 |  |
We must remember that in Daniel 7 (which underlies the prophecy of
Revelation 13), Daniel was told:
'These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which Shall Arise
out of the earth' (Dan. 7:17).
'Each of the first three empires of the second chapter (Babylon, Persia
and Greece) was in turn Destroyed and engulfed by its successor: but
the kingdoms of the 7th chapter all Continued Together upon the scene,
although "the dominion" was with the fourth power (Dan. 7:12). Verse 3
implies that the four beasts came up together, and there is nothing to
suggest a series of empires, each destroying its predecessor' (Sir
Robert Anderson, K.C.B.).
The testimony of Daniel 7 is decisive. These four beasts cannot
possibly represent the succession described in Daniel 2:
'As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken
away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time' (Dan.
7:12).
It has been assumed by many writers, that the first beast which was
'like a lion and had eagle's wings' refers back to Nebuchadnezzar, but this
cannot be, for Daniel received this vision 'in the first year of Belshazzar'
and the Medes and Persians were already on their way. This beast like a lion
is one of four that Shall Arise, and so the first of this series must start
with Alexander, the king of Greece. The relationship of the two lines of
dominion in the image of Daniel 2, and the beasts of Daniel 7 can be set out
thus:
Daniel 2.
Daniel 7.
These are successive
These are contemporary
(1)
Head of Gold.
Babylon
(2)
Breast of Silver.
Medo-Persia
(3)
Belly and thighs of Brass.
Greece
Lion with wings.
(4)
Legs of iron.
Rome
Bear with three ribs in
mouth.
(5)
Feet of iron and clay.
Turkey
Leopard with wings.
(6)
Toes of iron and clay.
10 Kings
Monster with horns.
The Prophet's concern we discover was with the 'truth of the fourth
beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth
were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and
stamped the residue with his feet' (Dan. 7:19). Had Israel accepted their
Messiah, the fourth kingdom (Dan. 2:40) would have been the last of the
series, but Israel rejected their Messiah and the image continues to the
kingdom of the iron and clay. At the coming of the Lord, He shall break in
pieces like a potter's vessel, the rebellious people at the time of the end,
the same words being used in Daniel 2:44, that are employed in Daniel 2:40
and 7:7,19 and 23. We, moreover, learn that Jerusalem shall be trodden down
by the Gentiles until the time of the end, and here, in Daniel 7:19 we learn
that the fourth beast 'stamped the residue with his feet', and in verse 23
'he shall tread it down, and break it in pieces'. Daniel makes no attempt in