The Spirit gives us information wherever requires so we may track where the ungodly nations are leading to. “And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.” Last end of the indignation rests with Jesus Christ who is the fulness of times. It is thus we follow the river of time.
‘Between the banks of Ulai‘
The name Ulai is a label. We have the continuity of time provided by the river and it begins with God’s time and Eden refers to it. When the man calls out Gabriel we have two names the one is the Son of man and the other is Daniel who, as Ezekiel is designated is the son of man. “a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”(v.18) Accordingly it is the task of Gabriel who gives him understanding.
“ Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” (v.22)
Historically four kingdoms refer to the four generals of Alexander and it explains the Hellenization of a large part of the globe, The generals did not create these kingdom by their own prowess. So when Gabriel makes Daniel understand the things hereafter refers to the prince of Persia, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”(10:13). Gabriel has his sphere of influence, similarly prince of Persia refers to angelic host. They are part of a wider conflict going on in heaven. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”(Re.12:7) In this context St Paul gives us a reason of conflicts in our world. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”(Ep.6:12)
The four beasts consequently in the night vision are propped up by spiritual wickedness. When the nation of Israel demanded of Prophet/Judge Samuel for a king God reveals what was driving the Israelites.
“Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sa.8:5-10) They apparently had a reason but God was not to be fooled, and He says,”And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them./According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.”
God uses ‘even unto this day’ thereby their apostasy and rejection of God shall be held to account on the day of the Lamb. When the wrath of the Lamb breaks out the kings are out helter-skelter, “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;/ And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”(Re.6:15-16)
GuidetohisWord 