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Daniel 7:1-5               

The characters and events which Daniel saw in vision are repeated in the book of Revelation in sometimes similar but often different symbolism. For example, the topics in Daniel 7 are closely connected to events in Revelation chapters 4 to 6. Revelation 4 and 5 give account of proceedings in the heavenly Temple (just as we'll find later in Daniel 7), while chapter 6 offers John's first description of earthly events which will occur at the end of time as seen in the first few verses of Daniel 7.

In Revelation 6 the Lamb (Christ) opened the first seal of the closed book and one of the four living creatures summoned the White Horse which galloped onto the world scene. Another living creature introduced the Red Horse; the third a Black Horse, and the fourth living creature called forth the Pale Horse. Our study will show that the four horses of Revelation are John's counterpart to the four animal creatures of Daniel 7, all of which are end-time governments. 

Before we attempt to understand what or who is represented in the four animals of Daniel 7, we should consider the Biblical references to the four horses. Revelation gathers much of its symbolism from the Old Testament and the book of Zechariah also contains fourteen chapters filled with end-time predictions. There we find the four colored horses, representative of military power, later discovered in Revelation 6 which John used to illustrate world forces on earth.

Four Colored Horses

1. According to Zechariah 6:2-5, what are the four colors of the four horses?

2. Zechariah asked, "What are these, my lord?" The angel replied, "These are the four ________ of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world."            

In both the NIV and KJV translations of the Bible, the reference margins give the alternate reading "winds". In other words, the "four winds" are four heavenly intelligences who stand beside God in a holy alliance.

3. Ezekiel said the same four living creatures he saw with chariot-like wheels were extremely loud (3:13). What did the prophet associate with the noise?            

Correspondingly, the prophet Isaiah (6:2) also saw the four creatures in the heavenly Temple, but he called them four "seraphs," or four angels, each with six wings. He described them as having four heads and they could travel in any direction without turning around. As they rise in flight, their massive wings stir the air of heaven with awesome force creating great winds.

4. Revelation 4:6-8 describes the same four-headed angelic creatures.  What are their most identifiable characteristics?

John later describes these four creatures.  He writes (Revelation 7:1-3), "I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 

Near the end of time God's 144,000 will be sealed for protection before the world's great militaries marshal their forces for the last great battle. The four powerful angels symbolize heaven's control over earth's governments and armies.

5. How do we know that God Almighty is in control of earthly powers (Daniel 2:21)?      

God removes leaders and sets up leaders that His plan will eventually be accomplished.

6. What does the sea or "water" represent in Bible prophecy (Isaiah 17:12-13; Jeremiah 6:23; Revelation 17:15?            

The various nations and peoples of the world are portrayed. Therefore, Daniel recognizes that the four powers will emerge out of populated regions of the world. The "great sea" is stirred to bring about four powerful end-time governmental beasts. 

7. What are the four living creatures who have power over land and sea called (Daniel 7:2-3)?

The Bible depicts the four powerful living creatures with four heads and six massive wings... surrounding the throne and ready at a moment's notice to follow God's commands. The Father bids them to stir up the political powers of the earth in Daniel 7:2. In similar fashion, when the four horses of Revelation 6 are introduced we find the same four living creatures calling forth horse and rider into view.