Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his minda as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,b and here is the summaryc of his account. 2Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heavend stirred up the great sea. 3Four huge beastse came up from the sea,f each different from the other.

4“The first was like a liong but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

5“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.h It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

6“While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopardi with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four headsj and was given authority to rule.

7“While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beastk appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.l

8“While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,m a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man’s, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.n

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

9“As I kept watching,

thrones were set in place,o

and the Ancient of Days took His seat.

His clothing was white like snow,p

and the hair of His head like whitest wool.q

His throne was flaming fire;r

its wheels were blazing fire.s

10A river of fire was flowing,

coming out from His presence.

Thousands upon thousandst served Him;

ten thousand times ten thousandu stood before Him.

The court was convened,v

and the books were opened.w

11“I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.x 12As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.y 13I continued watching in the night visions,

and I saw One like a son of manz

coming with the clouds of heaven.aa

He approached the Ancient of Days

and was escorted before Him.

14He was given authority to rule,ab

and glory, and a kingdom;

so that those of every people,

nation, and languageac

should servead Him.

His dominion is an everlastingae dominion

that will not pass away,

and His kingdom is one

that will not be destroyed.

Interpretation of the Vision

15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,af and the visions in my mind terrified me.ag 16I approached one of those who were standing by and asked himah the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:ai 17‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18But the holy ones of the •Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’aj

19“Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,ak the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the 10 hornsal on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell — the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,am and that was more visible than the others. 21As I was watching, this horn waged waran against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgmentao was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

23“This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24The 10 hornsap are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25He will speak words against the Most Highaq and oppressar the holy onesas of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivalsat and laws,au and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.av, aw 26But the court will convene,ax and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.ay 27The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,az and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

28“This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,ba and my face turned pale,bb but I kept the matter to myself.”bc