Is this statue, gifted to the United Nations by the Mexican government, an image of the End Times Beast from Daniel 7:4 and Revelation 13? There are some who certainly think so. However, this conclusion, while sincere, may be premature.
If one reads Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 in context, several things come to light. First and foremost being the fact that both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 record visionary experiences that are highly symbolic in nature. The beasts described in both visions do not describe literal creatures. Rather, they are symbolic representations of human rulers and/or empires (Daniel 7:15-18).
Second, while this statue does share some similarities with the beast in Daniel 7:4 (i.e. a beast resembling a lion but with eagle’s wings) this beast is only the first of four beasts described in the vision and represents the Neo-Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar II (ca. 605-562 BC). The second beast (Daniel 7:5) represents the Medo-Persian/Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550-329 BC). The third, four-headed beast (Daniel 7:6) describes the Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great, which was divided among four of Alexander's generals following his death in 323 BC. The fourth and final beast (Daniel 7:7-14) pertains to the Roman Empire and future Empire of the Antichrist. (We find additional prophecies describing the succession and conflicts between these ancient empires and kings in Daniel 2, 8, 11 and 12.)
“After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.”
~Daniel 7:7-8 (CSB)
This leads to my third and final observation: Neither the fourth Beast of Daniel 7 nor the Beast of Revelation 13 (i.e. The Antichrist’s Empire) are described as winged beasts.
“And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on its heads were blasphemous names. The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.
“The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?’”
~Revelation 13:1-4 (CSB)
Keeping in mind the symbolic nature of these visions and their cultural context, the Antichrist’s Empire seems to be a composite of the empires that have come before it, and will have some elements in common. This is also alluded to in Daniel 7:11-14.
“I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.”
~Daniel 7:11-14 (CSB)
So then, is this statue an image of the Beast from biblical prophecy? In light of the textual and historical evidence, I'm inclined to believe that it is merely a statue and nothing more.
