I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
God moved the Prophet to serious attention here for good reason: what follows matters greatly for the faithful, whose hearts will fail them when dominion passes to the Persians, then the Macedonians, then those fraudulent robbers under Alexander. We must weigh what the Spirit intends, not twist it to suit our own theories about Popes or Turks. The vision concerns only what shall happen until Christ's first coming, not the whole course of the Church unto the end of the world.
AI summary
When deep sleep falls upon us and we are most removed from the world's distractions, God opens His mind to us. Daniel wrote his dream that he might not lose it as dreams do, and shared it with his brethren that they should not be deceived by false hopes of unbroken peace after their return, but be prepared for the oppressive monarchies yet to come.
AI summary
Commenting on Daniel 7:1-8
The little horn is no single man, not Titus, not Antiochus, but a kingdom and succession of rulers, as the ten are ten kingdoms. It rises in the Roman empire and continues until Christ's spiritual kingdom comes. No other power in that empire bears all these marks but antichrist, the Pope of Rome, whom the ancient fathers themselves recognized in this prophecy.
AI summary