The prophet Daniel (saws) had a dream of four Beasts (Daniel 7), He saw four beast representing empires that would rise up one after the other, these would be the last empires on earth before the return of Isa (as).
Christian commentators believe from the last beast in this dream America, that Europe will briefly come to power, it is clear from the dream itself who the last empire is the description given to these nations are exactly like the description given in the book of revelations.
Other christian commentators say this dream is just the prophet (saws) seeing the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar for himself the dream the prophet Daniel (saws) famously interpreted for the King, mentioned earlier in chapter 2, but Allah does not do such things He sent that dream to the king so Daniel could interpret it and be established in life, this dream Allah used it to raise the prophet in status among men becouse the king rewarded Daniel (as) greatly for interpreting it with a high position, and it was a significant chapter in the prophets (saws) life He was famously known for, we will see from the next chapter the kings dream is talking about other empires then those seen in the dream of Daniel.
The Prophet Daniel (saws) said in chapter 7: In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. 2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts (Empires), each different from the other (Each was Unique), came up out of the sea. 4 “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it, (the Roman Republic here is turned into an Empire when Julius Caesar declares himself the first Emperor, the Republic is given the mind of a human, now lead by an emperor and turned into an Empire). 5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
This is the Ottoman Empire, this isn’t as clear to understand because you have to know the qualities of the Empire to recognise it, but in history it succeeded the Roman Empire ending it. The description that it had three ribs between it’s teeth indicates it ate them from other empires (beasts) as it raised itself, or as it came to power. The Ottoman Empire unnecessarily warred against other Islamic Empires and ended them and taking their lands, these Empires are what the ribs stand for. It was told to both Get up, come to power, and Eat it’s fill of flesh, meaning expand greatly. It did exactly that because it not only ended other Islamic Empires it ended the Romans, which was the last of that Empire, and warred against Europe who was terrified of their size and might for hundreds of years. The Ottomans were one of the largest Empires in Human history, they also had only of the longest lasting single family Dynasties on Earth. It was an expansionist Empire and their lust for expansion inspired a number of movies like the recent Dracula, who story is based of Vlad the impaler who fought them, his brother accepted Islam and a high post in the Ottoman Army, a custom among the people of that region, Vlad used savagery to scare the giant Ottoman Army impaling any He fought until He was given that title.
Daniel continued, 6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard (this is the same description given to the British Empire in the book of revelations, they came next because they defeated the Ottomans and took their lands). And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird (It had wings because it emulated the Romans who also had wings but they didn’t fly high like the Roman republic their wings where only like a bird not an eagle). This beast had four heads (no crowns or horns on the heads, meaning it had help from other Empires that it did not rule over, other verses in the bible usually place horns and crowns on each head, indicating the Beast ruled over multiple lands, here the beast only has four heads), and it was given authority to rule (by the Dragon mentioned in the book of revelations).
In this dream the British leopard is shown to emulate past nations in coming to power, so the beasts on it’s head with no crowns means they didn’t rule them, which more than likely is because they had allies in conquering the larger Ottoman Empire. They had the help of Europe and Russia ganging up on the larger Ottoman army before WW1 chipping away at it for hundreds of years until it’s final defeat, then they established themselves as the dominant nation among their Allies.
Daniel continues 7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful (America). It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left (this last phrase is unique, describing the beast as completely viscous, it means America did not leave anything after defeating an enemy, it destroyed the people by destroying their culture and identity completely. America was called “The Civilization of Destruction” by the prophet Muhammad (saws) for this exact reason it utterly destroyed people and culture). It was different from all the former beasts (not only did American technology set it apart but the world that it arose in was different from all other times in history), and it had ten horns (Allies it controlled and dominated but did no rule, because there are no crowns). 8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them (the European Union is formed from America’s allies and rises to power to defeat America); and three of the first horns were uprooted before it (this means Europe will uproot three allies of America when it rises to power, possibly England, Australia and Israel or Canada). This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully (this is similar to the Roman Republic being given the mind of a human, when Europe rises to power at that time it will have a single leader at it’s head).
9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat (a reference to Allah sitting to Judge). His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. (Allah sets up his court to judge Europe, just like Allah set it up and destroyed America by plunging it into Darkness, the vision is a metaphor for what Allah will do it isn’t literal the throne of Allah doesn’t have wheels these stand for something, because a wheel is the mechanism that makes the cart move this means the universe (karma in short) will move against the European empire).
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn (Europe) was speaking. I kept looking until the beast (America) was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire (Europe kept boasting until America was destroyed).
12 “(The other beasts (older empires) had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time)” (the bible has this sentence in brackets). (Even though the older empires now have no power their people remained serving America and then Europe).
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,(Jesus, the passage refers to his second coming and seperate from what Allah is doing) coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days (Allah) and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him (this means praised him in the old world). His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (the Kingdom of Jesus will be the last on earth before the end it won’t be overcome it will disappear after his death, this is what the dream means).
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’ (the Kingdom of Allah will be the last standing before the hour, this alone tells us these are the last empires the world will see and this dream can never be the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar because He saw the empires of his region only).
19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different (in every way) from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left (leaving nothing of their former identity, or culture forcing it’s own image on them). 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, (at the end of time, our time, there will be a campaign to end all religious people and morality itself not just by America but Europe as well which this verse states. Eventually Europe will place sanctions on Syria after this civil war then it will invade Egypt, North Africa and eventually Syria trying to conquer the middle east, this around the same time the first Sufyani warlord will emerge in Syria who as the prophet (saws) said will be supported by Europe. These are the wars and these are the traditional lands of all the prophets this verse refers to) 22 until the Ancient of Days (Allah) came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High (because of the war they waged against the people of Allah and religion itself), and the time came when they possessed the kingdom (with Jesus).
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it (This is now American history). 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom (the beast will empower new rulers on earth). After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones (the European Union); he will subdue three kings.
25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people (just like America) and try to change the set times and the laws (annihilating any laws based on religion and morality, today we see this in Europe already with France banning all religious symbols and the headscarf forcing women to loose their modesty). The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time (3.5 years). 26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom (Allah) will be an everlasting kingdom (everlasting can also mean unchallenged, because the Universe itself will end soon after), and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ (Allah will restore religion again and it won’t ever be challenged) 28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”