Theologian Quotes: The Fourth Kingdom in Daniel 7 is the Roman Empire

Quotes from Commentaries on Daniel 2 & 7

This is a compilation of theologians throughout Church history who affirm that the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2 and 7 is the Roman Empire. This is a reference that I will link to in my forthcoming article. In that article, I will be defending the idea that the Antichrist comes from a revived Roman Empire and will not be a Muslim from a revived Islamic Caliphate.

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1. “Against Heresies,” Irenaus of Lyons (130 – 202 A.D.)

   1. John and Daniel have predicted the dissolution and desolation of the Roman Empire, which shall precede the end of the world and the eternal Kingdom of Christ. The Gnostics are refuted, those tools of Satan, who invent another Father different from the Creator.

   2. In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord’s disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules [the earth] shall be partitioned. He teaches us what the ten horns shall be which were seen by Daniel, ...

2. Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel (200’s A.D.)

   1. Then he says: “A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible; it had iron teeth and claws of brass.” And who are these but the Romans? which (kingdom) is meant by the iron--the kingdom which is now established; for the legs of that (image) were of iron. And after this, what remains, beloved, but the toes of the feet of the image, in which part is iron and part clay, mixed together?

3. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386 A.D.)

   1. But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the Roman empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is now drawing near. There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in different parts perhaps, but all about the same time; and after these an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize upon the Roman power; and of the kings who reigned before him, three he shall humble, and the remaining seven he shall keep in subjection to himself.

4. Daniel 7 Geneva Study Bible (biblehub.com) (1560)

   1. (l) That is, the Roman empire which was a monster, and could not be compared to any beast, because there was no beast that was even comparable.

5. Daniel 7 - Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1509-1564)

   1. I have no doubt that in this vision the Prophet was shown the figure of the Roman Empire, and this will be more apparent as we go on.

6. Daniel 2 Matthew Henry’s Commentary (biblehub.com) (1662–1714)

   1. “The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire.”

7. Daniel 7 - Wesley’s Explanatory Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1765)

   1. A fourth beast — The Roman empire.

8. Daniel 7 Gill’s Exposition (biblehub.com) (1697–1771)

   1. As concerning the rest of the beasts..... The other three which represent the Babylonian, Persian and Grecian monarchies: they had their dominion taken away; not at this time when the fourth beast, or Roman empire, is destroyed, but long ago; and not together, but successively; the dominion was taken away from the Babylonians, and given to the Persians; and then their dominion was taken away, and given to the Grecians; and after that the dominion of the Grecians was taken away from them, and given to the Romans: the prophet having observed what became of the fourth beast,

9. Daniel 7 Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary (biblehub.com) (1800’s)

   1. If we now approach more closely to the historical reference of the fourth world-kingdom, it must be acknowledge that we cannot understand by it the Grecian, but only the Roman world-power.

10. Daniel 7 - Coke’s Commentary on the Holy Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1801-1803)

    1. The fourth beast signified the Roman empire;

11. Daniel 7 - Clarke’s Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1762-1832)

    1. Verse Daniel 7:7. I saw - a fourth beast - it had great iron teeth — This is allowed, on all hands, to be the Roman empire.

12. Daniel 7 - Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1828)

    1. And explaining these prophecies by the events which have followed, it should seem, that there can be no difficulty in supposing, that the first beast, like a lion, represented the Chaldean monarchy. The second, like a bear, set forth the Persian, which succeeded it. The third, like a leopard, the Grecian kingdom. And the fourth, the Roman.

13. Daniel 7 - Sutcliffe’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1835)

    1. Daniel 7:7 . After this I saw a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly. This very strikingly applies in all its characters to the great Roman empire; and all attempts to apply it to the Turkish dominions, not only make a chasm in history, but they are ill supported by argument.

14. Daniel 7 Matthew Poole’s Commentary (biblehub.com) (1853)

    1. A fourth beast: this was the Roman empire; for that followed the Grecian, and was monstrous as to his rise and progress.

15. Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1857)

    1. This fourth kingdom can be no other than the Roman empire, which answers this emphatical description better than any of the former kingdoms.

16. Daniel 7 - Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1859)

    1. Four great beasts; viz. the Chaldeans, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires.

    2. Time. Each of the four empires had its period assigned. That of Rome attracted the prophet’s attention most, and is mentioned first. (Menochius)

17. Daniel 7 - Trapp’s Complete Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1865-1868)

    1. Ver. 7. Behold a fourth beast. ] Not likened to any certain beast, because none can be named so cruel which can express the cruelty of this fourth monarchy - viz., that of the Romans, no, although it were

18. Daniel 7 Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary (biblehub.com) (1871-1878)

    1. Whereas the three former kingdoms were designated respectively, as a lion, bear, and leopard, no particular beast is specified as the image of the fourth; for Rome is so terrible as to be not describable by any one, but combines in itself all that we can imagine inexpressibly fierce in all beasts. 

19. Daniel 7 - Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1892)

    1. The four, as already seen in connection with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, are those of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome [153]

    2. According to the all but unanimous belief of both Jews and Christians, the empire indicated is that of Rome, which, as is well known, succeeded that of Greece.

20. Daniel 7 - Gray’s Concise Bible Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1897-1910)

    1. The terrible beast, too dreadful for a name (Daniel 7:7 ) corresponds to the legs of iron, and is equivalent to the Roman empire. Its ten horns, like the ten toes in the other case, speak of ten kingdoms into which it shall be divided at the end of this age.

21. Daniel 7 Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (biblehub.com) (1905)

    1. these four empires are the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Græco-Macedonian, and the Roman.

22. Daniel 7 - The Biblical Illustrator - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1905–1909)

    1. These beasts were four in number, and represented four kingdoms that were to arise upon the earth. That these were the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires is evident from a variety of considerations.

23. Daniel 7 - Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1913-1922)

    1. Daniel 7:7-8 . This represents Rome, corresponding to the two legs of iron and the ten horns with the little horn between has the same meaning as the ten toes on the feet of the image

    2. The ten horns are kings and the little horn in their midst will be the final imperial head of the revived Roman empire, that world domineering person of whom we read repeatedly in the Word of God. He must be distinguished from another one, the personal anti-Christ, the man of sin and son of perdition.

24. Daniel 7 - F.B. Meyer’s ‘Through the Bible’ Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1914)

    1. The lion represents Babylon, whose cruel and mighty kingdom was animated by marvelous intelligence; the bear, Persia; the leopard, Greece under Alexander the Great; and the fourth beast, with great iron teeth, Rome.

25. Daniel 7 - Scofield’s Reference Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1917)

    1. (1) In the beast vision of Daniel 7:0. the fourth beast is declared to be “the fourth kingdom,” i.e. the Roman empire, the “iron” kingdom of Daniel 2:0. The “ten horns” upon the fourth beast (Roman empire), Daniel 7:7 are declared to be “ten kings that shall arise” (Daniel 7:24) answering to the ten toes of the image vision of Daniel 2:0.

26. Daniel 7 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1856-1928)

    1. a fourth: The Roman empire, which destroyed the Grecian, and became mistress of the world. Daniel 7:19, Daniel 7:23, Daniel 2:40, Daniel 8:10, 2 Samuel 22:43

27. Daniel 7 - Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary of the Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1921-1923)

    1. The fourth beast is the Roman Empire with its insatiable fierceness and love of conquest, whose spiritual descendant and successor is the kingdom of Antichrist, of the Pope at Rome, just as delineated in the Book of Revelation.

