What Are The Four Beasts From The Sea In Daniel 7?
The four beasts that we see rise from the sea are four nations with rise from among the people. Daniel 7 overlaps with Daniel chapter 2.
Daniel 7 is an expansion of the previous vision from chapter 2 in order to give more detail.
Correcting Errors In Views Of Daniel 7
It is imperative to note that the first three beasts of Daniel 7 is speaking to historical empires. These in no way represent present day scenarios nor future powers.
The fourth beast though does represent future context of prophecy. Some attempt to tie this to historical Greece or Rome. This is not accurate.
We must understand the context of the vision in conjunction with other scripture. There are direct implications for this fourth beast in Daniels vision to John’s vision in Revelation 13.
The First Was Like A Lion And Had Eagle’s Wings
The first best had the appearance of a lion found in Daniel 7:4. The Lion is associated with the head of gold found in Daniel 2:38.
The kingdom these two represent is that of ancient Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar would be the one who knew Daniel well in this time.
Another Beast, A Second, Like To A Bear
In Daniel 7:5 we find the second beast. It is likened to a Bear which devoured much flesh. The Bear is associated with Daniel 2:32 in the image having breasts and arms of silver.
The Bear and silver represent Persia. It would be Persia which would conquer Babylon and soon allow a remnant to return to Jerusalem.
A Third Beast Like A Leopard
The third beast in Daniel 7:6 was likened to a Leopard. From Daniel 2:32 we find the image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream having a belly and thighs of brass.
This Leopard and brass represent the Greek kingdom which would expand under Alexander the Great. This period of time exists in a period of silence between the Old and New Testament.
A Fourth Beast Dreadful And Terrible With Ten Horns
Daniel 7:8-9 gives a bit more insight into the beast than its historical counterparts. The meaning of this fourth beast has duality within its meaning.
One must be carful in recognizing this for it plays a critical role in understanding prophecy. Within the historical context the teeth of iron represents Rome.
This can be cross referenced with the legs of iron found in Daniel 2:33. Yet we must focus on the full context of verse 33.
“His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay”
In chapter 2 we notice the only time a metal carries over from one part of the body to the next is within the legs and feet. At no other point does any other metal being the gold, silver, or brass carry over into the next segment of the body.
The fourth beast from Daniel 7 is also being depicted in the same way. While it does hold a historical context, it also holds significant future prophetic meaning.
Why Is There No Separation Of Kingdoms After Rome?
Babylon was conquered by Persia. Persia was conquered by the Greeks. Who conquered Rome? No one.
Rome was never conquered. Rather it broke apart into various pieces of the ancient world birthing smaller nation states.
By 435 AD Europe had begun its long journey through the Dark Ages. From it would be born many smaller states which would unite under the Papacy.
After the fall of Rome its former citizens still considered themselves to be Roman for quite some time. There as no other civilization that replaced Rome. Rather the people moved forward with Roman ideas.
The Papacy leveraged religion and politics to create the “Holy Roman Empire” that allowed a Pope to carry weight in political matters. It was a very loose confederation of states that did not always get along.
As we move into the birth of the West the founders of the United States used various models in the creation of the government. Greek and Roman law was a foundation as well as Biblical measures in checks and balances.
The idea of what Rome was never has died. Its influence still exists today. Europe at this moment has reshaped the idea of the Holy Roman Empire into a newer version we call the EU.
The Bible speaks of how this future “Roman Empire” will be revived within the end times. It is this revived Empire which the Antichrist will control.
The Beast And Its Horns Associated With The Feet And Ten Toes
The ten toes from the feet in Daniel 2 represents the same concept as the ten horns of the beast. These are ten kingdoms which will rise from this revived empire.
The iron and clay represents the treaty of peace that will loosely hold this confederation together. Daniel 7 gives more insight to these horns.
“23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”
The little horn is the Antichrist. He will remove or conquer three kings. This moment is where the judgements of the Tribulation become ramped up in earnest.
Conclusion Of Daniel 7
The conclusion of Daniel chapter 7 can be seen clearly. We can also see the same in Daniel 2 and also Revelation 13.
The ending of these three passages each end the same way though with different imagery showing different vantage points.
The stone which was cut without hands in Daniel 2:45 is Christ at the second coming. At His return he will conquer the beast.
Daniel 7 speaks of how the Ancient of Days, this is Christ, will destroy this beast. In turn we see the world being given to the Saints or believers.
This heralds in the Millennial Kingdom where Christ will rule and reign for one thousand years.
Revelation 13 by itself does not show this specific end as the entire book is an exploded view of the Tribulation. Rather we find in chapter 13 the unholy trinity and the foundation of the mark of the beast.
It is the last two chapters of Revelation that we find the conclusion to match the counterpart passages in Daniel.
Why Is Daniel’s Visions Significant To Proving Revelation?
Today within the world we have those who claim to be Christians that do not believe in the Tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom, a rapture, and some deny a Second Coming of Christ.
Replacement theology has riddled the modern church so much that their views on the Bible cannot stand complete. Rather they hold to false doctrines that circumvent the very premise of salvation.
An example of this are those who believe we must make the world “kingdom ready” for Christ. In other words we must prepare the world and make it perfect before Christ returns.
Quite simply this is not only impossible but it is also ridiculous. How can people who are broken with sin make anything perfect. This was the whole point of God giving us the law.
The law of Moses proves that we cannot make anything perfect or ready. Thus the idea of kingdom ready is a works based system that denies grace and the real meaning of salvation.
Other false doctrines such as the church replacing the need for Israel are rampant. These ideas have led some to think we are presently living within the Millennial Kingdom.
If this is the Millennial Kingdom then I want no part of it. The fact is that these people reject God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would eternally be a God to them and bring them to Him.
The entire purpose of the Tribulation is specifically for Israel to come to know Christ and fulfill that promise. If God does not keep His promise to them, why would He keep His promise to us? If He did not bring them back it would make God a liar.