7Daniel 7

DANIEL DESCRIBES HIS VISIONS (7.1—12.13) / Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

1In the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylonia, I had a dream and saw a vision in the night. I wrote the dream down, and this is the recordSelect Daniel 7:1

2of what I saw that night: Winds were blowing from all directions and lashing the surface of the ocean.Select Daniel 7:2

3Four huge beasts came up out of the ocean, each one different from the others.Select Daniel 7:3

4The first one looked like a lion, but had wings like an eagle. While I was watching, the wings were torn off. The beast was lifted up and made to stand up straight. And then a human mind was given to it.Select Daniel 7:4

5The second beast looked like a bear standing on its hind legs. It was holding three ribs between its teeth, and a voice said to it, “Go on, eat as much meat as you can!”Select Daniel 7:5

6While I was watching, another beast appeared. It looked like a leopard, but on its back there were four wings, like the wings of a bird, and it had four heads. It had a look of authority about it.Select Daniel 7:6

7As I was watching, a fourth beast appeared. It was powerful, horrible, terrifying. With its huge iron teeth it crushed its victims, and then it trampled on them. Unlike the other beasts, it had ten horns.Select Daniel 7:7

8While I was staring at the horns, I saw a little horn coming up among the others. It tore out three of the horns that were already there. This horn had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting proudly.Select Daniel 7:8

The Vision of the One Who Has Been Living Forever

9While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire,Select Daniel 7:9

10and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened.Select Daniel 7:10

11While I was looking, I could still hear the little horn bragging and boasting. As I watched, the fourth beast was killed, and its body was thrown into the flames and destroyed.Select Daniel 7:11

12The other beasts had their power taken away, but they were permitted to go on living for a limited time.Select Daniel 7:12

13During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a human being. He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to him.Select Daniel 7:13

14He was given authority, honor, and royal power, so that the people of all nations, races, and languages would serve him. His authority would last forever, and his kingdom would never end.Select Daniel 7:14

The Visions Are Explained

15The visions I saw alarmed me, and I was deeply disturbed.Select Daniel 7:15

16I went up to one of those standing there and asked him to explain it all. So he told me the meaning.Select Daniel 7:16

17He said, “These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth.Select Daniel 7:17

18And the people of the Supreme God will receive royal power and keep it forever and ever.”Select Daniel 7:18

19Then I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, which was not like any of the others—the terrifying beast which crushed its victims with its bronze claws and iron teeth and then trampled on them.Select Daniel 7:19

20And I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the horn that had come up afterward and had made three of the horns fall. It had eyes and a mouth and was boasting proudly. It was more terrifying than any of the others.Select Daniel 7:20

21While I was looking, that horn made war on God's people and conquered them.Select Daniel 7:21

22Then the one who had been living forever came and pronounced judgment in favor of the people of the Supreme God. The time had arrived for God's people to receive royal power.Select Daniel 7:22

23This is the explanation I was given: “The fourth beast is a fourth empire that will be on the earth and will be different from all other empires. It will crush the whole earth and trample it down.Select Daniel 7:23

24The ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will appear; he will be very different from the earlier ones and will overthrow three kings.Select Daniel 7:24

25He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God's people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years.Select Daniel 7:25

26Then the heavenly court will sit in judgment, take away his power, and destroy him completely.Select Daniel 7:26

27The power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be given to the people of the Supreme God. Their royal power will never end, and all rulers on earth will serve and obey them.”Select Daniel 7:27

28This is the end of the account. I was so frightened that I turned pale, and I kept everything to myself.Select Daniel 7:28