Daniel 7
7
Daniel’s vision: four beasts
1In the first year of Babylon’s King Belshazzar, Daniel had a dream—a vision in his head as he lay on his bed. He wrote the dream down. Here is the beginning of the account:
2I am Daniel. In the vision I had during the night I saw the four winds of heaven churning the great sea. 3Four giant beasts emerged from the sea, each different from the others. 4The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings. I observed it until its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the ground. It was then set on two feet, like a human being, and it received a human mind. 5Then I saw another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told: “Get up! Devour much flesh!” 6I kept watching, and suddenly there was another beast, this one like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like bird wings. This beast had four heads. Authority was given to it.
7After this, as I continued to watch this night vision, I saw a fourth beast, terrifying and hideous, with extraordinary power and with massive iron teeth. As it ate and crushed, its feet smashed whatever was left over. It was different from all the other beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8I was staring at the horns when, suddenly, another small horn came up between them. Three of the earlier horns were ripped out to make room for it. On this new horn were eyes like human eyes and a mouth that bragged and bragged.
Throne of fire and the human figure
9As I was watching,
thrones were raised up.
The ancient one took his seat.
His clothes were white like snow;
his hair was like a lamb’s wool.
His throne was made of flame;
its wheels were blazing fire.
10A river of fire flowed out from his presence;
thousands upon thousands served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood ready to serve him!
The court sat in session; the scrolls were opened.
11I kept watching. I watched from the moment the horn started bragging until the beast was killed and its body was destroyed, handed over to be burned with fire. 12Then the authority of the remaining beasts was brought to an end, but they were given an extension among the living for a set time and season.
13As I continued to watch this night vision of mine, I suddenly saw
one like a human being#7.13 Aram kebar enash (like a son of man) is an idiom that means like a human being; cf also 8:17; 10:16, 18 for Heb approximations.
coming with the heavenly clouds.
He came to the ancient one
and was presented before him.
14Rule, glory, and kingship were given to him;
all peoples, nations, and languages will serve him.
His rule is an everlasting one—
it will never pass away!—
his kingship is indestructible.
Beasts interpreted
15Now this caused me, Daniel, to worry.#7.15 Or my spirit was distressed in its sheath; Aram uncertain My visions disturbed me greatly. 16So I went to one of the servants who was standing ready nearby. I asked him for the truth about all this.
He spoke to me and explained to me the meaning of these things. 17“These four giant beasts are four kings that will rise up from the earth, 18but the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingship. They will hold the kingship securely forever and always.”
19Next I wanted greater clarity about the fourth beast, the one that was different from all the others and utterly terrifying with its iron teeth and bronze claws. As it ate and crushed, its feet smashed whatever was left over. 20I wanted greater clarity about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up, along with the three that fell out to make room for it—but especially about the horn that had eyes and a mouth that bragged, and that seemed more important than the others. 21As I watched, this same horn waged war against the holy ones and defeated them, 22until the Ancient One came. Then judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. The set time arrived, and the holy ones held the kingship securely.
23This is what he said:
“The fourth beast means
that there will be a fourth kingship on the earth.
It will be different from all the other kingships.
It will devour the entire earth, trample it, crush it.
24The ten horns mean
that from this kingship will rise ten kings,
and after them will rise yet another.
He will be different from the previous ones.
He will defeat three kings.
25He will say things against the Most High
and will exhaust the holy ones of the Most High.
He will try to change times set by law.
And for a period of time,
periods of time,
and half a period of time,
they will be delivered into his power.
26Then the court will sit in session.
His rule will be taken away—
ruined and wiped out for all time.
27The kingship, authority, and power
of all kingdoms under heaven
will be given to the people,
the holy ones of the Most High.
Their kingship is an everlasting one; every authority will serve them and obey.”
28The account ends here.
Now as for how I, Daniel, felt about this: My thoughts disturbed me greatly. My mood darkened considerably, and I kept thinking about this matter.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Daniel 7
7
Vision of the Four Beasts
1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, #Num. 12:6; (Amos 3:7)Daniel had a dream and #(Dan. 2:28)visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.
2Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3And four great beasts #Dan. 7:17; Rev. 13:1; 17:8came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4The first was #Deut. 28:49; 2 Sam. 1:23; Jer. 48:40; Ezek. 17:3; Hab. 1:8like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a #Dan. 4:16, 34man’s heart was given to it.
5#Dan. 2:39“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
6“After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had #Dan. 8:8, 22four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, #Dan. 2:40a 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, #Dan. 2:41; Rev. 12:3; 13:1and it had ten horns. 8I was considering the horns, and #Dan. 8:9there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes #Rev. 9:7of a man, #Ps. 12:3; Rev. 13:5, 6and a mouth speaking pompous words.
Vision of the Ancient of Days
9“I#(Rev. 20:4) watched till thrones were put in place,
And #Ps. 90:2the Ancient of Days was seated;
#Ps. 104:2; Rev. 1:14His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
#Ezek. 1:15Its wheels a burning fire;
10#Ps. 50:3; Is. 30:33; 66:15A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
#Deut. 33:2; 1 Kin. 22:19; Ps. 68:17; Rev. 5:11A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
#Dan. 12:1; (Rev. 20:11–15)The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
11“I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; #(Rev. 19:20; 20:10)I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, #Ezek. 1:26; (Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; Rev. 1:7, 13; 14:14)One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14#Ps. 2:6–8; Dan. 7:27; (Matt. 28:18; John 3:35, 36; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:22; Phil. 2:9–11; Rev. 1:6; 11:15)Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all #Dan. 3:4peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is #Ps. 145:13; Mic. 4:7; (Luke 1:33); John 12:34; Heb. 12:28an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
15“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. 18But #Ps. 149:5–9; Is. 60:12–14; Dan. 7:14; (2 Tim. 2:11; Rev. 2:26, 27; 20:4; 22:5)the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
19“Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21“I was watching; #Rev. 11:7; 13:7; 17:14and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22until the Ancient of Days came, #(Rev. 1:6)and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23“Thus he said:
‘The fourth beast shall be
#Dan. 2:40A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24#Dan. 7:7; Rev. 13:1; 17:12The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25#Is. 37:23; Dan. 11:36; Rev. 13:1–6He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall #Rev. 17:6persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall #Dan. 2:21intend to change times and law.
Then #Rev. 13:7; 18:24the saints shall be given into his hand
#Dan. 12:7; Rev. 12:14For a time and times and half a time.
26‘But#(Dan. 2:35; 7:10, 22) the court shall be seated,
And they shall #Rev. 19:20take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27Then the #Is. 54:3; Dan. 7:14, 18, 22; Rev. 20:4kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
#2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:35–37; Is. 9:7; Dan. 2:44; 4:34; 7:14; (Luke 1:33, 34); John 12:34; (Rev. 11:15; 22:5)His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
#Ps. 2:6–12; 22:27; 72:11; 86:9; Is. 60:12; Rev. 11:1And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
28“This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, #Dan. 8:27my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I #Luke 2:19, 51kept the matter in my heart.”
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.