Germany Russia Britain US Trump — and Israel — and Daniel’s vision

Prophecies and visions are G-d’s way of letting us know, thousands of years ago, what will happen in the future.

Daniel saw visions 2,300 years ago. When we see that his descriptions of future events seem to exactly match what’s happening now, it reinforces our conviction that G-d is guiding destiny, and it encourages us to rest assured that His promise of Redemption with Moshiach will be fulfilled, and the world will become a place of tranquility and peace, as all become aware of His presence.

Here is a translation of verses in chapter seven, interspersed with commentary showing how Daniel’s vision might be describing our times.

1 In the third year of Belshazzar King of Babylon, Daniel was lying on his bed and he saw a dream, and he wrote down the main points of the dream, as follows.

2 Daniel said: I saw a night vision; the four winds of heaven stirred up the Great Sea.

During World War Two, winds of war affected countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

3 And four huge beasts emerged from the water, different from one another.

There were four key actors: Germany started the war, allying (at first) with Russia against Britain. Later the US came into the picture.

4 The first was like a lion, with wings of an eagle; I saw that eventually its wings were plucked and it was removed from the land; it was made to stand on its feet like a person, and it was given a human heart.

Germany attacked with lighting speed. Eventually the Nazi regime was defeated, and Germans were uplifted (under the Marshall Plan) and reeducated to be more humane.

5 And another beast similar to a bear, and it stood to one side; there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth, and they told it “rise and eat much meat.”

The Russian bear stood on one side (against the West), and “devoured” countries, incorporating them into its Soviet block. And Russia still tries to acquire more land.

6 Afterwards I saw another one like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back; this beast had four heads, and it was given dominion.

Britain fought stubbornly (and boldly) like a leopard; it sent its pilots to fight in all four directions; it was led by a king, prime minister, and two houses of parliament; eventually Britain won the war.

7 Afterwards I saw in the night vision, there was a fourth beast, fearsome and frightening, very strong, it had large iron teeth, it ate and crushed, and trampled the remainder with its feet; it was different than all the previous beasts, and it had ten horns.

The US, which entered the war later, was a fearsome superpower; with tremendous military might it overran Europe, and its nuclear bombs obliterated two cities in Japan.

There were ten full-term presidents from Truman to Obama.

8 I looked at the horns, and behold another, small horn, emerged among them, and three of the previous horns were uprooted, and this horn had eyes which were similar to human eyes, and a mouth that spoke grandiosely.

Trump did not have the stature of past presidents (a general, senator, governor etc.); he berated Obama, Bush and Clinton; he saw and understood what people wanted, and he spoke bombastically.

9 I saw that thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days sat, His clothing was like white snow, and the hair of His head was like clean wool; His throne was fiery sparks, with wheels of burning fire.

10 A river of fire flowed and emerged from before Him, a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand ten thousands stood before Him; judgement was set (to be adjudicated) and books were opened.

11 I then saw, that due to the sound of grandiose words spoken by the horn, I saw that the beast was killed and its body was destroyed and was put into the flame of the fire.

The US was deeply humiliated (or mortified — indeed the sages compare deep embarrassment to dying) when a boisterous crowd burst into the Capitol building, after Trump had encouraged them to demonstrate at the Capitol.

Just as fire can purify, the US has become more refined.

12 As for the other (three) beasts, their dominance was taken away, and they were given an extension of life until a certain set time.

Russia Britain and Germany now seem much weaker and ineffectual.

13 I saw in a night vision, and behold someone with the appearance of a person was brought up with clouds, reaching the Ancient of Days, and brought before Him.

14 And he was given rulership, honour, and dominion; and all people, nations, and tongues will serve him; his rulership will be one that will not be removed, and his kingship will not be destroyed.

Israel is now a superpower, led by those who fear G-d.

(And Trump, who had been miraculously saved from assassination, is giving tremendous support to Israel.)

So there you have it. It seems that current events were possibly predicted, in a vision that G-d showed Daniel, over two thousand years ago.

There are other passages in the book of Daniel which also seem to allude to events in our time.

It engenders optimism that the final Redemption with Moshiach is imminent.

May it happen very soon.