Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7 – A Vision of 4 Beasts

 

In Daniel 7 Daniel has a prophetic vision of four great beasts emerging from the sea. Each beast represents different kingdoms or empires. The first beast is like a lion with eagle’s wings. The second beast is like a bear. The third beast is like a leopard with four wings and four heads.

The fourth beast is terrifying and powerful, with iron teeth and ten horns. The fourth beast represents 2 things. A kingdom to come and that would be around in Jesus’ time on earth, and a future kingdom that would be in power in the end times. 

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

A Vision of 4 Beasts

Daniel 7:1-3 – In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account. Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea. Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others.

While Daniel and many others from Israel are in captivity during the Babylonian Empire and later the Medo-Persian empire, Daniel has a prophetic vision. Daniel’s prophetic vision is detailed in Daniel 7. The vision reveals 4 different beasts that came up out of the sea.

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The First Beast

Daniel 7:4 – The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.

Daniel’s prophetic vision took place while he and many others from Israel were in captivity in Babylon. Babylon was the most famous city during the Babylonian Empire, and was a great cultural and religious center. Babylon’s ruins lie in modern day Iraq, 59 miles (94 km) southwest of Baghdad.

The Old Babylonian period was from approx. 2000 to 1595 BC. The Middle Babylonian period was from approx. 1595 to 1155 BC. The Neo-Babylonian period was from 626 to 539 BC. Nebuchadnezzar II was one of the kings during this period, from 605 to 562 BC. He was king of Babylonia when Daniel and many others were taken captive.

The first beast in Daniel’s prophetic vision appears like a lion. The beast had wings like an eagle. The first beast represents the Babylonian Empire, in which Daniel and many others were taken captive and sent to Babylon. The Babylonian Empire lasted until 539 BC, when it was conquered by Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian Empire. Ultimately the city of Babylon was destroyed in 485 BC by Xerxes, who ruled the Medo-Persian Empire after Cyrus.

” it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man” symbolizes when king Nebuchadnezzar was sentenced by God to an animal like existence for “7 periods of time” as a result of his pride (Daniel 4:32-36).

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The Second Beast

Daniel 7:5 – Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’

The second beast in Daniel’s prophetic vision has the appearance of a bear. This beast represents the Medo-Persian Empire, which defeated the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC. The Medo-Persian Empire lasted from approx. 550 BC until Alexander the Great conquered them in 331 BC.

The “raised up of one side” of the beast indicates that one of the kingdom’s parts, Persia, would be more dominant than the other. The three ribs in the second beast’s mouth symbolize nations that were devoured by the Medes and the Persians. These three conquered nations were Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt.

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The Third Beast

Daniel 7:6 – Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

The third beast in Daniel’s prophetic vision has the appearance of a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads. The third beast represents the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. They defeated the Medo-Persian empire in 331 BC. The Greek Empire lasted until 146 BC, when Greece was annexed into the Roman Empire.

The four heads symbolize the dividing into 4 parts of the Greek Empire following Alexander the Great’s death. Daniel’s vision of the ram and the goat in Daniel 8 gives further details of the second and third kingdoms.

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The Fourth Beast

Daniel 7:7-8 – After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

The fourth beast in Daniel’s prophetic vision represents the Roman Empire, which defeated the Greek Empire in 146 BC. The Roman Empire was extremely strong and dreadful for the nations that it conquered.

The fourth beast also represents a future kingdom to come in the end times. Thus making Daniel’s vision a prophetic vision, not only about the Roman Empire which was around in Jesus’ time on earth, but about the end times as well.

An more detailed explanation about the fourth beast and the horns are given to Daniel by an angel later in Daniel 7.

 

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

 

A Vision of the “Ancient of Days”

Daniel 7:9-10 – As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

As Isaiah did in Isaiah 6, and John in the book of Revelation, Daniel had a vision of Almighty, All Powerful God. The “Ancient of Days”. The “thrones set in place” are the thrones of  the 24 elders mentioned by John in  Revelation 4:4. He sees God with clothing as white as snow, and hair like pure wool. This represents God’s purity and holiness. God’s throne was flaming with fire, representing His glory and also His fierce wrath and judgement. Daniel also saw a great multitude of angels standing before God.

