THE FOUR BEASTS

Chapter 7

This is the beginning of the section of the prophetic book of Daniel. God made revelations to Daniel about the future, through three interrelated visions in a dream, in the first year of Belshazzar (553 BC):

THE VISION OF ANIMALS (v. 1 to 8):

The theme is the same as that of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (chapter 2) but from another perspective: the statue showed the decline in wealth, majesty and power of the great emperors, which is a human point of view, but the animals here reveal the ferocity and cruelty of these leaders, which is the divine point of view, and more details are added.

The Great Sea (Mediterranean) borders the territories conquered by these four empires. The order of appearance of the animals coincides with the chronological order of their dominion: Babylon (lion) from 606 to 539 BC, Medo-Persia (bear) 539 to 330 BC, Greece (leopard) from 330 to 65 BC and Rome from 65 BC.

Colossal statues of a lion with eagle wings and human head adorned the palaces of Nineveh and Babylon, which leaves no doubt as to their identity, see also Jeremiah 4:7,13. The lion suggests strength, and the wings of an eagle, speed. Verse 4 may refer to the humiliation and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar.

The Medo-Persian Empire expanded slowly, with numerous armies, consuming many lives; the bear is a symbol of it, known for its strength and ferocity in combat. The side of the bear which was raised up represents Persia, which was more powerful, and the three ribs correspond to the kingdoms of Lydia, Babylon and Egypt who sided against the Medes and Persians but were defeated.

Like the leopard, the Macedonian Alexander the Great was agile at the head of the Greek army, and as if he had wings, he quickly conquered territory. The four heads represent the division of his empire after his death: Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and Macedonia.

The fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong, unlike all previous corresponds to the Roman Empire. Its iron teeth and ten horns relate to the legs of iron and ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's statue, that is, the Roman Empire. The ten horns represent ten kings, and the little horn another, unlike the others, which will destroy three of them. We will study better the horns in another chapter, but we can say now that the little horn represents the Antichrist or the beast of the Revelation, so the horns are still prophecy to be fulfilled after the rapture of the church.

There are two possible explanations for the fact that apparently the empires coexist at the end of the time of the Gentiles, although they have already succeeded each other and been destroyed:

Literal: the four will be represented by people who originated it: Iraq (Babylon), Iran (Persia), Greece and a union of 10 countries including Italy (Rome).
Representative: a union of countries that combines the main features of those empires, religion, science, philosophy and administrative control.

THE VISION OF JUDGEMENT (v.9-12):

The Ancient of Days is God: the description is of God the Son Who will judge the nations (Matthew 23:31-46) in the "valley of Jehoshaphat", after His return to the world (Joel 3:1-2). God the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son (John 5:22). The vision shows His glory and power, and the result of His judgement: the fourth animal, containing the horn which spoke pompous words was destroyed, and the other three were deprived of their dominion but had their lives prolonged life for "a season and a time."

THE VISION OF THE SON OF MAN (v. 13-14):

The Ancient of Days is God again, but here we have a prophecy of God the Son made Son of man, now receiving from God the Father everlasting dominion over mankind (Ephesians 1:20-22).

DANIEL REQUESTS AND GETS THE INTERPRETATION (v. 15-26):

Others saw the visions of Daniel (probably angels - Zechariah 1:9,19) and he asked one of them to interpret because they had left him disturbed. Probably to reassure Daniel, that person then told him that the great beasts are four kings which shall arise out of the earth, but the saints of the Most High (the remnant of Israel which will be converted during the tribulation) will receive the kingdom and reign forever (vs. . 22, 25, 27).

Daniel was still very impressed by the fourth beast and its horns, especially the one which came out after the others, and asked for more details about it.

He was then explained that the fourth beast represents a fourth kingdom, unlike all others, which will rule over the earth, causing great destruction. Out of this kingdom ten kings shall come out, and later another one different from them will appear, subduing three of them.

The latter will be against the Most High, will pursue his saints and intend to change times and law (the Mosaic law and observation of his calendar), during a time, times and half a time (three and a half years), but after that he will be judged, stripped of power "to consume and destroy it forever". (This indicates the final form of the Roman world power as a confederation of ten countries that will arise simultaneouosly in the days of the Tribulation; the Antichrist will rise from among them - the beast of Revelation - winning three of the ten nations - see Revelation 6:2, 13:4 -7, 17:14, 19:19-20, 20:4).

R David Jones

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.
2 Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'
6 "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.
11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
17 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'
19 "Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;
20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21 "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23 "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
26 'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'
28 "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart."

Daniel chapter 7