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Prophecy

The four beasts and the little horn that “will plan to change the times and the law” (Daniel 7)

“Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts”, engraving by Gustave Doré (1866). A work of art, not a historical depiction.
Artist’s impression “Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts”, engraving by Gustave Doré (1866). A work of art, not a historical depiction. — Gustave Doré, Wikimedia Commons · Domaine public

○ Written after the events, according to historians; tradition dates it before

Written c. 553 BC according to tradition; c. 167–164 BC according to historians. Event: 167–164 BC.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The book of Daniel reports a vision dated around 553 BC: four beasts, then a little horn that “will wear out the saints” and “will plan to change the times and the law” for a limited time. Scholars date this chapter to 167–164 BC.

What happened. In December 167 BC, the Greek king Antiochus IV forbids the Jews to keep the Sabbath, the feasts and circumcision, on pain of death, and has set up on the Temple altar what the text calls “the abomination of desolation”. The Temple is purified in December 164 BC. The final judgment and the everlasting kingdom announced next did not take place.

What is still debated. if the chapter was written during this persecution, it describes it rather than predicting it, while another ancient reading sees in it an adversary of the end of time still to come.

What would be striking if the text came first

The announced length, “a time, times and half a time”, is close to the three years between the profanation and the purification of the Temple. But historians date the chapter to this very persecution: the precision is surprising only if one follows the traditional date.

Main objection (in French for now)

Prophétie après l’événement : si le livre est achevé vers 165, Dn 7 décrit une persécution en cours. Les notes de la NABRE identifient la petite corne à Antiochus IV et les dix cornes aux rois séleucides.

The text (World English Bible)

Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another. “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it. “Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’ “After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had …

Dan 7:2-8

“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down and break it in pieces. As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings. He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

Dan 7:23-25

Sources