Is the Fourth of July in the Bible? Part II

by Tad Lindley

On July 4th of 1776 the 13 English colonies in North America officially declared their independence from Great Britain. This new nation gave rise to the United States of America, one of the most powerful nations in human history. Is this important event in time prophesied in scripture?

Last week we looked at Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. I will briefly cover the main points of Part I. Daniel saw four beasts come out of the Great Sea: a lion with eagle’s wings, a bear, a four-headed leopard with four bird’s wings on its back, and an iron toothed beast with ten horns that tore up everything in its path (7:1-8). The Bible goes on to tell us that these four beasts are representative of kings and kingdoms (7:17, 23). These kings and kingdoms will all be in existence at the same time in history (7:12). At that time Jesus Christ will come and set up a kingdom that will last forever (7:14).

Identifying the kingdoms

Some have taught that the beasts that came out of the sea were Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. This cannot be the case, because the Bible shows that at the return of the Lord the kingdoms that Daniel saw would all be in existence. Secondly, the Babylonian and Persian empires were not future events in the day of Daniel; they had already come to pass. Therefore if we would understand this prophecy, then we need to look for the coming of kingdoms or nations that fit the descriptions that Daniel gave us.

The Bear

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh (Daniel 7:5). When I was growing up, it was during the end of the Cold War. There was a nation at that time that was always represented in cartoons by a bear. People would even refer to this nation as “The Bear”. Worldwide, Russia is associated with the symbol of a bear. History has also shown that Russia has destroyed many people (destroyed much flesh).

The Lion

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). There is a powerful nation on earth today that has the lion as its symbol. This nation’s coat of arms has three golden lions against a red background. The nation: Great Britain.

The Four-headed Leopard

After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it (Daniel 7:6). There is a prominent nation on earth today whose coat of arms is a bird and it uses the leopard as its symbol. This nation is also the producer of the Leopard tank, the primary heavy fighting vehicle used by NATO forces. An interesting historical note is that Germany is presently in its fourth rise to power (remember that Adolph Hitler’s “kingdom” was Germany’s “Third Reich”).

The Fourth Beast

While the interpretation I have offered certainly fits, it is not 100% certain. Time will tell. One thing is certain: the fourth beast will be the kingdom that gives rise to the antichrist. I will deal with that another time. As for now, we must get back to the question concerning the Fourth of July.

Is this the Fourth of July?

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). Assuming that everything I have laid out is correct, and Great Britain is in fact the lion, then we are close to answering the question. There is another powerful nation on earth today whose symbol is the eagle. It is on the great seal of this nation and on its money. This nation is the United States of America.

Look closely at the scripture above. About 2,560 years ago, Daniel saw the eagle’s wings being plucked off of the eagle. On July 4, 1776, the United States (the eagle) was plucked off of the lion (Great Britain). Again, assuming I have rightly divided the scripture, then the answer to the question is, “Yes, the Fourth of July is in the Bible”. Daniel actually prophesied the Declaration of Independence 2,329 years before it happened! What a mighty God we serve!

Tad Lindley is a minister at the United Pentecostal Church in Bethel.

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