“Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!” Daniel 7:5
The bear was the Medo-Persian Empire and it was less majestic, less swift, and less glorious than the Babylon Empire. The term raised up itself on one side means that the strength of the Persians ultimately greater than the Medes. The three ribs in the mouth between the teeth referred to the bear devouring much flesh. It symbolized the conquest of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. The bear was told to continue its conquest, which is why Egypt could be included as part of the additional conquests the Medes and Persians made in the years that followed the fall of Babylon. Taken as a whole, this prophecy accurately portrays the characteristics and history of the Medo-Persian Empire, which, although beginning in Daniel’s day, continued for over two hundred years until the time of Alexander the Great in 336 B.C. We see the prophecy in Isaiah and Jeremiah that the Medes will defeat Babylon. “Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon. They cannot be tempted by silver or bribed with gold. The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for children.” (Isaiah 13:17-18) “Then the heavens and earth will rejoice, for out of the north will come destroying armies against Babylon,” says the Lord. “Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel and others throughout the world, so must her people be killed.” (Jeremiah 51:48-49)
As I study and dig into Biblical Prophecy, I see more of the power of God. I see how God has all the nations and the world working in His great plan for humanity. All God’s plan was put into place before God ever created Adam. So much prophecy has been fulfilled and there are many more to be fulfilled. It is exciting to see what God is doing in the world and what He has already done in our world. I have seen so many things in my life that only God could have worked out. If we will only open our eyes, we will see how loving and powerful God is.