What are the four winds doing in Daniel 7?
In Daniel 7, the four winds of heaven—east, west, north, and south—are striving upon the great sea, as Daniel sees them in his night vision. The sea symbolizes humanity, so the four winds are striving upon the mass of humanity, not literally on water.
Les explains that in Daniel chapter 7 Daniel has his own vision, seeing the same Gentile empires as various wild beasts instead of metals like gold and silver. In verse 2, Daniel sees the four winds of heaven—the east, west, north, and south—striving upon the great sea. Les teaches that the sea is a symbolic term for humanity, so the four winds are striving upon the mass of humanity, even though at Daniel’s time there were not that many people. He also notes that the beast term 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
What does the 'great sea' in Daniel 7 represent?
In Daniel 7, the 'sea' is a symbolic term for humanity, not a literal body of water.
How do Daniel's four beasts relate to the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream?
Daniel's chapter 7 vision shows the same Gentile empires as the earlier metal image, but they appear as wild beasts rather than as metals; it is the same unfolding of history.