Strange Beasts from the Depths of the Sea

The True Philosophy of History

In studying the prophecies of Daniel & Revelation, we need to keep in mind the true philosophy of history [c.f. Lesson 4: An Ancient Statue that Told the Time]. In the true philosophy of history, the Most High Rules (c.f. Daniel 2:20-22; 36-38), and men and nations have a probationary period that, if not valued, terminates in judgement and destruction. This is evident by the eventual fall of Babylon and the successive kingdoms. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we are also responsible for the choices we make in life. Everyone must face the judgement and its outcome! It will also be the same case for spiritual Babylon and Jerusalem as revealed in the Book of Revelation.

The Prophecy of Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel received this vision about 50 years after the prophecy of Daniel 2. The Babylonian Empire was about to fall. All expositors of note agree that Daniel 7 parallels Daniel 2. Chapter 2 gave a panoramic survey of the future while chapter 7 invites deeper investigation. Daniel 2 was given from a political viewpoint whereas Daniel 7 is from Heaven’s viewpoint!

Chapter 7 opens the prophetic section of the book: Chapters 1-6 are the historical section; chapters 7-12 form the prophetic section. Chapters 2:4-7:28 were written in Aramaic, whereas chapters 1-2:3 and 8-12 are in Hebrew; thus Daniel 7 being in Aramaic, links the two sections together. Chapter 7 summarises what was presented before and then paves the way for the description of antichrist and of Jesus Christ Himself in subsequent chapters.

The Vision of Beasts from the Sea

These strange beasts (v. 15) caused great concern for Daniel that they terrified him! (vs. 16-18) The accompanying angel in his vision explained to the prophet the interpretation.

Prophetic Symbolism:

• Beasts = Kingdoms, empires: Daniel 7:17.

• Water = People, nations, multitudes: Revelation 17:15.

• “The great sea” (Daniel 7:2) no doubt refers to the Mediterranean region.

• Winds = Warfare, strife, trouble & commotion: Jeremiah 49:36,37.

• Horns = Kingdoms within an empire Daniel 7:23,24.

The Sequence of Events in this Prophecy:

1. The 4 winds stirring up the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Four great beasts (kingdoms) arose out of the sea: (a) Lion with eagle’s wings; (b) Lopsided bear with 3 tusks in its mouth; (c) Leopard with 4 heads and 4 wings of a bird; (d) Non-descript, terrifying beast with 10 horns; (e) 3 of the 10 horns were uprooted to make way for the little horn.

3. The Judgement takes place in Heaven: (a) The non-descript beast with little horn is put to death; (b) Christ receives His eternal Kingdom

The Interpretation of the Vision Confirmed in History

The prophecy in Daniel 7 expands upon the one in Daniel 2, with much greater detail.  

(v. 4)
Lion with eagle’s wings: Babylon 605-539 BC

This was a familiar symbol of ancient Babylon, featuring the king of beasts alongside the king of birds representing a powerful empire. This symbol was featured in glazed tiles on the walls of the famous Procession Way leading to the Ishtar Gate. The River Euphrates provided for maritime trade into the city. The river flowed into the city but sluice gates sealed off the river during the night or when under siege. The reference to its wings being plucked off and made to stand up like a man is seen as a figurative way of indicating that the empire became less aggressive in later years.

(v. 5)
Bear with 3 tusks or ribs in its mouth: Medo-Persia 539-331 BC

The night that Babylon fell to the Medes & Persians is recorded in Daniel 5:24-30 as well as in extra-biblical records - e.g. the Nabonidus Chronicle now lodged in the British Museum in which it confirms that on the eve of ‘The Great Days of Celebration’, 16th Tishri (i.e. October 13, 539 BC), an annual festival took place in Babylon. Some 150 years previously through the prophet Isaiah, God had foretold in detail how Babylon would fall; and He named Cyrus as the conqueror (c.f. Isa.44:27-45:1). The Cyrus Cylinder records that the sluice gates were left open and how Cyrus diverted the Euphrates so that his troops were able to enter the city of Babylon and take control. He placed Darius the Mede on the Babylonian throne; and Babylon became part of the Medo-Persian Empire. The bear being raised up on one side clearly indicates the duality of the Medes & Persians, whereas the Persians were in the ascendancy while the Medes experienced decline; so ultimately it became known as the Persian Empire. The 3 ribs or tusks (depending on the translation) in the bear’s mouth is understood by various commentators to represent Persia’s conquest of the three principal powers of Babylon, Lydia and Egypt, in order to establish the empire.

