Dr Paul Allen

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The vision recorded in the seventh chapter of Daniel is central to the book, and understanding it is crucial to grasping the meaning of a number of otherwise obscure passages in the New Testament .  Daniel received this vision in the first year of Belshazzar (v. 1), so it occurred sometime after the events of chapter 4 but before the events of chapter 5.  In the vision, Daniel sees the winds of heaven stirring up the sea (v. 2). From the sea, he witnesses four great beasts arise, each different from the other (v. 3).  The first beast is like a lion with eagles' wings (v. 4). Its wings are removed and it is made to stand on two feet like a man.  The second beast is like a bear (v. 5). It is raised up on one side and has three ribs in its mouth.  The third beast is like a leopard (v. 6), but it has four wings and four heads.  The fourth beast is almost indescribable (v. 7). It is terrifying and stron

The Roman Empire in 477 AD. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Damiane. The Ancient of Days. A fresco from Ubisi, Georgia (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) John Calvin (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The vision recorded in the seventh chapter of Daniel is central to the book, and understanding it is crucial to grasping the meaning of a number of otherwise obscure passages in the New Testament. Daniel received this vision in the first year of Belshazzar (v. 1), so it occurred sometime after the events of chapter 4 but before the events of chapter 5. In the vision, Daniel sees the winds of heaven stirring up the sea (v. 2). From the sea, he witnesses four great beasts arise, each different from the other (v. 3). The first beast is like a lion with eagles' wings (v. 4). Its wings are removed and it is made to stand on two feet like a man. The second beast is like a bear (v. 5). It is raised up on one side and has three ribs in its mouth. The third beast is like a leopard (v. 6), but it has four wings an