28. Ironside, H A. 1920. Lectures on Daniel the Prophet. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers. (p. 35)

    1. This can be no other than that great world-power which was in existence at the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ…

29. Daniel 7 - Hole’s Old and New Testament Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1947)

    1. But a fourth empire was to arise, as stated in verse Dan_7:7 ; namely the Roman, which would be so remarkable that no well-known beast, such as lion, bear or leopard, could represent it. It would be, ‘diverse from all the beasts that were before it’, ‘dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly’. Its teeth would be ‘iron’, and it would not only subdue, but also devour and break in pieces all that it subdued. How exactly this described the Roman empire, history bears witness.

30. Leopold, H C. 1949. Exposition of Daniel. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. (p. 296)

    1. Everything points to the Roman world power as the empire typified by this beast.

31. Young, Edward J. 1949. The Prophecy of Daniel: A Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source. (p. 75)

    1. The traditional interpretation, which is also adopted in this commentary, is to refer to the fourth kingdom to the Roman Empire.

32. Revival of Rome -- By: John F. Walvoord | Galaxie Software (1969)

    1. The identification of the fourth empire as Roman was the majority view of biblical scholarship until the rise of modern criticism.

33. Wood, Leon J. 1973. A Commentary on Daniel. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers. (p. 68)

    1. This fourth kingdom must be Rome, for it succeeded Greece. Conservative expositors agree on this identification, but liberals do not.

34. Feinberg, Charles L. 1981. Daniel: The Kingdom of the Lord. Winona Lake, Indiana: BMH Books. (p. 36)

    1. A fourth and last kingdom is symbolized by the statue’s legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. This kingdom is identified with the Roman Empire, which was in power at the time of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

35. Showers, Renald E. 1982. The Most High God: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel. Bellmawr, New Jersey: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. (p.34)

    1. Greece was to be succeeded by a fourth Gentile kingdom represented by the image’s legs of iron and feet and toes of iron and clay (vv.40-43). This would be the Roman Empire.

36. Archer, Gleason L. Jr. 1985. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 7. Edited by Frank E. Gabelein. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House. (p. 47)

    1. Verse 40 describes this fourth empire, symbolized by the legs of iron. From a despotic standpoint, the Roman Republic was of far less value than gold, silver, or bronze; yet iron was most suited to crush opposing powers. Iron connotes toughness and ruthlessness and describes the Roman Empire that reached its widest extent under the reign of Trajan (98-117 A.D.), who occupied Rumania, and much of Assyria for at least a few brief years.

37. Pentecost, J D. 1985. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty: Old Testament. Edited by John F. Walvoord, and Roy B. Zuck. Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books.

    1. The legs of iron represent the Roman Empire. This fourth kingdom conquered Greece in 63 B.C. (p.1335)

    2. As stated earlier, the four kingdoms are Babylon, represented by the lion; Medo-Persia, represented by the bear raised up on one side; Greece, represented by the winged leopard with four heads; and Rome, represented by the mongrel beast. (p.1351)

38. Whitcomb, John C. 1985. Everyday Bible Commentary: Daniel. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers. (p. 106)

    1. The identification of this kingdom as Rome can hardly be questioned except by those whose presuppositions do not permit them to believe in the possibility of predictive prophecy.

39. Daniel 7 - Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1989)

    1. The greatest minds of human history, as well as many of the intellectual giants of our own millennium, have unanimously and invariably identified the “four beasts” of this chapter as Babylon, Medo-Persia, the Greeks, and the empire of the Romans.

40. McGee, J V. 1991. Thru the Bible Commentary Series: Daniel. Nashville, Tennessee: Thru the Bible Radio. (p.116)

    1. This beast which represents the Roman Empire is characterized by strength.

41. Daniel 7 - Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1994)

    1. The fourth beast, so horrible and terrible that it was beyond description, symbolized brutal all-conquering Rome.

42. Miller, Stephen R. 1994. The New American Commentary: Volume 18: Daniel. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group.

    1. By the second century B.C., Rome had superseded Greece as the dominant world power. The fourth beast, therefore, represents the Roman Empire, symbolized in chap. 2 by the iron legs and feet of the great statue.

