Daniel's vision of four beasts

Daniel 7 marks a break from the first half of the book.  The first six chapters of Daniel present a chronological history of the life of Daniel and offer a glimpse at some of the key events of his life and those surrounding him.  Chapters 7-12 look at prophecies that Daniel was given in the midst of Daniel’s life.  We can place the timing of some of these prophecies by the kings that Daniel mentions but they are not directly connected to any story in the first half of the book.

Daniel’s vision of four beasts in chapter seven is a direct comparison with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two.  Why does God give two men different visions detailing the same historical events?  There are a few good reasons for this.  First it authenticates what has been given earlier and it reinforces that the history that is taking place is playing out by the hand of God.  By the time of Daniel 7, he has already witnessed the fall of the Babylonian Empire and has seen the chest of silver from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  Daniel’s vision verifies that this is really taking place.

Even though Daniel’s vision depicts the same history, there is a big difference in imagery.  Nebuchadnezzar if given a view of history from man’s perspective.  He sees the empires of the world as powerful, majestic, and made of precious metals.  Daniel is given a view of history from God’s perspective.  God sees man as untamed and beastly.  There is nothing majestic about the empires of the world in the eyes of God.  They are subject to their nature which involves destruction and conquering.

The four animals of Daniel’s vision represent the same empires as Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.  They are the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires.  Each animal has significance to the empire that it represents.  The lion and eagle were both symbols of Babylon, the lumbering bear represented the power of the Medo-Persian empire as well as a lack of swiftness compared to the empires that came before and after it.  Greek was a very swift empire and the four heads represent the four generals who would rule the empire after Alexander the Great.

Daniel is most concerned with the fourth beast that doesn’t have an exact animal representation.  It depicts both the ancient Roman Empire and the Revived Roman Empire that is yet future.  The little horn on the fourth beast represents the antichrist of the end times.  Daniel is troubled by the vision but all Christians can take comfort in knowing that the antichrist doesn’t win but rather it is God who is the victor.  His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom unlike all that have come before it.