What does the 'sea' symbolize in Daniel 7?
In Daniel 7, the sea symbolizes humanity—the mass of people rather than literal waters. The four winds of heaven strive upon this great sea, meaning they strive upon humanity. The vision then presents four great beasts, and in Scripture the beast term symbolizes a government.
Les explains that in Daniel 7 the sea is a symbolic term for humanity, not literal water. He notes that the four winds of heaven—east, west, north, and south—strive upon the great sea, meaning they strive upon the mass of humanity, even though at Daniel’s time there were not that many people. Daniel’s vision presents the same Gentile empires as earlier, but as wild beasts rather than metals. Les reminds listeners that the word beast in Scripture simply means a government.
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
More Questions
In Daniel 7, what are the four winds doing to the great sea?
In Daniel's vision, the four winds are striving upon the mass of humanity, and this was true even though Daniel's day had fewer people.