Article

# Panium - Number Five

Panij – Broj pet

The Robbers of Thy People: Rome’s Exaltation and Fall in Prophecy

Razbojnici tvoga naroda: uzdizanje i pad Rima u proroštvu

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

March 5, 2025

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The Book of Daniel unfolds a remarkable prophetic narrative, weaving a principle of repeat and enlarge which threads through its visions, from the metallic statue of chapter 2 to the intricate kingly conflicts of chapter 11. Within this framework, a compelling case emerges: the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, culminating in Egypt’s fall in 30 BC, stands as a pivotal fulfillment of Daniel 11:25, 26, marking the dawn of pagan Rome’s 360-year supremacy.

Knjiga proroka Daniela razotkriva izvanredan proročki prikaz, utkajući načelo ponavljanja i proširenja koje se provlači kroz njezina viđenja, od metalnoga kipa u 2. poglavlju do složenih kraljevskih sukoba u 11. poglavlju. Unutar toga okvira pojavljuje se uvjerljiv dokaz: bitka kod Akcija 31. pr. Kr., koja je kulminirala padom Egipta 30. pr. Kr., stoji kao ključno ispunjenje Daniela 11:25, 26, označujući osvit 360-godišnje prevlasti poganskoga Rima.

Daniel 11 begins with the rise and fall of empires following Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC. Yet, by verse 14, a shift occurs. Around 200 BC, as Antiochus III (Magnus) prepared for the Battle of Panium against the child-king Ptolemy V, Rome intervened, not as a mere bystander but as the “robbers of thy people.” Concerned about securing Egypt’s wheat supply amid Hellenistic turmoil, Rome flexed its influence during the Second Macedonian War (200–197 BC), setting the stage for its prophetic role.

Daniel 11 započinje usponom i padom carstava nakon smrti Aleksandra Velikoga 323. pr. Kr. Ipak, do 14. retka dolazi do zaokreta. Oko 200. pr. Kr., dok se Antioh III. (Veliki) pripremao za bitku kod Panija protiv dječaka-kralja Ptolemeja V., Rim je intervenirao, ne kao puki promatrač, nego kao „nasilnici iz tvoga naroda“. Zabrinut za osiguranje egipatske opskrbe žitom usred helenističkih previranja, Rim je pokazao svoj utjecaj tijekom Drugoga makedonskog rata (200.–197. pr. Kr.), postavljajući pozornicu za svoju proročku ulogu.

## Rome’s Dominance Over the Jews

Rimska nadmoć nad Židovima

Fast forward to 63 BC, and verse 16 finds fulfillment when Pompey storms Jerusalem, entering the Holy of Holies and asserting Roman dominion over the “glorious land.” From here, verses 17 through 22 trace a succession of Roman figures: Pompey’s eastern campaigns, Julius Caesar’s conquests and assassination in 44 BC, Augustus Caesar’s tax-raising reign (noted in Luke 2:1) ending in 14 AD, and Tiberius overseeing Christ’s crucifixion in the year 31 AD, when the “prince of the covenant” was broken. The prophetic line from Pompey in Jerusalem to Titus in Jerusalem in 70 AD, sets forth the line of Rome’s dominance over God’s people.

Premjestimo li se unaprijed do 63. pr. Kr., 16. redak nalazi svoje ispunjenje kada Pompej osvaja Jeruzalem, ulazi u Svetinju nad svetinjama i uspostavlja rimsku vlast nad „slavnom zemljom“. Odatle reci 17 do 22 prate slijed rimskih ličnosti: Pompejeve istočne pohode, osvajanja Julija Cezara i njegovo ubojstvo 44. pr. Kr., vladavinu Augusta Cezara obilježenu nametanjem poreza (zabilježenu u Luki 2,1), koja završava 14. po. Kr., te Tiberija, pod čijom se upravom dogodilo Kristovo raspeće godine 31. po. Kr., kada je „knez Saveza“ bio skršen. Proročka linija od Pompeja u Jeruzalemu do Tita u Jeruzalemu 70. po. Kr. iznosi slijed rimske prevlasti nad Božjim narodom.

