TY - JOUR AU - Kuryliak, Ihor PY - 2021/06/08 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Specifics of the interpretation of Ephrem the Syrian of eschatological images in Dan. 7 JF - Multiversum. Philosophical almanac JA - Multiversum VL - 1 IS - 2 SE - PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES DO - 10.35423/2078-8142.2021.1.2.09 UR - https://multiversum.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/443 SP - 166-180 AB - The article examines the peculiarities of the interpretation of Ephrem the Syrian of the seventh chapter of the apocalyptic book of the prophet Daniel. The interpretation of the theologian of eschatological images Dan. 7 is covered in the context of the analysis of hermeneutic principles. Ephrem has been found to interpret four beasts as Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece. It is determined that this interpretation differs from the traditional interpretation of early Christian writers, who believed that the four kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The author of the article gives sound arguments that prove that the second kingdom is Medo-Persia, the third kingdom is Greece, and the fourth - Rome. It is presented that in the book of Daniel the Medes and Persians are presented as one kingdom. In the eighth chapter, the second and third beasts from the seventh chapter are directly identified as Medo-Persia and Greece. It is analyzed that the New Testament texts, historical data and details of prophetic eschatological images show that the fourth beast symbolizes the Roman Empire, not the Greek, as Ephrem claims. It is established that the interpretation of Ephrem does not find a biblical basis and therefore yields to the traditional interpretation. The analysis shows that the interpretation of Ephrem in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel has the hermeneutic principles of the modern preterist school of interpretation. The theologian was found to have interpreted the image of the little horn in Dan. 7 as Antiochus Epiphanes. The author of the article highlights the eight identifying features of the little horn, which are depicted in the seventh chapter. It is investigated that according to the representatives of the historical school the little horn symbolizes the papacy. Further consideration of this scientific issue is seen in the deep exegetical analysis of eschatological images in Dan. 7. We are convinced that this will allow us to better understand the apocalyptic symbols of the book of Daniel and contribute to its further comprehension. ER -