THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL 7 

Background 
	Daniel is now living in the time of Belshazzar, the last king of 
Babylon. Notice that it is Daniel now rather than the king who has a dream, 
though as we will see, the same basic message is given as in the king's 
dream of chapter two. As in chapter two, the interpretation of the dream is 
given in the bible, leaving no doubt as to the basic meaning of the four 
beasts. 
 
The Four Beasts 
1.	Like a Lion (vs. 4) - It had the wings of an eagle, which were 
eventually torn off, and was then raised up onto its hind legs like a 
man, and the heart of a man was given to it. 
2.	Like a Bear (vs. 5) - It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in 
its mouth. It was told, "Get up and eat your fill of flesh." 
3.	Like a Leopard (vs. 6) - It had four bird like wings on its back, four 
heads, and was given authority to rule. 
4.	A Different Beast (vs. 7) - "Different" from all the former beasts, it 
was terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron 
teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot 
whatever was left. It also had ten horns. 
 
The Meaning of the Four Beasts 
	As in the case of the metals on the statue of Daniel 2, the different 
beasts represented different kingdoms which would arise from the earth in 
turn. (See verse 17) The Lion symbolised Babylon (Jeremiah 4;7; Habakkuk 
1:6-9). The Bear symbolised the alliance of Media and Persia (Daniel 
5:30,31; 8:20). The Leopard symbolised the empire of Greece (Daniel 
8:21,22). The Fourth Beast symbolised Rome (Daniel 8:23-25; Luke 2:1). 
 
The Meaning of the Ten Horns 
	Note that the ten horns represented kingdoms (7:23,24), but unlike those 
represented by the four beasts, these kingdoms never achieved world 
domination. The kingdoms could have been as follows: Franks (French), 
Alemanni (Germans), Bergundians (Swiss), Suevi (Portuguese), Vandals (in 
Northern Africa), Visigoths (Spanish), Anglo-Saxons (English), Ostrogoths 
(in Italy), Lombards (in part of Italy), and Heruli (also in part of 
Italy). 
 
The Meaning of the Little Horn 
	The Little Horn was different from all the others in that it had eyes 
and a mouth and spoke boastful words. It also caused three of the other 
horns to fall. History records the rise in power of "Papal Rome" in the 
fourth century AD. This was completely different from any other kingdom in 
that it was an ecclesiastical (church) power rather than a political power. 
The power of the Catholic Church stretched beyond national boundaries and 
was only opposed by three of the ten kingdoms mentioned above, the Heruli, 
the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. These were eventually defeated by the power 
of Papal Rome in 493 AD, 534 AD, and 538 AD respectively. 
 
Changing the Set Times and Laws? 
	In verse 25 we read that the power of the Little Horn would speak 
against the Most High and oppress His saints and try to change the set 
times and laws. SDAs see this fulfilled in the attempt by the Catholic 
church to stand between God and man as a mediator, in its persecution of 
millions during the dark ages, and in its attempt to change the Sabbath day 
to Sunday.