Vision of the Four Beasts

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a (A)dream and visions [a]in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he (B)wrote the dream down and told the [b]following summary of [c]it. Daniel [d]said, “I was (C)looking in my vision by night, and behold, the (D)four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great (E)beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was (F)like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and set up on two feet like a man; a human [e]mind also was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and they said this to it: ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, (G)like a leopard, which had on its [f]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had (H)four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a (I)fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had (J)ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, behold, (K)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, [g]this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and (L)a mouth uttering great boasts.

The Ancient of Days Reigns

“I kept looking
Until (M)thrones were set up,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His (N)garment was white as snow,
And the (O)hair of His head like pure wool.
His (P)throne was [h]ablaze with flames,
Its (Q)wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of (R)fire was flowing
And coming out from before Him;
(S)Thousands upon thousands were serving Him,
And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The (T)court [i]convened,
And (U)the books were opened.

11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the [j]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the (V)burning [k]fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.

The Son of Man Presented

13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a son of man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14 And to Him was given (W)dominion,
Honor, and [l](X)a kingdom,
(Y)So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all [m]languages
Might serve Him.
(Z)His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
(AA)And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.

The Vision Interpreted

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within [n]me, and the (AB)visions [o]in my mind kept (AC)alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were (AD)standing by and began requesting of him the [p]exact meaning of all this. So he (AE)told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the [q](AF)saints of the Highest One will (AG)receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, [r]for all ages to come.’

19 “Then I desired to know the [s]exact meaning of the (AH)fourth beast, which was different from all [t]the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and [u]which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was (AI)waging war with the [v]saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and (AJ)judgment was [w]passed in favor of the [x]saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the [y]saints took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the (AK)ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will [z]humble three kings. 25 And he will [aa](AL)speak against the (AM)Most High and (AN)wear down the [ab]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make (AO)alterations in times and in law; and [ac]they will be handed over to him for a [ad](AP)time, [ae]times, and half a [af]time. 26 But the court will [ag]convene for judgment, and his dominion will be (AQ)taken away, [ah]annihilated and destroyed [ai]forever. 27 Then the [aj](AR)sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the [ak]saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an (AS)everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will (AT)serve and obey Him.’

28 [al]At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were (AU)greatly alarming me and my [am]face became pale, but I (AV)kept the matter [an]to myself.”

Vision of the Ram and Goat

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me, [ao]Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me [ap]previously. I (AW)looked in the vision, and while I was looking, I was in the citadel of (AX)Susa, which is in the province of (AY)Elam; and I looked in the vision, and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a (AZ)ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were [aq]long, but one was [ar]longer than the other, with the [as]longer one coming up last. I saw the ram (BA)butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand against him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [at]power, but (BB)he did as he pleased and made himself great.

While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a (BC)prominent horn between his eyes. He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. And I saw him come up beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and smashed his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his [au]power. Then the male goat made himself exceedingly great. But once (BD)he became powerful, the (BE)large horn was broken; and in its place four prominent horns came up toward the (BF)four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

And out of one of them came a rather (BG)small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [av](BH)Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the heavenly [aw]lights, and some of the [ax]lights, [ay]that is, some of the (BI)stars it threw down to the earth, and it (BJ)trampled them. 11 It even (BK)exalted itself [az]to be equal with the [ba]Commander of the army; and it removed the (BL)regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And because of [bb]an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will (BM)hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful. 13 Then I heard a (BN)holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “(BO)How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [bc]while the offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army [bd]to be (BP)trampled?” 14 And he said to me, “For (BQ)2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be [be]properly restored.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 When (BR)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [bf]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [bg]who looked like a (BS)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(BT)Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and (BU)fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (BV)time of the end.”

18 Now while he was talking with me, I was (BW)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (BX)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (BY)inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

The Ram’s Identity

20 The (BZ)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

21 The shaggy [bh]goat represents the [bi]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The (CA)broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.

23 And in the latter period of their [bj]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [bk]run their course,
A king will arise,
[bl]Insolent and skilled in [bm]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [bn](CB)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [bo]destroy mighty men and [bp]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [bq]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [br]own mind,
And he will [bs]destroy many while they are [bt]at ease.
He will even [bu](CC)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (CD)without [bv]human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (CE)true;
But as for you, (CF)keep the vision secret,
Because it pertains to many (CG)days in the future.”

27 Then I, Daniel, was [bw](CH)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and (CI)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.

Daniel’s Prayer for His People

In the first year of (CJ)Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to (CK)Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, (CL)seventy years. So I gave my [bx]attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer and pleading, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed, and said, “Oh, Lord, the (CM)great and awesome God, who (CN)keeps His covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, (CO)we have sinned, we have done wrong, and [by]acted wickedly and (CP)rebelled, even (CQ)turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not (CR)listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land.

