Daniel 7:1-3 (TS2009)
In the first year of Belshatstsar sovereign of Babel, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, giving a summary of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, “I was looking in my vision by night and saw the four winds of the heavens stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, different from one another.

Daniel 7:17-18 (TS2009)
These great beasts, which are four, are four sovereigns which rise up from the earth. Then the set-apart ones of the Most High shall receive the reign, and possess the reign forever, even forever and ever.’

Daniel had a vision in the first year of Belshazzar, the last king of the Babylonian Empire. In Scriptural prophecy beasts symbolize empires or kingdoms. Today we can still see this symbolism. Britain is symbolized by a lion, the United States by an eagle, etcetera. The four beasts came up from the sea. The Great Sea in ancient times referred to the Mediterranean Sea. From a prophetic point of view in the time of the end it likely refers to the human masses of the whole world. In Scriptural prophecy the sea symbolizes peoples and nations in unstable times (Isaiah 51:15, Isaiah 17:12, Luke 21:25). The four winds of heaven symbolize God's power or divine intervention (Jeremiah 49:36, Jeremiah 18:17, Zechariah 2:6).

The most common explanation given by people is that these are the successive empires in ancient times that were also mentioned in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: the Babylonian Empire, Medo-Persian Empire, Greek Empire, and Roman Empire. But there are problems with this interpretation. First of all, the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream represents successive empires, not empires that existed simultaneously. Verses 11 and 12 clearly state that in the time of the end the fourth beast is destroyed by God and that rule was taken from the other beasts while they were allowed to exist a little longer. So these four beasts exist in the same period and they represent the most powerful nations close to the time of the end. These powerful nations give their power to the final global empire, but once the final global empire is destroyed by God, these three beasts will not have much power left. Another aspect to consider is that in Daniel 8 the Medo-Persian Empire and the Greek Empire are represented by a ram and a goat, completely different beasts that have no direct relation to any of these four beasts.

Daniel 7:4 (TS2009)
The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I was looking until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and it was given a man’s heart.

Shortly before the time of the end, the first beast likely represents the United States or the Anglo-American Empire. The lion represents Great Britain or the British Empire from which the United States was born. Most historians date the transformation from British Empire into Anglo-American Empire to the end of World War I around 1918. That its wings were plucked off probably means that the United States will loose its superpower status or dominance on the earth close to the time of the end. The Anglo-American Empire is already loosing power in the world as China, Russia and other nations challenge it.

Daniel 7:5 (TS2009)
And see, another beast, a second, like a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said this to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

This beast likely represents Russia. Russia is symbolized by a bear. That it was raised on one side could mean that it grew on the eastern side of Europe or that its power was mainly focused on its western side while its eastern side remained mostly empty land. According to military ranking in 2025 Russia is second after the United States*. The three ribs in its mouth are likely three of its most powerful allies: China, Iran, and North Korea. That they say Arise, devour much flesh! likely means that Russia is going to be involved in bloody wars close to the time of the end by which it will kill many and destroy much.



An alternative explanation... China is a superpower which challenges the Anglo-American Empire and the whole western world. It is the world's second economic power after the United States. That it was raised on one side can be explained by the fact that China individually grew in the far east of the world, somewhat independent of European powers, unlike for example the United States which is an extension of the British Empire or the Russian Empire which was always related to Europe. The People's Republic of China was created in 1949 and it was accepted as United Nations member in 1971. It grew exceedingly strong as a superpower and now plays a defining role in the world. It is a sleeping giant waiting to take over global leadership from the United States and its allies. It is the world's foremost advocate for a so-called multipolar world*, in line with the United Nations and the future global empire. In this case the three ribs would likely represent Russia, Iran, and North Korea. China has the most modern weapons and the largest manpower of all.

Close to the time of the end there will be a great war between the Kings of the North and the South. The King of the North, assumed to be Russia and/or China and their allies, will overpower the King of the South, assumed to be the Anglo-American Empire and its allies. The phrase Arise, devour much flesh! possibly has to do with that.

Daniel 7:6 (TS2009)
After this I looked and saw another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and rule was given to it.

