Based on Daniel 7:1-14 (New King James Version)
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. ‘And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ ‘After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. ‘After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. ‘I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. ‘I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. ‘I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”
This Bible passage is one of the most intense and revealing prophecies of all; within it, we see many things relevant to the present, the immediate future, and the eternal future. One of the primary reasons God has given prophecies is to warn us about the future, for He desires that we live in the present while always keeping our eyes fixed on the future. It is like the advice given to a marathon runner: the runner must keep their gaze directed forward—not only to see the path ahead but also because looking forward forces the chest to open and the spine to remain extended, preventing the lungs from being compressed and enabling deeper breaths. In other words, one should never run while looking down at one’s feet. And, of course, faith is to us what air is, and prophecy is what exercises faith the most. Faith is what makes life possible for the righteous, as it is written: “…The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17b.
We read that Daniel saw these various beasts, which symbolize different kingdoms across different eras—kingdoms that would arise after his time. We will not examine every kingdom symbolized here—except for that of the fourth beast, which we will look at later—but we will see the significance of this revelation regarding what has already been ordained. In other words, we understand from the Scriptures that there are certain major events—so to speak—that are indeed predetermined. There is such a thing as predestination, or predetermination, concerning momentous matters like world powers. It is possible, for instance, that the events of World War II and the kingdoms involved were predetermined by God—including the power of the Axis forces (comprised by the German Reich, along with Japan and Italy as the principal powers). It is possible that the rise of these kingdoms and the armed conflict were predetermined, and the only question was: Who would be in command? As the Lord said: “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7. So, what are we to understand? The very fact that He said “offenses must come” implies that there is neither accident nor coincidence, but rather intention and predetermination. One might argue: How do we know that we are free to choose our own path, even amidst these predetermined events? It is written: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23.
Now, it should come as no mystery to those of us familiar with the prophetic Scriptures that the fourth beast represents a singular kingdom, and the one who leads it is the Antichrist. The fourth beast symbolizes a power, dominion, structure, or vehicle—or is the very Beast itself—that will enable the Antichrist’s will to be carried out across the entire earth. This Beast could take many forms, and it is quite possible that it is taking shape at this very moment. And it will exercise the kind of dominion described in the Word: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has ]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:16-17. We might imagine that artificial intelligence will play a role in this, but that is still speculation. Let us focus on what we do know—and on what matters most.
The fourth beast—or the Beast and the Antichrist—will indisputably reign over the world. Their reign will be unlike any other, and nothing and no one will escape it, just as it is written: “…and trampling the residue with its feet.” Yet there is a great Ancient of Days, a Judge, and One like a Son of Man to whom was given an eternal dominion—one that will never pass away and never be destroyed. Therefore, despite all the beasts that may appear—even the worst among them—we know with absolute certainty, by faith, that the King of kings and Lord of lords will reign for all eternity; and to Him belong all dominion, glory, and the kingdom forever. Amen. Therefore, let us live in this way: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. For our own good, we must fear and love the One who ultimately triumphs, if we wish to reign with Him in eternity. For if we do not live out a genuine faith in Christ—seeking to do the Father's will—we shall receive the same reward as these beasts and their followers: eternal perdition. So, do you live in a way that pleases the One who lives and reigns forever, the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!