Daniel 7: Rise of the Antichrist Kingdom

Related Topics

Visions of Daniel and John through time

When I first started studying Bible prophecy, the main focus of the interpretation of Daniel 7 was comparing it to Daniel 2, a series of nations through history leading to the final kingdom. In the interest of presenting the sides I know, I’ve left the old version of the page at the bottom here. However, let’s just look at the chapter and I’ll explain why my view changed.

I now believe that this chapter relates directly to parts of Daniel and John’s visions, that when combined, reveal a glimpse of the politics leading to the rise of the kingdom of the man of sin, the beast, the antichrist. As such this is an important study to embark on if you’re watching the signs of the times and I hope you get as much out of this collection of studies that will be brought together in the fourth kingdom page as I have. Ultimate conclusions are still unknown outside of speculation, but I will attempt to stick to the Biblical interpretations that make sense and leave out the speculations here. For more of those, I will be updating the coming times page as time progresses.

I’ve excerpted Daniel 7 below without verses as it was originally. If you would like to read it with verse numbers and inline Hebrew definitions, read it at Blue Letter Bible.

Daniel 7
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

[First Beast]
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

[Second Beast]
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

[Third Beast]
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

[The beast or antichrist kingdom - Revelation 13:1-10]
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

[Christ’s Kingdom at Christ’s Return in Glory]
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

[Destruction of the Antichrist - Revelation 19:20]
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

[Interpretation]
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

[The 2nd Half of the 70^th Week of Daniel]
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Contemporaneous Nations View

There are several things from Chris White’s Bible studies that have changed my view, primarily an obvious part of the passage I completely glossed over in the past. It seems pretty clear from this one verse, when taken in context, that these four beasts are contemporaneous, not a series of nations through history leading up to the fourth kingdom as with Daniel 2. The context of Daniel 7:9-12 is that of Christ’s return, ending the Antichrist’s reign, judging him and the falst prophet and then taking the throne ruling the earth for 1,000 years.

Daniel 7:1, 9-12
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

Now look at how John’s vision in Revelation depicts the time just after Christ’s return. If this beast represents the Antichrist kingdom, then they would be considered the armies gathered against Christ at His return.

Revelation 19:19-21; 20:1-6
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Four Beasts, Four Kings

So it would seem these four beasts from the sea, lion with plucked eagle wings, bear with 3 ribs devouring flesh, the leopard with four wings and four heads and the dreadful beast with iron teeth and 10 horns, are all existing at the same time. However other passages like Revelation 13:1-8 seem to focus on just this fourth dreadful beast. With Daniel 2, he was given a vision of a historical arch of time, a zoomed out view. I think Daniel 7 may be similar except not a zoomed out view of history, but rather of the state of the world just before and during the antichrist’s reign.

Daniel 7:2-3
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Daniel 7:17
These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth.

Four Regional Powers

One view is that this is just regional and not a global view of the world, that Daniel 7 is speaking to 4 regional powers of the earth during the end times, 4 beasts or 4 kings, of which the most powerful becomes the fourth beast and to which the other three capitulate and follow after the abomination of desolation. In fact these same beasts are depicted as one beast coming from the sea in Revelation together representing the Antichrist kingdom with the dragon giving it power and authority. This would be after the death and resurrection of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:12

As Chris White pointed out in his exposition on Daniel 7, this could also explain why in Revelation the fourth seal the rider was only given power over 1/4 of the earth, because the wars of the Antichrist depicted in Daniel 11:40-44 are focused on that region of this fourth beast from the sea.

Revelation 6:7-8
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Four Global Governance Regions

Aside from their symbolic association with specific animals, the key point to get about these four beasts is that they represent kings. In modern terms they would be political leaders that will come into power.

Historically when the Bible talked about something affecting the whole earth, it seemed fairly localized to the Middle East and surrounding areas. This made sense because these prophecies regarded Israel and the areas of infuence around her. From scripture we see that the end times will be a global affair. All the world will wonder after the beast. Revelation 13:3-5 | Revelation 17:8 And Revelation 12:17 has the dragon going after the remnant of the woman’s seed and those holding the testimony of Christ after his attempt in Judea to wipe out God’s people is thwarted. Revelation 12:13-16 This is also the time of Jacob’s trouble that is cut short by this saving of Israel into the wilderness on eagles’ wings. Exodus 19:4

As relating to Israel, if the Jewish Antichrist perspective is accurate, the man of sin will be mimicking prophetic passages about the Messiah ruling the whole world in the Messianic kingdom and performing signs and wonders to deceive the world. This would be part of the great deception that if possible would deceive the elect. But not everyone who is natural Israel will keep from being deceived and cut off. In this case of the end times, Israel would influence the whole world and so the region would no longer be localized to the Middle East.

Biblically the idea of the four corners of the earth is used often to refer to the whole earth. This could then be a symbolic way to present the four corners of the earth as giving their power to the beast. As this time is yet future, there is no historical record as with some other prophecies from Daniel and John, but this gives us something to watch for in the future.

