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Explanations.
Do you understand these visions? Do you want to know what they mean?
The prophet wanted to know too! Daniel is disturbed and exhausted
but that does not stop him from asking for an explanation of his visions.
He turns to someone near by. He appears to be an angel.
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As
for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the
visions in my mind kept alarming me. “I approached one
of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact
meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the
interpretation of these things: These great beasts, which are
four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.
But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and
possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’”
(NASB) Dan. 7:15-18
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Who are the four beasts? Daniel is told that the four beasts are four
kings. The beasts are not mysterious symbols but real kings. Later
in Daniel 7:23, we discover that these kings represent kingdoms.
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Thus
he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on
the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms
. . . (NASB) Dan. 7:23 |
The lion, bear, leopard and the monster are all related. They are
the succession of world power from one kingdom to another. These four
kingdoms represent human government, and some day God will destroy
the last representation of human government and establish His eternal
kingdom.
Ten
Horns - Horn with Eyes. Now Daniel wants to know the meaning
of the fourth beast.
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Then
I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which
was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with
its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured,
crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and
the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the
other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell,
namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great
boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates.
I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints
and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment
was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the
time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
(NASB) Dan. 7:19-22 |
The answer focuses on the ten horns of the four beasts and the horn
with eyes. These ten horns are a future version of the Roman Empire
and the horn with eyes is the Antichrist. Here we discover that the
Antichrist arises from the revived Roman Empire. He is arrogant, challenges
God, and goes to war against “the saints of the Highest One.”
He is finally defeated when the Ancient of Days comes.
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Then
I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which
was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with
its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured,
crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and
the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the
other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell,
namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great
boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates.
I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints
and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment
was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the
time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.
(NASB) Dan. 7:19-22 |
Fourth Beast
Is a Kingdom. When we come to verse 23, we are finally
told that the ten kings arise from the fourth kingdom at a later time.
The fourth kingdom does not start with ten kings. They come later
during a period of time called the Tribulation. The horn with eyes
- the Antichrist - follows. |
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