In the apocalyptic portions of the book, certain dreams and visions are interpreted as predictions concerning the rise and fall of nations from the time of the Babylonian captivity to the establishment of the messianic kingdom. In one chapter, we are told about King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in which he sees a great image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, a belly of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. In another vision, Daniel sees four beasts emerging out of the sea. One of these beasts is a lion with eagle's wings; another is a bear with three ribs in its mouth; the third beast is a leopard with four heads and four wings; and the fourth beast is described as great and terrible: It has seven heads and ten horns, among which is another horn with humanlike eyes and a mouth that speaks terrible things. Other visions include one of a ram and a he-goat. Prophetic periods of 2300 days, 70 weeks, 1235 days, and other specific periods of time are described and interpreted. Toward the end of the book, we find one of the first definite references in the Old Testament to a resurrection of the dead.
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