Daniel 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 the dream down and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision at night, and, behold, the four spirits of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.

Four great beasts came up from the sea, different from one another.

The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.

And behold, another beast came up, a second one, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said thus to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’

After this I saw, and behold, another came up, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong, and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped the residue with its feet, and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

I 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.

I watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was white like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.

A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him; thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court was seated, and the books were opened.

Then I kept looking because of the sound of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given over to be burned with fire.

As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, yet they were granted an extension of their lives for a season and a time.

I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came up to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and languages will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was deeply troubled, and the visions of my head alarmed me.

I came near to one of those who were standing by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made known to me the interpretation of the things.

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings who will arise out of the earth.

But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast that was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;

and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, and before which three fell, even the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and which was larger in appearance than its associates.

As I was watching, this horn was waging war with the holy ones, and prevailed against them

until the Ancient of Days came and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came that the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will trample it down and crush it.

As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them; and he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will put down three kings.

And he will speak words against the Most High, and will wear down the holy ones of the Most High, and he will think to change the times and the law. And the holy ones will be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.

But the court will sit in judgment, and they will take away his dominion, it will be destroyed and abolished forever.

And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, will be given to the people; to the holy ones of the Most High; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’

This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my color turned pale, but I kept the matter in my heart.”