Daniel 7
7
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
1In the first year of #See ch. 5:1 Belshazzar king of Babylon, #[ch. 1:17] Daniel saw a dream and #ver. 15; ch. 2:28; 4:5visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2Daniel declared,#7:2 Aramaic answered and said “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, #ch. 8:8; 11:4; [Ezek. 37:9; Zech. 2:6; Rev. 7:1]the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3And four great beasts #[Rev. 13:1]came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5And behold, #[ch. 2:39]another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6After this I looked, and behold, another, like a #[Hab. 1:8; Rev. 13:2] leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and #[ch. 11:5]dominion was given to it. 7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, #ver. 19, 23 terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; #ver. 19, 23 it devoured and broke in pieces #ver. 19, 23 and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and #ver. 20; [Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:12]it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and behold, #[ver. 20, 21, 24; ch. 8:9] there came up among them another horn, a little one, #[ver. 20, 21, 24; ch. 8:9] before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and #ver. 20; [Rev. 13:5, 6]a mouth speaking great things.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9“As I looked,
#
Rev. 20:4; [Matt. 19:28]; See 1 Kgs. 22:19 thrones were placed,
and the #ver. 22; [Ps. 90:2] Ancient of Days took his seat;
#
Matt. 28:3 his clothing was white as snow,
and #Rev. 1:14 the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
# [Ezek. 1:16; 10:2] its wheels were burning fire.
10 # [Ps. 21:9] A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
#
Ps. 68:17; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11 a thousand thousands #Ps. 103:21 served him,
#
Ps. 68:17; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11 and ten thousand times ten thousand #[Zech. 3:4] stood before him;
the #ver. 22, 26; Rev. 11:18; 20:4 court sat in judgment,
and #Rev. 20:12the books were opened.
11“I looked then because of the sound of #[See ver. 8 above] the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, #Rev. 19:20; [Rev. 20:10]the beast was killed, and its body destroyed #Rev. 19:20; [Rev. 20:10]and given over to be burned with fire. 12As for the rest of the beasts, #[ver. 14, 26]their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
The Son of Man Is Given Dominion
13“I saw in the night visions,
and #Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Rev. 1:7; 14:14 behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the #[See ver. 9 above]Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 #
Ps. 110:1, 2; Isa. 9:6, 7; Rev. 11:15 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all #See ch. 3:4 peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
# See ch. 2:44 his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel’s Vision Interpreted
15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me#7:15 Aramaic within its sheath was anxious, and #See ver. 1the visions of my head alarmed me. 16I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17#[ver. 3]‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18But #ver. 22, 27; Matt. 25:34; [1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 2:26; 20:4]the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
19“Then I desired to know the truth about #ver. 7the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20#ver. 8and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21As I looked, this horn #[ch. 8:24]made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22until the #ver. 9, 13 Ancient of Days came, and #[See ver. 18 above]judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when #[See ver. 18 above]the saints possessed the kingdom.
23“Thus he said: ‘As for #[See ver. 19 above]the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 # [ch. 11:36] He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to #ch. 2:9, 21 change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for #ch. 12:7; Rev. 12:14a time, times, and half a time.
26 # See ver. 10 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and #[ver. 12, 14] his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed #ch. 6:26to the end.
27 # See ver. 18 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of #See ver. 18 the saints of the Most High;
# See ch. 2:44 his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’#7:27 Or their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them
28“Here is the end of the matter. #ver. 15; [ch. 8:27; 10:8, 16; Jer. 23:9] As for me, Daniel, my #ch. 4:5, 19; 5:6 thoughts greatly alarmed me, #[ch. 5:6, 10] and my color changed, but #[Luke 2:19, 51]I kept the matter in my heart.”
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Daniel 7
7
Vision of the Four Beasts
1In the #7:1 The events recorded in ch 7 precede the feast recorded in ch 5.first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions appeared in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related a summary of it. 2Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (the nations). 3And four great beasts, each different from the other, were coming up out of the sea [in succession]. 4The first (the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar) was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind was given to it. [Dan 2:37, 38] 5And behold, another beast, a second one (the Medo-Persian Empire), was like a bear, and it was raised up on one side (domain), and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much meat.’ 6After this I kept looking, and behold, another one (the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great), like a leopard, which had on its back four wings like those of a bird; the beast also had four heads (Alexander’s generals, his successors), and power to rule was given to it. [Dan 2:39; 8:20-22] 7After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, [I saw] a fourth beast (the Roman Empire), terrible and extremely strong; and it had huge iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns (ten kings). [Dan 2:40-43; 7:23] 8While I was considering the horns, behold, there came up among them #7:8 I.e. the Antichrist.another horn, a little one, and three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots before it; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth boasting of great things.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9¶“I kept looking
Until thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat;
His garment was white as snow
And the hair of His head like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire;
Its wheels were a burning fire. [1 Kin 22:19; Ps 90:2; Ezek 1:26-28; Dan 7:13, 22; Matt 19:28; Rev 20:4]
10“A river of fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
A thousand thousands were attending Him,
And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him;
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
11Then I kept looking because of the sound of the great and boastful words which the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to be burned with fire. 12As for the rest of the beasts, their power was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged [for the length of their lives was fixed] for a predetermined time.
The Son of Man Presented
13¶“I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, #7:13 As a matter of discussion, one of the ancient rabbis noted an apparent contradiction between the Messiah’s majestic return with clouds in this verse and His humble return on a donkey in Zech 9:9. The solution given was that if Israel is worthy of Him, the Messiah will return with the clouds; if not, He will return on a donkey.on the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14“And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority),
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language
Should serve and worship Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed. [Rev 5:1-10]
The Vision Interpreted
15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed and anxious within me, and the visions [that appeared] in my mind kept alarming (agitating) me. 16I approached one of those who stood by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of the things: 17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18But the #7:18 Some scholars believe the word “saints” in this chapter refers only to Jewish believers; others view “saints” as inclusive.saints (believers) of the Most High [God] will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ [Rom 8:17; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 3:21]
19“Then I wished to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, extremely dreadful, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet, 20and the meaning of the ten horns (kings) that were on its head and the other horn which came up later, and before which three of the horns fell, specifically, that horn which had eyes and a mouth that boasted great things and which looked larger than the others. 21As I kept looking, that horn was making war with the saints (believers) and overpowering them [Rev 13:7-9] 22until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Most High [God], and the time arrived when the saints (believers) took possession of the kingdom.
23“Thus the angel said, ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down, and crush it. 24As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former ones, and he will subdue three kings. 25He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years]. [Rev 13:1-6] 26But the court [of the Most High] will sit in judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, [first to be] consumed [gradually] and [then] to be destroyed forever. 27Then the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints (believers) of the Most High; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’
28“This is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my [waking] thoughts were extremely troubling and alarming and my face grew pale; but I kept the matter [of the vision and the angel’s explanation] to myself.”
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