The Four Beasts are a significant prophetic symbol found in the Book of Daniel, specifically in Daniel 7. This vision, given to the prophet Daniel, is a cornerstone of biblical eschatology and has been the subject of extensive interpretation and study within Christian theology. The vision of the Four Beasts is understood to represent successive kingdoms that play pivotal roles in the unfolding of God's divine plan for history.

Biblical Account

In Daniel 7:1-3 , the narrative begins: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream. Daniel declared: 'In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.'"

The First Beast

The first beast is described in Daniel 7:4 : "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it." This beast is traditionally interpreted as representing the Babylonian Empire, with the lion symbolizing strength and the eagle's wings denoting swiftness. The transformation of the beast to stand like a man and receive a human heart is often seen as a reference to the humbling and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar, as recorded in Daniel 4.

The Second Beast

The second beast is depicted in Daniel 7:5 : "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up, and eat your fill of flesh!'" This beast is commonly associated with the Medo-Persian Empire. The bear's uneven stance is interpreted as the dominance of Persia over Media, and the three ribs are thought to symbolize the major conquests of this empire, possibly Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt.

The Third Beast

The third beast is described in Daniel 7:6 : "Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule." This beast is generally identified with the Greek Empire, established by Alexander the Great. The leopard's speed, enhanced by four wings, reflects the rapid expansion of Alexander's conquests. The four heads are often interpreted as the four divisions of the empire following Alexander's death, ruled by his generals.

The Fourth Beast

The fourth beast is detailed in Daniel 7:7 : "After this, as I watched in my vision at night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured and crushed, and it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns." This beast is typically associated with the Roman Empire, known for its unparalleled strength and dominance. The ten horns are often seen as ten kings or kingdoms that arise from this empire.

The Little Horn

A significant feature of the fourth beast is the emergence of a "little horn" as described in Daniel 7:8 : "While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance." This little horn is often interpreted as a future ruler or antichrist figure, characterized by blasphemy and opposition to God.

Interpretation and Significance

The vision of the Four Beasts is interpreted as a prophetic overview of world history from Daniel's time to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. In Daniel 7:17-18 , the interpretation is given: "‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’" This passage emphasizes the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over earthly powers.

The vision of the Four Beasts continues to be a subject of theological reflection and eschatological expectation, pointing to the sovereignty of God over the rise and fall of nations and the eventual establishment of His eternal reign.