¹⁹ “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; ²⁰ and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. ²¹ I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, ²² until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. ²³ Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.’”  

7:19

Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;

Daniel understood the meaning of the first three beasts, but he specifically requests an interpretation of the fourth beast or the fourth kingdom (vv. 19-22).

7:20

and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

The ten horns are of particular importance in prophecy.  From this point to the end of the prophecy, Daniel concerns himself with the person represented by the little horn.

7:21

I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,

The “little” horn comes after the ten horns and is contemporaneous with them.  He defeats three of the ten horns.  This pompously speaking horn will wage war with Jewish believers during the Tribulation period and triumph over them (Re 12:13-17; 13:7; 17:7).

7:22

until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.

This pompous horn prevails over the saints until the Ancient of Days comes when he is defeated (cf. Rev. 19:19-20).

7:23

Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.”

The interpreter now gives the meaning of the fourth beast and especially of the little horn (vv. 23-25).  The idea of kings with their kingdoms becomes obvious in this verse.

The fourth kingdom began with the Roman Empire, but it would be different from the previous three kingdoms.  This fourth kingdom is more than a single nation; it is a collection of nations (Re 17).  It will dominate the world by unity of ideals and principles.

PRINCIPLE:

The Roman Empire will be revived and defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.

APPLICATION:

Western languages and culture have dominated the world since the Roman Empire.  Greek, Latin, Spanish, and English became the languages of commerce, trade, and diplomacy.  The Roman Empire has made its impact on the world and will continue to make an impact until the Tribulation period when its empire will be revived.  When Jesus appears in His Second Coming, He will defeat the last vestiges of the Roman Empire.