Daniel 7 - The Four Beasts

Daniel 7: The Four Beasts

v1-v8 - The Four Beasts

Daniel went back to the first year of Belshazzar when he had a vision dream. While it is difficult for us to remember the details of our dream, Daniel was able to record the vision had, though may not be as detailed as what he saw. 

He wrote about the four winds of heaven churning up the sea. The "winds of heaven" may represent God's divine action to call up the four kingdoms for his purpose. The beasts came out from the "sea", which usually represent the world, such as Rev 17:15, where the angel said to John: "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages."  In the context of the parable of the dragnet in Matthew 13:47-50, when fish are caught in a net thrown in the sea, it signifies that members of the church are “called out" from the world.

The four beasts are represented in the following manner:

1)  A lion with eagle wings. It's wing were plucked off and the beast stood on two feet like a man and was given the mind of a man.  The first kingdom is the Babylonian Empire, represented by a lion and an eagle. 

2) A bear that was raised up on one side. It had 3 ribs between it's teeth and told to "devour much flesh." The bear represented the Medo-Persian Empire, succeeding the Babylonian Empire. In this partnership between the Medes and the Persians, the Persians dominated the relationship. Most think the three ribs represent their three great military conquests: Babylon, Egypt and Lydia.

3) A leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads. The leopard represented the Greek Empire. Alexander the Great quickly conquered the civilized world by age 28, with unpresented speed like a leopard. Within twelve years he subdued part of Europe, and all Asia.   

After his death his empire was divided into four parts, as indicated by the leopard's four heads. Specifically, the four heads were Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, who inherited Alexander’s domain after his death.

4) The last beast was a dreadful and strong beast. It had a huge iron teeth and ten horns. Another smaller horn came up among them and displaced 3 horns by their roots. This horn had eyes like man, and a mouth that spoke pompous words. 

The last beast represented the Roman Empire, which was the largest, unified and enduring among the kingdoms. This fourth beast were partly fulfilled by the ancient Roman Empire, but I believe the "smaller horn" will only happen in the end days. (See explanation in verse 23 onwards)

v9-14: Time of Judgement

The vision Daniel saw next was the thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days (God the Father) took his seat (throne). He clothes and hair were white, and his throne has wheels that burned with fire. A stream of fire came out from before Him. Millions (thousand of thousands) were serving Him (angels), while ten thousands times ten thousands stood before Him, and books were open for judgement. 

The "books" represent the Book of Life (Phil 4:3; Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27 and 22:19). The traditional Jews believed that their name will remain in the book of life if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. For Christians, their name will be in the Book of Life once they believe in Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Anyone who is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the eternal fire. 

Daniel saw many thrones, not just the throne of God. This is similar to Revelation where John saw 24 elders sitting on thrones in heaven. (Rev 4:4). Daniel did not mention who sat on the throne, perhaps the 24 elders represent the church, and Daniel had no knowledge of the church at that time.

The fiery throne and fires from God symbolizes God's wrath in his judgement of sinful people who did not obey him nor believed in Jesus Christ as their savior. Isaiah 66:15-16 says: "For behold, the LORD will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many."

He then saw the horn spoke boastful words, but the beast was killed and his body was burned with fire. The rest of the beasts' dominion will be taken away, but they are allowed to live for a season and a time. (v11-12).  

This is referring to the small horn of the fourth beast in the last days, representing the antichrist during the tribulation period who wars against Israel. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul writes about the “man of lawlessness” who "opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."

Jesus will return to rescue Israel and will defeat the antichrist, and put him in the lake of fire. Rev 20:10 said "And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast [i.e. the antichrist] and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."  (emphasis mine)

The "rest of the beasts" represents the antichrist's allies that fought against Jesus. They were allowed to live and to pay tribute to Christ annually to worship Him during his reign on earth for 1000 years. "Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."  (Zech 14:16)

  

Daniel then saw a "Son of Man" who came to God's throne. The title Son of Man was a self-designation of Jesus, used more than 80 times in the four Gospels.  Ironically, the phrase "son of god" is not reserved for Christ, but everyone who believes in Him. (Hos 1:10; Mat 5:9; Rom 8:14; Gal 3:26). Daniel may not realise who this was at that time.

