The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

III. Joachim’s Exposition of Leading Prophecies of Daniel

1. FOUR EMPIRES OF Daniel 2 SPECIFIED

In his Concordia, Joachim outlines the four prophetic empires of Daniel 2, which Daniel “wonderfully explained.” The gold he interprets as the kingdom of the Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians; the silver, as that of the Macedonians, from Alexander to the time of the Maccabees; the third, as the Roman Empire. The Saracens who seized the territory of the Romans, Joachim regards as the iron kingdom that is to strike at Babylon. ⁴⁵ PFF1 701.2

“This statue ... certain of the fathers have so explained that they attributed the iron to the Roman Empire as ruling all the kingdoms. For there was not, in that time, any kingdom of the Saracens, through which now, almost daily, the gold and silver and brass are being ground to pieces.” ⁴⁶ PFF1 701.3

2. EARTH-FILLING STONE IS YET FUTURE

The phase of the iron and clay, Joachim says, is “the last kingdom, which will be in the time of antichrist.” Joachim parts company with Augustine by placing the filling of the-earth with the heavenly stone kingdom, or mountain, as yet future: PFF1 702.1

“But that kingdom [of iron and clay] will last a shot time, even until that stone, which was cut from the mountain without hands, falls upon it, and with the arms with which it formerly conquered the Roman empire conquers and destroys it .... So therefore that precious stone, which will descend from heaven, is to fill all the earth, when the universal kingdoms of the nations have been destroyed which fought against it.” ⁴⁷ PFF1 702.2

3. UNUSUAL EXPOSITION OF Daniel 7

Different ones have had different opinions, Joachim declares, concerning the beasts of Daniel 7, which have been handed down to posterity.’ Once more he seeks to connect the Saracens with the fourth beast, as well as to tie them in with the ten-horned apocalyptic beast. The ten horns and the Little Horn are future kings, but the exposition of the eleventh king is hazy. In Daniel’s first three beasts he sees the Jews, the Romans, and the Arian kingdoms respectively. ⁴⁸ PFF1 702.3

4. ALEXANDER THE GREAT, HORN ON GRECIAN GOAT

“He who interpreted the vision at the petition of Daniel, declared the he-goat of the goats to be the kingdom of the Greeks. But that the great horn was the first king, that is, Alexander, who was to smite Darius, king of the Persians and the Medes.” ⁴⁹ PFF1 702.4

5. ANTIOCHUS NOT INTENDED BY LITTLE HORN

“Antiochus must not be considered as the one concerning whom it was spoken. Although iniquities will have increased, a king will arise, impudent in face, and understanding propositions: even though this may seem possible to be considered according to the literal sense, yet that one is the Antichrist, whose type Antiochus held. For Antiochus did not lay waste the whole world, whom so few soldiers of the Jews so strenuously resisted, even more than could be believed; but of that one concerning whom it is written: Who is exalted, and stands up against all that is called God, or what is worshiped, so that in the temple of God he sits, showing himself as if he were God.” ⁵⁰ PFF1 702.5

6. MYSTERY OF 1 335 DAYS NOT YET CLEAR

“And blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. I say one thing more fearlessly—that when these mysteries are completed the seventh angel will sound with a trumpet, under which all the sacred mysteries which have been written will be fulfilled, and there will be a time of, peace in the whole earth. Concerning explaining the true mystery of this number, let no one annoy me; let no one compel me to go beyond the decreed limit; for God is powerful to make His own mysteries more clear yet.” ⁵¹ PFF1 703.1