What does the semicolon in Daniel's vision of the fourth beast mean?
The semicolon in the vision of the fourth beast marks a gap of about 1,700 years. It separates the Roman empire, which ended between 300 and 400 A.D., from the later revived Roman empire, pictured as the European community, whose ten horns represent kings. It shows the prophecy jumps from ancient Rome to the tribulation-era kingdom.
Les explains that the semicolon is a prophetic time gap. After describing the fourth beast, Rome—strong politically, with iron teeth, diverse from earlier empires, and the beginning of democratic government—the text says 'and it had ten horns.' Les notes that this semicolon jumped about 1,700 years, from the Roman empire ending between 300 and 400 A.D. up to the present appearance of the European community as the revived Roman empire. The ten horns refer to kings, and Revelation 13 presents them as the base of operation for the Antichrist during the tribulation.
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, 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: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
More Questions
What does the semicolon in Daniel 7:7 represent?
The semicolon in Daniel 7:7 represents a gap of about 2,000 years of human history between the fourth beast and the ten horns that appear at the end of the verse.
What is the fourth beast in Daniel 7?
The fourth beast in Daniel's vision is the Roman empire, which rises after the Grecian empire falls.