hotcoffee
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Daniel 7:6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
Most of the commentaries only mention the leopard in passing. The first commentary that gives any real information aligns the Leopard to the Greeks and Alexander the Great.
The leopard represented the Greek Empire. Alexander the Great quickly conquered the civilized world by age 28. "Nothing in the history of the world, was equal to the conquests of Alexander, who ran through all the countries from Illycrium and the Adriatic Sea to the Indian Ocean and the River Ganges; and in twelve years subdued part of Europe, and all Asia." (Clarke)
After his death his empire was divided into four parts (four heads). Specifically, the four heads were Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, who inherited Alexander's domain after his death.
The Babylonian Empire dominated in Daniel's day. One might have guessed - especially in the reign of Belshazzar - that the next empire would be the Medo-Persian Empire. But how could Daniel know that the next world empire would be like a leopard in its rise and prominence, and that it would be divided into four parts? This shows a plain principle: God knows the future, and reveals certain details of the future through His prophets. It shows that God lives outside our time domain and can see the future as well as the past. He sees the whole parade of human history, not just the part passing in front of a single spectator. The proof of fulfilled prophecy is exceptionally persuasive; no wonder Peter says: We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).
After his death his empire was divided into four parts (four heads). Specifically, the four heads were Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, who inherited Alexander's domain after his death.
The Babylonian Empire dominated in Daniel's day. One might have guessed - especially in the reign of Belshazzar - that the next empire would be the Medo-Persian Empire. But how could Daniel know that the next world empire would be like a leopard in its rise and prominence, and that it would be divided into four parts? This shows a plain principle: God knows the future, and reveals certain details of the future through His prophets. It shows that God lives outside our time domain and can see the future as well as the past. He sees the whole parade of human history, not just the part passing in front of a single spectator. The proof of fulfilled prophecy is exceptionally persuasive; no wonder Peter says: We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).
So now Daniel is dreaming of the future. According to the Precept Austin commentary [the one I've found the most helpful on this chapter of Daniel] Daniel is dreaming of the Greek conquest in 553BC. Alexander the Great wasn't even a twinkle in his grandmother's eye then. The Greek Empire didn't happen until 331-63BC. That's 200 years before it happened! It's comparable to the belly and thighs of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's first dream.
Now leopards are known for their speed. This leopard had four wings, making it even faster. I guess that makes sense since Alexander the Great conquered part of Europe and all of Asia in just 12 years.
A leopard with four wings is one thing, but a leopard with four wings and four heads is just plain unimaginable.
According to the commentaries, Alexander the Great died of alcoholism at the age of 38. When he died, his kingdom was divided into four parts. Thus the four heads makes sense. As the first commentary I cited says, the four kingdoms were divided between Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.
The last few words of the verse are, to me, the most amazing. There are only seven words in the phrase "and it was given authority to rule". Since seven is a perfect number, then it makes sense that Daniel is saying that God gave Alexander the Great the authority to rule. At least, that's what I garner from the commentaries.
