A Weird Conglomeration
“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others…” [Daniel 7:19]
The first time European naturalists saw this animal they were baffled. Some thought this beaver-like creature with a duck bill was a hoax and actually tried to cut the bill off with a pair of scissors. But the unusual egg-laying, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, venomous platypus of eastern Australia was for real! The strange mammal has become a symbol of Australia and is an emblem for the state of New South Wales.
The platypus lives near freshwater streams and lakes and is an excellent swimmer with webbed feet, fine fur (that keeps it dry and warm), and a beaver-like tail. On land the platypus actually walks on its knuckles and curls its webbed feet back. It usually sleeps most of the day and hunts at night in the water for shrimp, worms, mussels, and aquatic insects. It uses its rubbery and flexible bill to locate prey. It has hundreds of receptors that respond to touch and tiny electric currents made by prey when they move. Interestingly, it swims with its eyes, ears, and nose shut.
Predators of this strange creature include hawks, eagles, owls, and foxes. The platypus lives in a burrow, usually with two entrances. To protect itself, the male has a hollow spur on his hind ankle that is venomous. It can kill a small animal or incapacitate a human. In the early 1900s platypus were hunted for their fur. They are now protected and not listed as an endangered species.
Some people have stated that God must have had a sense of humor when creating the platypus. But there is actually another creature in the Bible that appears as a conglomeration of different animals. When Daniel the prophet first saw this beast he must have been as confused as scientists who first saw a platypus. But this creature was not some cute little animal. “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it…” (Daniel 7:7).
This beast represented a kingdom that crushed other kingdoms and sought to destroy God’s people. It rose in power and spoke blasphemous words against the Most High. Though it was subdued for a time, this power rose again and will play a role in the time of the end when God will finally slay this rebellious kingdom. This is one animal that we will all be glad becomes extinct!