Beginning with a Roman General desecrating the temple on to the ending when a Roman General destroyed the temple provides the signature of Alpha and Omega. Beginning with desecrating and ending with destruction the historical line also contains the desecration and the destruction of the One who said of Himself, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” Truth is made up of the first, thirteenth and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the line beginning with Pompey and ending with Titus includes a middle temple destruction that is represented by the middle of three crosses, that were erected at the very middle of the week Christ came to confirm the covenant. Verses sixteen through twenty-two represent a prophetic line that bears the signature of truth. There are a handful of important prophetic lines within the history represented by the verses, but the primary theme of the line is Rome’s dominance over the Jews.

Počevši od rimskog generala koji je oskvrnuo Hram pa do završetka kada je rimski general razorio Hram, očituje se potpis Alfe i Omege. Započevši oskvrnućem i završavajući razorenjem, povijesna linija također sadrži oskvrnuće i razorenje Onoga koji je za sebe rekao: „Razvalite ovaj hram i ja ću ga u tri dana podići.“ Istina je sačinjena od prvoga, trinaestoga i posljednjega slova hebrejskog alfabeta, a linija koja počinje s Pompejem i završava s Titom uključuje srednje razorenje Hrama, predstavljeno srednjim od triju križeva koji su bili podignuti točno usred tjedna u kojem je Krist došao potvrditi savez. Stihovi šesnaesti do dvadeset drugi predstavljaju proročku liniju koja nosi potpis istine. Unutar povijesti koju ti stihovi predstavljaju postoji nekoliko važnih proročkih linija, ali primarna tema te linije jest rimska prevlast nad Židovima.

## Leagues and Treaties

Savezi i ugovori

Verse 23 “repeats and enlarges” by looping back to 161–158 BC, when the Jews under Judas Maccabeus forged a league with Rome (1 Maccabees 8). This highlights Rome’s unique empire-building strategy—conquest through treaties and alliances, a method distinct from its predecessors. Verse 24 concludes this phase, noting Rome would “forecast its devices from the strongholds, even for a time.”

Redak 23 „ponavlja i proširuje“ vraćajući se na razdoblje od 161. do 158. pr. Kr., kada su Židovi pod Judom Makabejcem sklopili savez s Rimom (1 Makabejcima 8). Time se ističe jedinstvena rimska strategija izgradnje carstva — osvajanje putem ugovora i saveza, metoda različita od onih njezinih prethodnika. Redak 24 zaključuje ovu fazu, napominjući da će Rim „smišljati svoje namjere protiv utvrda, ali samo za neko vrijeme“.

> And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. Daniel 11:23, 24.

> I nakon saveza sklopljena s njime, postupat će prijevarno; jer će uzaći i osnažiti se s malobrojnim narodom. Ući će mirno čak i u najplodnija mjesta pokrajine; i učinit će ono što nisu učinili njegovi oci, niti oci njegovih otaca; razdijelit će među njima plijen i grabež i bogatstvo; da, smišljat će svoje nakane protiv utvrda, ali samo za neko vrijeme. Daniel 11:23, 24.

## For a Time

Za Vrijeme

The word translated “against” can be understood as the word “from”. Rome forecasts its devices “from”. The word “from” in the verse points to the city of Rome, the empire’s political and military heart, as the base of its strategies. The “time” is prophetically 360 years, beginning when Egypt falls in 30 BC after Actium, and ending in the year 330 when Constantine abandons Rome for Constantinople.

Riječ prevedena kao „protiv” može se razumjeti kao riječ „iz”. Rim svoje naprave predskazuje „iz”. Riječ „iz” u retku upućuje na grad Rim, političko i vojno srce carstva, kao ishodište njegovih strategija. „Vrijeme” je proročki 360 godina, počevši od pada Egipta 30. pr. Kr. nakon Akcija, a završavajući godine 330., kada Konstantin napušta Rim radi Konstantinopola.

Verses 25 and 26 zero in on Actium itself.

Stihovi 25 i 26 usmjeravaju pozornost upravo na sam Akcij.

> And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. Daniel 11:25, 26.

> I podignut će svoju silu i svoju hrabrost protiv kralja juga s velikom vojskom; i kralj juga bit će potaknut na boj s vojskom veoma velikom i silnom; ali se neće održati, jer će kovati spletke protiv njega. Da, oni koji se hrane dijelom njegove hrane uništit će ga, i njegova će vojska preplaviti zemlju; i mnogi će pasti pobijeni. Daniel 11:25, 26.

