Daniel 7:1-14 Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts
(Much of the information for today and tomorrow comes from David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary on Daniel 7. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-7/
Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.
In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.
Having described most of the important parts of his life, Daniel now goes back to describe several visions that God has given him. This first vision takes place sometime in 553 B.C., the first year when Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, is ruling the Babylonian Empire. This vision begins with a great storm churning up a great sea with strong winds from every direction. The sea is presumably the Mediterranean Sea while the storm indicates a sudden onset of spiritual chaos.
Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others. The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.
This vision echoes the first vision God gave Nebuchadnezzar decades earlier. The first beast is like a lion, likely representing the Babylonian Empire. But the lion is humbled by having its eagles’ wings removed, anticipating the conquest of the Babylonian Empire by the Medes and Persians.
Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
Many people feel this second beast represents the Medo-Persian Empire, while the three ribs represent their three great military conquests: Babylon, Egypt, and Libya. David Guzik says, “The slow, crushing armies of the Medo-Persian Empire were well known. They simply overwhelmed their opponents with superior size and strength. The Medes and Persians are compared to a bear on account of their cruelty and thirst after blood, a bear being a most voracious and cruel animal.”
Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
“The leopard was known for its sudden, unexpected attacks. This one was especially swift (with four wings), and clever (having four heads).
i. Each animal is mighty, but dominates its prey in a different way. “The lion devours, the bear crushes, and the leopard springs upon its prey.” (Strauss)
ii. The leopard represented the Greek Empire. Alexander the Great quickly conquered the civilized world by age 28. “Nothing in the history of the world, was equal to the conquests of Alexander, who ran through all the countries from Illycrium and the Adriatic Sea to the Indian Ocean and the River Ganges; and in twelve years subdued part of Europe, and all Asia.” (Clarke)
iii. After his death his empire was divided into four parts (four heads). Specifically, the four heads were Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, who inherited Alexander’s domain after his death.”
Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.
“The fourth beast was indescribable, and uniquely horrific in its power and conquest.
b. Different… it had ten horns: In the ancient world horns expressed the power and fearsomeness of an animal. This fourth beast was so strong it had ten horns.
i. Different people picture this in different ways. Some suggest that the ten horns were actually two five-pointed antlers, rather than ten separate horns.
ii. In historical fulfillment, the fourth beast represents the Roman Empire, which was the largest, strongest, most unified and enduring of them all.
iii. “There is an unmistakable correspondence between these horns and the ten toes of the dream image (ch. 2), and the mention of iron in the teeth suggests the legs and toes of iron in that image.” (Archer)
As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
This small horn, obviously a ruler of some kind, forces three other rulers out of power. So far, we don’t know the identity of this ruler; however, at some point in history, it will become obvious.
I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him.
The Almighty God, the Ancient of Days, sits in judgment. The description alone is magnificent. “His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him.” Read this description and ask yourself: When you are praying, are you praying to the Almighty God or to something smaller?
Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.
When God the Almighty Ruler of the Universe takes His throne in judgment, no evil empire, not even the antichrist, can stand against Him. This fourth beast and all its horns will be completely destroyed. There might be remnants of the other empires that continue for a little while, but only until God chooses to remove them.
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
This prophecy is one of the first Old Testament prophecies of the coming of Jesus Christ. The description is wonderful and again is worthy of study and meditation.
Tomorrow we will continue with this vision, but why has God given this vision to Daniel, of all people? God has trusted Daniel because God knows Daniel will transmit the information accurately and honestly. Others might twist the vision or try to put their own spin on it. God trusts Daniel, just as Nebuchadnezzar and Darius the Mede have trusted him.
Obviously, Daniel is a man of sterling character. Do we meet the Daniel standard? Can we be trusted with responsibility, with power, with money, or with information from God? It’s been said that “Character is what you do when nobody is watching.” May God help us so that we will always strive to meet the Daniel standard, no matter the circumstances and no matter what pressures we might encounter.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, sometimes these visions are frightening; yet, You are the Ancient of Days and nothing is hidden from You. Help us to trust You and to follow Daniel’s example, no matter our circumstances. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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