As financial changes, power consolidation, and cultural issues of control like climate change and social unrest grow, could we see finanical and political alliances between nations headed up by leadership of those alliances represent a global quartering of the power over the nations of the earth? As developments in this area happen, I will be tracking them in the coming times page.

The chart with the visions of Daniel and John lays things out in columns of time, which helped me wrap my head around these complimentary symbols across the diverse visions. Understanding that these four beasts are all part of the end time scenario, we will focus on the details of this vision and the interpretation and associations with the other passages below to try and make sense of the symbology and its meaning. As you review these four beasts descriptions, remember that these four beasts are around at the same time and keep the following passage in mind.

Revelation 13:1-2
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

First Beast: Lion with Plucked Eagle’s Wings

Daniel 7:4
The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

We aren’t given an interpretation for this symbol, but the key takeaway prophetically is that one of the four beasts is associated with a lion. There is a similar yet reversed symbology of this lion being made to stand on his feet as a man and a man’s heart given to it.

Daniel 4:16, 24-25, 33-36
Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. ...
This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. ...
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ [feathers], and his nails like birds’ [claws]. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

It would seem that this end time beast like a lion begins in the state of Nebuchadnezzar removed from rationality, but is returned to sanity in the end. Perhaps this is due to the plucking of the eagle’s wings symbolizing the removal of speed or swiftness from this beast. Ultimately, it is up for speculation at the time of writing this, but I’m sure it is one of those things that will make complete sense after the fact.

Second Beast: Like a Bear

Daniel 7:5
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The bear is raised up on one side as if ready to attack, and keep in mind that the bear has 3 ribs in it’s mouth between its teeth. It’s also interesting in light of later verses as 3 of the horns of the fourth beast are plucked by their root and is interpreted as falling before the little horn. Not only does the bear have the 3 ribs in its mouth, but it is told to devour much flesh.

In addition, it is with its feet that this fourth beast with iron teeth stamps the residue of what it devoured with its feet. As we see in Revelation 13:1-2, the antichrist kingdom that comes out of the fourth beast and subsumes all 3 other beasts, would imply that the antichrist kingdom will destroy and in this the bear seems to symbolize an assisting force in the destruction the fourth beast is doing. Again, speculation is all we can really do now beyond recognizing the animal and it’s actions.

Third Beast: Leopard with 4 Wings

Daniel 7:6
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

As with the other two beasts, the leopard is given sybolic characteristics that can really only be speculated on. The fact that there are 4 wings and 4 heads from Biblical reference would seem to indicate speed with the wings and 4 kings or leaders or kingdoms as part of this beast. Time will tell.

Fourth Beast: Exceedingly Strong with Iron Teeth and 10 Horns

Daniel 7:7-8
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7:19-26
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.

This fourth beast is the primary focus of Daniel 7, with both Daniel’s wonder at the beast and the interpretation of the vision given about it. From this final beast we learn the following key points.

• The fourth beast is a kingdom that is diverse from the other three kingdoms
• The ultimate end of the fourth kingdom is destruction, but when that happens the other three kingdoms will lose their dominion, yet will remain for a season and a time.
• The fourth beast has ten horns that represent 10 kings that will arise from this 1/4 of the earth’s power
• Out of those ten kings a small king, perhaps a new king that comes to power out of seemingly nowhere, from among the ten
  • When the small king comes up after the first ten, three of the ten kings are subdued and fall before the small king
  • The small king will be greater than the companion ten horns
  • The small king will change the times and laws
  • The small king has eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things that is interpreted as speaking great things against the most High
  • This king that came up and before whom three fell will wear out the saints of the most High, who will be given into the beasts hand for 3½ years and he will prevail against them
  • The end of that kingdom will be 3½ years after he takes power

This chapter would seem to be describing the political rise and eventual kingdom of the man of sin, the beast, the antichrist. In modern parlance a group of 10 leaders, who control a unique alliance over a quarter of the earth at the end, will have a charismatic leader come on the scene suddenly.

When this charismatic leader comes on the scene, three of these ten leaders will fall because of the new leader, although the kingdoms they represent remain a part of the control. It’s possible that this new leader will be assisted by one of the other controlling leadership of another quarter of the earth in bringing down these three leaders.

This new leader will begin to change the times and laws. The idea of timekeeping and laws are a somewhat odd association to the Western mind, why would adjusting clocks be considered in Bible prophecy? One might understand laws being changed to accomplish designs for control and management under this antichrist kingdom, but the pairing may seem odd.

It’s a little less odd when you think of this in terms of Israel, a peculiar people chosen by God through which the Messiah would come and to whom He gave the Law and appointed seasons counted precisely according to lunar time. One has only to do a study on the feasts of Israel to understand the critical nature of strict adherence to God’s commands of when feasts must take place according to the Covenant He made with Israel at Sinai. Exodus 19 They are a peculiar people to the Gentiles because of this calling out from among the nations. Much of prophecy is cloaked from Gentile understanding until they take the Old Testament as seriously as the Jews do.

Numbers 9:2-3
Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.

