There are 4 BEASTS described in the Old Testament, mostly in the Book of Daniel, and there are 4 described in the New Testament, Book of Revelation. Are they the same? Are they good or evil?
Here’s what the Prophet Joseph Smith said:
When God made use of the figure of a beast in visions to the prophets He did it to represent those kingdoms which had degenerated and become corrupt, savage and beast-like in their dispositions, even the degenerate kingdoms of the wicked world; but He never made use of the figure of a beast nor any of the brute kind to represent His kingdom.… (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith or TPJS, pp. 289-91)
Then see the description of these Beasts and Horns, continuing Joseph Smith’s commentary:
Daniel 7: 3: And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. There are four successive empires, and then the kingdom of God is established. (Old Testament Institute Manual, Lesson 28 on Daniel)
Daniel says (ch. 7, v. 16) when he saw the four beasts . . . [the] beasts had no allusion to the kingdom of God. . . . the beasts are spoken of to represent the kingdoms of the world, the inhabitants whereof were beastly and abominable characters. . . . The lion, the bear, the leopard, and the ten-horned beast represented the kingdoms of the world, says Daniel.
John’s Vision of Futurity: John saw that only which was lying in futurity and which was shortly to come to pass. See Rev.1:1-3. . . . The four beasts and twenty-four elders were out of every nation; for they sang a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seal thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (See Rev. 5:9) . . . What John saw and speaks [mostly] of were things which he saw in heaven; those which Daniel saw were on and pertaining to the earth. (TPJS, p. 287)
See Home Page for Simplified Timeline Chart, or direct links here: Black and White link HERE, Color link HERE.
The 1st Beast:
Daniel 7:4: The first was like a LION, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Anciently: The first, which was like a lion with eagles’ wings, represented the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. (OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 on Daniel)
Modern Times: Corresponds with ENGLAND:
England had “3 Lions” on their Coat of Arms since at least 1200s AD. The Royal Crest of England has an “upraised” Lion on it’s 2 rear feet with 3 small lions in the middle. The Eagle Wings could refer to the spread of Britain’s Colonial Empire. (Source: James Prout, Last Days Timeline, pp. 30-32)
The 2nd Beast:
Daniel 7:5: And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Anciently: The Median-Persian Empire – The bear was considered next to the lion as the strongest among animals by the people of the ancient Middle East. The raising up on one side could represent the raising of the forefeet of the bear (standing on its hind feet) as when it goes after prey. (OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 Daniel)
Modern Times: Russia’s USSR was the 2nd Beast, from the 1940s to 1991.
James Prout theorized that the “three ribs” in verse could be the three eastern European countries that Stalin grabbed before WWII, and where Russia “devoured much flesh.” Contemporary John Taylor also identifies the USSR as the bear which is also on its feet, and Stalin also murdered at least 10,000,000 of his own people. (James Prout, pp. 33-35)
The 3rd Beast:
Daniel 7:6: After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
ANCIENTLY: The Greek Empire of Alexander the Great –
Wings signify power to move and extend influence.
Heads signify governing power or the seat of government. His kingdom extended greatly under Alexander and had great power.
(OT Institute Manual, Lesson 28 Daniel)
MODERN TIMES: Germany and France’s European Union
James Prout’s theory: Germany’s national symbol is the Leopard/Panther which are seen on their Coat of Arms, stamps, WWII tanks. This union needs to fall before the 4th Beast arises. The 2nd Beast (Russia) fell because of too much debt, and this 3rd beast and America’s financial collapse will set the stage for the 4th Beast. The Four Wings and Four Heads could certainly be other European powers or leaders extending their power. (pp 36-40)
The 4th Beast:
Daniel 7:7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Revelation 13:1-2:
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the DRAGON gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The 4th Beast Gives Rise to the “Horns”:
Daniel 7:23, 8-9:
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another LITTLE HORN, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. [“3 Horns = 3 Eagle Heads?]
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ANCIENT OF DAYS [Adam/Michael] did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
The 10 HORNS:
Revelation 17:12-13:
12 And the TEN HORNS which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings ONE HOUR with the beast.
[the 4th Beast kingdom]
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[1 hour = 7 years]
Who is the LITTLE HORN?
Daniel 11:21, 23, 22, 24:
21 And in his estate shall stand up a VILE PERSON, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
23 And after the LEAGUE made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; . . . and he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches . . . .
[The 10 Horns = the League of 10 Nations with 10 Rulers]
See Home Page for Simplified Timeline Chart, Black and White link HERE, Color link HERE.
Why is BARBARISM Dominate in History?
From the book, Alfred the Great, by Jacob Abbott:
It was discreditable then, as it is now in Europe, for any branches of families of the higher class to engage in any pursuit of honorable industry. They could plunder and kill without dishonor, but they could not toil. To rob and murder was glory; to do good or to be useful in any way was disgrace.
The “Danes” or Vikings made excursions every where for conquest and plunder, and were proud of their successful deeds of violence and wrong. It was honorable to enter into their service. Chieftains and nobles who dwelt upon the land sent their sons to acquire greatness, and wealth, and fame by joining these piratical gangs.
Do We See THESE PATTERNS Today?
Henry B. Eyring: The Lord would not use the word warn if there was no danger. Yet not many people we know sense it. They have learned to ignore the increasing evidence that SOCIETY IS UNRAVELING and that their lives and family lack the peace they once thought was possible. (First Presidency Message, Ensign, January 2009)
How Did ALFRED “the Great” Tame Barbarism (the Vikings)?
Through (1) Christianity, (2) Fair and just government, (3) Impartial court system, (4) Fairer distribution of wealth, and (2) Building Civilization–Learning and Culture.
Winchester, England
MASLOW’S “HIERARCHY OF NEEDS” SHOWS HOW CIVILIZATION IS BUILT:
The bottom 4 layers are called “Deficiency Needs” because until they are secured, one cannot build the higher layers of society and civilization (the “Growth Needs”). This is true for individuals, families, groups, states, and nations, and whole worlds!
How Can WE Tame Modern Barbarism and Where is Our Help?
Deuteronomy 30:19:
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. . .
2 Nephi 25:23:
. . . for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
Pres. Nelson, Overcome the World and Find Rest, Oct 2022 Conf Talk:
But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.
JST Matthew 1:37:
. . . for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Our Promise of a Future Civilization:
President Brigham Young:
“The business of the Elders of this Church (Jesus, their elder brother, being at their head), is to gather up all the truths in the world pertaining to life and salvation, to the Gospel we preach, to mechanisms of every kind, to the sciences, and to philosophy, wherever they may be found in every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and bring it to Zion.”
The “Gathering” was to be not only a bringing together of people, but of all the treasures surviving in the earth from every age and culture; “Every accomplishment, every polished grace, every useful attainment in mathematics, music, in all science and art belong to the Saints, and they rapidly collect the intelligence that is bestowed upon the nations, for all this intelligence belongs to Zion. All the knowledge, wisdom, power, and glory that have been bestowed upon the nations of the earth, from the days of Adam till now, must be gathered home to Zion.”
“What is this work? The improvement of the condition of the human family.”
(Hugh Nibley quoting Brigham Young in Why I Believe, a collection of essays, Bookcraft, SLC, 2002; and originally from Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints, 1994, emphasis added)
Every minute, every day we can choose to build or tear down, to create or destroy, light over dark, and good over evil. So let’s keep at it and build Zion!