Prophecy

Prophecy Compared with History

Blackwood’s Comprehensive Aids to the Study of the Bible · Vol. I, p. 41

Begins on Vol. I, p. 41

Prophecy of Four Kingdoms Represented by Four Beasts. / Corresponding Events in Their Historical Order.

§The First Beast.—Dan. vii. 4. / Assyrian Empire.

No.	The First Beast.—Dan. vii. 4.	No.	Assyrian Empire.
1.	A lion,	1.	The Babylonian empire;
2.	having eagle's wings;	2.	Nineveh, etc., added to it—but
3.	the wings were plucked;	3.	Nineveh was almost destroyed at the fall of Sardanapalus.
4.	it was raised from the ground,	4.	Yet this empire was again elevated to power,
5.	and made to stand on the feet, as a man,	5.	and seemed to acquire stability under Nebuchadnezzar,
6.	and a man's heart [intellect] was given to it.	6.	who laid the foundation of its subsequent policy and authority.

§The Second Beast.—Dan. viii. 3, 4. / Persian Empire.

No.	The Second Beast.—Dan. viii. 3, 4.	No.	Persian Empire.
1.	A ram	1.	Darius, or the Persian power.
2.	which had two horns,	2.	Composed of Media and Persia—
3.	both high,	3.	both considerable provinces,
4.	but one higher than the other:	4.	Media the most powerful; yet this most powerful
5.	the highest came up last;	5.	Median empire, under Dejoces, rose after the other,
6.	the ram pushed west, north and south,	6.	and extended its conquests, under Cyrus, over Lydia, etc., west; over Asia, north; over Babylon, etc., south; and,
7.	did as he pleased, and became great.	7.	ruling over such an extent of country, was a great empire.

§The Third Beast.—Dan. viii. 5-12. / Grecian Empire.

No.	The Third Beast.—Dan. viii. 5-12.	No.	Grecian Empire.
1.	A he-goat	1.	Alexander, or the Greek power,
2.	came from the west,	2.	came from Europe (west of Asia)
3.	gliding swiftly over the earth;	3.	with unexampled rapidity of success;
4.	ran unto the ram in the fury of his power,	4.	attacked Darius furiously, and
5.	smote him,	5.	beat him—at the Granicus, Issus, etc.;
6.	brake his two horns,	6.	conquered Persia, Media, etc.;
7.	cast him on the ground,	7.	ruined the power of Darius,
8.	stamped on him, and	8.	insomuch that Darius was murdered, etc.
9.	waxed very great;	9.	Alexander overran Bactriana to India,
10.	when he was strong his great horn was broken, and	10.	but died at Babylon in the zenith of his fame and power;
11.	instead of it came up four notable ones	11.	his dominions were parceled among Seleucus, Antigonus, Ptolemy, Cassander (who had been his officers);
12.	toward the four winds of heaven;	12.	In Babylon, Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece.
13.	out of one of them a little horn waxed great	13.	Antiochus the Great, succeeded by Antiochus Epiphanes,
14.	toward the south and east,	14.	conquered Egypt, etc.,
15.	which took away the daily sacrifice, cast down the sanctuary, etc.	15.	and endeavored utterly to subvert the Jewish polity, polluting their temple-worship and sacrifices to the utmost of his power.

§The Fourth Beast.—Dan. vii. 7, 8; 19-21. / Roman Empire.

No.	The Fourth Beast.—Dan. vii. 7, 8; 19-21.	No.	Roman Empire.