lion symbolizing the Messiah appears upon the scene and pronounces the early destruction of the eagle. Thus the Jewish seer is firmly convinced that he stands at the end of the age when the downfall of haughty Rome is imminent. In this conviction he occupied common ground with his contemporary John, who for very different reasons predicted an equally sweeping destruction of the Roman Empire. The pious Jews are not to lose heart since God’s plan involves the early destruction of Roman rule and the