PICTURE STTHD 30.1
“The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.” Verse 20. STTHD 30.2
This is plain language. It cannot be misunderstood. This being the first symbol, we know at what point the vision commences. It does not begin with the empire of Babylon, as do the visions of the second and seventh chapters, for the Babylonian empire being very near its close in the third year of Belshazzar, when the vision was given, the view commences with the incoming Medo-Persian empire. The two horns of the ram denote the union of these two powers, the Medes and the Persians, in one government. STTHD 30.3
PICTURE AND TEXT
The Medo-Persian supremacy commenced at the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus, B.C. 538, and extended to the battle of Arbela, B.C. 331, two hundred and seven years. So long a time is covered by the first symbol. In the explanation of the next symbol we have the power that overthrew the Persian empire, and consequently succeeded to its place. STTHD 31.1