Realization
of Prophetic Visions
By
Philip Mark Ames
THE
BEAR
Leaving the lion at that
point, Daniel begins to describe the second beast which he saw rising out of
the stirred-up sea. This one is like a bear. Remembering that the beasts are
great religious or ideological kingdoms (in short, isms), you need only to
check the history books for the first great ism to arise after the ascent of
Catholicism. You will find that in the seventh century a new religion began to
sweep across the world: Mohammedanism.
The bear-like beast began to
take form in 622 A.D., when Mohammed propounded his new religious ideas. He was
a citizen of Mecca in Arabia.
By the time of his death ten years later, all Arabia
had accepted his teachings. The Moslem religion was firmly established. But
there was strife among his followers, as to who should be his rightful
successor. His son-in-law, Ali, claimed the hereditary right. However,
Mohammed's friend, Abu-Bekr was immediately elected the first caliph
(successor). Two years later, Mohammed's brother-in-law, Omar, became the
second caliph. He was succeeded by Othman of the Qmayyad family.
Eventually, at the death of
Othman, Ali became caliph. Five years later in 661, he was murdered. At that
time the Omayyad family gained the ascendancy and continued to rule and greatly
expand the Islamic world for almost 100 years. (See page 622 of The Outline of
History, by H.G. Wells.)
The political bickering
between these two parties resulted in a religious schism within Mohammedanism; the
Shiites supporting Ali on one side, the Sunnites supporting the Omayyads on the
other side. And as already noted, the Omayyads very early took control, raising
the Sunnite side of Mohammedanism above the Shiite side. This fact of history
was seen and reported beforehand by Daniel. Very concisely, he wrote concerning
the bear: "And it raised itself up on one side."
Then another identifying
feature pertaining to the bear is noted by Daniel: "And it had three ribs
in the mouth of it between the teeth of it," This picture delineates a
very important and unique aspect of Mohammedanism, What is that? To begin with,
it should be realized that in ancient times, certain bones were used in games
of chance similar to dice. Also, sticks of different lengths were used in
casting or drawing lots, for making decisions. Even now there is the custom of
drawing straws as a means of there is the custom of drawing straws as a means
of making a choice. This was the purpose of the three ribs in the bear's mouth
in Daniel's dream. Three choices were indicated. The bear carried the ribs in
its mouth, even as a dog might do. And the further mention by Daniel of the
fact that they were between its teeth emphasizes the formidableness of the
bear's mouth. It had already devoured at least one victim. That is why it could
use ribs rather than merely sticks or straws for presenting the three
alternatives. Seeing the bear's credentials of recent victory, any potential
victim should have recognized that the three choices offered were not just
empty threats.
This entire picture was
completely and exactly fulfilled by the Mohammedan Empire as it was growing to
world power. Having devoured all Arabia, the
Mohammedan bear looked beyond its desert homeland for more prey. Messengers
accompanied by Moslem armies went forth from Arabia to Antioch,
Jerusalem, Syria,
Persia, Armenia, Egypt,
Africa, Spain,
etc. And everywhere, they presented three alternatives from which their enemies
could choose: 1. convert to the religion of Mohammed; 2, pay tribute to the
Moslem rulers; 3. die. (See Outline of History, page 614.)
The presenting of these
three choices was no vain boasting. Daniel reports: "And they said thus
unto it, Arise, devour much flesh." History shows that by the year 750,
entire religions, races, nations and cities had been swallowed up into the
great Moslem empire; millions of people had been converted to and digested by
the Islamic religion, (See Outline of History, page 623.)
Written by: Philip Mark
Ames - - - © 1975 Philip Mark Ames. All rights reserved.