WORLD CIVILIZATION

Detailed explanation-1: -Rashi’s interpretation. Rashi, a medieval rabbi, interpreted the four kingdoms as Nebuchadnezzar ("you are the head of gold"), Belshazzar ("another kingdom lower than you"), Alexander of Macedon ("a third kingdom of copper"), and the Roman Empire ("and in the days of these kings").

Detailed explanation-2: -Daniel’s four world eras consist of the kingdoms of Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece, with the later decay of the Diadochian kingdoms which flows into God’s eschatological kingdom.

Detailed explanation-3: -Chapter 7 reintroduces the theme of the “four kingdoms", which is that Israel (or the world) would come under four successive world-empires, each worse than the last, until finally God and his hosts would end oppression and introduce the eternal kingdom.

Detailed explanation-4: -“The book has two divisions: Dan. 1–6 contains narratives regarding Daniel and his three companions; Dan. 7–12 contains prophetic visions seen by Daniel and reported in his own name” (Bible Dictionary, “Daniel, book of”). Some of these visions relate to the last days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.