1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.2Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.3Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.4‘The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.5‘And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get up and eat your fill of flesh!”6‘After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.7‘After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast – terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.8‘While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.9‘As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.11‘Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.12(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)13‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[1] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The interpretation of the dream
15‘I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. ‘So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:17“The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever – yes, for ever and ever.”19‘Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws – the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell – the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,22until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favour of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.23‘He gave me this explanation: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[2]26‘ “But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed for ever.27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”28‘This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.’
Daniel 7
English Standard Version
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. (Da 1:17; Da 2:28; Da 4:5; Da 5:1; Da 7:15)2Daniel declared,[1] “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. (Eze 37:9; Da 8:8; Da 11:4; Zec 2:6; Re 7:1)3And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. (Re 13:1)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, 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.’ (Da 2:39)6After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (Da 11:5; Hab 1:8; Re 13:2)7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. (Da 7:19; Da 7:20; Da 7:23; Re 12:3; Re 13:1; Re 17:12)8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, 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 a mouth speaking great things. (Da 7:20; Da 7:24; Da 8:9; Re 13:5)
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. (1Ki 22:19; Ps 90:2; Eze 1:16; Eze 10:2; Da 7:22; Mt 19:28; Mt 28:3; Re 1:14; Re 20:4)10A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Ps 21:9; Ps 68:17; Ps 103:21; Da 7:22; Da 7:26; Zec 3:4; Heb 12:22; Re 5:11; Re 11:18; Re 20:4; Re 20:12)11“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. (Da 7:8; Re 19:20; Re 20:10)12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. (Da 7:14; Da 7:26)
The Son of Man Is Given Dominion
13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. (Da 7:9; Mt 26:64; Mr 14:62; Re 1:7; Re 14:14)14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Ps 110:1; Isa 9:6; Da 2:44; Da 3:4; Re 11:15)
Daniel’s Vision Interpreted
15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me[2] was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. (Da 7:1)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‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. (Da 7:3)18But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ (Da 7:22; Da 7:27; Mt 25:34; 1Co 6:2; Re 2:26; Re 20:4)19“Then I desired to know the truth about the 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, (Da 7:7)20and 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. (Da 7:8)21As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, (Da 8:24)22until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. (Da 7:9; Da 7:13; Da 7:18)23“Thus he said: ‘As for 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. (Da 7:19)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.25He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Da 2:9; Da 2:21; Da 11:36; Da 12:7; Re 12:14)26But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. (Da 6:26; Da 7:10; Da 7:12; Da 7:14)27And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’[3] (Da 2:44; Da 7:18)28“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.” (Jer 23:9; Da 4:5; Da 4:19; Da 5:6; Da 5:10; Da 7:15; Da 8:27; Da 10:8; Da 10:16; Lu 2:19; Lu 2:51)