Daniel 7 · The Lantern

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream; he told the sum of the words.

1. In speaking of a "lioness from the sea," he meant the rising of the kingdom of Babylon, and that this was the "golden head of the image." And in speaking of its "eagle wings," be meant that king Nebuchadnezzar was exalted and that his glory was lifted up against God.

Verse 1. "In the first year of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, Daniel beheld a dream. And a vision of his head upon his bed. And when he wrote the dream down, he comprehended it in a few words and gave a brief summary of it, saying..." This section which we now undertake to explain, and also the subsequent section which we are going to discuss, is historically prior to the two pre…

Up to these words the blessed Daniel has written his prophecy more in the style of a historian. First, remember at the beginning he related what happened to those captured in war, and he adds how God, the author of all, was greatly concerned about these matters.

Daniel answered and said: I was looking in my vision with the night, and see, the four winds of the heavens were stirring up the great sea.

And so when the different beast was shown to the blessed prophet Daniel and it was shown that it differed from the others, it is necessary for us to consider that he does not discuss any of the beasts as mere animals, but in a model and image he portrays the kingdoms which have arisen in this world, just as he portrays the beasts destroying humanity.

Verses 2, 3. "And during the night I saw in my vision, and behold, the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea, and four great beasts were coming up out of the sea, differing from one another." The four winds of heaven I suppose to have been angelic powers to whom the principalities have been committed, in accordance with what we read in Deuteronomy: "When the Most High…

For his part, Nebuchadnezzar sees the image, drawing a lesson in the futility of things of this life and the fact that they are appearances, as the divine apostle asserts, and not realities, there is nothing lasting or stable in them, everything fluid and failing and fading. Daniel, [by contrast], is gazing at a sea, gaining a lesson in the haze of the present life.

And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I was looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man; and the heart of a man was given to it.

"The first was a lioness and feathers were upon it as an eagle." [Daniel 7:4] And so he, while speaking, names a lioness as the kingdom of the Babylonians which Nebuchadnezzar then ruled.

Verse 4. "The first beast was like a lioness and possessed the wings of an eagle. I beheld until her wings were torn away, and she was raised upright from the ground and stood on her feet like a human being, and she was given a human heart." The kingdom of the Babylonians was not called a lion but a lioness, on account of its brutality and cruelty, or else because of its luxuri…

This passage Daniel places the strongest of the beasts in the first kingdom; he does not imply that the first beast possessed greater might but only that it was nobler. Nonetheless, he saw "those wings plucked out," that is, abandoned by all the people who had been subjected to it and deprived of its earlier power.

And see, another beast, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: Arise, devour much flesh.

While these things were then happening in this way to Nebuchadnezzar in those times, just as the blessed Daniel disclosed to us in the vision, the king himself likewise confessed it, and after he died, the office came to Belshazzar.

Verse 5. "And behold another beast like a bear stood up on one side; and there were three rows in his mouth and in his teeth; and they said to him: 'Arise up and devour flesh in abundance.'" The second beast resembling a bear is the same as that of which we read in the vision of the statue (2:32): "His chest and arms were of silver." In the former case the comparison was based…

The Persians ruled three parts of the world: the east, the north and the south. Cyrus … brought into submission all the east, as far as the Hellespont. His son subdued Egypt and made the Ethiopians subject to him. Darius … acquired the realm of the nomadic Scythians, to whom it had been destined to inhabit the northern realms.

After this I was looking, and see, another, like a leopard; and it had four wings of a bird on its back, and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it.

Some of the historians recorded that these ruled two hundred forty-five years until Darius the chief, whom Alexander of Macedon deposed in the seventh year and transferred the kingdom of the Persians to the Greeks.

Verse 6. "After this I beheld, and lo, there was another beast like unto a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird all its own, and there were four heads to the beast, and power was given to it." The third kingdom was that of the Macedonians, of which we read in connection with the image, "The belly and thighs were of bronze." It is compared to a leopard because it is very swi…

The "four heads" refer to the division of the empire that took place after Alexander. Four kings were established instead of one.

After this I was looking in the visions of the night, and see, a fourth beast, fearful and terrible and exceedingly strong; and it had great teeth of iron. It devoured and broke in pieces and trampled the rest with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

For the blessed Daniel, explaining the previous vision to Nebuchadnezzar, says, "I now speak concerning the dream of the image, which shows forth to be a golden head, then hands and arms and a silver chest, next a bronze stomach and thighs, then iron legs, next feet, in them part are iron and part are clay," so that in this it may be shown what he described is now described aga…

Then he tells that the fourth beast would arrive in all sorts of different ways and nothing could be compared with it, it was so different. But at last it conquered all the other kingdoms. The other empires all got their strength from the speed by which they conquered, but this beast would have its strength in its teeth, made of iron.

