This Medo-Persian empire is destroyed by the third empire that Daniel sees, which looks like a leopard with four wings. This empire is characterized by speed and reaches very far. Alexander the Great fulfils this when he arises out of Macedonia with great speed, conquers the Medo-Persian Empire and establishes a new extensive empire in 330 BC. His empire stretches from the north of India to Greece and includes the Middle East. Alexander the Great, even though he has many successive victories, does not rule for long, dying after a reign of nineteen years. His great empire falls apart. The Holy Spirit points this out when it speaks here about four heads because after the death of Alexander, the Greek empire broke up into four parts. One of these is the Seleucid Empire, which causes much misery to Israel. Daniel prophesies about this in Daniel 8:1–27, among other places, and he makes this prediction about the future because he is the servant of the Lord. Here we see very clearly again that it is the LORD who rules everything and he prepares his people for the future with these prophecies, which are, therefore, also a very clear proof of the truth of God’s Word.
The three empires of Daniel’s vision have one characteristic in common, and this they share with the fourth kingdom and everything that comes out of it. They are all in the service of the devil. We read in Revelation 13:1–18 of the mighty powers, which are in the service of the devil, turning against Christ. The beast that comes out of the sea in Revelation 13:1–18 represents what we see in the first three realms in Daniel 7:1–28. This is how it is described in Revelation 13:2, And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne, and great authority.
Where people, rulers, and nations focus on their own power and glory, empires arise that are in the service of the devil. These people do not want Christ as their King; they want to rule over themselves. Rulers who fulfill their office in the service of Christ rule in the service of the people. They do not seek power, but do what is good for the country and for its people, according to God’s good commandments. It is their aim to serve Christ and his Kingdom. They also seek to promote the advancement of the glorious gospel. Countries and empires that are focused on power and expansion of influence behave like animals and ultimately they serve the great dragon, the devil. This becomes clear in the fourth kingdom next seen by Daniel.
6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.