The Four Beasts Of Daniel

A.C.Pike

Introduction

The prophet Daniel receives a dream from God. In this dream he sees four world Empires that will arise. These Empires are represented as Four Beasts.

The First Beast

The Bible informs us that: "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." (Daniel 2:4 AV). This kingdom is Babylon. It is specifically directed to king Nebuchadnezzar.

The Second Beast

Daniel then goes on to say: "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." (Daniel 2:5 AV). These two Beasts are the dual kingdoms of Medo and Persia under the reign of Darius and Cyrus. 

The Third Beast

He then says "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." (Daniel 2:6 AV). This is the kingdom of Ancient Greece under the rulership of Alexandra the Great and his four Generals. 

The Fourth Beast

Lastly, the Fourth Beast is described,  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 2:7 AV). This is the final kingdom - Rome.

The Fourth Beast was Imperial Rome, and the ten horns were the Barbarian nations that later became the ten nations of Europe. 

Conclusion

These are the four Empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) that go against the Nation of Israel. 

The last kingdom (Rome) has a "Little Horn" which is the Papacy. This horn breaks off three of the previous kingdoms. This Little Horn (the Papacy) remains (as part of the Fourth Beast) until the return of Christ. 

Note

At a later date, I hope to do a more in-depth study on the four kings (the four beasts/ statue of the man) and the Little Horn in the book of Daniel and the beasts of Revelation 13.