chapter 7 to describe the fourth beast, except to say that it was 'diverse

from all others, exceeding dreadful'.  This beast coincides with the last

phase of the image of Daniel 2.

At the impact of the stone with the image, we read, 'And in the days of

these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be

destroyed' (Dan. 2:44).  Note 'In the days of those kings'.  There is no

space here for any kingdom to be set up before the Millennial reign.  'The

beast' of Daniel 7 is slain and its body destroyed, and given to the burning

flame, and this is immediately followed by the giving to the Son of Man a

'dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages,

should serve Him' (Dan. 7:14).  Again no space for any other kingdom.  When

we read moreover that the saints would be attacked by the beast:

'Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints

of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the

kingdom' (Dan. 7:21,22),

we find ourselves facing the same sequence of events that is outlined in

Revelation 13 to 20, where the monster of Daniel 7 reappears, the war on the

saints is waged, and when the Lord returns, the martyred overcomers 'live and

reign with Christ a thousand years'.  In neither Daniel 2, Daniel 7 nor

Revelation 13 to 20 is there room for a pre -Millennial kingdom other than

the kingdom of the Beast.

It will be remembered that in the great image of Daniel 2 the last

kingdom was 'diverse' inasmuch as it was composed of clay, whereas the

earlier kingdoms were of differing metals.  So with the beast that

corresponds with the clay period; it is diverse, and is not described as the

others are.

There is a peculiarly involved repetition given that may help us to

realize that the long, historic foreshadowing, and the brief, prophetic

fulfilment are in view:

beast is said to be 'diverse' from the rest.

horn is said to be 'diverse' from the first.

beast destroys three kings.

horn subdues three kings.

beast has a mouth speaking great things.

horn speaks great words against the most High.

The conclusion seems to be that the little horn represents a final

concentration of the fourth beast.  Now we shall discover from Revelation

13

that this fourth beast concentrates in itself the three that it devours.

three beasts devoured are described as a lion with eagle's wings, a bear,

a leopard having four wings with four heads.  The beast described in

Revelation 13 is a composite creature, having some of the characteristics

of

the lion, bear and leopard:

'And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were

as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion' (Rev.

'Having seven heads and ten horns' (Rev. 13:1).