Bible Gateway passage: Daniel 7 - New King James Version

Political study: THE FINAL 4 WORLD EMPIRES

According to prophecies of the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, there will be 4 great political empires (represented by ferocious beasts) at the end of the world. Many who believe Bible prophecies to be true have tried to guess the identity of the countries or unions of countries) involved that will be in existence until the very end of the world. The 4th beast is decidedly different and more powerful than the other 3 and is generally thought to be a Global empire which will have the One World Leader. (Also ref. Rev 13).

DANIEL 7:2-28
Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea ( peoples on the Earth). And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

“After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the rest with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns (political leaders). I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. (removed from their power). And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking high and mighty words.....

“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit (heart), and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those (heavenly beings) who stood near me, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

‘Those four great beasts are four KINGS /KINGDOMS WHICH ARISE OUT OF THE EARTH. But the saints ( Christians, followers of God through Christ) of the Most High (God/Christ) shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

“Then I, Daniel, wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with teeth of iron and nails of bronze which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the rest with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke high and mighty words, whose appearance was more dreadful than the other 3 beasts.

As I watched, the same horn was making war against the saints (Christians) and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days (God/Christ) came and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

“Then that heavenly being continued:

‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all other kingdoms And it shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten “horns” are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, he shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to >change times and law<.. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time (3 1/2 years).
But the court in heaven shall be seated and his dominion shall be taken away, consumed and destroyed forever. Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all other dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ This is the end of the account.

“As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”