In 31 BC, Octavian, representing Rome as the “king of the north,” marshaled his forces against Cleopatra’s Egypt, the “king of the south,” in a monumental naval clash. Antony and Cleopatra’s “very great and mighty army” faltered, undone by strategic “devices” (Agrippa’s tactics) and betrayals—defections from Antony’s allies and Cleopatra’s mid-battle retreat. By 30 BC, Egypt was a Roman province, launching pagan Rome’s unchallenged rule. This 360-year span, from 30 BC to 330, aligns with Rome’s supremacy centered in its original stronghold, until Constantine’s shift “cast down” the stronghold, as Daniel 8:11 foretells.

Godine 31. pr. Kr., Oktavijan je, predstavljajući Rim kao „kralja sjevera”, pokrenuo svoje snage protiv Kleopatrina Egipta, „kralja juga”, u monumentalnom pomorskom sukobu. Antonijeva i Kleopatrina „vrlo velika i moćna vojska” posrnula je, svladana strateškim „spletkama” (Agripinim taktikama) i izdajama — otpadništvima Antonijevih saveznika i Kleopatrinim povlačenjem usred bitke. Do 30. pr. Kr. Egipat je postao rimska pokrajina, čime je započela neosporena vladavina poganskoga Rima. To razdoblje od 360 godina, od 30. pr. Kr. do 330., podudara se s rimskom prevlašću usredotočenom u njegovu izvornu utvrdu, sve dok Konstantinov prijenos nije „oborio” tu utvrdu, kao što proreče Daniel 8,11.

> Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. Daniel 8:11.

> Da, uzvisio se sve do Kneza vojske, i po njemu je ukinuta svagdašnja žrtva, i mjesto njegova Svetišta bilo je oboreno. Daniel 8,11.

When Constantine cast down the city of Rome for the city of Constantinople, he left a power vacuum in the city of Rome open for the papal church to take the seat of authority represented by the city of Rome. The act fulfilled verse two of Revelation thirteen.

Kada je Konstantin napustio grad Rim radi grada Konstantinopola, ostavio je u gradu Rimu vakuum moći, otvoren papinskoj crkvi da preuzme sjedište vlasti koje je predstavljao grad Rim. Taj je čin ispunio drugi redak trinaestoga poglavlja Otkrivenja.

> And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Revelation 13:2.

> I Zvijer koju vidjeh bijaše slična leopardu, i noge joj bijahu kao u medvjeda, a usta njezina kao usta lavlja; i zmaj joj dade svoju silu i svoje prijestolje i veliku vlast. Otkrivenje 13,2.

In Daniel 8, two different Hebrew words, both translated as “sanctuary” distinguish the story of the sanctuary in the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel represents a warfare between Christ and Satan as illustrated in the earthly representatives of Christ and Satan. Babylon, Satan’s earthly representative conquers Jerusalem in the opening of Daniel, and Jerusalem conquers Babylon in verse forty-five of chapter eleven. The kingdoms represented by the city of Jerusalem and the city of Babylon are “sanctuaries of strength.” The cities of Babylon and Jerusalem are both sanctuaries of strength, and they both have their own temples within the city. The Pantheon temple is in the city of Rome, and the temple in Jerusalem is the counterpart in the prophetic narrative. Babylon and the city of Rome are counterfeits of Jerusalem.

U Danielu 8 dvije različite hebrejske riječi, obje prevedene kao „svetište”, razlučuju izvještaj o svetištu u knjizi proroka Daniela. Knjiga proroka Daniela prikazuje ratovanje između Krista i Sotone, kako je oslikano u zemaljskim predstavnicima Krista i Sotone. Babilon, Sotonin zemaljski predstavnik, osvaja Jeruzalem na početku Daniela, a Jeruzalem osvaja Babilon u četrdeset i petom retku jedanaestoga poglavlja. Kraljevstva predstavljena gradom Jeruzalemom i gradom Babilonom jesu „svetišta sile”. Gradovi Babilon i Jeruzalem oboje su svetišta sile, i oba imaju svoje vlastite hramove unutar grada. Hram Panteon nalazi se u gradu Rimu, a hram u Jeruzalemu njegov je pandan u proročkom izvještaju. Babilon i grad Rim krivotvorine su Jeruzalema.

