Nebuchadnezzar saw a statue with a head made of pure gold, which was the most valued metal of the Chaldean (Babylonian) empire. Babylon has been called the city of gold. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, “You are that head of gold” (v. 38), and “After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours” (v. 39). It has been speculated that the latter statement prompted Nebuchadnezzar to build the Medo Wall, a wall to the northeast, which he constructed close to the end of his reign, to protect from invasions while he notice that the Medes grew in power. The Chaldean Empire existed from 605 B.C. until 539 B.C.; 605 to 562 B.C. under Nebuchadnezzar, 562 to 560 under his son Evil-Merodac, 559 to 556 B.C. under Neriglisar.

Daniel saw a beast like a lion with wings of an eagle. In Iraq, the ancient Babylon, archeologists have discovered figures and drawings of winged lions with a man’s face. The wings symbolize the rapid progress under Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. The beast was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet and was given the heart of the man. This represents when Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored (after he roamed about and ate pasture like a beast for 7 years). Its wings “were torn off”, which denotes the end of the Chaldean rule, when they were defeated by Cyrus and Darius.

Nebuchadnezzar saw that the statue had a chest and arms made of silver. One arm could represent Meda while the other could represent Persia. The lasted from 539 to 331 B.C. Jerusalem was restored under Cyrus’ decree in 536 B.C.

Daniel saw a bear raised up on one of its sides. The higher side represents Cyrus. The bear is stronger than the lion, shredding with its claws and crushing with its weight. The three ribs represent the three nations which he subjected. Several sources vary in the identification of these nations. The possibilites are: Egypt, Lydia, and Babylon; Mede, Lydia, and Babylon; or Mede, Persia, and Babylon. Regardless, they are the three ribs. This beast devoured plentifully, indicating the slaves it obtained, how it subjected the nations to severe taxes, and how it came into riches.

Nebuchadnezzar saw a belly and thighs of bronze. The Greeks’ favorite metal for forging shields and breastplates was bronze. This empire reigned from 331 until 168 B.C.

Daniel saw a leopard with four heads and four wings. First, note how the beast had four wings, not two. The lion (Chaldeans) only had two, indicating that Greece’s progress was much more accelerated than Babylon’s. In twelve years, Alexander the Great conquered and subjected more nations than Nebuchadnezzar was able to do in 43 years. The four heads represent the division of the empire after the death of Alexander the Great. Five of his generals disputed over the division, and four of them formed an aliance against the fifth and killed him, and they divided the territory between themselves. Lismaco took Tracia and Asia Minor, Seleuco took Syria and eastern territories, Ptolomy Soter took Egypt, Libia, Arabia, and southern Palestine, and Casandro took the Macedonian and Greek regions. The beast was “given authority to rule“; it did not earn it on its own. In the battle of Arbela, Alexander the Great and an army of 30,000 soldiers defeated Darius with his army of 600,000 soldiers. This is reminiscent of Gideon, who defeated the Madianites and Amalecites with a mere 300 men.

Nebuchadnezzar saw that the statue had legs of iron and feet of an iron/baked clay mixture. This represents Rome, which was notorious for its use and manufactuing of iron. This empire lasted from 168 B.C. to 476 A.D. The legs from a “unified separation” (explained later, as it sounds like an oxymoron), and for being outside of the body they are divided. This represents the religious and political separation. The mixture of iron and clay is a weak mixture, being that they do not combine well, and Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that in one aspect, the kingdom would be strong but in another, it would be weak. This statement requires analyzing Daniel’s dream and John’s vision.

Daniel saw a beast, “terrifying and frightening and very powerful,” which “had large iron teeth.” Again, we see the reference to iron, the Romans’s preferred metal. There is an important distinction between this and the other kingdoms: this one was not defeated by another kingdom; it was destroyed after the appearance of the Ancient of Days. This is due to what Revelation 13:3 describes as “seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.” The Roman Empire attempted to resurface in the 20th century in the from of Musolini, forming human aliances, but it was not the proper time, and his intentions failed. This empire has always had political and religious influence, even today. We see how Cardinal Egan (and previously O’Connor) was always involved with mayors and govenors, and we can witness how, in some countries, speaking ill of Catholicism can be suicidal. This kingdom will not be restored, but rather, “The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom” (verse 24). A small horn replaced three horns and this little horn “had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully”, indicating that this horn is not a kingdom; it is a person. This horn, plain and simply, is the antichrist.

Nebuchadnezzar saw “a rock was cut out, but not by human hands,” and it struck the statue on its feet and destroyed them. The statue began to collapse and become demolished, from bottom to top. The rock became a mountain that filled the earth. This will happen after the manifestation of the antichrist.

Daniel saw the Ancient of Days, who sat on his throne. His garments were white, and his hair was white like wool. These all represent something: the white clothes are his holiness; the white hair is his eternalness; the fire is his justice; those who served him are the angels; the books which were open is the judgement of the great white throne (not for those who have been saved). The beast was slain and ultimately, the son of man appears, which is clearly Christ, who reigned for eternity, ending Daniel’s dream.