The Gentile character of this vision is indicated by the change of

language that occurs at verse 4: 'Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in

Syriac'.  The words, 'in Syriac', mark the place where Daniel ceases to write

in Hebrew, and thenceforth to the end of chapter 7 employs the Syriac or

Aramaic language.

In part eight of An Alphabetical Analysis, the question of the four

beasts of Daniel 7 and their place in the vision of Daniel 2 has been

considered.  The reader is advised to consult that article, (Beast8), if he

is at all uncertain.

The Babylonian and Persian empires extended from Asia Minor on the west

to the Indus on the east, and it was left to Greece and Rome to complete the

oikoumene of the prophetic earth.  At the death of Alexander, his kingdom was

divided among his four generals as is indicated in Daniel 8:22, Ptolemy

taking Egypt, Palestine and some parts of Asia Minor; Cassander taking

Macedonia and Greece; Seleucus taking Syria, Armenia, territory east of the

Euphrates; and Lysimachus taking Bithynia, Thrace and Mysia.  Rome took all

this territory except that which lay east of Syria, but added to it a great

portion of Europe and the countries on the southern edge of the

Mediterranean.  The prophetic earth therefore, if it be limited to the

territory governed by these four successive kingdoms, extends from Spain on

the west, to the Indus on the east.

There are many side issues attached to such a theme as 'Prophets and

Prophecy' which, though interesting and in their degree important, cannot be

considered here.  We are more concerned with the message which the Prophet

was inspired to deliver, than the way in which he was inspired and endowed

thus to speak.  What is the burden of prophecy?  What are its main subjects?

Can they be reduced to categories that will enable us to arrive at a fairly

accurate understanding of their import, or must we take each prophecy as it

stands and consider it independently of all the rest?

The first thing to settle must be, which of the books of the Old

Testament come under the heading of 'Prophecy'.  The Hebrew canon is divided

into three great groups, a division recognized by the Lord Himself, The Law,

the Prophets and the Psalms.  The Prophets include some historical books, for

Old Testament history often is a foreshadowing of that which is yet to come.

Let us first of all set out before the eye, the books of the Prophets

according to the Hebrew canon.

A

The Captain.

The Lord of all the earth (Josh. 3:11,13).

Failure to possess the land (Josh. 18:3).

The Canaanite still in possession (Josh. 15:63).

B

Thirteen Judges.

Israel, forsaking and returning.

No king (Jud. 21:25).

C

Saul, type of Antichrist.

David, type of Christ.

Israel want to be like the nations.