In Daniel 8, the two Hebrew words are “miqdash” in verse 11, where the little horn (pagan Rome) casts down the “place of his sanctuary” (the city of Rome), when Constantine relocates in 330. The other word is “qodesh” in verses 13, 14, where God’s sanctuary awaits cleansing after 2300 days. Though both words are translated as sanctuary, “miqdash” can represent either God’s fortress or a pagan fortress, whereas “qodesh” is only used in the Bible to represent God’s sanctuary.

U Danielu 8 dvije su hebrejske riječi: „miqdash” u 11. retku, gdje mali rog (poganski Rim) obara „mjesto svoga svetišta” (grad Rim), kada se Konstantin 330. godine seli. Druga je riječ „qodesh” u recima 13 i 14, gdje Božje svetište očekuje očišćenje nakon 2300 dana. Premda se obje riječi prevode kao svetište, „miqdash” može označavati ili Božju utvrdu ili pogansku utvrdu, dok se „qodesh” u Bibliji koristi samo za označavanje Božjega svetišta.

In Daniel 11:31, the “sanctuary of strength” (the city of Rome) is polluted as the Barbarians and Vandals bring warfare to the city of Rome. The “arms” in the verse started with Clovis in 496 and continued until papal Rome, was fully ascendant by 538, when the Ostrogoths are expelled from the city.

U Danielu 11,31 „svetište snage” (grad Rim) biva oskvrnjeno dok barbari i Vandali donose ratovanje u grad Rim. „Mišice” u tom retku započele su s Klodvigom 496. godine i nastavile se sve dok papinski Rim nije u potpunosti uzdigao svoju prevlast 538. godine, kada su Ostrogoti protjerani iz grada.

The prophetic line from Actium extends beyond 330. Verse 30’s “ships of Chittim” identify the Vandals under Genseric, who sacked Rome in 455, signaling Western Rome’s collapse. Papal Rome then rises, ruling from 538 until 1798; for 1260 years until Napoleon’s General Berthier delivered the “deadly wound” by capturing Pius VI. The 360 years of pagan Rome, from 30 BC to 330, mirrors the 1260 years of papal Rome, each beginning when a third obstacle (Egypt, Ostrogoths) falls.

Proročka linija od Akcija proteže se dalje od 330. „Kitimske lađe” iz retka 30 identificiraju Vandale pod Genserikom, koji su 455. opljačkali Rim, označujući slom Zapadnoga Rima. Tada se uzdiže papinski Rim, vladajući od 538. do 1798.; tijekom 1260 godina, sve dok Napoleonov general Berthier nije zadavanjem „smrtne rane” zarobljavanjem Pija VI. nanio taj udarac. Tristo šezdeset godina poganskoga Rima, od 30. pr. Kr. do 330., zrcali 1260 godina papinskoga Rima, pri čemu svaki započinje kada padne treća prepreka (Egipat, Ostrogoti).

The modern “king of the north” emerges in verse 40. In 1989, the papacy, allied secretly with Reagan’s USA (symbolized as chariots, ships, and horsemen), topples the USSR, the “king of the south” (atheism/Communism). Verse 41 identifies the papacy conquering the “glorious land”—turning the Protestant USA into the Catholic USA—while verses 42, 43 identify the United Nations represented by Egypt yielding to a threefold union consisting of the United Nations (the dragon) the Vatican (the beast) and the United States (the false prophet), steering the world to Armageddon. Verse 45 predicts this power’s end, “with none to help,” its wound healed in verse forty-one, but its fate sealed by verse forty-five.

Suvremeni „kralj sjevera” pojavljuje se u 40. retku. Godine 1989. papinstvo, potajno udruženo s Reaganovim SAD-om (simboliziranim kao bojna kola, lađe i konjanici), ruši SSSR, „kralja juga” (ateizam/komunizam). U 41. retku papinstvo osvaja „slavnu zemlju” — pretvarajući protestantski SAD u katolički SAD — dok 42. i 43. redak prepoznaju kako Ujedinjeni narodi, predstavljeni Egiptom, popuštaju trostrukom savezu sastavljenom od Ujedinjenih naroda (zmaja), Vatikana (zvijeri) i Sjedinjenih Američkih Država (lažnoga proroka), usmjeravajući svijet prema Armagedonu. U 45. retku predskazan je svršetak te sile, „i neće biti nikoga da joj pomogne”; njezina rana biva iscijeljena u 41. retku, ali joj je sudbina zapečaćena do 45. retka.

