In our first two studies we sought to set forth some important, though basic, prophetic truths that are found on the very surface of these two chapters. I would like now to begin to look at some of the specific details, given us in these same chapters, of the character of the regime of these four kingdoms, especially the fourth and final kingdom.
1. We should note that the divine depiction of the kingdoms is that of each one being more wicked than the one before! There is progression but it is downward. The creatures symbolising the four kings/kingdoms are increasingly fierce and cruel. We move from a ‘lion’ to a ‘bear’ with prey in its mouth and which is engaged in the ‘devouring of much flesh’. We then move to a ‘leopard’, a strikingly beautiful and sleek creature, but a cruel ambush predator. It is followed finally by an indescribable creature which was “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it,” Daniel 7:7.
The Descent
The descent into depraved cruelty is also demonstrated in the early depictions of these four kingdoms, recording in chapter 2.
There we are told of a decline from ‘fine gold’, to ‘silver’, to ‘brass’, to ‘iron’ and finally to ‘clay’! The ‘value’ of these kingdoms, as pictured by these metals and clay, is subject to ‘deflation’! Just as a nation that possesses gold is benefitted by what that precious metal can buy and likewise, a nation with no gold but ‘silver’, will not enjoy benefits to the same degree as the nation possessing gold.
These kingdoms slip from a substantial measure of benefits enjoyed by the inhabitants, to a lower and lower level of enjoyment of life’s comforts. The gold evolves to silver, to brass and finally to iron and clay.
Further Described
The kingdom is further described for us in the answer given to Daniel by the angel.
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces,” Daniel 7:23. Its diversity from the other kingdoms is repeated, for the same thing is said earlier in verse 7.
The word ‘diverse’ does not tell us that it was ‘different’ in character from the other three kingdoms, but rather that was ‘transformed’, it had changed (as the Hebrew equivalent of the Aramaic here translated as ‘diverse’, shows us in the other places it appears) into a more devilish system of evil! (more…)
