Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 4

 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Dan. 7:4

The first was... Thirty-five-fold Vision—Four Great Beasts

1. The four winds strove upon the great sea, the Mediterranean (Dan. 7:2).

2. Four great beasts came up out of the sea, diverse from one another (Dan. 7:3).

3. The first beast was like a lion (Dan. 7:4).

4. The second beast like a bear (Dan. 7:5).

5. The third beast like a leopard with four wings and four heads (Dan. 7:6).

6. The fourth beast was nondescript, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong (Dan. 7:7).

7. It broke in pieces and stamped the rest of the beasts with its feet.

8. It was different from all others that were before it.

9. It had ten horns.

10. Another little horn grew on its head among the ten horns (Dan. 7:8).

11. In its growth it plucked up three of the ten horns by the roots.

12. In it came eyes like a man’s and a mouth speaking great things.

13. Thrones were set and the Ancient of days did sit (Dan. 7:9).

14. His garment was white as snow.

15. His hair was like pure wool.

16. His throne like a fiery flame.

17. His wheels as burning fire.

18. A fiery stream shot out from before Him (Dan. 7:10).

19. Innumerable persons helped Him judge and innumerable others stood before Him to be judged.

20. The judgment was set.

21. The books were opened.

22. The little horn spoke great words.

23. The beast was finally slain (Dan. 7:11).

24. His body was destroyed and given to the burning flame.

25. The rest of the beasts had their dominion taken away (Dan. 7:12).

26. Before they were destroyed they continued a short time.

27. The Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Dan. 7:13).

28. He came to the Ancient of days.

29. He was brought before Him.

30. The Son of man was given dominion.

31. And the Son of man was given glory.

32. And the Son of man was given a kingdom.

33. That all nations should serve Him.

34. His dominion is eternal.

35. And His kingdom shall never be destroyed (Dan. 7:14).

like a lion... The theory that Babylon is not symbolized by the lion because Daniel saw the four beasts rise out of the sea, showing they were all future kingdoms after his day, is not proved by the mere fact that Daniel saw them rise out of the sea. The image of Dan. 2:1-49 was also seen during the time after Babylon had already risen, yet Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, "Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom," etc. (Dan. 2:38-39). If Babylon could be symbolized by a head of gold after it had already risen, then the same kingdom could be symbolized by a lion after it had risen. The king of Babylon is compared to a lion (Isa. 5:29; Jer. 4:7; 50:17, 50:44-46). The eagle’s wings identify Babylon, for the kingdom is compared to an eagle (Jer. 48:40; Eze. 17:1-24; Hab. 1:6-8). The wings denote the swiftness of the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. In just a few years he made a vast empire. The wings being plucked and the lion standing upon its feet as a man with a man’s heart being given to it symbolize the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar coming to an abrupt end by his insanity and his becoming sane again—as a man (Dan. 4:33, 4:36).

This first beast like a lion with eagle wings is speaking of Babylon and its most famous king, Nebuchadnezzar. The eagle’s wings, many times, symbolize aggressiveness. (the swiftness of its victories). The Babylonians had been very fierce in their conquests.

They had settled down, and become a more civilized nation. This could be the meaning of the wings being plucked.

stand upon the... Represents the humanitarian character of Nebuchadnezzar in his later years. They became more like a man, when their viciousness was gone.

Some of the kings even recognized God for His mighty feats. I would believe the heart of a man would mean that it was possible to reach it. Daniel’s own protection from the lions could have helped change their heart to the heart of a man.

I would tend to set these 4 beast’s operation at the end of the Gentile age. Babylon then is Iraq now, the same country.

The first beast was like a lion, an animal symbolizing power and strength. This lion had eagle wings, which speak of swiftness. Interestingly the lion and eagle were both symbols of Babylon (cf. Jer. 4:7, 4:13; Eze. 17:3). The violent wrenching of the wings from the lion would deprive it of its great mobility. This could refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity or to his empire’s deterioration after his death. The lion’s rising up on two feet (its hind legs) made it look more like a man. The fact that it got a man’s heart suggests that the animal lost its beastly nature and showed compassion. The lion’s rising on its hind legs and having a man’s heart may refer to Nebuchadnezzar’s humanitarian interests.