Actium in 31 BC is the focus of verses 25, 26, launching Rome’s 360-year reign from its sanctuary-stronghold. With verse fourteen as a caveat, the story of pagan Rome from verse sixteen unto the transition to papal Rome in verse thirty-one is the complete line of pagan Rome. That line is divided into three parts. Verse sixteen to twenty-two is the line of Rome’s dominance over ancient Israel. Verse twenty-three and twenty-four identifies that work of empire building which Rome employed when conquering through leagues and treaties in conjunction with military might. Verse twenty-four through to the last expression in verse thirty-one is a two-part line representing a period when Rome exalted itself, followed by a fall.

Akcij iz 31. pr. Kr. u središtu je redaka 25 i 26, započinjući 360-godišnju vladavinu Rima iz njegove utvrde-svetišta. Uz redak četrnaesti kao ogradu, prikaz poganskoga Rima od retka šesnaestog pa sve do prijelaza na papinski Rim u retku trideset i prvom predstavlja cjelovitu liniju poganskoga Rima. Ta je linija podijeljena na tri dijela. Redci šesnaest do dvadeset i dva čine liniju rimske prevlasti nad drevnim Izraelom. Redci dvadeset i tri i dvadeset i četiri označuju ono djelo izgradnje carstva kojim se Rim služio osvajajući putem saveza i ugovora u spoju s vojnom silom. Od retka dvadeset i četvrtog pa do posljednjega izraza u retku trideset i prvom proteže se dvodijelna linija koja predstavlja razdoblje u kojem se Rim uzvisio, nakon čega je uslijedio pad.

The “time appointed” is the conclusion of the 360 years in the year 330. Verses twenty-seven unto the last phrase of verse thirty-one, which identifies when the papal power, represented as the abomination that maketh desolate was placed on the throne in 538 is the history of pagan Rome in the context of the period of three hundred and sixty years of supreme rule, which is then followed by two hundred and eight years of a progressive fall.

„Određeno vrijeme“ jest završetak 360 godina u godini 330. Redci dvadeset i sedam pa sve do posljednje rečenice retka trideset i jedan, koja određuje kada je papinska vlast, prikazana kao gnusoba pustoši, bila postavljena na prijestolje 538. godine, predstavljaju povijest poganskoga Rima u okviru razdoblja od tri stotine i šezdeset godina vrhovne vlasti, nakon čega slijedi dvjesto i osam godina postupnoga pada.

Therefore the “time” of verse twenty-four begins in 31 BC with an addition of the king of the south to the domain of the king of the north, and it ends in 330 with a division of the king of the north into east and west. From 330 unto 538 pagan Rome progressively falls apart. The various prophetic identifications associated with the various steps of demise of pagan Rome are the prophetic anchors that allow the student of prophecy to recognize God’s prophetic Word. In fulfillment of verse fourteen of Daniel eleven, Rome establishes the vision, and one of the ways that it does that very thing is through its fall. The verse states, “also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.”

Stoga „vrijeme” iz dvadeset i četvrtoga retka započinje 31. pr. Kr. pridodanjem kralja juga području kralja sjevera, a završava 330. podjelom kralja sjevera na istok i zapad. Od 330. do 538. poganski Rim postupno se raspada. Različita proročka poistovjećenja povezana s različitim stupnjevima propasti poganskoga Rima proročki su oslonci koji učeniku proroštva omogućuju da prepozna Božju proročku Riječ. U ispunjenju četrnaestoga retka jedanaestoga poglavlja Daniela, Rim uspostavlja viđenje, a jedan od načina na koji to upravo čini jest kroz svoj pad. Redak kaže: „i nasilnici između tvoga naroda uzvisit će se da utvrde viđenje; ali će pasti.”

When Rome is attacked by the ships of Chittim, and thereafter attacks the south, it was not as the either the former or the latter, for from here onward the fall of the Roman power is being portrayed. The first four trumpets of the seven trumpets of Revelation found in chapter eight specifically describe the four major powers that ultimately brought Western Rome to a conclusion by 476. The vision is established when the robbers of thy people exalt themselves and fall. The prophetic vision is illustrated upon the framework of Rome’s fall. Western pagan Rome fell from 330 unto 538. Papal Rome fell in 1798. In the history of the fifth and sixth trumpet Eastern Rome fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Those three falls are part of the vision that is established by the robbers of thy people.

