According to archeological records found in 1853, Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidas, the final king of the Babylonian empire, who reigned from 555 BC to 538 BC. Nabonidas also served as the head of the Babylonian army and was frequently away from Babylon at war, during which time, his son Belshazzar, who was viceroy of Babylon, commanded all daily governmental operations. Daniel was third in command during Belshazzar's reign as viceroy and he refers to Belshazzar as the king of Babylon, although Nabonidas was actually the reigning monarch. Daniel's dream is believed to have occurred in 553 BC.

Daniel said, In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. [Daniel 7:2 - 7:3]

Heavenly winds churned up the great sea of humanity in the nations of the world, with the result being the emergence of four consecutive, great kingdoms which gained authority over the Holy Lands and the Eurasian world. Each kingdom was ruled by leaders from different nations or cultures and each of the four kingdom beasts exercised political control over the two tribes of the nation of Judah and/or the ten tribes of the nation of Israel.

The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it. [Daniel 7:4]

The first kingdom, referring to the Neo-Babylonian Empire (606-538 BC), was like a lion with wings, or a cherub. In Genesis 3, the nation east of the garden of Eden, or Babylon, was described as a cherub guarding Eden. Granted the right to protect the garden and the tree of life, Babylon acquired evil from mankind and become vulnerable before other beasts. Losing its lion heart, the first kingdom beast was given the heart of a man, which became filled with sinful pride, resulting in the downfall of the nation, after it performed its appointed duties before God, as prophesied in Jeremiah 24.

And there was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its teeth. It was told, Get up and eat your fill of flesh. [Daniel 7:5]

Comprised of two nations in a single kingdom, the second kingdom beast was described as a bear which was raised up on one side, and was representative of the Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 BC). Ruled by Mede leadership at the time of the fall of Babylon, the Persians rose to supremacy over and above the Medes. The three ribs in the bear's mouth represented the three nations conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire, which included Lydia (546 BC), Babylon (539 BC), and Egypt (535 BC). Told to eat its fill of flesh, the Medo-Persian Empire conquered neighboring lands, including the Jewish Holy Lands and southern Eurasia.

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. [Daniel 7:6]

Swift in its fierce assault, but quick to depart as a bird with four wings, the third kingdom beast described to be a leopard was representative of the Grecian Empire (331-63 BC) led by Alexander the Great (336-323 BC). Assuming command at age twenty and conquering the world within six years, Alexander died at age thirty-three. The Grecian Empire then split into four separate kingdom divisions headed by former Alexandrian generals, who became kings, sixteen years after all of Alexander's heirs were eliminated. Rulers of the divided Grecian Empire included Cassander who reigned over Macedonia and Greece, Lysimachus who reigned over Thrace and Asia Minor, Seleucus I Nicator (311-280 BC) who reigned over Syria, and Ptolemy I Soter (323-285 BC) who reigned over Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Palestine.

After that, in my vision at night, I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast - terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns. [Daniel 7:7]

Not described as an animal, the fourth kingdom beast was more mechanical, powerful, and frightening with iron teeth and the ability to crush victims by virtue of its size. Different from the first three kingdoms, it was larger, and it conquered the lands and peoples formerly under the authority of the prior three kingdoms. Initially representative of the Roman Empire, the fourth kingdom beast evolved into ten ethnically segregated peoples in Europe and Eurasia.

Special Note: Comprised of Carthage, Greece, Asia Minor, Spain, Gaul, Briton, and Tuetons, the Roman Empire was evolutionary in its makeup and control. Around 375 AD, the Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western Empires, and in 405 BC, the Western Empire was besieged by the Goths and broke into the Hunns, Franks, Lombards, Suevians, Britains, Vandals, Visigoths, Alans, Burgundians, and Ravenna, representing the peoples which comprise modern day Europe and Eurasia. The Western Roman Empire lasted about 100 years until it was overtaken by the Barbarians in 476 AD, after which, Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages. In 800 AD, in response to Charlemagne's confirmation of the Pope's right to civil authority over the Papal States, Pope Leo III combined the Roman and Frank empires by conferring upon Charlemagne the title of Emperor. The former Western Roman Empire was re-established as the Holy Roman Empire, with German emperors based in Vienna, Austria (Hapsburg family). Charlemagne or Charles I, reigned forty-six years including fourteen years as Caeser over Germany, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium and parts of Spain and France. Lasting 1,000 years, the Holy Roman Empire blended the Roman and German civilizations. In 1806, Napoleon ended the Holy Roman Empire, however, the peoples comprising modern Europe remained ethnically segregated as ten distinct kingdoms.

