What was the fourth beast in Daniel's vision?
The fourth beast in Daniel's vision was the Roman empire. Unlike the lion, bear, and leopard, it was not identified with a specific animal; it was described as dreadful and terrible, representing a ferocious empire that was noble in some aspects but bestial and grossly immoral in many others.
Les explains that Daniel saw four great beasts come up out of the sea of humanity, and these are empires or governments, not animals. The first was like a lion, Babylon; the second like a bear, Media-Persia; the third like a leopard, Greece under Alexander the Great. The fourth empire, Rome, is not linked to a particular beast but is called dreadful and terrible. Les notes Rome was noble in some aspects but bestial in many: it had no concern for the lower classes or conquered peoples, threw them to the lions, and became grossly immoral, as history confirms.
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
How is the fourth beast in Daniel 7 described?
Daniel's fourth beast is not given a specific animal comparison; it is described simply as dreadful, terrible, and ferocious.
Why is the fourth beast in Daniel 7 not described as a lion, bear, or leopard?
Daniel does not link the fourth beast to a particular animal like a bear or leopard; he just describes it as ferocious.