Numbers 28:2
Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, [and] my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, [for] a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

In thinking about this small king, you can sense a shift from him rising to power, changing the times and laws, and then to speaking great words against the most High and wearing out the saints of the most High. It’s almost as if this chapter is describing his rise to power, the wars of the antichrist, blaspheming God at the abomination of desolation and then going after Israel in Judea then spreading his wrath globally against her remnant and those holding the testimony of Christ. Revelation 12:14-17

Regarding the three kings that fall before him, it may be this involves other nations around Israel. At the end of the wrath of God after the seventh bowl has been poured out, we learn of the fate of mystery Babylon, the woman riding the scarlet beast.

Revelation 17:16-17
And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

These ten leaders give their kingdom to the beast not because they love him, but because God puts it in their hearts to fulfill His will until the Word of God are fulfilled. Are there any agreements between Israel and her neighbors that seem too impossible because of animosity for Israel in modern times? If God put it in their hearts to make peace with Israel, once God’s will has been fulfilled, would they remain willing to give their kingdom to the beast or might they take an opportunity when they have it to try and take out the antichrist?

In putting together the chart lining up all the visions of Daniel and John, something really interesting became evident in the foreshadows and mirrors of Daniel 7 and 8.

Iron Rome?

The fact that the fourth beast has iron teeth and Daniel 2 has the iron associated to Rome and the iron and clay mixed at the end when this fourth beast would arise, leads to speculation of a revived Roman Empire. I think they symbology of iron though in Daniel 2 is meant in the same context of Daniel 7 and elsewhere, that it is the strongest and breaks in pieces.

Psalm 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Revelation 2:27
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Revelation 12:5
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.

Revelation 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Yeshua will rule the Messianic Kingdom with a rod of iron, but He is not of Rome. It is symbolic of strength, and that it was used to symbolize the strength of Rome in it’s day does not necessarily mean that

Messianic Kingdom: Ancient of Days Reigns

Daniel 7:11-12
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld [even] till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

Revelation 19:20-21
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

At Armageddon, when Christ returns in glory, the beast and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire, killing them and destroying their bodies. Those armies that joined him are slain, but the three other kingdoms lose their dominion because the Lord rules the whole earth with a rod of iron.

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 18, 21-22, 26-27
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. ...
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed. ...
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. ...
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. ...
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

When Yeshua returns in glory, all existing thrones will be cast down and all kindgoms will be the Lord’s. The Father has given Him the kingdoms and the saints will rule with Him for 1,000 years. Even after that time, the kingdom of God will be an everlasting kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is now for those who live by faith and obey God’s commandments to love Him and love each other as we would ourselves. We participate in the kingdom now spreading His Word and in eternity ruling and reigning with Him.

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Historical Nations View

As I already mentioned, I no longer connect Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 as far as tying the first 3 kingdoms and first 3 beasts together. I do agree the fourth kingdom and beast are speaking of the same final kingdom of the Antichrist, however I don’t feel there is enough to associate the previous 3 kingdoms with the previous three beasts. I am keeping this old portion just as reference of this alternative view of Daniel 7.

Belshazzar was the king of Babylon whose reign ended with the capturing of Babylon by the Persians around 540 years before Christ. This is the same king who saw the writing on the wall just before Babylon’s fall.

He too had a dream interpreted by God through Daniel and written in scripture for God’s glory. This amazing chapter covers ancient history for us and yet our near future also!

Daniel 7
1-3: In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

[Babylon]
4: The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

[Persia]
5: And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

[Greece]
6: After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

[Rome/Revived Roman Empire]
7,8: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron [Daniel 2:40-45] teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. [Revelation 13:1-10] I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, [The beast or antichrist] before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

[Christ’s Kingdom at Christ’s Return in Glory - Armageddon]
9,10: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

11,12: I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. [Revelation 19:20] As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13,14: I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15,16: I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

[Interpretation]
17: These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

[Western European Union: Treaty of Brussels March 17, 1948]
18-20: Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, [Revelation 13:5] whose look was more stout than his fellows. [This is the antichrist at his revealing, the abomination of desolation]

[The 2nd Half of the 70^th Week of Daniel]
21,22: I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23-28: Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Four beasts from the sea representing four kings in history

• Lion with eagles wings that were plucked (Babylon)
• Bear that devours much flesh (Persia)
• Leopard with four wings and four heads and given dominion (Greece)
• Fourth Beast with iron teeth and 10 horns (Rome/Western European Union [WEU]?)
  • 3 horns plucked by the roots
  • Little horn comes up amongst the 10
    • 3 Plucked Horns perspective from Jerry: The AC will make war on the saints in the middle (3 ½ years) [of the 70th week] using 7 of the 10 kings (10 kings less the 3 he subdues) and God will give him power to overcome them for 42 months. Currently, the WEU (Western European Union) 10 permanent/only-voting members have a 6 month rotating presidency. So, take the 10 kings less 3 = 7 x 6 months each = 42 months! Surely the WEU is the 10 horns/kings brought down to 7 who give their 6 month rotating presidency to the AC to rule for 42 months.
  • Little horn has eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things