Four Heads

Ephraim Frank

Israel

Shalom Fellow Israelite

December 15, 2006

First of all we want to wish you all a very blessed and joyous holiday season. We know that many are going through some very difficult times for varying reasons, but in the midst of trials, which come to all of us in different ways, we would like to remind you of the Hope that we have in the presences of YHVH through the Spirit of Holiness that dwells within us. Last month we have had many requests for prayers from families whose loved ones have been involved in a variety of accidents and other episodes, mostly resulting in head injuries. We, along with others, have been asking the Father why the attack on the “head”. This morning we felt that we have a possible answer from Him; the word came from Ephesians to “put on the helmet of salvation” (Yeshua).

In the last few letters I have been writing about the image (statue) and the beasts. I hope now, after looking at the head and the breast, that we understand why our heads must be covered with “Yeshua”- salvation – and our chest with the breastplate of His righteousness.

It is interesting that tonight starts the celebration of the (temporary) victory that Judah the Maccabee had over the Greeks. Why temporary? Because it did not take long for the powerful influences of the Hellenistic culture to win over the Maccabees, who later became known as the Hasmonean dynasty.

The Greek beast is described “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). In the book of Revelation the wings are not seen, as they represent the four dominions (coverings) that Alexander’s empire was divided into after his death, which was cut off by an even greater empire, Rome. “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:7).

What do the four heads of the Greek beast represent? There were four major influences, or contributions to the kingdoms of men, that this beast brought forth. The Greeks were noted for philosophy and education; arts and architecture; political government (democracy), and science and medicine (Pharmacia). Please note that all four of these heads are on the beast in Daniel, and are also seen on the composite beast, in the book of Revelation. These heads express the creative faculties in man which manifest through the works of his hands. The part of the image/statue (of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream), that this beast represents, is the belly and hips of bronze. The belly, of course, is the digestive system and is connected with man’s appetites, and in many cases reveals the lust of the flesh. The hips or loins represent the area of the reproductive organs, but, under the influence of power of sin, manifest the lust of flesh as well as lust of the eyes. After viewing the influence of the four heads upon the belly and loins, one can understand why Paul wrote that this area must be covered with truth (ref. Ephesians 6:14).

Even though the Greek empire had a king, each individual city was more or less run by an elected body of elders, introducing in this way a form of democracy. Is it possible that this form of government was the outcome of the influence of the scattered Israelites and Judeans (Jews), as it is reminiscent of Jethro’s suggestion to Moses? “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear Elohim, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21). Note the character requirements. 

As we can see from history, the three empires and their impact continued to develop into the ultimate of expression in the form of the fourth beast, which obviously was the Roman domain. The head of this beast perhaps looked like the one in the book of Revelation, with the exception of the iron teeth, which apparently were lost after the fall of that empire. Yeshua’s first appearance was during the rule of this mighty empire. It was the Father’s perfect time to send the little “eh’ve’n/stone” [av-v/ben Father/Son] to defeat Satan’s kingdom and to rule and reign over all the earth. The legs of iron on the statue/image signified the power and the mobility of this beast, with the seven heads, to kill, steal and destroy. Certainly Rome was extremely ruthless in its dealing with any insurrection, which was seen in the hundreds of thousands that died by crucifixion. The beast did not die with the fall of Rome, but began to change into its present description found in the book of Revelation. However, what did happen is that one of its heads was wounded like unto death (ref Revelation 13:3). YHVH willing next week we will take a look at this particular head.

Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sa’me’ach

Ephraim

Israel