The Theory of the Four Monarchies Opposition History under the Roman Empire

A CELEBRATED passage in the Book of Daniel describes Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue, made of gold and silver and bronze and iron and having feet of iron mixed with clay, and of a stone which destroyed the colossus and grew until it filled the whole world. Daniel interpreted the dream as referring to four great monarchies, to be followed by a fifth which would destroy the others and itself stand forever. The idea is repeated a few chapters below in a vision of four beasts, followed by "one like unto a son of man," to whom was given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."' Modem scholars seem well agreed that the Book of Daniel reached its present form between 168 and 165 B.C.; that it emanated from the struggle of the Jews against Antiochus IV which was then in progress; that the author of these stories was probably referring to the Chaldean, Median, Persian, and Greek monarchies; and that the fifth monarchy, which was to supersede them and last forever, was somehow connected with the anticipated victory of Judas Maccabaeus.2