Daniel 7 tells about a dream which Daniel had during the reign of king Belshazzar. Daniel dreamt of "four great beasts, each different from the other, came up out of the sea". The first was like a lion but had the wings of an eagle, and this beast is often understood to represent Babylon. "I watched until its wings were torn off" thought to be a reference to God humiliating Babylon. The second beast was a bear with 3 ribs in its mouth suggesting conquest. This is thought to represent Medo-Persia. Next came a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads which "was given authority to rule". This is usually interpreted as Greece under Alexander the Great and the kingdom's division into 4 after his death. Finally came a frightening strange beast with 10 horns and iron teeth often associated with Rome. Now the dream switches its focus from earth to heaven where we see "the Ancient of Days (God)" sitting on his throne as the heavenly court was convened, the books were opened and the 4th beast was judged, slain, destroyed and "thrown into the blazing fire"! Then "there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven... he was given authority, glory and power... and all nations worshiped him... and he has an everlasting dominion that will not pass away or ever be destroyed". The son of man here is clearly Jesus Christ. The 4 beasts clearly represent earthly kingdoms "but the saints of the most high will receive and possess the kingdom forever". God's kingdom is eternal. Evil will last for a time, but God will ultimately judge it.
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