Daniel 7:3 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Beasts - not living animals, as the cherubic four in Revelation 4:7 (for the original х zooa (G2226)] is a different word from beasts х theeria (G2342)], and ought to be there translated 'living animals'). The cherubic living animals represent redeemed man, combining in himself the highest forms of animal life. But the "beasts" here represent the world-powers in their beastlike grovelling character. It is on the fundamental harmony between nature and spirit, between the three kingdoms of nature, history, and revelation, that Scripture symbolism rests. The selection of symbols is not arbitrary, but based on the essence of things.