The Four Great Beasts
This is about the four great beasts in Daniel chapter 7. Can you image we are living in the fourth Beast period(the end time)? Let’s see… Daniel made a dream at the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.
“The four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.
4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings”; “another beast, a second one, like a bear”; the third one “like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back”; the “fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking “great/arrogantly” things.”.
What does the sea represent in this dream? For the beasts are come from the sea, they are not the “real” beasts, so the “sea” is also not the “real” sea. So what does that sea represent? We are the people who live on the land and can’t live in the sea, so the sea for us can be said is another world or another field.
Rev. 12:17 says “Then the dragon… And he stood on the sand of the sea.”, Rev.13:1,2 says “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns….And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.”.
The beast came from sea means it’s power also came from sea, from Dragon. So that’s why we say that sea means a world other than humans, that means the spirits living world or field. Satan(dragon) gave his power, throne and great authority to the beasts. So those kingdoms(“beasts”) are authorized by the red dragon, who gave them power throne and great authority.
What do the four beasts represent? The angel told Daniel, “17 These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth”.
“Four Kings” or “Four Beasts” refer to four kingdoms-the whole of its’ empire, like Alexander is one of the kings among the whole of Greek Empire(third beast). Each beast represents a “whole” of its Empire.
So for the fourth beast, it represents the “whole” of all kings of its’ Empire. “Horn” is one of the whole of the fourth beast kingdoms. Let’s see the beasts now…
The first beast was Babylon Empire, the king was Nebuchadnezzar whose wings were plucked off by Jehovah God, “and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it”. The dominion of the whole world was given(transferred) to Babylon from Jerusalem, It was the first beast who was given the whole world dominion. Please read <The Greatest Top Tree and 7 Periods>.
After that, the second beast occurred. It was Persian Empire, the king was Cyrus who was “raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.” He defeated Median Kingdom, Lydian kingdom and Babylon Empire(raised up one on side and three ribs in its mouth). And then he defeated much more kingdoms to expand dominion territory(devour much flesh).
The third beast was the Greek Empire. The king was Alexander who was like leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back and had four heads, dominion was given to it. Same as leopard is the fastest land animal, and with the four wings(his 4 Generals) additional help, Alexander was expanding dominion of the fastest speed. Four heads means his four Generals, they help and gave him ideas and plans. And the four heads became the four kingdoms after Alexander death.
After the beast of leopard, the fourth beast occured, but Daniel could not describe it for it was totally different from the others. Bible tells us the names of the first 3 beasts in Daniel chapter 2 and 8, but it doesn’t give us the name of fourth beast. Why Bible doesn’t mention the name of this beast? Let’s think about it…
After the third beast(Greek Empire) was broken down, the fourth beast began the reign. How long of its ruling period? Angel said “till to the End Day”, then the beast shall be “killed and burned with fire”. The End Day has not yet come, so the beast has not killed, still existing now. And that means it has ruled over 2000 years.
So is there any a single Empire can reign for 2000 years? Surely none. That’s why angel did not mention the beast’s name. So is that the fourth beast is combined with many different kingdoms? Is that what ten horns means? Did angel provide more information about this?
Yes, the fourth beast represents the whole of its kingdom reign over 2000 years, cover the period of the saints who shall be given into his hand for “a time, times, and half a time”. This beast “which was different from all the rest(different from Babylon, Persian, Greek), exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet…”
Its’ teeth and claws contain iron and bronze(Greek) nature, you may read Daniel chapter 2 about this. Due to the ruling period of fourth beast is so long, so which stage of the fourth beast do angel talking about mainly? Is the whole period of the beast or just one of its’ stage? When will the ten horns and a little horn appear?
The above verses are “mainly” talking about one stage of the fourth beast, like Alexander the great was also a stage of the third beast. And this is the final stage of the fourth beast, also the “feet partly of iron and partly of clay” stage, same as the feet in the final period of the End Day. How do we know that angel was mainly talking about the final stage?
Because in the final stage, YHWH God will sit on the court and judge, then the little horn’s dominion will be taken away and destroyed, the kingdom will be given to the saints. So the angel was talking the beast’s final stage in the end day. Not the first century or 15–16 century, otherwise the end day had already come. Can be say is our days, and will be happened soon because ten horns and little horn have appeared.
Same as Daniel, all of us feel exceedingly terrifying and dreadful. This beast is exceedingly stronger than other beasts. It is exceedingly terrifying with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, it devour the whole earth, “devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet”. Also the little horn that has eyes. What does it mean? Show you the pictures, then you will get it.
Eyes
Eyes
Iron Teeth
Iron Teeth
Claws of bronze
Claws of bronze
devour the whole earth, trample it down, and break it to pieces
And this beast has ten horns and “there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots”. What do the ten horns, three horns and the little horn mean? Angel explained “24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom(the fourth beast) ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.” What does it mean? What are the ten horns and the little horn? Let’s see the history…
After the third beast(Greek) broken down, Rome occurred. We can say Roman(Iron part) was the “first stage” of the fourth beast, it ruled Britannia(UK) and Gaul(Europe), those countries were deeply influenced by the political culture of Rome and Greek.
After Rome broken, they became many different European countries(ten horns), “as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom(the fourth beast) ten kings shall arise”. Britannia became the British Empire which people called “the Sun Never Sets” empire ; Gaul became many European countries such as Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…
In the final stage of the Statue vision, “the feet and 10 toes partly iron and partly clay, their kingdom is also partly strong and partly fragile. They shall seal their alliances by intermarriage(union), but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
Now European countries formed EU(European Union) and NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization). They are “the feet and 10 toes”. So the “ten horns”, “the feet” and “10 toes” means the Alliance of European countries(EU) and (NATO), they will receive authority as kings. They are partly strong and partly fragile, with almost the same political system(democratic system), inherited from the beasts of Greece and Rome. Let’s see some Bible verses…
Revelation 13:1 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.”