God gave the Son of Man dominion, glory and kingdom over all the peoples, nations and languages. His dominion and kingdom will be everlasting and cannot be destroyed. This in obviously referring to the time when Christ defeat the antichrist at the end of the tribulation. (v13-14). 

v15-28: Interpretation From the Angel

Daniel was alarmed and afraid of the visions he saw. He approached an angel standing there to interpret the vision for him. I believe at this time, the vision is still occurring as the angel is still there. The angel summarised  that the four beasts represent four kingdoms, but the saints of the Most High will own the (heavenly) kingdom forever. This is similar interpretation to statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in Daniel Chapter 2. 

The saints of the Most High refers to both faithful Jews and Christians. Ephesians 3:6 - "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children."

Daniel wanted to know more about the fourth beast which was exceedingly terrifying than the rest, and about the ten horns, and about the small horn that came up, and also the horn who had boasted and went to war with the satins (Israel) and prevailed over them until the Ancient of Days came. (v19-22)

(v23) The angel explained that the fourth beast shall "devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces." This portion has already been fulfilled by the Roman empire 2000 years ago. The Roman empire ended in 476 AD. 

The angel continued to speak about the 10 horns, and another "little horn" shall rise after them and put down three kings. He will be opposed to God, and will have control over "the saints" for three-and-half years. This phrase is used in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6 and 13:5) to refer to the second half of the last seven-year period of man’s rule on this earth (the seventieth week of Daniel).  The saints here may mean only the faithful Jews, or may also include Christians, depending on when the rapture happens. (1 Thes 4:16-17)

I believe the little horn that rose up is the antichrist himself. He will even try to change the law and the calendar. We don't know the exact changes he will propose, perhaps stopping the temple worship, ban the sabbath day and all the Jewish festivals, or even Christmas. He may even add additional holidays to commemorate his "one world" government. 

Regarding the 10 kings, they do not have any parallel to the ancient Roman Empire. Some say they are a spiritual symbol. However the 10 toes (Daniel 2) and ten horns (Dan 8, Rev 13, 17) associated them to the final world ruler, then it could be that the 10 kings will also be fulfilled in future. If so, the antichrist will rise out from one of the ten nations, and somehow control the 3 nations in one way or another.

In verse 26, the angel repeats what Daniel have seen - the judgement day, where the dominion of the antichrist will be removed and he will be destroyed. He also said that "the kingdom and the dominion

and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;" (v27) This may hint that during Christ's 1000 years rule on earth (the millennium rule), the saints will have responsibility to run the nations and manage the people. (Rev 20:4 and 6)

Lastly, the angel said the kingdom of God will be an everlasting kingdom, for after the 1000 years, a new earth and heaven will be created and exist forever and forever. 

This was when Daniel's vision end. However, Daniel was still distress for many of the things he saw he were unable to understand as he saw what will happen hundreds of years to thousands of years in the future. But he did not discuss this with others and kept is in his heart. 

Epilogue

1) Will Jews who lived before Jesus go to heaven? 

Before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Jews lived during the dispensation of Law. After Jesus resurrected, He completed the law and brought in the dispensation of Grace. Romans 10:4 - "Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."

For Jews who lived during the dispensation of law, I believe God will allow them into heaven as long as they were faithful to God and perform the sacrifices that symbolically represents Jesus who died to cover their sins. For "... the blood of bulls and of goats..." are unable to take away sin. (Heb 10:4)  For example. Daniel and his friends had abstain from impurity and adhere to God's way, and they will be allowed into heaven. 

Jews who lived during the dispensation of Grace, they, just like the Gentiles, can only be saved through their faith in Jesus Christ. ("Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children." Eph 3:6)

2) How did the Roman Empire Ended? 

The Western Roman Empire is traditionally marked as having ended on September 4, 476 CE, when the Germanic king Odoacer deposed the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, and declared himself the King of Italy123. However, the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to exist until 1453 CE when the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople.

3) What language was Daniel written in? 

The beginning (1:1–2:4a) and the final chapters (8–12) are in Hebrew, while the rest of the book (2:4–7:28) is in Aramaic. This language usage is one of the unique features of the book of Daniel