The four Gentile empires spoken of by Daniel are back on the scene. One has already been destroyed; Iran is next, then Syria, then the fourth? The revived Roman empire!
So here we are as members of the body of Christ, and we should be able to discern the signs of the times. We’re at the very end of the church age (the dispensation of the grace of God, Ephesians 3:2), and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is once again out in front of the human race, just like it was prior to the Lord’s first advent. And the whole earthly geopolitical scenario, as far as God is concerned, has now come full circle.
The Book of Daniel provides a detailed account of the four Gentile empires that would rule over Israel—Jerusalem and the world leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. It was a sign for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. They were to know that when the fourth Gentile nation came on the scene, their promised Messiah, their King, would be on the scene as well. He would crush Israel’s enemies, establish His glorious kingdom, and rule and reign over all nations from David’s throne in Jerusalem (Luke 1:67–75; 2 Samuel 7:10–16; Zechariah 14:9; Zechariah 8:1–8).
The empires are listed in the order that Daniel sees them in his visions and are as follows:
- Babylonian Empire (Daniel 2:38)
- Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 5:28)
- Greek Empire (Daniel 8:20-21)
- Roman Empire (Daniel 2:40; 9:26)
Israel Should Have Known
They should have known; Israel should have been able to discern the “signs of the times.” They all knew the prophecy, but in their unbelief, they did not accept the Lord’s claim that He was their promised King and, along with the Romans, they killed their own Messiah.
📍 Updated Section: Don’t Be Like the Pharisees and Sadducees
The Jews of Jesus’ day had every reason to know that the time of their Messiah had arrived. The fourth Gentile empire—Rome—was in power, exactly as prophesied by Daniel. Yet tragically, Israel did not recognize the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44).
The Lord Jesus made this indictment crystal clear in Matthew 16:1–4, when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Him, asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus responded by rebuking them sharply:
“When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”
—Matthew 16:2–3 (NKJV)
These religious leaders could read the sky, but they were blind to the prophetic clock ticking right in front of them. They had the Book of Daniel. They knew the prophecy of Daniel’s four Gentile empires. The presence of the Roman Empire—the fourth kingdom—should have been their wake-up call. The signs of Jesus’ identity were all around them: the miracles, the fulfilled prophecies, the authority with which He taught. But they rejected the truth in favor of seeking a sign that would fit their expectations.
In their blindness, they missed the King of kings standing before them. And in rejecting Him, the prophetic clock paused—ushering in the mystery revealed later through the Apostle Paul: the dispensation of grace, the age of the Church.
The Empires are Back
It is amazing but not surprising that the same ancient Gentile empires are back on the scene today. In other words, the same four empires that were prophesied and present leading up to the Lord’s first advent are now center stage in current events (as far as God and Bible prophecy are concerned), and once again the signs are screaming that the Lord is coming. It’s happening right before our eyes, and we need to recognize it and believe it. Jesus is coming soon!
Here is a list of the four Gentile empires that are back on the scene today:
- The Babylonian Empire is represented by Iraq, which has already been destroyed in the Gulf War.
- The Medo-Persian Empire is represented by Iran, which is about to be destroyed any day now. Either by Israel alone or America and Israel together.
- The Greek Empire is represented by Syria, which will be destroyed soon after Iran. (Isaiah 17:1).
- The Roman Empire is represented by the European Union, which is the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26). It will eventually be led by the anti-christ but it too will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Himself at His second coming (Daniel 2:44-45).
The Takeaway
Jesus is coming soon, and the rapture of the church is even closer. Iraq, representing ancient Babylon, has already been destroyed. Iran, representing ancient Persia, is about to be destroyed. Syria, representing ancient Greece, will be next. When Jesus comes back, He will destroy the fourth empire, which is the revived Roman Empire (the European Union), and everyone who has rebelled against Jesus Christ. Satan will be locked up in the abyss for a thousand years, and the antichrist and false prophet will be the first to go into the lake of fire. Jesus will rule and reign over all nations from David’s throne in Jerusalem for a thousand years, with Israel as the head nation above all nations, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant Jesus Himself made to Abraham in Genesis 12.
Glory be to God, For His Word is True.
🔥 Israel Prophetic Update – June 2025
Two Down… Two to Go?
As of June 2025, what was written over 2,500 years ago is playing out in real time before our eyes. The second Gentile empire prophesied by Daniel—Persia, known today as Iran—is being systematically crippled.
Israel, with U.S. support, has not only eliminated top Iranian commanders and its leading nuclear scientist, but now has 100% control over Iranian airspace. Military infrastructure, weapons depots, and nuclear facilities have been destroyed or rendered useless. Iran’s ability to retaliate is effectively gone. Just like ancient Persia fell, modern Iran is being dismantled.
This isn’t just war—it’s divine orchestration.
Let’s be clear: Iran has one goal—to wipe Israel off the map. But no weapon formed against God’s chosen people will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The Lord is not only preserving Israel, He is proving His Word true.
The nations may rage, but prophecy rolls on. Just as the Bible said, the signs of the times are accelerating like birth pains—more intense and more frequent (Matthew 24:8). From Iraq to Iran, the Gentile empires that once lorded over Jerusalem are falling one by one. Next on the stage: Syria, and finally the Revived Roman Empire, from which the Antichrist will arise.
And yet, we are not afraid.
We are not looking for the Antichrist.
We are looking for Jesus Christ.
The trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. And we who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16–17).
Glory to God—we could be moments away from hearing that trumpet.
References:
Daniel 2:38; Daniel 5:28; Daniel 8:20-21; Daniel 9:26; Luke 1:67-75; Zechariah 14:9
Zechariah 8:1-8; Isaiah 17:1; Daniel 2:44-45
