Daniel 7

Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts

7Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon

, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.H2298H8140H1113H4430H895H1841H2370H2493H2376H7217H5922H4903H116H3790H2493H560H7217H44062In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.H1841H6032H560H2370H1934H2376H5974H3916H718H703H7308H8065H1519H7229H32213Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.H703H7260H2423H5559H4481H3221H8133H1668H4481H16684The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.H6933H744H5403H1611H1934H2370H5705H1611H4804H5191H4481H772H6966H5922H7271H606H606H3825H30525Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”H718H317H2423H8578H1821H1678H6966H2298H7859H8532H5967H6433H997H8128H560H3652H6966H399H7690H13216Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.H870H1836H1934H2370H718H317H5245H5922H1355H703H1611H5776H2423H703H7217H7985H30527Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.H870H1836H1934H2370H3916H2376H718H7244H2423H1763H574H8624H3493H7260H6523H8128H399H1855H7512H7606H7271H1932H8133H4481H3606H2423H6925H6236H71628As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.H1934H7920H7162H431H5559H997H317H2192H7162H6925H4481H8532H4481H6933H7162H6132H431H1668H7162H5870H5870H606H6433H4449H72609I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One

sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire,H1934H2370H5705H3764H7412H6268H3118H3488H3831H2358H8517H8177H7217H5343H6015H3764H5135H7631H1535H1815H513510and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.H5135H5103H5047H5312H4481H6925H506H506H8120H7240H7240H6966H6925H1780H3488H5609H660611I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire.H1934H2370H116H4481H7032H7260H4406H7162H4449H1934H2370H5705H2423H6992H1655H7H3052H3346H78512The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer

.H7606H2423H7985H5709H2417H3052H5705H2166H573213As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man

coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.H1934H2370H3916H2376H718H1247H606H858H5974H6050H8065H4291H5705H6268H3118H7127H692514He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.H3052H7985H3367H4437H3606H5972H524H3961H6399H7985H5957H7985H3809H5709H4437H3809H2255

The Vision Is Explained

15I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me.H576H1841H3735H7308H1459H5085H2376H7217H92716So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this:H7127H5922H2298H4481H6966H1156H4481H3330H3606H1836H560H3046H6591H440617“These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.H459H7260H2423H581H703H703H4430H6966H4481H77218But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”H6922H5946H6902H4437H2631H4437H5705H5957H5705H5957H595719Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.H116H6634H3321H5922H7244H2423H1934H8133H4481H3606H3493H1763H8128H6523H2953H5174H399H1855H7512H7606H727120I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.H5922H6236H7162H7217H317H5559H4481H6925H8532H5308H7162H1797H5870H6433H4449H7260H2376H4481H7229H4481H227321As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them,H1934H2370H1797H7162H5648H7129H5974H6922H320222until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.H5705H6268H3118H858H1768H1780H3052H6922H5946H2166H4291H6922H2631H443723Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.H3652H560H7244H2423H1934H7244H4437H772H8133H4481H3606H4437H399H3606H772H1759H185524Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.H6236H7162H4481H4437H6236H4430H6966H321H6966H311H8133H4481H6933H8214H8532H443025He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.H4449H4406H6655H5943H1080H6922H5946H5452H8133H2166H1882H3052H3028H5705H5732H5732H6387H573226“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.H1780H3488H5709H7985H8046H7H5705H549127Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”H4437H7985H7238H4437H8460H3606H8065H3052H5972H6922H5946H4437H5957H4437H3606H7985H6399H808628That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.H5705H3542H5491H4406H576H1841H7476H7690H927H2122H8133H5922H5202H4406H3821