How does Daniel's vision of four beasts compare to the metal image vision?
Daniel's vision of four beasts compares to the metal image vision by portraying the same Gentile empires and the same unfolding of history. Instead of seeing them as various metals such as gold and silver, Daniel sees them as various wild beasts. The term beast in Scripture simply denotes a government.
Les explains that Daniel chapter 7 records Daniel's own vision, where he sees basically the same Gentile empires as in the metal image vision, but they come as various wild beasts rather than as metals like gold and silver. It is the same unfolding of history. The four winds of heaven strive upon the great sea, which symbolizes humanity. Les reminds listeners that the word beast in Scripture simply means a government, not a seven-headed monster.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
More Questions
What does the word 'beast' mean in Daniel 7?
In Scripture, the term 'beast' simply means a government, so the four great beasts Daniel saw are governments, not literal wild creatures or monsters.