Daniel 7 — Read & Listen Online | Father's Heart Bible

Four Beasts Rise from the Sea

Chapter 7.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and recorded the main points.

Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others.

The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

And there before me was another beast, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; it was told, 'Get up and gorge yourself on flesh.'

After this I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

After this, in my night vision I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast — terrifying, dreadful, and exceedingly strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured and crushed, and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. While I was considering 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 man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

Our Father Takes His Throne

As I watched, thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days, our Father, took his seat. His clothing was white as snow the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire and its wheels were all ablaze. A 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.

Then I kept watching because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their authority was stripped away, but they were allowed to live for a period of time.

The Son Receives the Kingdom

In my night vision I looked, and there before me, coming with the clouds of heaven, was one like a son of man — Jesus. He approached the Ancient of Days, our Father, and was led into his presence. ² And he was given authority, glory and a kingdom so that all peoples, nations and languages would serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The Vision Explained

I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind alarmed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of these things:

'These four great beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High, our Father, will receive the kingdom and possess it forever — yes, forever and ever.'

Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others — most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring and crushing and trampling underfoot whatever was left. I 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 had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully, and that looked greater than the others. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy ones and was defeating them, until the Ancient of Days, our Father, came and judgment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, our Father; and the time came when the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

This is what he said: '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. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; and he will subdue three kings. He will speak words against the Most High, our Father, and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, our Father. He will try to change the set times and the law, and the holy ones will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. ³

But the court will sit in judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, consumed and destroyed forever. Then the kingdom, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people, the holy ones of the Most High, our Father. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.'

This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply alarmed by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.

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