Why was the fourth beast different? (Dan 7:19-7:19)

“Then I desired to know

The truth concerning

The fourth beast.

It was different

From all the rest.

It was exceedingly terrifying.

It had teeth

Of iron.

It had claws

Of bronze.

It devoured.

It broke in pieces.

It stamped

The residue

With its feet.”

Daniel wanted to know the truth about why the 4th beast was so different. It was more terrifying. It had great iron teeth that devoured and tore to pieces anything it wanted to. It also had claws of bronze, which was not mentioned in the earlier description. It even stamped on whatever was left over with its feet.

The fourth beast (Dan 7:7-7:7)

“After this,

I saw

In the visions,

By night,

A fourth beast.

It was terrifying,

Dreadful,

Exceedingly strong.

It had great iron teeth.

It was devouring.

It was breaking in pieces.

It was stamping

What was left,

With its feet.

It was different

From all the beasts

That preceded it.

It had ten horns.”

Daniel described, in the first-person singular, this fourth or last beast as not really comparable to any other animal. This night vision of a beast was terrifying and dreadfully strong. It had great iron teeth that devoured and tore to pieces anything it wanted to. It even stamped on whatever was left with its feet. It had 10 horns, probably a reference to the Greek, Alexander the Great, with his 10 successive rulers.

The new power of Jerusalem (Isa 60:14-60:16)

“The descendants of those

Who oppressed you

Shall come bending low to you.

All who despised you

Shall bow down at your feet.

They shall call you

The City of Yahweh.

They shall call you

The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

You have been forsaken.

You have been hated.

There was no one passing through.

I will make you majestic forever.

I will make you a joy from age to age.

You shall suck the milk of nations.

You shall suck the breast of kings.

You shall know

That I,

Yahweh,

Am your Savior!

I am Your Redeemer!

The Mighty One of Jacob!”

There will be a turnaround at Jerusalem. The descendants of those who oppressed Jerusalem will now come with bended knee. Those who despised this city will now bow down at its feet. The new name for Jerusalem will be the City of Yahweh, the City of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, Zion. No one had been coming to Jerusalem since it was hated and forsaken. Now it will be majestic forever. In colorful words, Jerusalem would suck the breasts of nations and kings. They would soon learn that Yahweh was their savior and redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob