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Chapter 7: Daniel’s 7 World Empires

World Empires in Daniel

The great prophet Daniel gives us two views of world empires that would deal with Israel both in antiquity and in the latter days:

In Dan. 2:37-42 the prophet is tasked with interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.”

(Rome and revived Rome are considered 1 empire or kingdom)

  • Head of gold: Babylon
  • Chest and arms: Medo-Persia
  • Belly and thighs: Greece (Alexander)
  • Legs of iron: Rome/Constantinople
  • Feet and toes: first view of revived Rome

Are Britain and America left out of Daniel’s List of Empires?

Britain – Established Palestine as a homeland for Jews in 1917

America – Supported statehood (May 14, 1948) and became Israel’s chief protector

Daniel 7:2-7 introduces 4 more kingdoms in the form of four beasts coming up out of the sea (the people of earth Rev. 17:15: “Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.”)

Daniel 7 confirms Ezekiel 38, Britain and America

First Beast: Dan. 7:4 – Lion (symbol for Britain) with eagle’s wings (symbol for America) – standing on two feet with its wings plucked, represents Britain, America and colonies that had lost their power and question the second beast as to why it is attacking Israel, Ezek. 38:13.

Second Beast: Dan. 7:5 – Bear (symbol for Russia) on its side with three ribs in its mouth represents Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Turkey (Gomer) who are in league to attack Israel to take plunder, Ezek. 38:1-6.

Third Beast: Dan. 7:6 – Leopard with four wings represents a four nation African coalition represented in Ezekiel 38:5 NIV as the nations of Cush (Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia) and Puht (Libya), Ezek. 38:1-6.

Fourth Beast: Revived Rome was first introduced in Dan. 2:40. But now, in Daniel 7:7, the prophet tells of the final Gentile world kingdom of revived Rome. A beast so wicked there is no animal comparison, trampling the residue (earth) with its feet.