Yesterday we discussed the first three beasts of Daniel’s vision and how the beast linked to the kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Today we will look at the final beast in the vision. We will also discuss how both the dream and the vision are unfinished and we are currently living in the final portion of the dream and the vision.

The Beast:

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a 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. 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 things (Daniel 7:7-8).

This beast is two-fold. We first see the rise of the Roman Empire back in 63 BC. This empire controlled all other empires until 476 AD. The Roman Empire was divided throughout most of its reign. A divided kingdom emerged in Rome in the year 63 BC. A Roman general named Pompey conquered Jerusalem. Many successors followed including Julius Ceasar who was murdered by Brutus and Cassius. Later this kingdom would be conquered by Octavian and Mark Antony who defeated Brutus and Cassius at a battle.

We again see the same beast again in Revelation 13:1-2: 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. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 

This portion of the vision is incomplete and will be complete once the Roman Empire rises again with the emergence of the Antichrist as the leader. The ten horns are the ten kings that will rise from this Kingdom. After this, a little horn will rise. This will be a man with the eyes and mouth of the beast who will bring mass persecution to God’s people. Again this will be the Antichrist who will rule the earth with an iron fist and demand that all people worship him and only him. Christians will be martyred in unheard of numbers.

Eventually this beast will end up in the Lake of Fire once the stone mentioned which refers to Jesus Christ returns to the earth to set up His earthly eternal kingdom.

The beast is the legs and feet of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Tomorrow we will look at the stone who will end both the vision and the dream.