Daniel's Vision Interpreted
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; Dan. 7:19
the fourth beast… This may refer to the Empire’s far greater diversity than previous empires, and its breath of conquest. It branches out into two great divisions (legs), then near the end into 10 horns (a confederacy of 10 nations), and even an 11th horn (Antichrist’s kingdom), lasting until Christ’s second coming.
teeth were of... The teeth of iron picture the Roman Empire element as revealed in the legs of iron and the feet, part of clay and iron, of Dan. 2:40-43.
Iron speaks of strength, and brass peaks of judgment. They had even judged the Son of God. The Romans were in power, when Jesus was crucified. They were strong in their rule of all the people.
his nails of... This is something added by the one giving the interpretation, and not mentioned in the description of the beast in Dan. 7:7-8. They symbolize the Grecian Empire element of the image of Dan. 2:39, 2:45. There would no doubt be ten claws corresponding to the ten toes of Dan. 2:40-43 and the ten horns of Dan. 7:7-8, 7:23-24; Rev. 17:8-17.
The details of the fourth kingdom
The request.
Daniel seems to have had no difficulty in interpreting the significance of the first three beasts. It was the fourth beast that caused him consternation, and he asked the angel (probably Gabriel; cf. Dan. 8:16; 9:21) to interpret the meaning of the beast and its 10 horns and the other horn that came up among the 10 and was so imposing.
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