THE LION WITH EAGLE`S WINGS – The British Empire & America.

The first Great Super Power to arise in the end times is the British Empire. It eventually controlled about one-fourth of the world. It was ruled by a monarch (king/queen) and had as its symbol `a lion.` This symbol is still on the Royal Coat of Arms to day.

This great power conquered country after country establishing its government in their lands. Then in the middle of last century a remarkable change happened. H.M. Queen Elizabeth 2 as Head of the Commonwealth, broadcasted –

“The Commonwealth bears no resemblance to the empires of the past. It is an entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the Spirit of Man: Friendship, loyalty and the desire for freedom and peace.`

Here we see a transformation. Until then the British Empire had been imperialistically conquering, dominating & colonising. Suddenly there is a remarkable change to the higher qualities of the spirit of man. In political language it meant, co-existing in freedom, peace and equality with its former dominions. The British Empire thus became a Commonwealth of nations.

The American Eagle, who also originally came from the `mother lion,` will continue to be a dominant and integral part of this powerful confederacy.

Let`s now look at Daniel`s vision in Chapter 7 and assess the evidential descriptions there in relation to the contemporary world situation.
 

Daniel`s vision.

`And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle`s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off, and it was made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man`s heart was given to it.`(Dan. 7: 3 & 4)

Lion with eagle`s wings –

The Lion is a symbol of Royal Sovereignty and the eagle is a symbol of Imperial power. This is the initial clue to the identity of this first contemporary super power to emerge. A sovereign Monarchy which exercised imperialistic power over a substantial area of the world – An empire ruled by a monarch.

Wings plucked off –

There is a fascinating double reference in this.

- The empire lost it capacity for imperialistic expansion. (Commonwealth of nations)

- Part of the empire became a separate nation with the eagle as its emblem. (America)

Stand up like a man with a spirit of man –

Here we see transformation. The beast had been imperialistically conquering, dominating & colonising, when suddenly there is a change. There is now a desire for the higher qualities of the spirit of man – freedom, peace and equality. An empire becomes a Commonwealth of nations co-existing together peaceable.

I submit that this first super power to emerge was the Great British Empire, currently, of course the British Commonwealth of Nations. The American Eagle, who originally came from the `lion` will continue to be a dominant and integral part of this powerful confederacy.