gentile national superpowers, prominent nations that have already emerged into history in the modern era?
Yes, it does.
As we all know, the word "before" can have two meanings. It can mean "in a previous time" or it can mean "in the presence of". Correctly translated from the Aramaic the word "qodam" very definitely means "in the presence of" rather than, "before" as in "prior to" or "in a previous time". Therein lies the problem. Because this is not just a strangely repeating error in translation. It is also feeding through in the biblical interpretation presented to us by our commentators.
For 300+ years after Matthew Henry put out his first commentary most commentators follow suit. This error persists. It has not been corrected. Quite clearly there are conclusions that will be reached whenever the word "qodam" is correctly translated as "in the presence of" rather than, "before" as in "prior to" or "in a previous time".
So what is going on here? When we do our homework and look into this matter a mega-mystery unravels before our eyes. The consequences of are of great import and so alarming that this strains our credulity. How can a passage of scripture written 2600 years ago identify modern superpowers by their popular national iconography?
Immediately we understand why the powers that be do not wish to see this verse 7 translated correctly, or why the matter should probably remain hidden. Because when we do realize that the first three beasts are "in the presence of" the fourth beast we are FORCED to conclude that the three beasts on mention there in Daniel 7 are modern nations of major end-time importance making moves of great historical consequence. And that fourth beast? It is none other than the New World Order beast system that will arise during the coming 70th Week of Daniel. All four beasts will be on the stage of history during the final 7 years of this age. So we have no choice here. We MUST of necessity identify them as modern day superpowers.
This information is truly earthshaking. And when the true message there in Daniel 7 is appreciated for what it really is then it will be a fearful matter and disturbing to those who are not able to cloak the matter by self-censorship or deny it in a sea of cognitive dissonance. . Accordingly this biblical information should only be shared only with people well-grounded in the faith, in a relationship of devotion to God that brings peace to the soul. Because not only do we see America showcased in Bible prophecy, but also the UK, Russia, Germany, and France.
See the PDF of the PowerPoint and the PowerPoint itself by clicking the image links above. They take a minute or so to load. But when they are downloaded on your computer or tablet or phone you will see a PowerPoint presentation with its narration interspersed with the slides. I am fully convince that this is the very best way to tell a Biblical story, bar none.
