FOUR BEASTS COME OUT OF THE SEA

"Four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea," said Daniel. (Daniel 7:3) What was symbolized by the windswept sea? Years later, the apostle John saw a seven-headed wild beast come out of the "sea." That sea represented  "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues"- the vast body of mankind estranged from God.  The sea, then, is a fitting  symbol of the masses of mankind alienated from God. -Revelation 13:1, 2;17:15.

"As for these huge beasts," said God's angel, "because they are four, there are four kings that will stand up from the earth." (Daniel 7:17) Clearly the angel identified the four beasts that Daniel saw as "four kings."  Thus, these beasts signify world powers.  But which ones?

Bible expositors commonly link Daniel's dream-vision of four beasts with Nebuchadnezzar's dream of an immense image.  For example, The Expositor's Bible Commentary states:  "Chapter 7 [of Daniel] parallels chapter 2."  The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says: "It is generally agreed that the succession of four Gentile dominions . . .is the same here [in Daniel chapter 7] as that contemplated in [Daniel] chapter 2." The four world powers represented by the four metals of Nebuchadnezzar's dream were the Babylonian Empire (gold head), Medo-Persia (silver breasts and arms), Greece (copper belly and thighs), and the Roman Empire (iron legs) . (Daniel 2:32, 33) Let us see how these kingdoms correspond to the four huge beasts that Daniel saw.   

Next time: FEROCIOUS AS A LION, QUICK AS AN EAGLE

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999