Page:Mahometanism in its relation to prophecy - or, an inquiry into the prophecies concerning antichrist, with some reference to their bearing on the events of the present day (IA mahometanisminit00philrich).pdf/29

 which that horn spake: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt.

"12. And that the power of the other beasts was taken away; and that times of life were appointed them for a time and a time.

"13. I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo ! one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the Ancient of Days; and they presented him before Him.

"14. And He gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes, and tongues, shall serve him; his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed."

In these sublime and mysterious words, does the Prophet Daniel lay open to us the whole mystery of God, containing the prediction of all the principal events from his own time even unto the end of the world. All commentators agree that the four beasts signified the four great monarchies or empires, which were destined to arise on the earth, successively holding dominion over all nations. In fact this interpretation was revealed to Daniel along with the vision itself, as we find stated in the same chapter, from the 16th to the 28th verse. That great father and doctor of the Church,