What does Daniel 7:7 mean?
Daniel's visions (Daniel 7:1) included four animal-like creatures, representing kings and nations (Daniel 7:17) from the Mediterranean region (Daniel 7:2–3). Babylon was represented by a lion with wings (Daniel 7:4). Medo-Persia was symbolized by a bear (Daniel 7:5). Macedonian Greece was depicted as a leopard (Daniel 7:6). These correspond to the nations seen in Nebuchadnezzar's earlier dream (Daniel 2:31–33, 37–39).The fourth nation, described here, doesn't correspond to any animal which Daniel knows. This beast has ten horns, iron teeth, and bronze claws (Daniel 7:19). It's an intimidating sight, as it destroys and crushes whatever it does not consume. This represents the Roman Empire, also represented by iron in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:32–33, 40). In Daniel's prophetic dream, this fourth beast has ten horns, which will be explained to represent ten kings (Daniel 7:24). These will be followed by another "horn," representing a key figure of the end times (Daniel 7:8).
The New Testament and other records attest to Rome's merciless persecution of Christians. Peter's reference to the fiery trial that lay ahead for Christians likely refers to Emperor Nero's cruel burning of Christians at the stake (1 Peter 4:12). Whatever Rome could not absorb under its rule, it annihilated. The empire was known for its merciless conquest and assimilation. Rome conquered the whole breadth and length of the Mediterranean world and all the territories ruled by the former empires.