Daniel 7 gives us Daniel's vision of the four beasts coming up out of the great sea. “The great sea” is the name given to the Mediterranean, that sea entirely surrounded by countries composing the prophetical earth. Four beasts arising out of the sea answer to the four parts of the composite image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The difference between the monarch's vision and Daniel's is this: Nebuchadnezzar had unfolded to him the outward course of the great world-empires, whereas Daniel had their inward disposition revealed to him. We will just state them, and then give a few details.
1. Lion, symbolical of Babylonian Empire.
2. Bear, symbolical of Medo-Persian Empire.
3. Leopard, symbolical of Grecian Empire.
4. Fourth Beast, symbolical of Roman Empire.
Notice the deterioration in the beasts, not as to strength but as to character, just as there was in the metals of which the great image was formed.
Note, too, the four beasts are not said to come out of the sea all together, but they follow one after another in the vision of Daniel.
1. Lion.—A lion with eagle's wings, the wings eventually plucked, the beast lifted off the earth and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart given to it,—such is the description of the first beast.
The lion speaks of majesty and strength, the eagle's wings of rapidity of movement and conquest. In God's ways the time for enlargement of empire would cease, and in its place a peaceful phase would be entered upon, characterized by feeling and intelligence, such as standing on feet as a man, and a man's heart being given to it. This all answers to the Babylonian Empire.
We have seen how suddenly and tragically it terminated even in the presence of Daniel as he foretold so fearlessly its immediate doom.
2. Bear.—The bear raised itself on one side, it had three ribs in its mouth, and it was bidden to devour much flesh. Raised on one side more than the other refers to the dual monarchy—the Medo-Persian, and how one was the predominant power. The bear is a powerful creature, but lacks the speed and power of the lion. Evidently the empire grew by aggression, which failed to lead to assimilation.
3. Leopard.—Rapidity of conquest rather than the consolidation of its rule marked the Grecian Empire, thus symbolized. It had four wings of a fowl, bespeaking rapidity in flight as the leopard is rapid among beasts, but lacking the dignity and power of the eagle's flight, characterizing the first Empire.
It had four heads, evidently referring to the four generals who divided the Grecian Empire among them on the death of Alexander the Great.
4. Fourth Beast, Great and Terrible.—It was exceeding strong, had iron teeth, and it devoured and broke in pieces, it stamped upon the residue with its feet; that is to say, it subjugated the territories of previous empires, absorbing them into its own, not in their full extent, but in their most important parts, and it had ten horns. Here we have the description of the Roman Empire.
It is noticeable how part answers to part in Scripture. The fourth part of the great image, namely, the legs and feet of iron, the latter mingled with clay, and the fourth beast come in for the fullest and most detailed notice. This is quite understandable. One world-empire gives place to another only to lead up to the final phase, namely, the Roman Empire.
In the interpretation of the vision of the great image one sentence suffices for the Babylonian Empire— “Thou art this head of gold” (Dan. 2:3838And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Daniel 2:38)), and one verse suffices for the Medo-Persian and Grecian Empires, whereas four verses are needed to describe the fourth Empire.
Similarly in Daniel 7 one verse is given to the Babylonian Empire, one to the Medo-Persian, one to the Grecian, whilst two verses are given to the Roman Empire.
When Daniel would know the interpretation of the vision, the explanation of the four beasts is given in one verse (17), but nine verses are necessary for the description of the fourth beast and its doom (vss. 19-27).
The similarity between the vision of the great image and that of the four beasts is striking.
In the New Testament, seeing the three world-empires had passed away when John wrote the Revelation, and remembering that the New Testament Scriptures were written when the fourth Empire was in existence, we should expect that only the fourth Empire would be mentioned.
In Revelation 13, when John describes the Roman Empire, like Daniel he sees it in the form of a beast coming up out of the sea. It had a body like a leopard (reminiscent of the Grecian Empire), feet like a bear's (reminiscent of the Medo-Persian Empire), mouth like a lion's (reminiscent of the Babylonian Empire). Like Daniel's beast it has ten horns.
In Revelation 13 we have the New Testament presentation of Daniel's description of the Roman Empire.
Indeed, Daniel and Revelation are so complementary to each other in regard to the Roman Empire, and the tribulation of the Jews, that the true understanding of the one helps to the true understanding of the other.
One verse in Daniel 7 needs a note of explanation. “As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time” (vs. 12). That means that those empires passed away as empires, but were not destroyed as peoples, but lived on in connection with the world-empire then in existence, whereas the Roman Empire will be literally, and forever, destroyed when Christ comes to reign over the earth.
In the great image vision this is seen in the stone, cut out without hands, destroying the image; in the four beasts vision it is seen in the Ancient of Days, destroying the beast and giving his body to the burning flame.
The description of the Ancient of Days is in measure like that of the Lord Jesus walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The Son of Man is brought near to Him, and given an everlasting dominion. As Ancient of Days, judgment is committed to His hands; as Son of Man He receives His kingdom. It appears to us that these are both presentations of the same Person—the Lord Jesus Christ—looked at in different connections.
In the long explanation of the fourth beast that is given we read of a little horn plucking up three of the ten horns by the roots. Revelation 13 puts the same fact before us in a different way. It speaks of seven heads and ten horns and ten crowns on the ten horns. That means that each of the seven heads had its crown, but one of the heads, putting Daniel and Revelation together, must have answered for three horns with their three crowns. This answers to the little horn of Daniel 7:88I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8).
It is not without significance that the great red dragon, Satan, has seven heads and ten horns with seven crowns upon his heads, thus showing whence the Roman Empire will derive its power.
Daniel 7 is very explicit in its interpretation. The ten horns are ten kings. Another king shall arise after them, different from the rest, and he shall subdue three kings, that is, pluck up three horns by the roots. The character of this great potentate is given us.
The head of the revived Roman Empire is to be blasphemous against God, he is to be the persecutor of God's earthly people, he will change the times and laws, and God's earthly people will be in his hand for a time and times and the dividing of time, that is, for three and a half years, during the time that is known as the “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:2121For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21))—“the time of Jacob's trouble” (Jer. 30:77Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7)).
The Ancient of Days, even their Messiah, will deliver His earthly people, judgment will be set, and the Kingdom and dominion over the whole earth will be given to the saints of the Most High, whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him, that is, during the Millennial reign of Christ.