He calls the Roman Empire "the fourth beast," but he does not give it a name because the Roman state was forged together from very many nations and so acquired mastery over the whole world. First it was governed by kings, then by the people, then by the aristocracy, and at last it returned to the first mode of government, monarchy.

I was observing the horns, and see, another horn, a little one, came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it. And see, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

But let us also demonstrate in another way that these things are true and clear and happen to the slaves of God. For Scripture does not lie in any way, nor does the Holy Spirit deceive his slaves the prophets, through whom he is well pleased to announce the plan of God to men, so that seeing these things happen, we might not fall, nor be troubled as beholding these strange thin…

When scripture wishes to expound on the kingdoms, it uses the metaphor of beasts. A kingdom is an incorporeal object; therefore, some type of body has to be ascribed to it. And was it not fitting to describe kingdoms as beasts? Most certainly. For since the qualities of those kingdoms exist chiefly in those beasts, so he found them useful.

Here he alludes to the antichrist, who arises among the ten horns, and he states that the antichrist will pluck out root and all three horns before himself. This means that he will overpower three kings of the ten who would reign at that time. And he calls it a "little" horn, as it was born from the little tribe of the Jews.

Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days

I was looking until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was flames of fire, its wheels burning fire.

But if so great a power is shown to have followed and to be still following the dispensation of His suffering, how great shall that be which shall follow His glorious advent! For He shall come on the clouds as the Son of man, so Daniel foretold, and His angels shall come with Him. These are the words: [quotes Daniel 7:9-28]

When the thrones are set and the Ancient of Days takes his seat, and the books are opened, and the fiery stream comes forth, and the light before him and the darkness prepared … they that have done good shall go into the resurrection of life, now hid in Christ and to be manifested hereafter with him, and they that have done evil, into the resurrection of judgment, to which they…

By "things of old" he means things eternal, confined neither beginning nor end; as we read in Daniel: "Thrones were placed, and the Old of Days sat."

A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment sat, and the books were opened.

And so he does not speak of another Ancient of Days, but indeed the Lord and God and Master of all, the Father of even Christ himself, who is the Ancient of Days, he who does not grow old under time or days, concerning whom was spoken above, "Thrones were set and the Ancient of Days sat and his clothes were white as snow and the hair of his head was as pure wool.

He who is now despised, the same will then be our judge; think ever on him and the river of fire: "For a river of fire" we read, "winds before his face"; for it is impossible for one who has been delivered over by him to the fire to expect any end of his punishment.

"The books were opened," not because God needs books, but the prophet is speaking in human terms, according to the style of Scriptures, which speak materially with material beings; in addition, he says that in order to show the rigorous examination, on which the judgments of God are based, that [God] judges with equity and forbearance.

I was looking then, because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. I was looking until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given to the burning of fire.

And the rest of the beasts — their dominion was taken away, and a lengthening in life was given to them for a season and a time.

Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man

I was looking in the visions of the night, and see, with the clouds of the heavens one like a son of man was coming; and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.

And to him was given dominion and honor and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and tongues should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be ruined.

Daniel’s Visions Interpreted

My spirit, mine, Daniel, was distressed within its sheath, and the visions of my head alarmed me.

I came near to one of those standing there and asked him what was certain about all this. And he told me, and made known to me the interpretation of the words:

These great beasts, which are four — four kings will arise from the earth.

So that we may not turn aside from what is set before, so that what was seen by the prophet may be shown as true and so that what was perceived by us in the grace of the Lord and what was spoken may be sure, let us see if the angel confirms our words, who teaches the blessed Daniel, for he speaks in this way, "These four beasts are four kingdoms which shall arise upon the earth…

The secret meaning of that vision had been disclosed to him by the angel, and the expression "four beasts" indicated the four empires: the Babylonian, which flourished at that time, the Mede, the Persian and the Greek.

Verses 17, 18. "These four great beasts are the four kingdoms which shall arise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High God shall take the kingdom." The four kingdoms of which we have spoken above were earthly in character. "For everything which is of the earth shall return to earth" (Ecclesiastes 3:20).

And the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will possess the kingdom forever, and forever and ever.

Just as God's promise made to Abraham is already visibly fulfilled in Christ, so other promises made to the seed of Abraham will be no less certainly fulfilled. The promise to Abraham was that "all the nations of the earth will be blessed in your seed." It is one of many such promises.

These kingdoms will be wiped out and the true, eternal kingdom will be handed over to the saints of the Almighty. Thus, while waiting for that eternal kingdom, count the kingdoms of this present age to be as nothing, which will soon enough come to their end.