While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. [Daniel 7:8]

From among the ten European / Eurasian peoples which evolved from the Roman Empire, a single nation under the control of a charismatic, boastful leader arose in the final period of political authority of the fourth beast over the dispersed tribes of Israel. During a political war, three nations within the fourth empire became subject to the rule of the little horn.

As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out before Him. Thousands upon thousands attended Him. The court was seated and the books were opened. [Daniel 7:9 - 7:10]

As the boastful ruler conducted his political war against the other nations of the fourth kingdom, the Ancient of Days or Jehovah God, set up his court to oversee completion of his prophesied punishment for his chosen people the Jews. As chief judge, God witnessed the gathering of the dispersed tribes of the nation of Israel by the boastful leader. A river of heavenly fire was sent forth signifying both punishment and purification for the ten dispersed tribes. Thousands upon thousands of saints stood before God while the boastful ruler exacted his holocaust of starvation and murder as prophesied in Ezekiel 5. The books of life and death known to contain the names of the Jewish faithful, were opened in front of God, and the exact percentage of saints recorded in the books, were killed by the evil king.

Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) [Daniel 7:11 - 7:12]

The boastful ruler, mercilessly killed God's chosen people, without regard to the observing presence of Almighty God and the historical significance of his acts, so as to fulfill God's will and promise. Systematically fulfilling the prophesied punishment of the Jews, which he felt was overdue on the part of Destiny or Fate, the boastful ruler sought to restore the Roman Empire by eliminating all manner of saints and social misfits. However, the boastful ruler lost his life, putting a final end to the authority of the fourth empire over the saints of the Most High. The body of nations which comprised the fourth kingdom beast, were decimated by a fiery war, while the peoples of the three preceding kingdom beasts or empires, comprised of Esau's descendants, continued to live in their native lands, although they no longer had any political authority over the Jews.

In my vision at night I looked, and, there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. [Daniel 7:13 - 7:14]

During the course of the fourth kingdom empire, Jesus Christ, was born, lived, and died, was given authority, glory and sovereign power over all peoples and nations, and established a body of Christian followers. Even as God was observing the completion of the prophesied punishment of the nation of Israel at the hands of the boastful ruler, Christians around the world worshiped the Messiah, and a single Gentile Christian nation prepared to orchestrate the return of the Jews to the promised land, upon the destruction of the evil king. As prophesied, once in Palestine, the Jews never again depart, and upon the Jubilee return of Christ, God's final kingdom is established forever. Because God's kingdom is superior to any earthly kingdoms, it will never be destroyed like the four kingdom beasts, despite a final attempt by the descendants of Esau to regain authority over Israel, at the end of days.

I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever - yes, for ever and ever. [Daniel 7:15 - 7:18]

According to an angel, the four great beasts were four consecutive kingdoms which rose from the earth to fulfill the punishment of the two tribes of the kingdom of Judah and the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel, as prophesied in Leviticus, Chapter 26 and Ezekiel Chapter 4. Upon the destruction of the evil king of the fourth kingdom beast, Jews from all twelve tribes, scattered across Europe and the rest of the world, returned to the promised land to possess it forever in political autonomy, never again to be ruled by other nations.

Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws - the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled under foot what was left. [Daniel 7:19]

I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell - the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. [Daniel 7:20]

A single nation among the ten ethnically segregated peoples in Europe and Eurasia, rose to power at the end of the period of political control of the fourth kingdom beast over the Jews. The little horn headed the historically aggressive and warlike nation, he sought for his people to be ethnically superior, and he intended to restore the power of the reborn Roman Empire for a final time. Hoping ultimately to gain power over the entire world, the little horn initiated a political war against the Jews, boasted about the supremacy of his kingdom and people over the Jews, and he equated himself to Christ.

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. [Daniel 7:21 - 7:22]

As Daniel watched, the nation lead by the evil king or man with the boastful mouth, murdered God's saints. In total, the forces of the nation of the little horn were successful in starving to death and murdering millions of European Christians and approximately one-third of the Jews in the world, or two-thirds of the Jews on the European / Eurasian continent, as prophesied in Ezekiel 5.

