The emphasis in this dream is directed toward the fourth kingdom. The first thing to notice is that this empire causes Daniel the greatest terror and disturbance. It is terrible to see what this empire is doing, and the devastation and harshness of it is greater than those before it. About this empire we read, It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
The fourth kingdom is the hardest of all. It crushes all opposition, trampling again even those who have already been defeated. We encounter this when Daniel explains the dream about the image to Nebuchadnezzar. Part of the explanation that Daniel gives is the following, And the fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these (kingdoms)
, Daniel 2:40.
The fourth world empire is the Roman Empire. The Lord says here that the empire will be very strong, and this is corroborated by history. No world empire has held its power for such a long time, about 500 years.
The Roman Empire is the last one that the Lord specifically mentions here. The fourth empire is also the empire from which other rulers will emerge until the end, the day the Lord Jesus returns on the clouds. The ten horns are symbolic of the great rulers who determine the political world for a time after the Roman Empire. It is not a question of being able to identify exactly ten empires or rulers, but rather the number ten indicates a rounded and large number. These rulers and empires are also in Christ’s hand. Even as they rule, Christ continues to bring history toward his ultimate goal.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.