Page 189 - Daniel

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Greece. The only thing said about this beast is that dominion was
given to it.

The leopard is less grand and majestic than a lion, but it is swifter and
was much feared as an animal of prey in Old Testament times. The
leopard’s speed made it the standard of comparison in Habakkuk 1:8
where the horses of the Chaldeans are described as swifter than
leopards. Leopards characteristically would lie in wait for their prey

(Jer. 5:6; Hos. 13:7) and then pounce upon their victims with great
speed and agility. Young prefers the translation “panther,” to indicate a
leopard of unusual size and power. 28

Illustration of what the third beast in Daniel 7 might have looked like in Daniel’s dream.

The impression of great speed inherent in a leopard was further
enhanced by the four wings on its back. The wings correspond to the
number of the leopard’s heads, which obviously refer to its intelligent

direction. The heads indicate that, in contrast to the earlier beasts that
had only one head, the third empire would have four governmental
divisions with corresponding heads.

In their zeal to promote the idea that the third empire is Persia, liberal
critics bring up many petty objections to equating the third beast with
Greece. On the face of it, however, the history of Greece under
Alexander the Great corresponds precisely to what is here described.
With the swiftness of a leopard, Alexander conquered most of the
civilized world all the way from Macedonia to Africa and eastward to

India. The lightning character of his conquests is without precedent in
the ancient world, and this is fully in keeping with the image of speed
embodied in the leopard and the four wings on its back.