PHIL HARRIS | Seeker of Truth
Introduction
In the past many Bible commentators have assumed the four beasts of Daniel’s dream correspond to the first four kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which are thought to be Babylon, Medo/Persia, Greece and Rome. Present day teaching of this image has been that feet and toes of mixed iron and clay represent a resurrected Roman Empire. The caution is that assuming a literal return of the old Roman Empire to power in the “last days” can lead to false assumptions.
However, there is a clear connection between Daniel chapter 7 and Revelation chapter 13. Both speak of beasts coming up out of the sea. Both speak of a lion, a bear, and a leopard. For instance, the Ancient of Days of Daniel 7:9 is the same person as the Alpha and the Omega of Revelation 1:8. Thus we see that these two books complement each other.
We learn in Daniel 9 that it is the angel Gabriel who was speaking to Daniel in the dream of Daniel 7:
While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God,while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.—Daniel 9:20-21
The Beasts Are Kings
“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’”—Daniel 7:15-18
We learn that the four beasts are rulers corresponding to the the four nations in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream recorded in Daniel chapter two.
While these four beasts come up out of the “great sea” of verses two and three, yet we also read in verse 17 that they arise out of the earth. Beasts are non-human rulers which would mean that they are demonic allies of Satan working in humanity.
Looking past the rule of these beasts, we are assured that in the end the saints of the Most High (Jesus Christ the Lord of lords and King of kings) will receive and possess the one and only kingdom for eternity.
The Fourth Beast Versus the Ancient of Days
“Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.”—Daniel 7:19-22
Daniel asks angel Gabriel why the fourth beast is so different from the others. Gabriel responds by saying, “… this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came”.
The Ancient of Days is described as “a stone [that] was cut out by no human hand” in Daniel 2:31-35, when Daniel explains to king Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of the dream:
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”—Daniel 2:44-45
The Fourth Beast’s Kingdom Devours the Whole World
“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.’”—Daniel 7:2
This terrible beast has taken absolute control of the whole world. Whatever and whomever he chooses to destroy is totally eliminated.
In the past, biblical commentators have cited Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and viewed this as a resurrection of the old Roman Empire. However, this interpretation seems unlikely as we are looking at the rule of the whole world instead of an area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, the present day European Union consists of more nations than that of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Nevertheless, we can’t rule out the possibility that whatever the physical identity of this unique beast, it could have spiritual ties to the old Roman Empire that shape it malevolent control and destruction.
The Horns of the Fourth Beast Are Kings
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.—Daniel 7:24
While this beast is powered by a demon from the abyss, the horns on his head represent kings, or human dictators, of whom the demon has taken absolute control over. First there are ten kings, and then another appears—one who rips up three of the original ten.
Obviously their hatred extends beyond the persecution of the saints of God. Within their hearts there is no such thing as love.
Looking back to verse eight, the one designated “another horn” is called the Little Horn:
I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.—Daniel 7:8
The description of the Little Horn portrays a dictator who dominates over all the other dictators of the world.
Time, Times, and Half a Time
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Dan. 7:25)
The Little Horn of the fourth beast is against the Most High. By this anti-Christ commitment he wears out the saints and intends to change “the times and the law”, something which is not explained either here nor elsewhere in Scripture. God only allows the Little Horn to do this for a “time, times and half a time”. We have this reference that gives us a clue as to the probable meaning of “time, times and half a time”:
And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.—Revelation 13:5
Therefore the phrase “time, times and half a time” most probably means three and one-half literal years.
Also, there is this to consider:
And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.—Revelation 12:13-14
It is understood that the woman is Israel and the male child is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. According to John in Revelation, the remnant of the nation of Israel is hidden away from the serpent (the Dragon) for the same time period—expressed in the same words—as the time period when the Little Horn will be in power.
Hallelujah
But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And 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; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.—Daniel 7:26-27
The dominion of the the Little Horn of the Fourth Beast will end after the “time, times and half of time” has passed. The kingdom and the dominion shall be given to the saints of the Most High eternally. All shall shall serve and obey the Most High:
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,“Hallelujah!Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,for his judgments are true and just;for he has judged the great prostitutewho corrupted the earth with her immorality,and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”Once more they cried out,“Hallelujah!The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God,all you his servants,you who fear him,small and great.”—Revelation 19:1-5
End of the Matter
“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”—Daniel 7:28
The interpretation of the dream ends with Daniel saying that what he has learned greatly troubles him, but he is keeping his thoughts to himself.
Summary and Conclusions
- At the beginning of this vision we were are told that four beasts would come up out of a storm of the sea. Calling them beasts means they are nonhuman in substance with the fourth beast being far more terrible than the others.
- In the second half of this account, Daniel approaches the angel Gabriel and asks the meaning of the fourth beast. He is told that these four beasts are rulers who arise from the earth. This suggests that satanic demons have control over human leaders who arise from the people of the earth.
- Daniel sees these kingdoms from God’s perspective—terrifying and demonic—while Nebuchadnezzar saw these kingdoms from an earthly perspective: glorious and mighty. If there is a connection between the fourth beast and the Roman Empire portrayed in the dream of the statue, it is likely a spiritual, demonic connection. The fourth beast will be empowered by evil. This understanding that the fourth beast is a kingdom damages the false Adventist belief that a future pope will be the Antichrist.
- Gabriel then says that the saints of the Most High will ultimately possess the kingdom for eternity.
- Daniel now focuses on the fourth beast because the description of him is far more terrible than those of the other three. This beast is the head of a kingdom that takes over the whole earth. On his head are ten horns which represent the ten kings of the whole world who rule under his control. Then another horn appears, known as the Little Horn, who rips out three of the first ten horns.
- The Little Horn speaks against the Most High thinking he can change “times and the law” with the intention of wearing out the saints of the Most High. However, he is only allowed to do this for “a time, times and half a time”. Then the “Court of Heaven” will sit in judgment. This appears to be the “Great White Throne” judgment recorded in chapter 20 of the book of Revelation.
- When the verdict is rendered, the Court of Heaven destroys the dominion of the Little Horn. After this decisive ending, the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom for eternity. Hallelujah!
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.—Revelation 20:11-15
—All references unless otherwise stated are taken from the ESV
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