Daniel 7 - Four Great Beasts

Daniel 7 contains a strange vision. The prophet sees four winds stirring up the sea. Suddenly, from out of the waters emerge four different beasts. The first was like a lion with eagle's wings. Its wings are plucked off and the animal turns into a man with a heart. The second beast was like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth. The third was like a leopard with four wings. It also had four heads. But the strangest animal was yet to come.

The fourth beast was unlike Daniel had ever seen before. It was indescribable and unlike the other three. This monster was "terrible, dreadful, and exceedingly strong." It had large iron teeth and it devoured everything in its pathway. Strangely it had 10 horns. While the prophet looked at the horns it noticed a little horn growing up from among the 10 horns and plucking out three of them. The little horn had the eyes of a man and spoke "pompous" words.

Then Daniel saw thrones and the "Ancient of Days" described wearing a garment white as snow with thousands ministering before him. A judgment scene was taking place in the context of the "pompous words" of the little horn. Finally, one like "the Son of Man" came to the "Ancient of Days". He was given everlasting dominion and all people served Him. His kingdom would never be destroyed.

The vision deeply troubled Daniel. In his dream he approached someone "who stood by" and asked for an explanation. The interpretation given echoes the vision of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, but with more details about the fourth beast. The interpreter said that the four beasts represented four kingdoms. From a study of Daniel 2 and world history, it is not difficult to determine these four kingdoms.

The First Three Kingdoms Babylon is represented as a lion with eagle's wings. The two great carnivorous animals of the land and sky depict this noble kingdom. Modern archaeological discoveries of ancient Babylon have revealed the symbol of a lion with wings like an eagle was used in its architecture and design. Perhaps the "man's heart" given to this kingdom represents the humbling experience of Nebuchadnezzar spoken of in Daniel 4.

Medo—Persia is appropriately represented by a bear lifted up on one side since the declining Median Empire became integrated into the newer and growing Persian Empire. The three ribs in the bear's mouth are victims of its conquering description, "Rise, devour much flesh!" The three are most likely Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt which Medo—Persia conquered.

Greece, under the leadership of Alexander the Great, conquered the world with great speed. Its armies moved swiftly. The likeness of a leopard with wings fits the Grecian Empire. But, why four heads? After Alexander the Great died his kingdom was divided into four territories: Macedonia, Pergamum, Egypt, and Syria).

The Fourth Beast and the Little Horn Rome represents the fourth beast. Not only is this confirmed through a study of world history, but Daniel 2 and the great image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the fourth kingdom points to this "iron monarchy". This beast has "huge iron teeth." Just as the image of Daniel 2 has legs of iron which lead to feet of iron mixed with clay, the Roman Empire eventually became a divided kingdom of 10 nations represented by 10 horns. When the city of Rome fell to the barbarians in A.D. 476, the foundation for modern—day Europe was laid.

But what is the meaning of the "little horn"? While the Bible does not specifically name this power, Daniel 7 gives several identifying marks for it.

First, it begins small and rises up from among the ten horns, plucking out three of these powers. It rises out of the division of the Roman Empire. Second, it has the eyes of a man and speaks pompous words against God. It is described as "different" from the other powers. It is more than a political power, it has a religious agenda. Third, it persecutes God's people for a given period of time (a time and times and half a time), which in Bible prophecy equals 3 ½ prophetic years or 1260 years. Fourth, it intends to "change times and laws". The most obvious example of "time" in God's 10 commandment law would be the seventh—day Sabbath.

So, we may identify this little horn power if we can determine what power grew out of the Roman Empire when it was divided, what power began small and grew strong, what power had a religious and political agenda, what power spoke against God and sought to change God's law, and what power persecuted God's people during a period of 1,260 years (from approximately A.D. 538 to 1798). What religious power might this be?