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. 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.
The lion with eagle's wings is the first of the four beasts, symbolizing the Chaldean or Babylonian empire at the height of its prosperity under Nebuchadnezzar. It stands first in the order of the great world empires, followed in succession by Medo-Persia, then Greece, then Rome. Together the four beasts represent Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
The fierce, ferocious beasts of prey picture earthly kingdoms that prevail by physical force and maintain dominion by war. They pursue advantage through war and destruction. They use brute force to compel the conscience and external measures to promote righteousness.
In direct contrast stands Christ's pure church and kingdom, founded by the Prince of Peace. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away sin, and He builds His kingdom by implanting the principles of truth and righteousness to counterwork error and sin. His government uses no carnal weapons, no coercion, and no brute force to compel the conscience.
The apocalyptic beasts represent powers arising from the union of church and state, which when united become destructive and cruelly crush those who oppose them. The same beast imagery also supplies characteristics inherited by the papal power described in Revelation 13.
God permitted Babylon to occupy its place on the earth so it might be determined whether it would fulfill the purposes of the Watcher and the Holy One. Babylon had its period of test and failed, so its glory faded and its power departed. This repeats the history of every nation that is tested.
The verse is part of the figures, symbols, and mysteries of ages to come recorded for coming generations in chapters seven to twelve, covering the history of this world and delineating historical events leading to the close of time. Its symbols are to be interpreted carefully and in their proper place in prophetic history. The verse was given because Daniel clung to God with unwavering trust, firmness, self-denial, and purity of motive, so he received approval and blessing with knowledge, skill, and understanding in all visions and dreams and the spirit of prophetic power to read the mysteries of the future, fulfilling the promise that God honors those who honor Him.
The revelation was given to Daniel as God's ambassador but was not fully understood even by Daniel himself. He was directed to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. At the end of the days, in the closing period of this world's history, Daniel will again be permitted to stand in his lot and place. The verse belongs to a vision discussed in connection with the close of the 1,260 days, when on February 10, 1798 Berthier entered and took Rome and on February 15 the pope was taken prisoner, without explaining the lion or the other details of this verse.