Revelation 13:4 “And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
Revelation 17:12,13 “And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings(EU) who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast(US). 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.”
So at the End Time, ten horns(EU, NATO) shall receive royal power, receive the authority of world hegemony. This is our time, EU and NATO seems has become kings now but the time is very short, only one hour, for Jehovah God will destroy the fourth beast soon.
Then how about the little horn, what does it mean?
Angel said, this little horn “shall arise after (ten horns) them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings”, “and that seemed greater than its companions”. Can you guess who the little horn is?
Yes, “the little horn” is United States of America-USA. Many people know that, US came from the one of ten horns — British. US is little because it was founded in 1783(arise after them) and existed only about 200 years, later than other 10 horns(other European countries) foundation. But at the final stage of fourth beast, US “seemed greater than its companions”. That’s true.
The little horn “shall put down three kings”, what does it mean? During the World War I and II, there were 3 horns(3 kings of Europe) defeated by the little horn(US), they are Germany Italy and Hungary. But these 3 horns are not disappeared, like horn can be grown again, they are also the members of ten horns and shall grow again, and to form the whole of “10 horns” again. Why did God separate this little horn from the ten horns particularly? Because God wants to emphasize and let us know, US is much more different and greater than its EU companions(10 horns).
What will happen in the final stage? The angel said, “He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for ‘a time, times, and half a time’”. What does it mean about he shall speak words against the Most High and think to change the times and laws?
Yes, US(little horn) and EU(ten horns) speak words against God and want to change laws. What laws they want to change? For example, they said sexual immorality has no problem and acceptable, biblical laws are outdated, no longer applicable and no need to accept it. They confuse the definition of gender, the man is not man, the woman is not woman, deceive youth become transgenders, or nothing can represents their sex. They want to change God’s Law, they make our world too confused. This has never occurred before.
Also they said you have to accept homosexuality, otherwise you have something wrong. They use rainbow to represent it, do you know what’s wrong? Actually, they are blasphemed God because rainbow is the sign of God, but they used to represent homosexuality those evils. Maybe this idea is not from them, but surely is come from Satan. Satan blasphemes God using this evils through the little horn. You can imagine how angry of Heaven’s angels are with them.
Satan knows they shall be destroyed soon, so want to change the times. We are not sure how they change it, or what method they use, but surely they want to prolong their remaining time as long as possible. Maybe if he made a saint(any one of144000) be a lawlessness and disqualified by God, then God need time to find another one until all 144000 has been sealed. Then Satan can use this method to prolong his time.
Rev. 7:1,3 says, “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 3 saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’”.
So when the last saint has been sealed, then the four angels will release the four winds. That means the time of Satan and the Beast will be ended, and also the great tribulation will begin.
Before all saints has been sealed, the fourth beast “21 made war with the saints and prevailed over them”. And “they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time”.
Revelation 11:7–9 says “7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb”.
So what does the “a time, times, and half a time” mean? It means the period of AD 70(Jerusalem destroyed) till to the end time. It is also the period of “trample the holy city for forty-two months”. This is related to the prophecy of The Greatest Top Tree and 7 Periods, Seventy Sevens and the 7 Churches and 7 Stars. Then what is the meaning of “three and a half days” of Revelation 11:9?
For prophecy 1 day equal to 1 year, so maybe the saints will be killed 3 and half years by the beast, after that the beast will be “destroyed and given over to be burned with fire” by Jehovah God. We are not sure how this little horn make war with saints and kill them, maybe is a spiritual war about God’s Laws, about sexual immorality, not sure, let’s wait and see…
When the little horn speak words against God, “9 As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire”. The thrones has ready placed in heaven now. And then the little horn will “make war with the saints and prevail over them”.
And then “11 …The beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time”.
The other kingdoms’ dominion will be taken away but their lives can prolong for a season and a time. What does it mean?
What does it mean “a season” and “a time”, how long? Daniel 12:11,12 says “11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. “.
So from “the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away” in AD 70, to the End Day(burn the fourth beast) is the symbolic “1260 days” period.
And from “1260 days” to the symbolic “1290 days” is 30 days,
and from “1290 days” to symbolic “1335 days” is 45 days,
so from “1260 days” to “1335 days” total is 75 days or a season.
please read “Seventy Sevens” and “Sealed until the time of the end”. So “maybe” it means other beasts’ lives will be prolonged until the “1335 days” ended.
So after “a time, times, a half of time” or “1260 days”, “22 judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him”.
Amen.
Let’s Pray
Jehovah God our heavenly Father, you are God Almighty. Over 2,500 years ago, you had revealed us the changes in this world’s hegemony in the Bible. You are the only True God, worth the Worships, Honors and Praises, and things were happened exactly as you say the prophecy.
We feel exceedingly terrifying and dreadful of this world, for the fourth beast now can “devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet”. Moreover, this world is so confused, the fourth beast wants to change your Laws. We must defend your laws and protect our kids. We know that you will protect us, save us soon, for Jesus said “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”
So we look forward to living in the new heaven and new earth under your kingdom. You will take back the dominion and give it to Lord Jesus and the saints. There will be no more terrifying, death, pain, tears but with peaceful and happiness life. May God’s people stand firm and wait for him. Praise and Glorify Father and Jesus forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer is also in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
You may read <The Beast 666>,<Ten horns and the beast> it is about the mystery the 7 heads’ beast and the beast 666 and ten horns.