Kad Rim bude napadnut od lađa Kitimskih, a potom napadne jug, to nije bilo ni kao prije ni kao poslije, jer se od ovoga mjesta nadalje prikazuje pad rimske sile. Prve četiri trube od sedam truba iz Otkrivenja, koje se nalaze u osmom poglavlju, posebno opisuju četiri velike sile koje su naposljetku dovele Zapadni Rim do njegova kraja do 476. godine. Viđenje se uspostavlja kada se odmetnici tvoga naroda uzvise i padnu. Proročko viđenje prikazano je na okviru pada Rima. Zapadni poganski Rim pao je od 330. do 538. godine. Papinski Rim pao je 1798. godine. U povijesti pete i šeste trube Istočni Rim pao je pod osmanske Turke 1453. godine. Ta tri pada dio su viđenja koje se uspostavlja odmetnicima tvoga naroda.

The verse states, “also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.” From 31 BC to 330 pagan Rome “exalted themselves” in their supremacy over the world. From 330 to 538 pagan Rome fell away to prepare for the man of sin to be seated in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. From 538 unto 1798 the papal power “exalted themselves,” and in 1798 they fell. From 31 BC to 330 Western Rome “exalted” that it was the center of the Roman empire, and from 330 unto 476 it fell. In 330 Constantine exalted that Constantinople was the center of Eastern Rome and in 1453 Eastern Rome fell. The periods of the various representations of Rome, each possess a period where Rome exalts, followed by a period illustrating its fall, for “the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.”

Redak kaže: „I nasilnici iz tvoga naroda uzvisit će se da utvrde viđenje; ali će pasti.” Od 31. pr. Kr. do 330. poganski Rim „uzvisivao se” u svojoj vrhovnoj vlasti nad svijetom. Od 330. do 538. poganski je Rim opadao kako bi pripravio put da se čovjek grijeha ustoliči u hramu Božjem, proglašujući sebe Bogom. Od 538. do 1798. papinska se vlast „uzvisivala”, a 1798. je pala. Od 31. pr. Kr. do 330. Zapadni se Rim „uzvisivao” tvrdeći da je središte Rimskog Carstva, a od 330. do 476. pao je. Godine 330. Konstantin je uzvisio Carigrad kao središte Istočnog Rima, a 1453. Istočni je Rim pao. Razdoblja različitih prikaza Rima svako posjeduje razdoblje u kojem se Rim uzvisuje, nakon kojega slijedi razdoblje koje prikazuje njegov pad, jer „nasilnici iz tvoga naroda uzvisit će se da utvrde viđenje; ali će pasti.”

The Hebrew word translated as “robbers” is better translated as “breakers” for it aligns more closely with the root’s primary sense—to break through or disrupt—rather than strictly “robbers” (which implies theft). The term suggests those who fracture boundaries, laws, or covenants, not just steal goods. Rome is the breaker in Bible prophecy, though it is translated as “robbers” in verse fourteen. In Daniel chapter two Rome is the iron kingdom, and then in chapter seven the fourth beast is also Rome.

Hebrejska riječ prevedena kao „razbojnici“ bolje se prevodi kao „rušitelji“, jer je to bliže primarnom značenju korijena — probiti se ili razoriti — nego strogo „razbojnici“ (što podrazumijeva krađu). Izraz upućuje na one koji razaraju granice, zakone ili saveze, a ne samo da kradu dobra. Rim je rušitelj u biblijskom proročanstvu, premda je u četrnaestom retku preveden kao „razbojnici“. U drugom poglavlju Daniela Rim je željezno kraljevstvo, a zatim je u sedmom poglavlju četvrta zvijer također Rim.

> 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.

> Nakon toga vidjeh u noćnim viđenjima, i gle, četvrta zvijer, strašna i užasna, i silno jaka; i imala je velike željezne zube: proždirala je i satirala, a ostatak gazila svojim nogama; i bijaše različita od svih zvijeri koje bijahu prije nje; i imala je deset rogova. Daniel 7,7.

