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 Daniel 7:6-7                        

In Lesson 4 we learned that Heaven controls human governments. The Bible links earth militaries to the four powerful angels who surround God's throne. The four living creatures each have four heads of sight and six massive wings, and are literally referred to as "the four winds of Heaven" (Daniel 7:2) that move upon the great sea of peoples to establish the four earthly governments of Daniel 7. 

The four powers are not relics of the past as many commentators suppose, but rather modern-day, real life contenders for world dominance. Near the very end of prophetic time, one is destroyed by the "blazing fire" (7:11-12), while the remaining three are stripped of their authority but are allowed to live for a short period longer. Daniel 7:26-27 declares their final demise once the Court of Heaven pronounces judgment against them.

It is no surprise that in Revelation 5 we find the same four magnificent angels, each with four heads and six wings, standing in the presence of God. In Revelation 6, they also introduce four earthly governmental horses, one at a time. Just as Daniel confirmed, all four will be overthrown by the coming Lord. 

The horses represent governments and their military powers, because later in the chapter, it confirms, "the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals" will call to the mountains to cover them for fear of what's coming upon the earth (Revelation 6:14-17). 

When we merge Revelation's predictions with Daniel's, we will more accurately comprehend prophecy's true intent. In this lesson, we will look for similarities in events and powers between the two books, and we will discover actual world happenings foretold in Bible prophecy and backed by people ‘in the know’ today.

Leopard With Four Heads

1. The third animal creature that Daniel saw in vision (7:6) is what?

2. How many heads did the leopard have?

The dictionary states concerning the leopard, "A large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of Africa and Asia." 

China and other Eastern Asia nations are likely represented in the Leopard animal. The Cat has four heads, while the other beasts in Daniel 7 have only one. This may signify that although China, Japan and other Asian countries are territorially linked together, they still remain divided politically into distinct heads of authority. The fact that the four-headed Leopard needs four wings to lift it in flight may denote the sheer size of the beast in geographical landmass.

3. John's counterpart in Revelation 6:5-6 is what color horse?

The rider of the Black Horse was holding a pair of balances in his hand, and John hears a voice among the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" Wheat and barley are basic food crops. 

4. What would working all day for one day's worth of food communicate?

Drought and food shortages will be everywhere ... so much so that because of the high cost, one will have to work all day for a day's worth of essential food. 

In Matthew 24:7, Jesus warned that the earth would suffer great famine; however, Asia (which produces large amounts of barley, second only to rice) will likely supply commodities to the world at inflated prices. Neither the Asian Leopard confederation of nations nor John's Black Horse goes forth "conquering" or "taking peace" from the earth during the final days. Nevertheless, we can expect the Asian nations to meet at Armageddon's battle.

Terrible Beast With Ten Horns

5. The fourth and most terrifying creature has no zoological classification.  What did Daniel see in the vision (7:7)?

6. What are its identifying traits?

This governmental monster sports large iron teeth and it will crush and devour its victims and stamp underfoot whatever was left (Job 39:15; Isaiah 25:10).

7. This Monster is different from the previous three in what way?

It was unusual in its form, strength, and use of power.  This creature was so hideous, so grotesque, that even Daniel could find no parallel in the natural world. As for the creature, it tore to pieces and devoured its prey with its massive fangs of iron (Psalms 79:7; Jeremiah 10:25).  So powerful, strong and terrible is this end-time government, that it seems almost unconquerable.

The King James Version (7:7) says the beast "stamped the residue" with its feet.  This implies the persecution of the "remnant" of God's people--meaning, "the remainder of something." Revelation 12:17 reinforces Daniel's vision when it cautions, "The dragon [Satan] was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus." The Ten Commandments and testimony of Jesus counter the deceptions of Satan and the false religion of Antichrist. To hold to the testimony of Jesus, is to believe and follow the counsel of the prophecies in Revelation--the declarations of truth that Jesus gave to His prophet John (Revelation 1:1-2).

8. Daniel 7:25 says Antichrist will use the fourth beast's power to "oppress His [God's] saints". We might ask, "what part of the world has historically caused holocaust to God's people in the past two thousand years?"

From Rome's tyranny during the Crusades of the Dark Ages, at street corners, in prison houses, at the stake, and in the death camps of the Holocaust, Western Europe has been a seedbed for religious killings and anti-Semitism.  History will be repeated; oppression will rise once again from the nations of the European Community.