What is the significance of the four beasts in Daniel 7?

from the old testament

• The four beasts in Daniel 7 correspond to the four sections of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:31–45). Each beast represents a major kingdom: “These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth” (Daniel 7:17), but each is “different from one another” (Daniel 7:3). Based on the dream and description in Daniel 7, each kingdom directly subdues and replaces the previous one.
• First Beast: This beast is described as “like a lion and had eagles’ wings” (Daniel 7:4a). As does the gold head in the dream, this represents Babylon. Babylon was known elsewhere as both a lion (Jeremiah 4:7) and an eagle (Ezekiel 17:2–3). Though it was the major kingdom in its day, during Daniel’s lifetime, Babylon had its wings plucked off (v 4b), being replaced by the second beast.
• Second Beast: This beast is described as “like a bear,” with “three ribs in its mouth between its teeth” (Daniel 7:5). It was commanded to “devour much flesh,” symbolizing God’s use of that beast to overthrow Babylon. Elsewhere, this kingdom is called a “ram” and is identified as Media-Persia (Daniel 8:20).
• Third Beast: The description of this one is “like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back” (Daniel 7:6a). Like with the second beast, “dominion was given to it” (v 6c), showing God’s rule over the kingdoms again. Being a leopard with four wings refers to how it pounced with great speed. Elsewhere it is called a goat and identified as Greece (Daniel 8:21). Alexander the Great did indeed lead Greece to swiftly overtake Media-Persia. Interestingly, this beast is also said to have four heads (Daniel 7:6b), which fits the four kingdoms of Greece that arose after Alexander the Great died and the kingdom was divided among his four sons.
• Fourth Beast: Of all the beasts, this one is the most terrifying. It’s said to be unlike the other beasts: “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet” (Daniel 7:19). It is described as “terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong” with “great iron teeth” (Daniel 7:7). Scholars are generally agreed that this beast was Rome.
• However, some descriptions of this fourth beast do not match Rome. In particularly the ten horns which are ten kings: “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings” (Daniel 7:24). Part of the puzzle is that while each kingdom directly destroyed the previous (which Rome did of Greece), the passage appears to equally clearly indicate that God’s kingdom directly conquers the fourth kingdom (Daniel 7:23–27).
• Because of this apparent discrepancy with Rome, some have suggested that Rome comes in two parts. The historical part conquered Greece, represented by the iron legs in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, whereas a future part will be an extension of Rome with the ten kings, represented by the feet and toes mixed with clay in the dream. Others view Rome either as representative of all major world governments until Jesus returns, or as the beginning of the final Kingdom’s arrival.

from the new testament

• In Daniel 7, the one who leads the eternal, righteous kingdom of God is called “the one like a son of man” (cf. Daniel 7:13–14). Jesus directly referred to Himself as that individual (e.g., Matthew 26:64). Thus, He is the one to whom the Ancient of Days (the Father) gives the eternal kingdom.
• Revelation 13 refers to the fourth beast. It says, “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:1–2). In part, what makes the fourth beast unlike the others is that it embodies them all, as this description shows. It is the culmination of all evil kingdoms.
• Similarly, Revelation 17:12–14 reads, “And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” As Daniel indicated, this final beast has ten kings, is directly opposed to Jesus, and will be destroyed by Him, thereby initiating His kingdom on earth (Revelation 19–20).

implications for today

The four beasts have largely come and gone, except for the final descriptions of the fourth beast. While the last three were future kingdoms that would come to power after Daniel died, history has shown these prophecies to be accurate. This makes sense when we consider that the one who gave Daniel the vision is also the one who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9–10). What we learn from this is that God is in complete control of history.

That doesn’t mean that God is reacting to history and readjusting things to get what He wants done, but that every kingdom from start to finish was ordained by God and placed in power to move His history forward. Daniel also talks about a wicked ruler to come in the future (Daniel 7:8, 23–26). Yet even he, also known as Antichrist (1 John 2:18) and the Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4), is but another leader whom God has ordained to rule for a time (2 Thessalonians 2:6–8a). Even that most wicked ruler will come when God says and then be removed when God is done with him (2 Thessalonians 2:8b).

Let us therefore learn the lesson Daniel was teaching his readers: We do not need to worry about the end. It’s already settled, and everything between now and then is also already settled. Because of that, let us say with Daniel, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever," because He alone “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:20b, 21a).