Original Documents
A Discussion of the Nuremberg Images Relating to the Prophet Daniel chapter 7
Illustrating Images

These friezes could be seen above these two entrances to the city hall of Nuremberg, Germany. They illustrate and explain Daniel chapter seven. At this time, we do not know if they still exist.
On the left we see the winged lion with the bearded figure representing Nebuchadnezzar and his Babyonian Empire. Opposite of it is the figure representing the Persian king and the bear. The third empire was Macedonian Greece represented as the four headed, double winged leopard next to the figure of Alexander the Great. Then we have the Roman emporer looking back and reclining next to the terrible beast with ten horns.
The empirical Roman Empire divided at length when the Roman Emperor moved his capital to Constantinopel and the vacant throne in Rome was taken over by the bishop of Rome, hence known as pope. [500]
We learn from these architectural figures that biblical subjects, even prophecy, was much on the mind of the generation which produced them and we should understand them too.

Diese Steinfiguren gibt es oder gab es über zwei Eingänge im (alten?) Rathaus von Nürnberg. Sie stellen die Prophetischen Sinnbilder von Daniel Kapitel Sieben dar. Wir wissen nicht, ob sie noch existieren.

An der linken Seite sehen wir den beflügelten Löwen und die Figur des Babylonischen Königs Nebukadnezzar. Gegenüber davon ruht der Persische König mit dem Bär, dem Sinnbild für Medo-Persien. Das dritte Reich war das Reich der Mazedonischen Griechen, mit dem vierköpfigen und doppelt beflügelten Leoparden neben der Figur von Alexander dem Großen dargestellt. Ganz rechts ruht der zurückblickende Kaiser Roms mit dem schrecklichen, zehnhörnigen Tier an seiner Seite.
Wir lernen von diesen bildlichen Darstellungen, das zu der Zeit ihrer Herstellung die Einwohner noch diese Sinnbilder der prophetischen Bibelbücher verstanden und wir sollten sie auch verstehen.

Notes & References

[0500] Historically it was the Heruli (493 AD), Vandals (534 AD) and Ostrogoths (538 AD) who severly weakened the old, divided (476 AD) Roman Empire. But the bishop of Rome did not formerly reach his worldly high position until 538 AD when he subdued the Ostrogoths.
Sources: Conway, The Question Box;
The transformation from a local, Roman bishop to a head of state is described in books like R.F. Bellamine, On the Authority of Councils, ed. 1619, Vol. II, Book 2, ch. 17, p. 266.; Rev. James P. Conroy, American Catholic Quarterly Review, April, 1911.; On the power of the pope: P.F.L. Ferraris, Ecclesiastical Dictionary, Article `On the Pope'.; The Very Rev. James H. Ryan in The Encyclicals of Pius XI, St. Louis: Herder, 1927, p. 44, Quoted by W.W. Rockwell in Current History Magazine, August, 1929, p. 827.; On the healing of the wound, see Current History, August, 1929, p. 847.; The Question Box, p. 167; On persecutions see: William Edward Hartpole Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Vol. 2 (London: Longmans, Green and Company, 1904, p. 32.; Cath. Journal, The Western Watchman, December 24, 1908.; Other commentators on prophetic subjects: John Wesley, Notes on Revelation; On religious freedom: Article IV, Section 4, Constitution of the United States; The Bill of Rights, Article 1;

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