John Calvin Commentary Daniel 7:3

"And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." — Daniel 7:3 (ASV)

After Daniel had witnessed these great upheavals shaking the earth in different parts, another vision was presented to him. What has already been said concerning the troubled sea and the conflict of the winds extends to the four monarchies, which we will now address. God intends a certain preparation by showing His prophet a turbulent sea produced by the conflict of the winds.

It is as if God were saying—after these troubles, others will arise. Thus, people will wait for peace and tranquility in vain, for they must suffer under fresh agitations. Now, the kind of trouble is expressed by the words, four beasts proceed out of the sea. This explains that concussion, those storms, and that confused disturbance of the whole world as one kingdom succeeds another.

It can scarcely happen that any kingdom perishes without involving others in its ruin. A single edifice can scarcely fall without the crash being heard far and wide, and the earth seeming to gape at its overthrow. What, then, must happen when the most powerful monarchies perish so suddenly?

Therefore, in this verse, Daniel shows how the world is like a troubled sea, since violent changes among its empires were then imminent. The comparison of empires to beasts is easily explained. We know how God’s glory and power are resplendent in all kingdoms, if they are conducted rightly according to the law of equity.

But since we often see the truth of what was said to Alexander—"The greatest kingdoms are the greatest robberies"—and recognize that in a great empire, it is very few who absorb all the power and exercise cruel and excessive tyranny, the Prophet here compares empires to great and savage beasts, which he will discuss later.

Now we understand the meaning of these words; and we may learn this lesson from what usually happens in the empires of the world: in themselves, as I have said, they are most beautiful reflections of divine wisdom, virtue, and justice, although those who obtain supreme power very rarely acknowledge that they were divinely appointed to fulfill their duties.

Therefore, since kings are mostly tyrants—full of cruelty and barbarity, and forgetful of humanity—the Prophet identifies this vice as originating from them and not from the sacred ordinance of God.

Let us proceed.