Appendix V 

The Future According to the Book of Daniel 

The Book of Daniel contains prophecies for the future of the Church and the 

world. These prophecies include the events of the first and second parts of 

the tribulation, as well as some events from the intervening period. The first 

and lesser tribulation will begin in the two year period of time, A.D. 

2009/2010, and will end in late A.D. 2039 or early A.D. 2040. The second 

and  greater tribulation can be said to include the sufferings of the Church 

during (and even just prior to) the reign of the Antichrist, as well as the 

punishments of God called the Seven Bowls of God s Wrath (as found in the 

Book of Revelation). The Book of Daniel describes some of the events of 

each tribulation, and gives many details about the Antichrist and his reign. 

In fact, much of what we know about the Antichrist, and  many of the 

comments of the Church fathers and saints about the Antichrist, is based on 

interpretations of various passages from Daniel. 

The version of the Bible used for this commentary is the Catholic Public 

Domain Version (CPDV), translated from the Latin Vulgate using the 

Douay Rheims version as a guide. Translating the Latin into English for the 

CPDV provided me with additional insights into the meaning of the text. 

My previous commentary on the Book of Daniel is found in my first book, 

The Bible and the Future of the World. 

{2:27} And Daniel, facing the king, answered and said,  The secret that the 

king seeks, the wise men, the seers, and the soothsayers are unable to reveal 

to the king. 

{2:28} But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, who  has 

revealed to you, king Nebuchadnezzar, what will happen in the latter times. 

Your dream and the visions of your head upon your bed, are such as these. 

{2:29} You, O king, began to think, while in your blanket, about what will 

be hereafter. And he who reveals secrets showed you what will happen. 

{2:30} To me, likewise, this mystery is revealed, not according to the 

wisdom that is in me more than in other living things, but so that the 

interpretation might be made manifest to the king, and so that you may 

know the thoughts of your mind. 

{2:31} You, O king, saw, and behold, something like a great statue. This 

statue, which was great and high, stood exalted above you, and you 

considered how terrible it was.