He gave me this explanation: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings which will come from this kingdom. [Daniel 7:23 - 7:24]

The fourth beast was the Roman Empire and its successor nations. Conquering the known world, the Roman Empire ruled from its capital city of Rome over the European / Eurasian continent and the captured lands of the other three previous empires. After the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire arose with its capital in Vienna, Austria, while the Pope of the Roman Church reigned over the Papal States from the Vatican. Out of the Holy Roman Empire, Europe / Eurasia emerged with ten sovereign nations of ethnically diverse peoples.

After them will another king arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress the saints and try to change the set times and the laws. [Daniel 7:24 - 7:25]

From among the European nations, Nazi Germany arose and was ruled by its charismatic leader, Adolf Hitler, who was desirous of the title and the authority of the Caesars. His nation quickly subdued three of its fellow nations in war, however, the remainder of the other nations resisted his attempt to take over the European / Eurasian continent. In his misguided effort to conquer the world, Hitler, the final Caesar of the revived Roman Empire, openly spoke against the Most High and expressed his intent for Nazi Germany to eliminate God's chosen people to objectively end the apparent Destiny of the Jews to reign over the promised land and other nations, and to substitute a racially-pure Christian race (the hypothetical Aryan Christian race) in place of the Jews, to rule in a thousand year reign.

By the elimination of Jews, establishment of a purified Aryan race of German peoples, and by replacing himself for Christ, Hitler believed he could change the course of history prophesied in Revelation, by establishing a third great German Empire, known as the Third Reich, which would rule the world for a thousand years, in lieu of Christ's thousand year reign.

The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. [Daniel 7:25 - 7:26]

As World War II progressed, realizing that the efforts to conquer Russia, Britain, and Europe were not going to succeed, Hitler turned his attention to his personal obsession, the annihilation of the Jews. In the summer of 1941, Hitler privately directed, at the expense of all other war efforts, the implementation of a plan to eliminate the Jews, known as the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Conceived by Rienhard Heydrich, SS Obergruppenfuhrer or head of the Nazi Security Police, under the directive of Hermann Goring, Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Defense of the Reich, the Final Solution consisted of transporting Eurasian Jews to concentration camps. By experimentation with mass shootings, carbon monoxide gassing in mobile vans, and toxic gassing in stationary showers, Heydrich determined that hydrogen cyanide gas, generated from Zyklon-B pellets, flooded into shower stalls at the concentration camps, followed by cremation of the corpses, was the most efficient way to eliminate the Jews.

Heydrich, under SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler, directed Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi Advisor of Jewish Affairs, and Rudolf Hoss, Commandant of the Auschwitz Concentration Facility, to eliminate the Jews. True to God's word, the Jewish holocaust lasted forty-two months during the years from 1941 until 1945. As prophesied, God's chosen people the Jews were gathered up and murdered in the Nazi concentration camps for three and a half years, at the close of the reign of the fourth kingdom beast. With the court of the Ancient of Days observing the unspeakable holocaust at the hand of the evil king, the authority of the fourth beast over the Jews ended forever with the suicide of Adolf Hitler.

After Hitler's death and the end of the war in Europe, the United Nations forever stripped Germany of its offensive power, allowing it only to maintain a standing defensive army, with national protection controlled through NATO.

Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the rulers will worship and obey Him. [Daniel 7:27]

When the European war theatre and the Nazi Holocaust was ended by the armies of America and Russia, that is, when the prophesied punishment of the dispersed tribes of the nation of Israel was completed and the political authority of the four beasts over the Jews ended, the remainder of the holocaust Jews became subject to the control of the United Nations. In 1947, at the urging and political maneuvering of President Harry Truman of the United States, the United Nations granted sovereign nation status to the Jews allowing them to return to Palestine in 1948, in complete political autonomy. As prophesied in Isaiah, Chapter 49, peoples of a Gentile nation who lifted up God's banner to the world (United States) orchestrated the return of the sons and daughters of the Jewish nation to the land of Israel. World-wide, members of the twelve tribes of Israel streamed physically to modern Israel in order to once again rule in political autonomy. Upon the Jubilee return of Jesus Christ as Messiah, God's final kingdom reigns for ever and ever, and, all the rulers of the world worship Christ.

This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself. [Daniel 7:28]