Chapter 111
1 But since the grace of God richly instructs those who have set their hope upon Him and have despised this world, neither shall we pass over this: for what reason did the blessed prophet name all the kingdoms that arose before as beasts, likening them to these, but did not declare of the kingdom now present what manner of beast it might be?
2 I will speak about it more plainly, so that what is said may be the better understood. For having said that the kingdom of the Babylonians was a lioness, and that of the Persians a bear, and that of the Greeks a leopard, why did he not say what the beast of the Romans was, but says only that it was terrible and exceedingly astounding, its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze?
3 Understand, O man, and glorify the Lord.
4 For since the Babylonians were one nation, and they at that time seemed to rule over all, he justly named them a lioness, as a creature of a single kind.
5 Likewise the Persians too are one nation—filthy indeed, yet of one tongue; for this reason he likened them also to a bear.
6 In the same way he called the Greeks a leopard; for they were all Greeks.
7 But now the beast that holds power is not one nation; rather, out of all tongues and out of every race of men it gathers to itself and prepares a force for the array of war, all of them being called Romans, though they are not all from one country.
8 So that the prophet, rightly struck with amazement and foreseeing what was to come, did not name what manner of beast it was, but marveled, saying: “My spirit shuddered within me in my frame, I Daniel, and the visions of my head troubled me. And I drew near to one of those who stood by, and sought from him the exact truth concerning all these things. And he told me the exact truth, and made known to me the interpretation of the words.”
9 Who, then, were those who stood by, except the angels who stand before the presence of the glory of the Lord and prepare for Him their unceasing ministry, ever becoming His attendants for whatever is commanded?