◄ Daniel 7:23 ►
This is what he said: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
Study Bible
Thus he said
This phrase introduces the explanation given by the angelic messenger to Daniel. It signifies the authority and divine origin of the message. In the context of biblical prophecy, such introductions underscore the importance and reliability of the revelation. The use of "he" refers to the angel, likely Gabriel, who is a messenger of God, emphasizing that the interpretation comes from a divine source, not human speculation.

The fourth beast
This phrase refers to the fourth kingdom in Daniel's vision, which is distinct from the previous three beasts. In biblical prophecy, beasts often symbolize kingdoms or empires. The fourth beast is described as terrifying and powerful, representing a kingdom that is more formidable and destructive than its predecessors. Historically, this is often interpreted as the Roman Empire, known for its vast reach and influence.

will be a fourth kingdom on the earth
This phrase confirms the earthly dominion of the fourth beast, indicating its global impact and authority. The term "kingdom" in biblical terms often refers to a political and social system under a sovereign rule. The phrase suggests a period of significant historical and spiritual consequence, as this kingdom will play a crucial role in the unfolding of God's plan.

different from all the other kingdoms
This highlights the uniqueness of the fourth kingdom compared to its predecessors. Historically, the Roman Empire was indeed different in its structure, governance, and military prowess. It was known for its legal system, engineering feats, and ability to assimilate various cultures. Spiritually, this difference may also imply a greater level of opposition to God's people and purposes.

and it will devour the whole earth
The imagery of devouring suggests conquest and domination. This phrase indicates the extensive reach and influence of the fourth kingdom, which will impose its will across the known world. Historically, the Roman Empire's expansion and control over vast territories align with this description. Spiritually, it may also symbolize the pervasive influence of worldly systems opposed to God's kingdom.

trampling it down and crushing it
This phrase conveys the destructive power and oppressive nature of the fourth kingdom. The actions of trampling and crushing suggest not only conquest but also the suppression and persecution of those under its rule. Historically, the Roman Empire was known for its military might and often brutal enforcement of its laws. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a representation of the forces that oppose God's people and His divine order, leading to trials and tribulations for the faithful.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
A prophet and the author of the Book of Daniel, who receives visions and interpretations from God.

2. The Fourth Beast
Represents a powerful and terrifying kingdom that is distinct from previous empires, characterized by its destructive nature.

3. The Kingdom
Symbolizes a future empire that will have a significant impact on the world, often interpreted as a representation of a historical or eschatological power.

4. The Earth
Refers to the global scope of the kingdom's influence and its oppressive actions.

5. Vision of the Four Beasts
A prophetic vision given to Daniel, depicting four successive empires, with the fourth being the most fearsome.
Teaching Points
Understanding Prophecy
Recognize the importance of prophecy in understanding God's plan for history and the future. Prophecy serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over nations and empires.

The Nature of Earthly Kingdoms
Earthly powers, no matter how strong, are temporary and often characterized by oppression and destruction. This should remind believers to place their hope in God's eternal kingdom.

Spiritual Vigilance
The description of the fourth beast calls for spiritual vigilance and discernment. Believers should be aware of the spiritual forces at work in the world and remain steadfast in their faith.

Hope in God's Kingdom
Despite the terrifying nature of the fourth beast, believers are encouraged to find hope in the ultimate victory of God's kingdom, as prophesied in the latter parts of Daniel and Revelation.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:23 compare to the other beasts in Daniel's vision, and what might this signify about its nature?

2. In what ways can the characteristics of the fourth beast be seen in historical or contemporary empires, and how should this influence our understanding of current events?

3. How do the visions in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 complement each other, and what insights do they provide about future events?

4. What practical steps can believers take to remain spiritually vigilant in a world influenced by powerful and oppressive forces?

5. How can the hope of God's eternal kingdom, as contrasted with the temporary nature of earthly kingdoms, impact our daily lives and priorities?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Daniel 2
The vision of the statue with different materials parallels the four beasts, representing successive kingdoms.

Revelation 13
Describes a beast with similar characteristics, often linked to the fourth beast in Daniel's vision, symbolizing a future oppressive power.

2 Thessalonians 2
Discusses the "man of lawlessness," which some interpret as connected to the oppressive nature of the fourth kingdom.

Matthew 24
Jesus speaks of future tribulations and kingdoms, which can be related to the prophetic visions in Daniel.
Sermons
The Character of Oppressive Power in ReligionS. Clarke. D.D.Daniel 7:23
Daniel's First VisionE. B. Pusey, D.D.Daniel 7:4-28
The First Two Visions of the Book of DanielT. R. Birks, M.A.Daniel 7:4-28
The Four BeastsOutlines by London MinisterDaniel 7:4-28
The Symbolical BeastsW. White.Daniel 7:4-28
The Vision of the Four BeastsWilliam M. Taylor, D.D.Daniel 7:4-28
Vision, of Four Wild BeastsT.Kirk.Daniel 7:4-28
Godly Obedience the Basis of Permanent DominionJ.D. Davies Daniel 7:15-28
The Great AntagonistH.T. Robjohns Daniel 7:15-28
People
Belshazzar, Daniel
Places
Babylon
Topics
Animal, Appear, Beast, Break, Breaketh, Consumeth, Crush, Crushing, Devour, Different, Diverse, Fourth, Kingdom, Kingdoms, Overcome, Pieces, Smashing, Thus, Trample, Trampling, Tread, Treadeth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Daniel 7:7-25

