Four Beasts Rise From the Sea
7 1 In Belshazzar king of Babylon's first year, Daniel dreamed and saw visions in his head on his bed. He wrote the dream, summarizing the matters.
2 Daniel said: In my night vision I saw the four winds of heaven churning the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others.
4 The first was like a lion, with eagle's wings. I watched until its wings were torn off; it was lifted off the ground, set on two feet like a human, and given a human heart.
5 A second beast appeared, like a bear, raised up on one side, three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up, eat much flesh.'
6 After this I watched: another beast, like a leopard, with four bird wings on its back, four heads, and given authority to rule.
7 After this, in my night vision, a fourth beast appeared — dreadful, terrifying, incredibly strong, with huge iron teeth. It devoured, crushed, and trampled the rest underfoot, different from every beast before it, with ten horns. 8 While I watched the horns, another—a little horn—rose among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. It had eyes like human eyes and a mouth speaking boastfully.
9 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 a v9 The Ancient of Days seated on the throne of judgment is our Father — the same throne-vision John later sees in Revelation. 10 A river of fire flowed out, streaming from before him. Thousands of thousands served him, and ten thousand upon ten thousand stood before him. The court sat, and the books were opened.
11 I watched because of the boastful words the horn spoke; I watched until the beast was killed, its body destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 The rest of the beasts lost authority but had their lives prolonged for a set time and season.
13 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. b b v13 Jesus claimed this very vision as himself — "you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). Here the Son comes before the Father and receives an everlasting kingdom. 14 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
15 I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the truth about all this. He told me, revealing its interpretation.
17 'These four great beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High, our Father, will receive and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.
19 Then I wanted the truth about the fourth beast, different from all others — most terrifying, iron teeth, bronze claws — devouring, crushing, and trampling what remained underfoot. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up before which three fell — the horn with eyes and a boastful mouth, appearing bigger than the rest. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy ones and was defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days, our Father, came, judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, our Father, and the holy ones' time came to possess the kingdom.
23 He said: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom on earth, unlike all other kingdoms. It will devour, trample, and crush the whole earth.' 24 The ten horns: ten kings will arise from this kingdom. After them another arises, different from the first, and subdues three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High, our Father, oppress the holy ones of the Most High, our Father, and try to change the set times and the law. The holy ones will be handed to him for a time, times, and half a time. c c v25 'A time, times, and half a time' means three and a half years: one year + two years + half a year.
26 But the court will sit in judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, consumed and destroyed forever. 27 Kingdom, dominion, and greatness of all kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High, our Father. His kingdom is a kingdom without end; all rulers will serve and obey him.'
28 This ends the matter. I, Daniel — my thoughts terrified me, my face turned pale, but I kept it to myself.
