World History, Chapter 10: The 4th beast. Edited 12/7/23.
This fourth beast will cover a period of some 2180 + years, beginning when Rome’s defeat of the Greeks some 150 years before the birth of our Lord, and ending sometime in the very near future when Jesus returns to destroy His enemies. Daniel describes the 4th beast as being “like” or “in the form of” some unknown creature, one that has no classification. The extended Roman Empire forms the whole lower half of Nebuchadnezzar’s image in Daniel 2, the legs of iron, feet and toes of both iron and clay.
I have attempted to break down the Hebrew in the following verses so we may gain some further insight and understanding of Daniels prophesy concerning the 4th beast.
Daniel 7:7, “And behold a 4th beast dreadful (fearful) and terrible (putting to death his enemies) and strong (firm) exceedingly (complete) and it (the 4th beast) had great iron teeth (to annihilate and destroy): It devoured (ate, partook of those who opposed it) and brake (crushed, bruised, and stamped upon) in pieces (the blood of the saints), and stamped (trample on) the residue (those left behind) with the feet (foot-solder) of it: and it was diverse (hated, abhorred, detested) from all the beasts (figuratively of tyrannical men, emperor’s, king’s, general’s) that were before it, and it had ten (10) horns (heads, princes, rulers or governors.)
Daniel 7:8, “I considered the horns (heads, princes, rulers) and behold, there came up among them another little (small, contemptable; mean) horn (head, prince, ruler), before whom there were three of the first horns plucked (as branches of a family are torn) up by the roots, and, behold in this horn were eyes like eyes of men (eyes in a spiritual sense, meaning they professed to be ministers of the everlasting gospel) and a mouth (another door, or way to the Father referring to an antichrist in its fullest sense) speaking (making manifest, publishing, or proclaiming) great (mighty) things (words of the same nature as Jesus Christ.)”
Daniel 7:23, “The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom (nations born of Rome continuing to this day) upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms (Egyptians, Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks) and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it (the earth) down, and break (crush, bruise, and stamp upon) it in pieces (meaning the blood of the saints).”
And the ten horns out of the kingdom (born of ancient Rome) are ten kings (rulers, generals, ambassadors, ministers,) that shall arise: and another (meaning another person, an 11th king) shall rise (appear) after them (the ten); and he (the 11th king) shall be diverse (hated, abhorred, detested) from the first (ten), and he shall subdue (to humble, bring them into submission) three (of the ten) kings.”
And he (the 11 king) shall speak great (mighty) words (commands, proverbs or dark saying that need interpretation) against (as an enemy of) the most High (God of both Jews and Gentiles), and shall wear out (consume, destroy) the saints (holy, innocent persons) of the most High, and think (he thought, proposed, intended, determined) to change (altar) times (seasons, determinations) and laws (decrees, commands): and they shall be given into his (the 11th king) hand (power and strength) until (witnesses, testimonies and memorials pass) a time (or season), and times (seasons) and the dividing (divisions, separations, or transgressions ) of time.”
The Roman armies trampled nations into submission but were to be replaced by other powers that would not only trample upon, but take for themselves Christ’s authority, inheritance and glory; and for the next 1000 + years kill and destroy any who opposed them, this, all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And they shall wear out the saints of the Most High God.”
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com