Then I desired to make certain about the fourth beast, which was different from all of them: exceedingly fearful, its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, devouring, breaking in pieces and trampling the rest with its feet;

And so since all the prophets and apostles testify to this, but because the lawless disobey him and blaspheme and set at nothing what has been spoken and persecute and oppress his slaves, and because they do not expect these things which will be, let us ourselves see what will be, we who believe in the Word of truth and who are led by his Word to eternal life, who are taught by…

"Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast and the other horn," which was seen while attacking and harshly afflicting the holy ones with his arms. This is Antiochus, who, as the angel reveals, would have made war and submitted the holy ones and the priests and the righteous ones.

Take note of the iron teeth and the bronze claws that are mentioned. The kingdom of the Romans took tribute from all nations; thus he says that it had iron teeth.

and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that came up, and before which three fell — that horn which had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and whose appearance was greater than its companions.

I was looking, and that horn made war with the holy ones and prevailed against them,

until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came and the holy ones possessed the kingdom.

Thus he said: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms; and it will devour all the earth and tread it down and break it in pieces.

And so if one wishes to meticulously discuss concerning him, these things are more clearly exhibited in another book, so that we may not be about to compose an account concerning him a second time. But now let us speak of what lies ahead concerning the beast which now is instituted.

These doctrines are not the fruit of ingenuity but are derived from the sacred Scriptures read in the church, particularly as gathered out of the prophecy of Daniel, in today's lection, and according to the interpretation given by the archangel Gabriel, who spoke as follows, "the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall surpass all kingdoms." Ecclesiastica…

These things were once taught people through riddles, but we ourselves have learned these very things by experience. We see the fulfillment of the prophecy; we behold daily that tributes are exacted, poverty oppresses many people, and other such things happen.

And the ten horns: from that kingdom ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them; and he will be different from the first ones, and he will bring low three kings.

And he will speak words against the Most High, and he will wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and he will intend to change times and law; and they will be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

If, sirs, it were not said by the Scriptures which I have already quoted, that His form was inglorious, and His generation not declared, and that for His death the rich would suffer death, and with His stripes we should be healed, and that He would be led away like a sheep; and if I had not explained that there would be two advents of His,-one in which He was pierced by you; a…

He will prevent the priests from performing their duties and holy service. "And [he] shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law," which means he shall attempt to delete the holy laws of God and to abolish the traditional festivals and Neomenias.

And he will think that he will be able to overturn completely their godliness, which will be flourishing at that time. Daniel alludes to this when he says, "He will change the times and the law," that is, the way of life prevailing at the time. Then he adds, "And it will be given over to his hand." That is, divine providence will permit these things.

And the judgment will sit, and they will take away his dominion, to annihilate and to destroy it to the end.

For he says, "It was given into his hand for time and times and half a time," [Daniel 7:25] which signals three-and-a-half years, and after these things the coming judgment, for he says, "thrones were set and the judgment sat and the kingdom was … the beast was given to the burning of fire." [Daniel 7:9-11, 26-27] For, "the time approached," [Daniel 7:22] that is, all at once t…

"Then the court shall sit in judgment" in order to revenge the tribulations of the holy ones and of the righteous ones, who preserved the law of the Most High, and in order to punish and destroy Antiochus, the little horn, by whom the Zealots of the house of Jacob had been afflicted and vexed.

The blessed Paul also teaches more clearly to … the Thessalonians, and through them he teaches all lovers of godliness. He says that we should not think that the enemy of truth will appear now, for first the error of the idols, which now holds people in check, must be wiped out and the preaching of the gospel disseminated, then, and only then, will the lawless person be reveale…

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey him.

He, being begotten by the Father before the beginning of time, was God the Word, the only-begotten Son, and remains the same for ever; for "of His kingdom there shall be no end," says Daniel the prophet. Let us all therefore love one another in harmony, and let no one look upon his neighbour according to the flesh, but in Christ Jesus.

Take, also, another like expression. "For until this day … when Moses is read, the veil is on their hearts." Does "until this day" mean "up to the time that Paul wrote the words and no longer"? Does it not mean until this present day and indeed to the very end?

In other words, this is the end of the end of all affairs of this life, all the empires of earth coming to a close and the eternal kingdom being given to the holy ones of the Most High, with those in charge obeying and devotedly serving him, since his kingdom is eternal and does not come to an end.… This cannot be applied to the Maccabees; instead of being entrusted with kingsh…

Thus far is the end of the word. As for me, Daniel — my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my brightness was changed on me; and I kept the word in my heart.

But a certain other man was similarly in Pontus, and he himself governed the church, being a reverent and humble man, though not applying himself unfailingly to the Scriptures but rather believing dreams which he saw.

Daniel adds, "Here the account ends," that is, the interpretation of the vision. "As for me, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale," because of the sad news of the afflictions, which the little horn will impose on my people and priests. "But I kept the matter in my mind," so that I might not sadden my listeners with such a bad omen.