Why did Daniel picture Alexander the Great as a leopard?
Daniel pictured Alexander the Great as a leopard because the leopard is among the swiftest animals, and Alexander was swift in his conquests. He moved his armies across vast territory faster than others thought possible, and that speed became his hallmark. The four wings also pointed to the four generals who divided Greece after his death.
Les teaches that Daniel’s leopard vision follows the bear representing the Medes and Persians. The leopard symbolizes Alexander the Great because the leopard is one of the swiftest animals, and Alexander was swift in his conquests. He could move his armies over territory nobody else ever dreamed possible and in less time; he was known for it. The four wings, Les explains, picture what happened after Greece conquered the then-known world: Alexander died, and four generals took over. The four heads show the same thing—the third empire was divided into four instead of having one great dictator like Nebuchadnezzar. Dominion was given to it, and after the Grecian empire falls, Rome comes next.
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
More Questions
What does the leopard represent in Daniel's vision of the four beasts?
The leopard in Daniel's vision depicts Alexander the Great and the Grecian empire.
What do the four wings and four heads on the leopard in Daniel 7 represent?
The four wings and four heads on the leopard picture Alexander's empire being divided among four generals after his death.