The fourth beast–which is Rome–has “iron” teeth, for it is the same fourth kingdom represented as iron in chapter two. In verse seven the fourth beast of Rome “breaks in pieces,” and when it breaks in pieces it “stamped the residue with the feet of it.” The beast of Rome is the iron kingdom and the characteristic of braking in pieces and stamping the residue represents the act of persecution. The persecution brought upon ancient Israel was a “sign.”

Četvrta zvijer — koja je Rim — ima „željezne” zube, jer je to isto ono četvrto kraljevstvo koje je u drugom poglavlju prikazano kao željezo. U sedmom retku četvrta zvijer, Rim, „lomi u komade”, a kad lomi u komade, „ostatak gazi svojim nogama”. Zvijer Rima jest željezno kraljevstvo, a obilježje lomljenja u komade i gaženja ostatka predstavlja čin progonstva. Progonstvo navučeno na drevni Izrael bilo je „znak”.

> Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed forever. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young. Deuteronomy 28:45–50.

> Štoviše, sva će ova prokletstva doći na te, i gonit će te, i stići će te, dok ne budeš uništen; jer nisi poslušao glas Gospoda, Boga svojega, da držiš njegove zapovijedi i njegove uredbe koje ti je zapovjedio. I bit će na tebi za znak i za čudo, i na tvome potomstvu dovijeka. Jer nisi služio Gospodu, Bogu svojemu, s radošću i s veselim srcem, zbog obilja svega; zato ćeš služiti svojim neprijateljima, koje će Gospod poslati na te, u gladi, i u žeđi, i u golotinji, i u oskudici svega; i stavit će jaram željezni na tvoj vrat, dok te ne uništi. Gospod će dovesti na te narod izdaleka, s kraja zemlje, brz kao što orao leti; narod čijega jezika nećeš razumjeti; narod okrutna lica, koji neće poštovati starca niti iskazati milost mladomu. Ponovljeni zakon 28:45–50.

The curses upon ancient Israel brought about by their rebellion are a “sign and a wonder, and upon thy seed forever.” The curse was to be brought upon them with “a nation of fierce countenance.” The beast with iron teeth that “breaks in pieces and stamps the residue” in chapter seven is also the fourth kingdom which proceeds from the division of Alexander’s kingdom, and just as with Moses in Deuteronomy, that kingdom is a nation whose tongue ancient Israel would not understand. The kingdom of Rome in Daniel chapter eight is a nation of fierce countenance and a nation who speaks a different language.

Prokletstva nad drevnim Izraelom prouzročena njihovom pobunom jesu „znak i čudo, i na tvome potomstvu dovijeka”. Prokletstvo je trebalo doći na njih po „narodu opaka lica”. Zvijer sa željeznim zubima koja „mrvi i satire, a ostatak gazi nogama” u sedmom poglavlju ujedno je i četvrto kraljevstvo koje proizlazi iz podjele Aleksandrova kraljevstva, i kao što je i kod Mojsija u Ponovljenom zakonu, to je kraljevstvo narod čiji jezik drevni Izrael ne bi razumio. Rimsko kraljevstvo u osmom poglavlju Danielove knjige jest narod opaka lica i narod koji govori drugim jezikom.

> Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. Daniel 8:22, 23.

> A to što je bilo slomljeno, dok su četiri nastala na njegovu mjestu, četiri će kraljevstva ustati iz naroda, ali ne u njegovoj sili. A u posljednje vrijeme njihova kraljevstva, kad prijestupnici navrše mjeru, ustat će kralj drska lica i vješt u zagonetnim izrekama. Daniel 8:22, 23.

The “robbers (breakers) of thy people” establish the vision, they exalt themselves and they fall. The fourth iron kingdom was pagan Rome who ruled supremely when exalting themselves, but whose ultimate fall became a prophetic characteristic which establishes the vision. They are breakers for they trample down God’s people through persecution.

„Razbojnici (rušitelji) tvoga naroda“ uspostavljaju viđenje; uzvisuju se i padaju. Četvrto željezno kraljevstvo bio je poganski Rim, koji je vrhovno vladao dok se uzvisivao, ali je njegov konačni pad postao proročko obilježje koje uspostavlja viđenje. Oni su rušitelji jer gaze Božji narod progonstvom.

We will continue this study in the next article.

Ovo ćemo proučavanje nastaviti u sljedećem članku.

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