43. Gangel, Kenneth O. 2001. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Daniel. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group. (p. 60)

    1. According to Daniel, iron breaks and smashes everything, and that is precisely what happened when Rome ruled the world.

44. Daniel 7 - Smith’s Bible Commentary - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (1927-2013)

    1. But finally this last beast, the Roman Empire, is just an awesome beast of which there is no correlation, there’s no... you can’t say it’s a lion or a bear

45. Daniel 7 - Dr. Constable's Expository Notes - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (2003)

    1. Most conservative scholars believe that the fourth beast represents the Roman Empire,

    2. These four kingdoms, according to the interpretation commonly received in the church, are the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Macedo-Grecian, and the Roman. 

    3. However, there seem to be indications in Daniel and elsewhere in the Bible, which I will point out later, that God will revive or reestablish the Roman Empire in the future.

46. Duck, Daymond R. 2007. The Book of Daniel: The Smart Guide to the Bible Series. Edited by Larry Richards Phd. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. (p. 51)

    1. There was a fourth world kingdom (see Illustration #9) in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel did not identify it, but there is general agreement that the iron kingdom was the Old Roman Empire.

47. Hill, Andrew E. 2008. Daniel: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Edited by Tremper Longman III, and David E. Garland. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. (Kindle location 2980)

    1. Generally, conservative scholars hold the Roman view (supported by the NT; see below), while mainline scholars tend to opt for one of the Greek views.

48. Daniel 7 - Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (2011?)

    1. Its beginnings may be seen as Rome, but it does not just represent Rome, for it divides up into a number of smaller ‘empires’ under a number of rulers. It represents the idea of ‘empire’, in opposition to God, the future unidentifiable ‘empires’ going on to the end of time which take the place of Rome.

    2. The fourth wild beast also represents an empire from the Mediterranean world. Diverse (altered) from all empires signifies its uniqueness in that it will continue in a broken up form as depicted in chapter 2. It is first the mighty Roman empire, but then it expands into a number of empires (‘ten’ indicates ‘a number of’), and finally produces the Anti-God.

49. MacArthur, John. 2016. Daniel & Esther: Israel in Exile. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. (p. 17)

    1. The nations represented in the dream were Babylon (gold), Medo-Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), Rome (iron), and a future earthly domain (iron and clay.)

50. Daniel 7 - Bell's Commentary on the Bible - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org (2017)

    1. (7,8) The Terrible Beast

       1. ​​​​​​Roman Empire (Iron)

       2. 10 horns(like 10 toes) powers that be in the future the revived Roman Empire

       3. There is also a little horn that pops up, which defeats 3 of the kingdoms. He will become the world Ruler, he is Anti-Christ.

51. Benware, Paul. Daniel: God’s Man with God’s Message (p. 171). Dispensational Publishing House. Kindle Edition.

    1. The “Roman view”, which sees the fourth beast as the Roman Empire, deals much more forthrightly with the text of Daniel. And it has a much better fit with the events that have taken place and that will take place.

52. Jeremiah, David, and C C. Carlson. 2019. The Handwriting on the Wall: Secrets from the Prophecies of Daniel. Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group. (p.133)

    1. There is no animal in all the animal kingdom that we can compare to the fourth beast. It represented the cruel, materialism of Rome, the empire that was known for its cruelty.

53. Tanner, J P. 2020. Daniel: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. Edited by H W. House, and William D. Barrick. Bellingham, Washington: Logos Bible Software. (p. 411)

    1. Conservative evangelicals are virtually unanimous in identifying the fourth and final beast as the Roman Empire.

54. Tsarfati, Amir, and Rick Yohn. 2024. Discovering Daniel: Finding Our Hope in God’s Prophetic Plan Amid Global Chaos. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. (p. 51)

    1. Kingdoms two, three, and four- Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.