C. The Grecian Empire, Pictured by a Four-Winged, Four-Headed Leopard; and a One-Horned ...

C. The Grecian Empire, Pictured by a Four-Winged, Four-Headed Leopard; and a One-Horned Goat (Daniel 7:6; Daniel 8:5-8).

1. (Daniel 7:6) The Four-Winged, Four-Headed Leopard (Grecian Empire).
“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” (Daniel 7:6)
“...upon the back of it four wings of a fowl...” The leopard’s wings picture the swiftness of Alexander the Great’s conquests. In 11 years, from 335 B.C. to 323 B.C., Alexander and his army battled their way across 22,000 miles of the world on foot. He then died in Babylon in 323 B.C. at the age of 33; “during a great feast to celebrate his victory...a victim9 of overeating, drunkenness, and malaria...an outstanding example of a man who could conquer the world but could not conquer himself.” (John F. Walvoord)
“...the beast had also four heads...” This proves the accuracy of Daniel’s prophecies. It spells out that there are four; not five, or any other number. History records that after Alexander’s death, his kingdom was divided among four of his generals: Ptolemy received Egypt and its territories, Seleucas controlled Syria, Asia Minor and lands to its east, Lysimachus was given Thrace and its territories; and, Cassander inherited Macedonia and Greece, itself.
2. (Daniel 8:5-8) The Rough He-Goat with One Horn (Grecian Empire).
“And as I was considering, behold, an he goat (Grecian Empire) came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes (Alexander). (Daniel 8:5)
And he came to the ram that had two horns (Medo-Persia), which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. (Daniel 8:6)
And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram (Medo-Persia), and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. (Daniel 8:7)
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn (Alexander) was broken; and for it came up four notable ones (his four generals) toward the four winds of heaven.” (Daniel 8:5-8)
Daniel 8:21 provides the identity of this world leader. History always proves the accuracy of prophecy in Scripture; as, it is History written in advance.
“And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king (Alexander).”
“...the rough goat is the king...” The Hebrew word for “king” is “melek,” and means “a king, royal.” This would be any king of Greece.
“...the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.” The prophecy is specific. The Hebrew word for “first” is “rishon” and means “first in time, place, or rank.” We know from recorded history that the first ruler of Greece as a world empire was Alexander, the Great.
Daniel 8:22 confirms that the Grecian Empire was divided into four parts.
“Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.”
Like Daniel, in Daniel 7:19, we would desire to know “the truth of the fourth beast,” and “the king of fierce countenance” in Daniel 8:23. Here God instructs Daniel that it is for a time...
“…when the transgressors are come to the full,...”
and to...
“…shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Daniel 8:26)
Therefore, for a complete exposition on the “fourth beast” of Daniel 7:7-12; Daniel 7:19-27 and Daniel 8:9-14; Daniel 8:23-26, please see the section, “The Antichrist Breaks the Covenant: Star “H.”
The Book of Daniel was written approximately 2600 years ago. This fulfilled prophecy, which is now History, proves that future prophecy will be just as accurate.
“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:9)