Signs in John's Gospel - The Lamp Broadcast

Deliverance During a Storm 165
to power. Then, the whole of Gentile world power, as it has existed
for slightly over 2,600 years, will be completely destroyed, never to rise
again (Dan. 2:35; 7:26; 8:25; 11:45; Rev. 19:11ff).
Revelation chapter thirteen presents the same sequence pertaining
to the fourth part of the great image or the fourth great
beast, forming commentary on the Book of Daniel. “A beast” is
seen rising “up out of the sea” in Rev. 13:1. Then, as seen in the
next verse, this final form of Gentile world power will possess an
inseparable relationship with the whole of Gentile world power,
extending all the way back to the days of Nebuchadnezzar. The
Beast in Rev. 13:1, synonymous with the “fourth beast” in Dan.
7:3-7, is seen to possess descriptive qualities of all the preceding
three “beasts” — a leopard, a bear, and a lion (cf. Dan. 2:31-45;
7:1-14; Rev. 13:2).
And, as seen in both Daniel chapters two and seven, and in
this chapter in the Book of Revelation, this final appearance of
Gentile world power — incorporating the whole of that seen in
all four parts of the image in Daniel chapter two and/or the four
great beasts in Daniel chapter seven — will occur yet future during
exactly the same time depicted by events in the fifth sign in
John’s gospel.
The darkness of the evening, a great wind blowing upon the sea,
and the disciples in immediate danger because of that which was occurring
are all seen in the sign, with the latter also seen in the Books
of Daniel and Revelation as well (cf. Dan. 3:19ff; Rev. 13:11-18;
17:16, 17).
All these things together are necessary as one begins to form
a word picture, as depicted different places in both Testaments.
God gave the complete picture through different individuals, using
different means, at different times. And Christians reading
and studying the matter today can be certain of two things in the
preceding respect:
a) God has given everything necessary to see and understand
the complete picture.
b) There is nothing superfluous in that which God has
revealed.