CHAPTER 7
In the first
year
of the reign
of Belshazzar
over Babylon,
Daniel
had
a dream,
and visions
passed through his mind
as he lay
on his bed.
He wrote down
the dream,
and this is the summary
of his account.
Daniel
declared:
“In my vision
in
the night
I
looked,
and suddenly
the four
winds
of heaven
were churning up
the Great
Sea.
The first beast
was like a lion,
and it had
the wings
of an eagle.
I
watched
until
its wings
were torn off
and it was lifted up
from
the ground
and made to stand
on
two feet
like a man,
and given
the mind
of a man.
Suddenly
another
beast appeared,
which
looked like
a bear.
It was raised up
on one
of its sides,
and it had three
ribs
in its mouth
between
its teeth.
So
it was told,
‘Get up
and gorge
yourself on flesh!’
Next,
as I
watched,
another beast
appeared.
It was like a leopard,
and on
its back
it had
four
wings
like those of
a bird.
The beast also
had four
heads,
and it was given
authority to rule.
After
this,
as I
watched
in my vision
in the night,
suddenly
a fourth
beast appeared,
and it was terrifying—
dreadful
and extremely
strong—
with
large
iron
teeth.
It devoured
and crushed;
then it trampled
underfoot
whatever was left.
It was different
from
all
the beasts
before it,
and it had ten
horns.
While I was
contemplating
the horns,
suddenly another
horn,
a little one,
came up
among them,
and three
of
the first
horns
were uprooted
before
it.
This
horn
had eyes
like those
of a man
and a mouth
that spoke
words of arrogance.
As
I continued
to watch:
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
like pure
wool.
His throne
was flaming
with fire,
and its wheels
were all ablaze.
A river
of
fire
was flowing,
coming out
from His presence.
Thousands
upon thousands
attended Him,
and myriads
upon myriads
stood
before Him.
The court
was convened,
and the books
were opened.
Then
I kept watching
because of
the arrogant
words
the horn
was speaking.
As
I continued
to watch,
the beast
was slain,
and its body
was destroyed
and thrown into
the blazing
fire.
As for the rest
of the beasts,
their dominion
was removed,
but they were granted
an extension
of life
for
a season
of time.
In my vision
in the night
I continued
to watch:
And I saw
One like a Son
of Man
coming
with
the clouds
of heaven.
He approached
the Ancient
of Days
and was led
into His presence.
And
He was given
dominion,
glory,
and kingship,
so that every
people,
nation,
and language
should serve Him.
His dominion
is an everlasting
dominion
that
will not
pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that
will never
be destroyed.
I approached
one
of
those who stood by,
and I asked
him
the true meaning
of
all
this.
So he told
me
the interpretation
of these things:
But the saints
of the Most High
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—
extremely
terrifying—
with iron
teeth
and bronze
claws,
devouring,
crushing,
and trampling
underfoot
whatever was left.
I also wanted to know about
the ten
horns
on its head
and the other
horn that
came up,
before which
three of them
fell—
the horn
whose appearance was
more imposing than
the others,
with eyes
and with
a mouth
that spoke
words of arrogance.
until
the Ancient
of Days
arrived
and pronounced
judgment
in favor of the saints
of the Most High,
and the time
came
for them
to possess
the kingdom.
This is what
he said:
‘The fourth
beast is
a fourth
kingdom
that will appear
on the earth,
different
from
all
the other kingdoms,
and it will devour
the whole
earth,
trample it down,
and crush it.
And the ten
horns
are ten
kings
who will rise
from
this kingdom.
After them
another king,
different
from
the earlier ones,
will rise
and subdue
three
kings.
He will speak out
against
the Most High
and oppress
the saints
of the Most High,
intending
to change
the set times
and laws,
and the saints will be given
into his hand
for
a time,
and times,
and half
a time.
But the court
will convene,
and his dominion
will be taken away
and completely destroyed
forever.
Then the sovereignty,
dominion,
and greatness
of
the kingdoms
under
all
of heaven
will be given
to the people,
the saints
of the Most High.
His kingdom
will be an everlasting
kingdom,
and all
rulers
will serve
and obey Him.’
Thus
ends
the matter.
As for me,
Daniel,
my thoughts
troubled me
greatly,
and my face
turned pale.
But I kept
the matter
to myself.”