דניאל, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ב

The destiny of world powers and great empires does not always end in immediate and total destruction. Often, a nation faces the loss of its global dominance while its people and physical structure continue to survive until a predetermined moment in history.

In the broader vision of global empires, the judgment passed on the first three kingdoms entails a specific fate [מצודת דוד, יוסף אבן יחיא]. Their governance and authority are removed by a decree from Heaven [רש״י]. While the primary approach among commentators views this as a standard loss of political power, a different perspective suggests that the specific type of authority removed is one of brute force and tyranny. In this view, the end of their rule specifically marks the cessation of their cruelty, much like the brutal dominance exercised by the Romans in ancient times [מלבי״ם].

Even though these nations are stripped of their absolute power, they are granted an extension of time and allowed to remain alive [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. Instead of being entirely wiped out like other fallen empires, they receive a reprieve. Following the idea that their previous rule was defined by cruelty, their continued survival means they may still hold leadership roles, but they will now govern with gentleness and peace rather than violence and murder [מלבי״ם].

Yet, this continued existence is not guaranteed forever [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their survival is strictly limited to a fixed, predetermined timeframe [מצודת ציון, יוסף אבן יחיא]. These nations will endure until the end of days, specifically surviving until the appointed era of the wars of Gog and Magog. At that designated moment, their extended time will run out, and they will finally face their ultimate downfall [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].