How Did Alexander the Great's Empire Change After His Death?

Direct Answer

Yes — Alexander the Great's empire was divided among four generals after his death.

Les Feldick notes that Alexander completed his conquest by age 33 and then died, after which his kingdom was divided among four generals. Instead of remaining under one absolute dictator, the Grecian Empire was split into four divisions. Daniel's vision of the leopard with four wings and four heads pictures the same four-fold division.

Key Scriptures

Daniel 8:21-22 — This passage explicitly identifies the king of Grecia and the four kingdoms that stand up out of his nation after the great horn is broken.

Daniel 7:6 — The leopard with four wings and four heads symbolically pictures the Grecian Empire divided under four rulers instead of one.

Daniel 8:8 — The breaking of the great horn and the coming up of four notable ones points to the end of Alexander's one-man rule.

What Does the Bible Say?

Daniel 2:39 says: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. Daniel 7:6 then describes that empire in these words: 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. In Daniel 8:5, the Bible says: And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. The next verses show what happened to that single horn: Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:8). Daniel 8:21-22 explains the symbols: And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Alexander's Empire After His Death?

Les Feldick teaches that Alexander the Great was the 'notable horn' of the he-goat in Daniel 8 — a single conqueror, not a consortium like the Medes and Persians. He says Alexander completed his conquest at age 33 and then died, and his kingdom was divided among four generals. Les connects this to Daniel 7, where Greece is pictured as a leopard. Just as a leopard is swift, Alexander could move his armies over territory that no one else dreamed possible and in less time. The four wings on the leopard's back and the beast's four heads, Les says, picture the four generals who ruled Alexander's empire after his death. Instead of one great dictator like Nebuchadnezzar, the third empire was divided into four. Les also shows that Alexander rose from poor circumstances in Macedonia and was driven by greed to conquer the world.

Why Does Daniel Use a Leopard with Four Wings to Picture Alexander?

Les says the leopard is one of the swiftest animals and depicts Alexander, who was swift in his conquests and could move his armies over territory nobody else dreamed possible. He also points to the four wings and four heads on the beast: instead of one great dictator over the third empire, there were four generals who ruled it after Alexander died. Daniel 7:6 says the beast had four heads, and Les identifies these with the four generals.

What Was the Single 'Notable Horn' Before the Division?

Les explains that Alexander the Great was a conqueror of one — he alone rose up out of the Grecian Empire and was the notable horn on the he-goat. Unlike the Medes and Persians, who were a consortium of two kings who had to agree before acting, Alexander was one absolute leader. But once he completed his conquest at age 33, he died, and the single horn was replaced by four generals.

How Does the Grecian Empire Fit Into Daniel's Sequence of World Powers?

Les places Alexander's Greece as the kingdom of brass in Daniel 2, following the Medes and Persians. He says the next kingdom after the Medo-Persian empire was Alexander's Greece, but as soon as Alexander completed his conquest, he died and the kingdom was divided among four generals. In Daniel 7, the leopard follows the bear that pictured the Medes and Persians, and its four heads show the divided rule of Greece.

From the Teaching

The Notable Horn

Les identifies Alexander as the single 'notable horn' of the he-goat, a conqueror of one rather than a consortium — the empire began under one man.

Divided Among Four Generals

Les states that after Alexander completed his conquest at age 33, he died and his kingdom was divided among four generals.

Divided Among Four Generals (Repeated)

Les repeats that Alexander's kingdom was divided between four generals after his death.

Leopard's Four Wings and Heads

Les shows that the leopard's four wings and four heads picture the division of Alexander's empire into four parts under four generals instead of one great dictator.

Leopard's Four Wings and Heads (Repeated)

Les repeats that the leopard's four wings and four heads picture four generals ruling Alexander's empire after his death.

The Swift Leopard

Les explains that Alexander's swift conquests are pictured by the leopard, one of the swiftest animals.

The Swift Leopard (Repeated)

Les repeats the same point about the swift leopard representing Alexander.

Alexander's Greed

Les explains that Alexander grew up in poor Macedonia and was motivated by greed to conquer the world.

Bible Verses

Daniel 2:39: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

This verse identifies the third world empire that followed the Medes and Persians, which in Daniel's prophecy is the Grecian Empire.

Daniel 7:6: 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.

The leopard with four wings and four heads pictures the Grecian Empire divided under four rulers after Alexander's death.

Daniel 8:5: And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

The he-goat's notable horn pictures Alexander the Great as a single conqueror.

Daniel 8:8: Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

The breaking of the great horn and the rise of four notable ones pictures the division of Alexander's empire after his death.

Daniel 8:21-22: And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

This passage explicitly says the king of Grecia would be followed by four kingdoms out of the nation, but not in his power.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many generals divided Alexander the Great's empire?

Four. Les Feldick says that after Alexander completed his conquest at age 33, he died and his kingdom was divided among four generals. He also connects this to Daniel's vision of the leopard with four wings and four heads.

How old was Alexander the Great when he died?

Les says Alexander completed his conquest at age 33 and then died. He does not give a cause of death in these clips.

What do the four wings and four heads on the leopard in Daniel 7 represent?

Les interprets them as the four generals who ruled Alexander's empire after his death. Instead of one great dictator such as Nebuchadnezzar, the third empire was divided into four.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Antichrist — Daniel 8 & 11