Bible Questions Answered:
“What are the four beasts of Daniel
7?...”
Rosa/ Naples, Italy
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Daniel 7:1-3 NLT
1 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.
2 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.
3 Then four huge beasts came up out
of the water, each different from the others.
* Revelation
17:15 KJV
And he saith unto me, The waters
which thou sawest,... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and
tongues.
Daniel 7:15-18
NLT
15 I, Daniel, was troubled by all I
had seen, and my visions terrified me.
16 So I approached one of those
standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He
explained it to me like this:
17 “These four huge beasts
represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
18 But in the end, the holy people
of The Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule
forever and ever.”
Daniel 7:4 NLT
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.
The Lion represents Babylon, the
greatest kingdom, in strength, and authority as a lion.
Daniel 7:5 NLT
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!”
The bear represents Media and
Persia, the second beast.
Daniel 7:6 NLT
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 represents Greece,
after the death of Alexander the Great the kingdom was divided into
four parts for his four generals (Antigonus who ruled Syria, Ptolemy
who ruled Egypt, Lysimacus who ruled Greece, and Cassander who ruled
Macedonia.
Daniel 7:7,8 NLT
7 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.
8 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.
The fourth beast, represents Rome,
with its ten nations.
Daniel 7:19-28 NLT
19 Then I wanted to know the true
meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and
so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron
teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.
20 I also asked about the ten horns
on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up
afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had
seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth
that was boasting arrogantly.
21 As I watched, this horn was
waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them,
22 until The Ancient One—The Most
High—came and judged in favor of His holy people. Then the time
arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.
23 Then he said to me, “This
fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It
will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole
world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who
will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from
the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
25 He will defy The Most High and
oppress the holy people of The Most High. He will try to change their
sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under His control
for a time, times, and half a time (3
½ years).
26 “But then the court will pass
judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely
destroyed.
27 Then the sovereignty, power, and
greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy
people of The Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all
rulers will serve and obey Him.”
28 That was the end of the vision.
I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with
fear, but I kept these things to myself.
Verses
20-26 describe the little horn that uproots three kings,
this is the coming Anti-Christ.
Never fear, God is
in control, and He keeps very perfect records.
Daniel 7:9,10
NLT
9 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,
10 and a river of fire was pouring
out, flowing from His presence. Millions of angels ministered to Him;
many millions stood to attend Him. Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
11 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.
12 The other three beasts had their
authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while
longer.
13 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.
14 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.
Ephesians
1:19-23 KJV
19 And what is the exceeding
greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power,
20 Which He wrought in Christ, when
He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the
heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under His
feet, and gave Him to be The Head over all things to the church,
23 Which is His body, the fulness of
Him that filleth all in all.
Colossians
1:12-16 KJV
12 Giving thanks unto The Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His
dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption
through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is The Image Of The Invisible
God, The Firstborn Of Every Creature:
16 For by Him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities,
or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:
Dear friend, do you
know this Son Of Man, The Savior?
