Please note carefully that Daniel did NOT say in the above scripture that after the old Roman Empire collapsed, a long period of time (actually centuries) would elapse before ten countries would be united into the “ten kings” portrayed in Revelation 17. But, he did say that the Roman Empire would DIVIDE into the ten toes. That choice of words indicates a sense of immediacy to this action that automatically precludes a long interval of time between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the formation of the ten toes. Thus, as we will observe in Daniel’s second vision, just as the four heads of the leopard portray the four-fold division of the Grecian Empire when it folded after the death of Alexander the Great, so likewise do the tens toes of Daniel’s image symbolize the countries and kingdoms that were formed within the old Roman Empire soon after it collapsed.

Many prophetic commentators have theorized that the ten toes of the symbolic image represent the revival of a modern-day Roman Empire that will occur when ten countries in western Europe merge into a monolithic union or structure of some type, i.e., a United States of Europe. However, this theory, as it usually is presented, does not give us the most accurate picture possible. For instance, most prophetic analysts generally have overlooked the historical fact that the Roman Empire was divided into Eastern and Western halves during much of its existence. That is why Daniel’s first vision portrays the ancient Roman Empire as two legs on the symbolic image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. Accordingly, if the two legs in Daniel’s vision represent the Eastern and Western halves of the old Roman Empire, then the ten toes connected to those same two legs must represent all of the modern-day countries that were formed within the geographical area of both empire halves. Therefore, Daniel’s ten toes must symbolize something more than just countries in Western Europe; they must represent all of the modern-day countries throughout Europe and Asia Minor that are located within the geographical territory of the old Roman Empire.

As absolute proof positive that our interpretation is correct, we will demonstrate later in this chapter that the “little horn” Antichrist will rise to power in a tiny, new country that will appear within one of the four empire segments that formed within the ancient Grecian Empire after Alexander the Great died. Furthermore, in yet another vision, Daniel also predicted that the old Syrian Dynasty, comprised of modern-day Lebanon and Syria, would be the specific Grecian Empire segment from which Antichrist will originate. Thus, the Antichrist must originate within a geographical area that was once a part of three ancient political kingdoms: the Roman and Grecian empires and the old Syrian Dynasty. But, obviously NONE of the countries in Western Europe were ever a part of all three of these political entities. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for the ten toes and the ten horns to represent ONLY countries in Western Europe. Instead, they must represent ALL of the modern-day countries within the geographical area of the old Roman Empire so that they include an area that was also once a part of the ancient Grecian Empire and the old Syrian Dynasty.

Moreover, some of these ten-toe countries — represented by the iron in the toes — have been strong and independent nations, while some of the other countries — represented by the clay in the toes — have exhibited weakness. Accordingly, sometimes these weaker “clay” countries have been conquered by stronger neighboring countries who would then change their boundary lines. Although there are more than ten such countries, the number “ten” can represent an approximate or unknown or round number in prophetic and symbolic passages as the following scriptures attest:

Jude 1:14
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (KJV)

Daniel 7:10
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. (KJV)

Revelation 2:10
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (KJV)

Revelation 5:11
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (KJV)

Furthermore, Daniel predicted there would be numerous attempts to reunite into a revived Roman Empire, but that in each case “they (would) not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” (Dan. 2:43). History has proven this biblical prophecy correct. Although there have been many attempts to re-create the Roman Empire, they all have been unsuccessful or short-lived. That is why Daniel 2:44 predicts that the individual “Roman” countries (i.e., kings; ten toes; ten horns) will still be in existence when God establishes His literal Kingdom on the earth, thus proving these “Roman” countries will retain their national identities and political sovereignty even during the “last days.”

This biblical prediction is confirmed in Revelation 13:1 which shows the ten horns (i.e., the modern-day “Roman” countries) wearing individual crowns of power and authority even though they will be a part of the Antichrist’s empire. Therefore, as we will determine later in this book, the symbolic beast in Revelation 13 represents the Antichrist (and Satan), and the seventh head of the Antichrist beast represents his new world empire. Furthermore, Revelation 13 states that the Antichrist beast is leopard-like in its appearance, with the mouth of a lion, and the feet of a bear, and ten horns on its head. So, obviously the symbolism in that passage correlates with the prophetic symbolism portrayed in Daniel’s second vision. Thus, we must conclude that the modern-day countries within the geographical areas of the ancient Babylonian, Persian, Grecian and Roman empires will form the nucleus of the Antichrist’s new world empire. But, since the symbolic ten horns are also crowned individually, this signifies that these “Roman” countries will retain their national identities and a significant amount of political sovereignty precisely as Daniel predicted they would.

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