63Historical Account: 1 Some time between BC 555 and 550 Daniel saw and recorded this prophecy: 2 Wars from four different directions moved the Mediterranean masses of humanity, 3 And four great kingdoms (empires) arose from the peoples: Babylon (the southernmost), Medo-Persia (in the East; cf. ch. 8:4), Grecia (to the West; cf. ch. 8:5), and Rome (the northernmost), each different from the other. 4 Babylon was the first and greatest of these empires, its armies both powerful and swift. But it lost its speed, was exalted, and then became wicked (or, fearful). 5 Medo-Persia then conquered with massive armies; the Persian side was greater; and it devoured Lydia, Babylonia, and Egypt; and its slaughter was massive. 6 Then the Grecian (Macedonian) Empire conquered powerfully and swiftly; its capitals were successively: Pella in Macedonia, Alexandria in Egypt, Antioch in Syria, and one in Thrace (cf. ch. 8:8). 7 And then came Rome conquering by power and terror alone. The Roman Empire was different (primarily later, in the Papal phase), and out of it will ten nations (tribes) arise: Heruli, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Allemanni (Germans), Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, and Vandals. 8 And during their time the Pope began to exercise civil power in Rome, so that the Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Lombards were all dissolved into the Kingdom of Italy. The popes had great wisdom of men but boasted of higher authority.
64Aram. saw
65So Massoretic, Aram., Vg. 4QDanb GkTh omit this last clause, and told the sum of the matters
7: 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heavens brake forth upon the great sea.
7: 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
7: 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.
7: 5 And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and 66it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
66Or, as otherwise read, it raised up one dominion,
7: 6 After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7: 7 After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, fearful and 67powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
67Or, dreadful,
7: 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
7: 9 68I beheld till thrones were 69placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.
689 Finally, Messiah and His saints will reign as kings (or, the kings of this world will be cast down) and the Eternal God will exercise power: He is righteous and pure; His rule purifies that which is good and destroys the evil wherever it goes. 10 Purification of good and destruction of evil go before Him: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., serve Him, and the whole world will be judged in Messiah’s Kingdom, when the word of God (the Bible) will be openly understood by all. 11 I watched because of the boasting of the sovereign; I watched until Rome lost its power, and (Western) Europe was ruined and utterly destroyed. 12 And as for Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece (Macedonia?), they lost their power, yet they (or their cultures) continued to exist for some time thereafter.
69Or, cast down,
7: 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
7: 11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given 70to be burned with fire.
70Aram. to the burning of fire.
7: 12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
7: 13 71I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
7113 And behold, Messiah’s intervention is approved of God. 14 And Messiah received dominion, glory, and a Kingdom, that all the families of the earth should serve Him: His dominion will be forever, it shall neither fade away nor be destroyed.
7: 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
7: 15 72As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of 73my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
7215 The vision is distressing. 16 I Daniel asked an angel who knew, so he explained the vision. 17 These four great beasts represent four great empires with their emperors who rise through governmental ranks. 18 But when the saints govern the earth it will be for all the ages of eternity. 19 Then I Daniel wanted to know about the fourth beast that was different in composition, very intimidating, whose government devours, whose armies tear apart, and that slays, crushes, and oppresses wherever it goes; 20 And the meaning of the ten powers on its head, and the power that arose and put down three of the others, the one with craftiness and boastful claims, and that gained more power than its associates. 21 I Daniel watched as this power waged war against the faithful and overpowered them; 22 until God sent Messiah for the Judgment Day, and the faithful saints were awakened and given the kingdom.
73Aram. the sheath,
7: 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
7: 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.
7: 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
7: 19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding fearful, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of copper; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
7: 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
7: 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
7: 22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
7: 23 74Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon the earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall 75tread it down, and break it in pieces.
74Then it was explained: Rome, the fourth beast, will add little of cultural value but will differ in the role of religion, and it will slay and oppress without mercy. 24 And in AD 476 Odoacer, becoming king of the Heruli, will slay the head of the beast by conquering Rome and terminating the West Roman Empire, and the residue will be ten Germanic nations: Heruli, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Allemanni, Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Burgundians, Visigoths, Suevi, and Vandals; and when the pope is left in control of Rome about AD 539, he will begin his rise, and it is Papal government that will be different from all other kingdoms, and the Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Lombards will be incorporated into the Rome-dominated Kingdom of Italy. 25 And Rome will blaspheme the character of God and wear down the faithful, and will attempt to establish Messiah’s Kingdom in his own way and before the time, and the faithful will be oppressed 1260 days/years, when the office of pope will be temporarily terminated (by Napoleon). 26 But God will judge, and Roman government will be dissolved, and the entire system will disintegrate in the end of the age and be utterly obliterated in the hearts of the people during Messiah’s Kingdom. 27 And the Kingdom will be given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., who are under Messiah and his saints, who are under God; and after Satan’s final season the Kingdom of God will continue forever, and all peoples will serve him with a pure heart and of their own free will. 28 And there is no sequel to eternity. Much of history is dreadful, but its lessons should be taken to heart.
75Or, thresh it,
7: 24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
7: 25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until 76a time and two times and half a time.
76So Massoretic, Sept., (Vg.) GkTh. 4QDana (Aram.) read a time, two times, and half a time. Soncino Commentary says ןדע, idan, in Aramaic means both time and year.
7: 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
7: 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
7: 28 77Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my 78countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
77Aram. Hitherto i.e., It is the last word on the subject.
78Aram. brightness
