I would think the 10 toes are obviously meaning the 10 horns on the 4th beast. Therefore, the 10 toes are still around in Daniel 7 as well as the book of Revelation. Maybe you find it confusing that toes on the feet and horns on the head can be referring to the same thing? According to the book of Revelation horns represent kings.
Revelation 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
If we then allow Scripture to interpret Scripture...
Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The nearest antecedent for these kings meant appear to be meaning the 10 toes meant in verse 42, keeping in mind Revelation 17 interprets these toes/horns to be meaning kings.
Well, your comments are quite interesting and enjoyable to read. And you are absolutely correct in that the 10 toes are indeed the 10 horns in chapter 7. And further, they are also the 10 in Revelation.
Let me propose something to you and ask that you might consider:
1) In Daniel, and other books, God will often repeat Himself but He will not use the exact same symbols or phrases to emphasize a certain point of prophecy. And in both Daniel and Revelation, He takes this to another level. Perhaps because they are both the two most prophetic books in Scripture and also perhaps because Daniel is largely speaking of His first coming while Revelation speaks of His return.
2) In any event, we clearly see that God uses both metal and the body parts of a man to identify the 4 kingdoms, but in chapter 7 He identifies the same kingdoms with wild animals. But then again in chapter 8 He uses domesticated animals that one will find within the sacrificial ceremonies on Passover (and that is another whole story).
3) But God is also using this special method of revealing His prophecies in regards to the 10 toes. Here is the transition that God uses to impart so much more information to us just by changind the symbols as they mover through time and kingdom:
a) 10 toes - found in the feet of iron of pagan Rome,
b) 10 horns - found "coming out" of the iron kingdom of pagan Rome,
c) 10 kings - also found in chapter 7 but this time they are on the top of the 4th kingdom beast (no longer just coming out of pagan Rome as in b) above,
d) "saints of the Most High - also found in chapter 7 (and Revelation) after the little horn has come to full power.
1) I would also ask that you might look through the entire Bible and determine that this term "saints of the Most High" is found in no other book or chapter than in Daniel 7. This term does not mean people, saints (martyr's) etc., they have a very specific meaning that means the same as the other 3 symbols - 10 toes, horns and kings.
4) Here is the "thing" - they are ALL the same entity but God is using different symbols as they move through time and through the kingdom of pagan Rome. There will be 4 and only 4 transitions these 10 will go through and each change in symbol is purposeful and extremely prophetic.
5) Regarding verse 2:44 -
44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
This verse is telling us that God will "set up" His kingdom (earthly kingdom) which shall never be destroyed. This was indeed accomplished when the Messiah, Jesus came to the earth to fulfill His God given mission (9:24). But prophetically in Daniel, He is telling us that within these 4 kingdoms identified in chapter 2 He will come and "set up" His kingdom."
Look forward to your comments and thoughts.