Daniel 7.19-Daniel Seeks the Interpretation of the Fourth Beast
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday June 4, 2013
Daniel: Daniel 7:19-Daniel Seeks the Interpretation of the Fourth Beast
Lesson # 218
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 7:1.
Daniel 7:1 During Belshazzar’s, Babylon’s king, first year, Daniel saw a dream specifically visions in his mind on his bed. Then, he wrote down the dream. He declares the beginning of the account. 2 Daniel began to speak and said, “I was in a trance like state, staring because of my vision during the night as behold the heaven’s four winds were blowing violently against the great sea. 3 Then, four great beasts, one different from the other, came up out from the sea. 4 The first beast was like a lion with eagle’s wings attached to it. I was in a trance like state staring when its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground for the purpose of it standing on two feet like a human being. A human mind was also given to it. 5 Next, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear with it raised up to one side with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. Then, they issued orders to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 6 After this, I was staring in a trance like state as behold, another one, was like a leopard with it having four bird’s wings on its back. Also, the beast had four heads. Indeed, governmental dominion was given to it. 7 After this, I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these night visions as behold, a fourth beast, intimidating, yes even terrifying as well as extremely powerful, possessing two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet. Indeed, it was characterized as different from all the beasts which were before it in the sense of possessing ten horns. 8 I was contemplating in a trance like state because of these horns as behold, another little horn emerged out from among them. Then, the first three originating from the horns was torn out by being in the presence of it. In fact, behold, on this horn, were eyes like a human being’s eyes as well as a mouth speaking boastfully. 9 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when thrones were set up. Then, the One Ancient in Days sat. His clothing was white like snow. Also, the hair of His head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were a blazing fire. 10 A river composed of fire was flowing, yes issuing forth from His presence. A thousand times a thousand were continually rendering worshipful service to Him. In fact, ten thousand times ten thousand were continually standing in His presence. The court convened resulting in scrolls being opened. 11 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state at that time because of the sound coming from the boastful words which the horn was making a habit of speaking. I was continuing to stare in a trance like state when the beast was killed. In fact, its body was destroyed. Specifically, it was given over to the consuming fire. 12 On the other hand, the rest of the beasts, their governmental dominion was taken away, though for their benefit an extension of life was granted for a period of time, yes an appointed period of time. 13 I was continuing to stare in a trance like state because of these visions as behold One like a Son of Man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. Specifically, He went up to the One Ancient in Days in the sense that He approached His presence. 14 Then, governmental dominion was given to Him as well as honor and in addition sovereignty in order that each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities as well as language groups would serve Him. His governmental dominion is an eternal governmental dominion which can never be taken away so that His kingdom is one which can never be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my soul was distressed in the midst of my body. Specifically, the visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. 16 I went up to one from those standing nearby in order to request from him the truth regarding all this. Consequently, he spoke to me in order to make known to me the interpretation of these events. 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth’s inhabitants. 18 However, the saints belonging to the Most High will receive the kingdom. Indeed, they will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, yes throughout eternity, the ages.’” (My translation)
Daniel 7:19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet.” (NASB95)
Daniel 7:19 “Then, I desired to know the meaning concerning the fourth beast which was different from all the others, extraordinarily intimidating, its two rows of teeth composed of iron as well as its claws composed of bronze. It devoured as well as crushed. Specifically, it violently crushed the rest with its feet.” (My translation)
After the unidentified interpreter informed Daniel that the four beasts in his vision represented four kings/kingdoms but in contrast to these beasts, the saints of the Most High will possess the kingdom throughout eternity, Daniel tells the reader that he desired to know the meaning of the fourth beast.
As he did in verse 7, here in verse 19 Daniel presents to the reader a description of the fourth beast.
However, verse 19 gives information about the fourth beast, which was not provided in verse 7 while on the other hand, verse 7 provides information which does not appear in verse 19.
In both verses, Daniel describes the fourth beast as intimidating.