The leopard likely represents the European Union. Its four heads may represent the so-called Big Four of Europe: France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The wings on its back coincide with the Reichsadler wings of Germany and the Gallic rooster of France. These two nations provided most of the founding fathers of the EU and they carry the European Union economically. Most historians trace the origin of the European Union to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951. That rule was given to it likely means that it was made possible by the United States by means of the Marshall Plan. Since World War II the US built many military bases in Western Europe and Americanized it. European NATO members follow orders from the US which is ultimately in control of NATO. Western European nations act as puppets of the US when it comes to global affairs. The leopard is known for its speed, the European Union was created and gained power relatively quickly. But it is not as strong militarily compared to the other beasts.

Daniel 7:7 (TS2009)
After this I looked in the night visions and saw a fourth beast, fearsome and burly, exceedingly strong. And it had great iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the rest with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:19 (TS2009)
Then I desired for certainty concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, very fearsome, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the rest with its feet,

Daniel 7:23 (TS2009)
This is what he said, ‘The fourth beast is the fourth reign on earth, which is different from all other reigns, and it devours all the earth, tramples it down and crushes it.

Revelation 13 speaks about a beast having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns ... like a leopard, and his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2) The beast with seven heads and ten horns is a combination of the four beasts mentioned here in Daniel 7. The heads of the four beasts make seven heads in total.

This vision represents the stage shortly before the final global empire, represented by the fourth beast, to which the other beasts will give their power. It is already in existence while the other beasts are in power. This fourth beast is different in that it's not a sovereign nation or an alliance of sovereign nations like the other beasts. The most likely candidate would be the United Nations (UN) as the mother of global organizations. All major powers are a member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) but they still hold individual power in the world until we get closer to the time of the end. The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council are: the United States, The United Kingdom, China, Russia, France. These powers control most of the world. The fourth beast trampled down the rest. This could mean that it tramples down the rest of the beasts or that it tramples down the rest of the world. I think the latter is true because the final global empire will ultimately control the whole world. Next to the five most powerful permanent members UNSC has 10 temporary members that hold their seats on a rotating basis by geographic region*. That basically means that these 10 temporary members represent the rest of the world. These four beasts complete all 15 members on the UN Security Council and they fit very well with the beast described in Revelation 13. Possibly the total number of permanent members will be reorganized to ten in the time of the end, each one representing one of ten regions of the world.

COVID-1984 showed that the United Nations, through its World Hell Organization, held power over practically all nations in the world as they all blindly followed its orders from above and implemented inhumane lockdowns with disastrous consequences for the global economy, shifting more and more power into the hands of the few elite in control of these global organizations and their industries.

Daniel 7:8 (TS2009)
I was thinking about the horns, then saw another horn, a little one, coming up among them, and three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots before it. And see, eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great words.

Daniel 7:24-25 (TS2009)
And the ten horns are ten sovereigns from this reign. They shall rise, and another shall rise after them, and it is different from the first ones, and it humbles three sovereigns, and it speaks words against the Most High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of the Most High, and it intends to change appointed times and law, and they are given into its hand for a time and times and half a time.

The future "little horn" of the final global empire will be a supreme leader under the power of Satan. It will speak against God and act against His chosen ones. This leader will replace three others, making eight leaders in total. It is likely that this happens in the middle of the time of the end which lasts seven years in total. Maybe he is the false prophet who will rule for only a short time (Revelation 19:20). A time and times and half a time refers to a time period of 1,260 days, 42 months, or 3.5 years in the time of the end as is also explained in the other chapters.

Daniel 7:9-10 (TS2009)
I was looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like clean wool, His throne was flames of fire, its wheels burning fire. A stream of fire was flowing and coming forth from His presence, and a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him, the Judge was seated, and the books were opened.

At the time of the end God's Kingdom is being set up. God is seated on His Throne to give His Judgement.

Daniel 11:9-12 (TS2009)
I was looking. Then, because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking, I was looking until the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given to the burning fire, and the rest of the beasts had their rule taken away. But a lengthening of life was given to them, for a season and a time.

Then the final global empire is destroyed by God. The rest of the beasts are allowed to exist or function for some time, likely they are needed to maintain some kind of order on earth for a season and a time. This also confirms that all four beasts are in existence at the same time close to the time of the end.

Daniel 11:13-14 (TS2009)
I was looking in the night visions and saw One like the Son of Enosh coming with the clouds of the heavens! And He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And to Him was given rulership and preciousness and a reign, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His rule is an everlasting rule which shall not pass away, and His reign that which shall not be destroyed.

The Son of God inherits the Kingdom of God and will rule it forever together with God's chosen ones. One like the Son of Enosh refers to the Son of God. When Enosh was born it was begun to call on the Name of YHWH (Genesis 4:26).