And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh (Daniel 7:5).

We know from the statue prophecy of Daniel 2 and from history that the Medo-Persian Empire would rise after Babylon. This power is portrayed in Daniel 7 as a bear. The bear was raised up on one of its sides, referring to the initial inequality of the two powers of the Medo-Persian alliance that was to overthrow the Babylonian Empire.

The three ribs in the bear’s mouth probably refer to the three main thrusts to control the Babylonian Empire: the thrusts into Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon by the armies of Cyrus the Great.

The richness of the Biblical typology portrayed in this great historic event serves as a lesson for the great events that are to unfold at the end of time. Babylon, the ruler of nations, the head of gold, the seat of religious and political power had ruled the nations. It had destroyed Jerusalem and had taken captive the people of God. The time had come for this power to be destroyed.

Cyrus the Great Typifies Christ

Cyrus is the one chosen by God to accomplish this great feat. Long before Cyrus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah called him the Lord's anointed:

This is what the LORD says to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut (Isaiah 45:1 NIV).

The same prophet, prophesying about the Messiah, wrote this:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1 NIV).

Cyrus serves as a type of Christ. He ended Babylon’s rule and set the captives free. The decree issued by Cyrus was that the Israelites were to be freed, that they could return to their homeland without cost. In the same way, Christ will overthrow spiritual Babylon at the end of time. He will set the captives free and take them to their heavenly home. Their redemption will be without cost.

Ahead to the Leopard Beast of Daniel 7

This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith, an international speaker who has studied Biblical issues in-depth in his quest for truth. His popular series Genesis Conflict brings the debate between Creation and evolution to a new climax as he dissects the arguments with a scientific eye. His highly-acclaimed series Total Onslaught sheds light on the state of the world today as we move to a one-world government and an anticipated apocalypse.

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