THE BEAST AS A LEOPARD … BEAR … LION

The prophetic scriptures speak of four great, Gentile, world empires. Both Daniel chapter 2 and Daniel chapter 7 indicate to us that during the period of the ‘times of the Gentiles’, Luke 21. 24, rule in Jerusalem will successively be in the hands of the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Grecians and the Romans. The times of the Gentiles, which are characterized by Jerusalem being trodden under foot of the Gentiles, began with the loss of rule to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in about 606 BC and will continue until God’s King, who is God’s Son, reigns in Zion, Ps. 2. 6.

Each of these empires has dreadful characteristics, as may be expected when absolute power is in the hand of man. In Daniel chapter 2, they are seen from the standpoint of man, but we understand their true nature when we view them as God does in Daniel chapter 7. Babylon is seen as a lion, but with eagle’s wings; the Medes and Persians are depicted as a voracious bear and the Grecians as a winged leopard with four heads, to whom dominion is given. None of these, however, can be compared to the fourth empire. It was diverse from all the others having ten horns and ‘dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly’. Its great iron teeth and nails of brass, its destructive and devouring capacity, and that which develops from it, all mark it as being awful in its might and cruelty.

It is evident from Revelation chapter 13that despite the fact that this last empire (and its head) is different from the others, it has the characteristics of each of them. It is like a leopard, albeit that its feet are bear’s feet and its mouth like a lion’s mouth. This last expression of Gentile rule will have all the grandeur of cul­tural Babylon, the lion; with the strong energy of the Medes and Persians, the bear; and the scheming, subtle wisdom of the Gre­cians, the leopard. In addition, though, it will be empowered and energized by Satan as it cruelly promotes the last rebellion against God and His saints in this world before the millennial kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is established. We may be greatly encouraged that ‘the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men’, Dan. 4. 17, 25, 32, and that His purpose will not fail.