Daniel states that the court was convened, meaning that God’s final judgement was about to come. And he saw “the books were opened”. God’s word mentions “the Book of Remembrance” in Malachi 3:16, and the Book of Life in Philippians 4:3 and Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27, and 22:19.

The Final Fate of The 4th Beast

Daniel 7:11-12 – Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.

The horn that was speaking arrogant words in verse 11 is the tyrannical Antichrist that will take power in the end times. His arrogant and blasphemous words are also described in Revelation 13:5-6. Daniel describes the ultimate defeat and destruction of the fourth beast, or Satan. John also saw this in Revelation 19:20 “The beast was captured, and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur”.

Verse 12 mentions that the dominion of the rest of the beasts was removed. When Jesus sets up His kingdom, the empire of the Antichrist will be completely crushed. Yet some nations will continue to exist into the millennium kingdom of Christ, but they will not have any power to rule.

 

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

A Vision of the Son of Man

Daniel 7:13-14 – In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

An Interpretation of the 4 Beasts

Daniel 7:15-18 – I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things: These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

Daniel was grieved in his spirit and alarmed by what he saw in his prophetic vision. He asked one of the angels that was there to explain the meaning of these strange and terrifying things that Daniel saw in the vision. The angel explains that the four beasts represent four kings or rulers to come. And he begins to explain what will happen in the end times. This should give us hope as the angel begins to unveil the ultimate victory we have in Christ.

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

Daniel Wanted To Know More About The Fourth Beast

Daniel 7:19-22 – Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

Daniel was curious and wanted to know more about the fourth beast, and the meaning of the 10 horns. And the meaning of the other horn that came up and appeared more terrifying and imposing than the others. Daniel mentions again the horn’s eyes and mouth that spoke words of arrogance. And he also mentions that the horn, or king, was waging war against God’s people the saints.

More Details About the Fourth Beast

Daniel 7:23-25 – This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

The angel explains that the fourth beast’s ten horns are 10 kings who will arise from that kingdom. Given the fact that the Antichrist (or the other horn) also comes from the fourth beast, which represents the Roman Empire, it is likely the Antichrist will come from Europe and a coalition of 10 world leaders.

The little, imposing horn with the eyes and mouth of a human represents a later king, or the Antichrist. He will defeat 3 of the original 10 kings or world leaders. This evil king “will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people” (verse 25).

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The Antichrist

The “other horn” will seek to change times and laws, and he will rule with oppressive power over God’s people and the world for three and a half years. This world leader that Daniel saw is the Antichrist. He is the “ruler who will come” who sets up the abomination in Daniel’s “seventy sevens” in Daniel 9:26-27.

Daniel 9:27 – “The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’. In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”

The Antichrist will take his position of leadership at the expense of 3 kings or world leaders. And he will eventually have complete global authority. An eviltyrant, the Antichrist will demand worship and seek to control all aspects of life (see Revelation 13:16–17).

The little horn of Daniel 7 is the first beast of Revelation 13. The beast in Revelation 13 also has ten horns, and John describes it as resembling “a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion” (Revelation 13:2). The beast of Revelation 13 seems to have characteristics of all of Daniel’s four beasts. Like Daniel’s fourth beast, John’s beast speaks arrogantly and oppresses God’s people for three and a half years (Revelation 13:5–7).

Thankfully the reign of the Antichrist is limited to forty-two months, or 3 and a half years.

 

Daniel’s Prophetic Vision in Daniel 7

The Ultimate Outcome

Daniel 7:26-27 – But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.

God’s appointed time for judgement will come, and the Antichrist’s rule will come to an end. All power and authority has been given to Christ, and He and His people will rule in the millennial kingdom on earth. And then forever in His eternal kingdom.

As John saw it in Revelation 19:20, “The beast was captured, and thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur”. And then Son of Man, Jesus Christ, will rule forever.

 

Although the end times will be a horrible time for all, we have much hope knowing that God is always in control and always will be. And for those who have a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is a glorious future coming.

 

 

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