However, unlike verse 7, in verse 19, he states that it was extraordinarily intimidating.
In verse 7, he describes the fourth beast as terrifying as well as extremely powerful whereas in verse 19, he does not mention these things, though they could be implied from the information given in verse 19.
Then, in verse 7, Daniel describes the fourth beast as possessing two large rows of iron teeth while on the other hand in verse 19, he simply says that this beast possessed two rows of iron teeth mentioning that they were large.
In verse 19, Daniel describes the fourth beast as possessing bronze claws, which he does not mention in verse 7.
However, in verse 7, he tells the reader that this fourth beast devoured as well as crushed.
Specifically, it violently crushed the rest of the other three beasts with its feet.
He uses this exact same language in verse 19 to describe this beast.
Lastly, in verse 7, Daniel completes his description of the fourth beast by informing the reader that it was characterized as different from the other three beasts in the sense that it possessed ten horns.
On the other hand, in verse 19, he begins his description of the fourth beast by telling the reader that it was different from the other three beasts, but unlike verse 7, he mentions nothing about the horns which he does though, in verse 20.
Therefore, a comparison of both verses reveals that verse 19 summarizes verse 7 but gives an added detail (bronze claws).
However, both verses emphasize that this fourth beast was superior to the three beasts preceding it in that it destroyed the other beasts by violently crushing them with its feet.
Of the four beasts, the fourth receives the longest description from Daniel because it was unique from the other beasts and destroyed the other beasts.
Daniel 7:19-20 indicates that one of the reasons why Daniel was greatly disturbed by the fourth beast was that it destroyed the others.
The other reason he was greatly disturbed by the fourth beast was its ten horns and in particular the little horn which emerged on the fourth beast, which Daniel mentions in verse 20.
As we noted in Daniel 7:7, this fourth beast represents the Roman Empire since it corresponds to the legs of iron in the image that appeared in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two, which we noted represented the Roman Empire.
The mention of this fourth beast possessing large iron teeth and violently crushing the other three beasts characterized the Roman Empire.
The Roman armies were known for their iron armor which led some to refer to them as the “Iron Legions” of Rome, emphasizing their strength and invincibility.
The Roman armies were also known for violently crushing countries and civilizations enslaving many peoples.
Daniel 2:40 records this fourth kingdom is compared to iron because it would crush and shatter other kingdoms just as iron shatters and crushes all things.
This comparison indicates that this fourth kingdom will be more powerful and destructive than the previous three empires which were represented on the statue by the gold head, the silver arms and chest and bronze belly and thighs, which history records as Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece respectively.
This verse also says that this fourth kingdom, which history records as the Roman Empire will crush as well as break in pieces every kingdom it confronts in war just like iron breaks into pieces gold, silver and bronze.
The Roman Empire broke into pieces and shattered to pieces more kingdoms and brought them into greater subjection than Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.
Some modern interpreters have attempted to identify these four kingdoms as Babylon, followed by Media and then Persia and lastly Greece.
They do this in order to fit the Book into their view that Daniel was written during the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes in 175-165 B.C.
However, in Daniel 8:20, Daniel identifies Media and Persia as a single empire represented by a single animal, which is the ram.
This confirms the interpretation that Medo-Persia was the second empire.
Furthermore history does not demonstrate that the Median Empire was followed by a Persian Empire.
In 65 B.C., the Roman general Pompey conquered Syria and by 30 B.C. Augustus had conquered Egypt and had taken over Jerusalem establishing himself as the first Roman emperor.
The Roman Empire deserved its representation as the “iron empire” since it subdued and destroyed the remnants of the preceding empires as well as many other nations.
Since the metals of the statue in the vision of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter two decrease in value but increase in strength, the iron lower legs of the statue indicate that the character of the authority in rulership of the Roman Empire was inferior to Alexander’s Greece, Media-Persia and Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon.
However, its military power or strength was superior to these three.