(v. 6)
Leopard with 4 Heads and 4 wings of a bird: Greece 331-168 BC

A leopard is known for its swiftness; and in contrast to Babylon’s wings this new empire was to proceed at twice the speed of Babylon’s conquests! Its conquests were led by Alexander the Great, as he later became known. He acceded the throne of Macedonia when his father, Philip of Macedon, died in 336 BC. At the time, Macedonia was a semi-Greek state. After settling revolts in Greece and Thrace, he set out to conquer the Persian Empire!  His 1st victory was at Granicus followed by his 2nd victory at Issus in 333 BC. The following year he conquered Tyre and then proceeded to conquer Palestine and Egypt. In 331 BC he founded the City of Alexandria. By 327 BC he was invading India but once he’d crossed the Indus River, his troops refused to go any further. He returned to Mesopotamia and made his capital in Babylon. He finally died of malaria after a drunken debauch in 323 BC at the age of only 33! His conquests were like lightning. He set out in 334 BC with 35,000 troops and it took him just over 10 years to conquer the most extensive empire known at that time. Alexander unified both the East and the West & later universalised the Greek language, which paved the way for the writing of the New Testament in Greek.

After his death, there was rivalry between his 4 generals over his empire; but a decisive battle took place at Ipsus in Phrygia in 301 BC that resulted in them dividing the empire between themselves. Hence the 4 heads that were featured on the leopard:

1. Seleucus received Asia from Phrygia to India;

2. Lysimachus got Western Asia Minor & Thrace;

3. Ptolemy took Egypt;

4. Cassander, already governor of Macedon, was recognised as sovereign.

(v. 7) 
Non-descript beast with iron teeth & 10 horns: Rome 168 BC - AD 476

Any well-informed person knows that Rome succeeded the Greek Empire and was actually the ruling power during the time when Jesus came to earth. He was crucified by the Romans. It was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple in AD 70 during the War of the Jews. Roman emperors waged severe persecution against the Christians for over 200 years! This terrifying monster ruled the then-known world with a rod of iron. No wonder the historian, Edward Gibbon, referred to it as “the iron monarchy of Rome”!

For the student of history, it is recognised that the Roman Empire inherited the cultures and religions of the previous empires that filtered from Babylon through Persia and Greece. Similarly, the typologies noted in Daniel chapters 1-6 have continued throughout successive periods of history. God’s people have faced trials of opposition and persecution, & will continue to do so until Christ intervenes through the final judgement. In fact, the ferocity of this 4th beast is so pertinent to these last days that the Book of Revelation portrays this same beast compounded with the previous beasts of Daniel 7 but presented in reverse order, indicating that this beast has absorbed the heritage of Babylon, Persia and Greece. In this way it is pictured as the most terrible of the beasts! (c.f. Revelation 13:1,2).

The 10 Horns represent kingdoms (Daniel 7:23,24) that emerged within the Roman Empire. Because chapter 7 is in parallel with the kingdoms of chapter 2, this non-descript beast must be synonymous with the legs of iron. It logically follows that the 10 horns parallel the feet of iron & clay, which portrayed the fragmenting of the Roman Empire. Let us therefore note what the prophecy continues to say.

The prophecy in Daniel 2 stated that Rome would become a divided kingdom (Daniel 2:41); and that is exactly what happened. History records that after Constantine had separated the eastern sector of the empire from the west in AD 326, the Western Empire of Rome was soon invaded by barbarous hordes from the north-east between AD 351-476. Over that period of time, 10 tribes settled in the western sector resulting in the breaking up of the Roman Empire. Unlike the previous kingdoms, Rome was not conquered by a particular successive power but simply fragmented into 10 divisions. Those powers with the exception of three formed the basis for the nations of Europe as we know them today.

(v. 8)
The prophecy then introduces an interesting development that raises a startling and disconcerting question - namely, 3 of those 10 horns were uprooted to make room a for another horn that appeared different from the others and spoke arrogantly.

(vs. 15-22)
As Daniel continued to watch the vision unfold, he became increasingly disturbed as he noted the activities of this “little horn”. It was not only arrogant in its proclamations and conduct but also waged war against God’s people.

What exactly does this “little horn” represent? This will be the subject for our next study: Identifying the Little Horn.

This article serves as the script for presentation #6 in "The Book of Daniel" series, delivered by Pastor Michael I. Walker. If you're interested in downloading a printable PDF version, just click here.

You can also find the video presentation recorded during the Zoom meeting on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, below.