Daniel 7:7 – The rise of the Roman Empire

In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the colossal image in Daniel 2, the legs of iron and the feet, a mixture of iron and clay, represent Rome. In Daniel 7, the prophet saw the same Roman empire as an unusual beast in his night visions. 

This fourth beast Daniel saw in Daniel 7:7 was different from the previous three. The other three were each represented by an animal—lion, bear, and leopard—but not this fourth beast. No animal was used to depict it. 

 

However, Daniel’s portrayal of the fourth beast is not just vivid but distinct and unique. He describes it as dreadful, terrifying, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet. This beast was unlike any before, and it had ten horns, symboling its power and dominance.  

 

Violence was not just a characteristic but a pervasive and defining trait of the Roman Empire. It was a tool used to assert her power and dominance, a fact that was evident in the common depictions of violent acts in Roman society.

   

Upon deeper contemplation, we can now grasp the profound prophetic nature of Daniel's visions. They were not mere dreams but profound allusions to the four world empires. Each beast corresponds to the four empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Daniel's visions also contain elements yet to unfold, events that will shape our future, a future that we are yet to fully comprehend.    

 

Again, we are comforted that God holds the future.  In His sovereign hand, events we read in the Bible will happen according to His timing. Because of who He is, God alone can foretell everything with exact accuracy. Many things about tomorrow we may not understand. The future looks terrifying, but we know He holds the future and will hold our hand.