     4654   horn

Daniel 7:19-23

     4609   beast, the

Daniel 7:19-26

     4627   creatures

Daniel 7:23-27

     1469   visions
     5270   court
     5367   kingdoms
     7730   explanation

Library
Christ's Own Testimony Concerning Himself.
THERE is but one rational explanation, of this sublime mystery; and this is found in Christ's own testimony concerning his superhuman and divine origin and character.[49]49 This testimony challenges at once our highest regard and belief from the absolute veracity which no one ever denied him, or could deny, without destroying at once the very foundation of his universally conceded moral purity and greatness. Christ strongly asserts his humanity, and calls himself; about eighty times in the Gospels, …
Philip Schaff—The Person of Christ

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
THE life and character of Jesus Christ is truly the Holy of Holies in the history of the world. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since he, in the fullness of time, appeared on this earth to redeem a fallen race from sin and death, and to open a never-ceasing fountain of righteousness and life. The ages before him anxiously awaited his coming as "the Desire of all nations;" the ages after him proclaim his glory, and ever extend his dominion. The noblest and best of men under every clime hold …
Philip Schaff—The Romance of M. Renan, and the Christ of the Gospels

The Apocalypse.
1. The word Apocalypse (Greek Apokalupsis) signifies Revelation, the title given to the book in our English version as well from its opening word as from its contents. Of all the writings of the New Testament that are classed by Eusebius among the disputed books (Antilegomena, chap. 5. 6), the apostolic authorship of this is sustained by the greatest amount of external evidence; so much so that Eusebius acknowledges it as doubtful whether it should be classed among the acknowledged or …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Captivity of Judah.
Eze., Dan., Lam. The Ten Tribes Lost. After the fall of Samaria we hear but little of the ten tribes. They were carried off into the regions of Ninevah by the Assyrians. All effort to locate them has failed and no doubt will fail. Sargon, in an inscription found at Ninevah, said that he carried away into captivity 27,290. These were perhaps leaders of Israel whom he thought might lead a revolt. He sent others back to take their place and the Israelites seemed to have mingled with the races about …
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Communion Again Broken --Restoration
Cant. v. 2-vi.10. The fourth section commences with an address of the bride to the daughters of Jerusalem, in which she narrates her recent sad experience, and entreats their help in her trouble. The presence and comfort of her Bridegroom are again lost to her; not this time by relapse into worldliness, but by slothful self-indulgence. We are not told of the steps that led to her failure; of how self again found place in her heart. Perhaps spiritual pride in the achievements which grace enabled her …
J. Hudson Taylor—Union and Communion

The Ecclesiastical Trial
Over the Kedron, up the slope to the city, through the gates, along the silent streets, the procession passed, with Jesus in the midst; midnight stragglers, perhaps, hurrying forward from point to point to ask what was ado, and peering towards the Prisoner's face, before they diverged again towards their own homes.[1] He was conducted to the residence of the high priest, where His trial ensued. Jesus had to undergo two trials--the one ecclesiastical, the other civil; the one before Caiaphas the …
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ

Jesus at Capernaum.
Beset by an idea, gradually becoming more and more imperious and exclusive, Jesus proceeds henceforth with a kind of fatal impassibility in the path marked out by his astonishing genius and the extraordinary circumstances in which he lived. Hitherto he had only communicated his thoughts to a few persons secretly attracted to him; henceforward his teaching was sought after by the public. He was about thirty years of age.[1] The little group of hearers who had accompanied him to John the Baptist had, …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." St. Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles. The care of the churches gathered among them devolved particularly on him. At the writing of this epistle he had no personal acquaintance with the church to which it is addressed.* Epaphras, a bishop of the Colossians, then his fellow prisoner at Rome, had made him acquainted with their state, and the danger …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

Jesus Stills the Storm.
(Sea of Galilee; Same Day as Last Section) ^A Matt. VIII. 18-27; ^B Mark IV. 35-41; ^C Luke VIII. 22-25. ^b 35 And that day, { ^c one of those days,} ^b when the even was come [about sunset], ^a when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. { ^b he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.} [Wearied with a day of strenuous toil, Jesus sought rest from the multitude by passing to the thinly settled on the east side of Galilee.] ^a 19 And there …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A vision of the King.
ONE of the most blessed occupations for the believer is the prayerful searching of God's holy Word to discover there new glories and fresh beauties of Him, who is altogether lovely. Shall we ever find out all which the written Word reveals of Himself and His worthiness? This wonderful theme can never be exhausted. The heart which is devoted to Him and longs through the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be closer to the Lord, to hear and know more of Himself, will always find something …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Situation after the Council of Nicæa.
The council (a) had testified, by its horrified and spontaneous rejection of it, that Arianism was a novelty subversive of the Christian faith as they had received it from their fathers. They had (b) banished it from the Church by an inexorable test, which even the leading supporters of Arius had been induced to subscribe. In the years immediately following, we find (c) a large majority of the Eastern bishops, especially of Syria and Asia Minor, the very regions whence the numerical strength of the …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Birth and Early Life of John the Baptist.
(Hill Country of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 57-80. ^c 57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her [mercy in granting a child; great mercy in granting so illustrious a child] ; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day [See Gen. xvii. 12; Lev. xii. 3; Phil. iii. 5. Male children were named at their circumcision, probably …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Second visit to Nazareth - the Mission of the Twelve.
It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the center of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod's residence at Tiberias [3013] would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage in our Lord's history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

His Future Work
The Lord Jesus Christ, who finished the work on earth the Father gave Him to do, who is now bodily present in the highest heaven, occupying the Father's throne and exercising His priesthood in behalf of His people, is also King. To Him belongeth a Kingdom and a kingly Glory. He has therefore a kingly work to do. While His past work was foretold by the Spirit of God and His priestly work foreshadowed in the Old Testament, His work as King and His glorious Kingdom to come are likewise the subjects …
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ

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