17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
17 'The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
17 'These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
17 "'These four huge animals,' he said, 'mean that four kingdoms will appear on earth.
17 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
17 "These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 7:17
Commentary on Daniel 7:15-28
(Read Daniel 7:15-28)
It is desirable to obtain the right and full sense of what we see and hear from God; and those that would know, must ask by faithful and fervent prayer. The angel told Daniel plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little horn, which made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Here is foretold the rage of papal Rome against true Christians. St. John, in his visions and prophecies, which point in the first place at Rome, has plain reference to these visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of our blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up; a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved. The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming.