Since the Exodus, the nation of Israel governed itself within the Promised Land and was never a vassal state. With the Neo-Babylonian conquest of the Assyrian empire, Judah voluntarily submitted itself and became a vassal state of the Babylonian empire. The Babylonian Empire was the first Gentile power to control the nation of Israel.

Correspondingly, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel explicitly identifies the first empire as the Babylonian Empire (Dan 2:38).

Some 50 years later and after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Daniel dreams of four beasts coming out of the sea (Dan 7:3). While there is no angelic interpretation of what empire each beast represents, Daniel's dream of four beasts preceding the everlasting Divine Empire (Dan 7:13-14) is like Nebuchadnezzar's dream; thus, by implication, the first beast ("lion" that "had the wings of an eagle") represents the Babylonian Empire.

Most commentators have noted that the lion symbol was found on gates and money in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. However, this archaeological finding of a beast associated with an empire is an exception; no similar correspondence can be made with Daniel's other beasts to their corresponding empires.

Having lived under Babylonian rule for at least 50 years, Daniel does not have any dreams about the Babylonian empire or have any questions or concerns about this first empire two years later (Dan 8).

Omitted from Daniel's account are four Neo-Babylonian kings (Evil-Merodach [ruled 562-560 BC], Neriglissar [ruled 560-556 BC], Labashi-Marduk [ruled 556 BC] and Nabonidus [ruled 555-539 BC]) who ruled between Nebuchadnezzar (ruled 605-562 B.C.) and Belshazzar (ruled 552-539 B.C.). Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus who, as many scholars believe, was married to Nebuchadnezzar's daughter Nitocris; thus, Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel's recording of a father / son relationship was a customary reference of ancestry that can also apply to a grandson. Named as vice-regent, Belshazzar was seen as the ruler of Babylon, because his father Nabonidus left for the conquest of Tema in Arabia and established this city as his royal residence; Tema was an important oasis and transit point for trade. This view explains how Daniel is considered the "third ruler" of Babylon (Dan 5:29).

Explicitly identified in Daniel's second vision, during Belshazzar's third year of reign (Dan 8:20), and historically narrated (Dan 5:30-31), Cyrus the Great's Medo-Persian Empire conquers the Babylonian Empire.

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Dan 2:32), the Medo-Persian Empire was portrayed as the statue's chest and arms made of silver. While the Medo-Persian Empire was geographically larger than the Babylonian Empire, Nebuchadnezzar's rule was historically considered stronger, because there was considerably less internal struggle for the succession of subsequent emperors. Cyrus the Great would not have the same historical association with the Medo-Persian Empire as Nebuchadnezzar with the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

In Daniel's dream during the first year of Belshazzar's reign (Dan 7:5), the Medo-Persian Empire appeared "resembling a bear" with "three ribs in its mouth." Many academic theologians see the "three ribs" as three principle nations conquered by Cyrus the Great: Lydia, Babylon and Egypt.

In Daniel's vision during the third year of Belshazzar's reign, the Medo-Persian expansion of Cyrus the Great was portrayed as a ram with two horns (Dan 8:20). The longer horn that came "up last" aptly describes Persia's subsequent dominance of the initial Medo-Persian federation. From a military perspective, Cyrus the Great's conquest went westward, northward and southward. His military campaigns were nearly invincible, and he was known as: King of Persia, King of Media, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, and King of the Four Corners of the World.

Explicitly identified in Daniel's second vision, during Belshazzar's third year of reign (Dan 8:21), the third empire that controls the Promised Land is Alexander the Great, the "king of Greece."

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, this empire was represented as the statue's bronze belly and thighs (Dan 2:39). Daniel sees this empire as ruling "over all of earth", and historically Alexander the Great, undefeated in all of his military battles, created one of the largest empires of the ancient world.

In Daniel's dream during the first year of Belshazzar's reign (Dan 7:6), the third beast that came from the sea looked "like a leopard" and had "four wings of a bird" and "four heads." With the hindsight of history, Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in a mere three years, and the "four heads" and "four wings of a bird" appear to symbolize the four main generals of Alexander the Great's army: Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus, and Cassander who would later carve up Alexander's empire when he dies.

In Daniel's vision during the third year of Belshazzar's reign, the male goat is identified as the "king of Greece" and the "large horn" as the "first king" Alexander the Great (Dan 8:21).

