Daniel 7:19

Daniel 7:19 says, Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;  This fourth beast was different than the others, seemingly being indestructible and very cruel.  Verse twenty adds, And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.  The beast had ten horns, then another horn came up and overcame three of the other horns.  Daniel really wanted to know about the little horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke great things.  Verse twenty-one continues, I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;  Daniel saw the little horn making war against the saints and prevailing.  I believe that Daniel was wondering if God's kingdom was some day going to be defeated.  Until this fourth beast, it had been an earthly kingdom against an earthly kingdom, but now it was an earthly kingdom against the saints of God and the earthly kingdom prevailed.  We can be certain that such a time is coming when there will be all out war by the world against the saints, the followers of Christ, but I do not profess to know when that will occur, but I believe there will be little doubt when it does.  Verse twenty-two states, Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.  Daniel was told that even though it seemed that the little beast had defeated the saints that this was not the case.  This would end when the Ancient of days, God Himself, judges the world at the second coming of Christ.  Then we, as followers of Christ, will truly possess the kingdom.  Verse twenty-three adds, Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.  Daniel was told this fourth kingdom would be different than all the others and would devour the whole earth, treading it down and breaking it into pieces.  I believe that this means that this kingdom will have no concern for the world but will destroy anything and everything to carry out its purpose, especially against the saints of God.  Though we can see where this might seemingly apply to certain countries today, so could the early Christians see it as applying in their day..