"The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation" allude to the four general-emperors that divided Alexander the Great's empire (Dan 8:22). This imagery is consistent with Daniel's earlier vision of a leopard like beast with four heads and four wings (Dan 7:6).

Introduced for the first time, the angel Gabriel reveals that "a king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue" (Dan 8:23), "he will destroy" (Dan 8:24-25), "he will magnify himself in his heart… even oppose the Prince of princes" (Dan 8:25).

This evil king is elaborated upon roughly 10 years later when Daniel has another vision during the first year of Darius the Mede's reign (Dan 11). In light of details found in Daniel 11:21-35 and with a view of historical events, the identity of this evil king is believed to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes who arose from the Seleucid Empire.

Although he was not next in line for the throne, Antiochus IV Epiphanes seized the throne through murder and intrigue. Of all the Seleucid rulers, Antiochus IV Epiphanes does fit the description as the "despicable person" (Dan 11:21), because of his brutal persecution of the Jews, oppression of Judea, and desecration of the Temple.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes would perish from illness and not by "human agency" (Dan 8:25).

Of the four part statue dreamt by Nebuchadnezzar, the fourth empire that controls the Promised Land is never identified in any of Daniel's dreams or visions.

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel describes the fourth empire "as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things" (Dan 2:40) which alludes to a militarily strong nation. However, Daniel's description of the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar's statue as being "partly of iron and partly of pottery" symbolized a "divided kingdom" and one that was not uniformly united (Dan 2:41-43).

In Daniel's vision during the first year of Belshazzar's reign, the fourth beast is not identified (Dan 7:7). This is in stark contrast to the previous beasts that looked like: 1) a lion and with wings of an eagle, 2) a bear, and 3) a leopard with four wings of a bird.

This enigmatic beast from the sea was "dreadful and terrifying," and it was "extremely strong" with "large iron teeth" that "devoured and crushed" and "trampled down" with "its feet" (Dan 7:7).

It had ten horns. An additional horn emerged, small at first, but after removing three existing horns by pulling them "out by the roots," became "larger in appearance than its associates." Unlike the other horns, this one was personified with eyes "like the eyes of man and a mouth uttering great boasts" (Dan 7:8).

An angel interprets the fourth beast as "the fourth kingdom on earth," "different from all other kingdoms," "devour the whole earth," and "crush it" (Dan 7:23).

Out of this fourth kingdom, "ten kings will arise" and "another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings" (Dan 7:24).

With history recording the Roman Empire succeeding the Greek Empire, many commentators have assigned the fourth empire as Romanesque and have speculated the identity of the eleven kings / nations. However astute these theologians are, it should be remembered that their speculations are merely hypotheses.

When Daniel has another vision about this fourth empire, he is concerned and has difficulty understanding it. He asked, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?" The angel replied, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time." (Dan 12:8-9)

Immediately after he sees the "little horn" with the "eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts," Daniel sees God, "the Ancient of Days" taking His seat on the throne (Dan 7:8-9). Significant to Daniel's vision is his account that the "beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire" (Dan 7:13).

The angel explains to Daniel that this "little horn" will "speak out against" God and "wear down the saints" (Dan 7:25). However, "the court will sit for judgment" and the dominion of the "little horn" will be "taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever" (Dan 7:26).

The "burning fire" is described in Revelation as the "lake of fire," in which a "beast" is defeated and thrown into.

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who did the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Rev 19:20)

Here, not only is the boastful little horn destroyed, but the entire empire it represented.

Daniel's vision during the first year of Belshazzar's reign was his first personal vision about the future of his people. Despite seeing the "Ancient of Days" annihilating the fourth beast (Dan 7:9-11, 25-26), and the "One like a Son of Man" being presented with "everlasting dominion" and the "people of the saints of the Highest One (Dan 7:13-14, 27), Daniel was still "greatly alarmed" and in shock of the fourth beast (Dan 7:28).

Daniel's second personal vision (Dan 8), during the third year of Belshazzar's reign, elaborated upon the second and third empire.

Daniel's third personal vision (Dan 9:20-27), during the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, provided information on the timing of God's actions of fulfilling His covenant promises during the fourth empire.

Daniel's fourth personal vision (Dan 10:1-9; 11:2-12:3), during the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, gave details about the internal conflicts of the third empire and some details about the fourth empire.