(CS)Righteousness belongs to You, Lord, but to us [bz](CT)open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in (CU)all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. [ca]Open shame belongs to us, Lord, to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong (CV)compassion and forgiveness, [cb]because we have (CW)rebelled against Him; 10 and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His [cc]teachings which He (CX)set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 Indeed, (CY)all Israel has violated Your Law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the (CZ)curse has gushed forth on us, along with the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. 12 So He has (DA)confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our [cd](DB)rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great disaster; for under the entire heaven there has (DC)not been done anything like what was done in Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the (DD)Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us; yet we have (DE)not [ce]sought the favor of the Lord our God by (DF)turning from our wrongdoing and [cf]giving attention to Your truth. 14 So the Lord has [cg](DG)kept the disaster in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is (DH)righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

15 “And now, Lord, our God, You who (DI)brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and (DJ)made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 Lord, in accordance with all Your [ch]righteous acts, let now Your (DK)anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your (DL)holy mountain; for because of our sins and the wrongdoings of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an (DM)object of taunting to all those around us. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his pleas, and for [ci]Your sake, Lord, (DN)let Your face shine on Your (DO)desolate sanctuary. 18 My God, (DP)incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and (DQ)see our desolations and the city which is (DR)called by Your name; for we are not [cj](DS)presenting our pleas before You based on [ck]any merits of our own, but based on Your great compassion. 19 Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, my God, (DT)do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 While I was still (DU)speaking and praying, and (DV)confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and [cl]presenting my plea before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, the man (DW)Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision [cm]previously, [cn]came to me [co]in my extreme weariness about the time of the (DX)evening offering. 22 And he instructed me and talked with me and said, “Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with (DY)understanding. 23 At the (DZ)beginning of your pleas the [cp]command was issued, and I have come to tell you, because you are [cq](EA)highly esteemed; so pay attention to the message and gain (EB)understanding of the vision.

Seventy Weeks and the Messiah

24 “Seventy [cr](EC)weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to [cs]finish the wrongdoing, to [ct]make an end of sin, to (ED)make atonement for guilt, to bring in (EE)everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and [cu]prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a [cv](EF)decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until [cw](EG)Messiah the (EH)Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with [cx]streets and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks, the [cy]Messiah will be (EI)cut off and have [cz]nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will (EJ)destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [da]its end will come with a (EK)flood; even to the end [db]there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of [dc](EL)abominations will come the one who [dd]makes desolate, until a (EM)complete destruction, one that is [de]decreed, gushes forth on the one who [df]makes desolate.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
  2. Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
  3. Daniel 7:1 Lit words
  4. Daniel 7:2 Lit began speaking and said
  5. Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
  6. Daniel 7:6 Or sides
  7. Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
  8. Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
  9. Daniel 7:10 Lit took its place
  10. Daniel 7:11 Lit great
  11. Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
  12. Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
  13. Daniel 7:14 Lit tongues
  14. Daniel 7:15 Lit its sheath
  15. Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
  16. Daniel 7:16 Lit what was certain
  17. Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  18. Daniel 7:18 Lit and unto the age of the ages
  19. Daniel 7:19 Lit truth concerning
  20. Daniel 7:19 Lit of them
  21. Daniel 7:20 Lit its appearance was larger
  22. Daniel 7:21 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  23. Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
  24. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  25. Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  26. Daniel 7:24 Or humiliate
  27. Daniel 7:25 Lit speak words
  28. Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  29. Daniel 7:25 I.e., the saints
  30. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  31. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  32. Daniel 7:25 I.e., year(s)
  33. Daniel 7:26 Lit take its place
  34. Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
  35. Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
  36. Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
  37. Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  38. Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
  39. Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
  40. Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart
  41. Daniel 8:1 Lit I, Daniel
  42. Daniel 8:1 Lit at the beginning
  43. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  44. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  45. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
  46. Daniel 8:4 Lit hand
  47. Daniel 8:7 Lit hand
  48. Daniel 8:9 I.e., Israel
  49. Daniel 8:10 Lit host
  50. Daniel 8:10 Lit host
  51. Daniel 8:10 Or and some of the stars
  52. Daniel 8:11 Lit up to the
  53. Daniel 8:11 Or Prince
  54. Daniel 8:12 Or a wrongdoing
  55. Daniel 8:13 Or possibly and the offense that horrifies
  56. Daniel 8:13 Lit as a trampling
  57. Daniel 8:14 Lit justified
  58. Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
  59. Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
  60. Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
  61. Daniel 8:21 Lit king
  62. Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
  63. Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
  64. Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
  65. Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
  66. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin extraordinary things
  67. Daniel 8:24 Or ruin
  68. Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
  69. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  70. Daniel 8:25 Lit heart
  71. Daniel 8:25 Or ruin
  72. Daniel 8:25 Or secure
  73. Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
  74. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
  75. Daniel 8:27 Or done in
  76. Daniel 9:3 Lit face
  77. Daniel 9:5 Or made ourselves guilty
  78. Daniel 9:7 Lit the shame of face
  79. Daniel 9:8 Lit The shame of face
  80. Daniel 9:9 Or though
  81. Daniel 9:10 Or laws
  82. Daniel 9:12 Lit judges who judged us
  83. Daniel 9:13 Lit softened the face of
  84. Daniel 9:13 Or having insight into
  85. Daniel 9:14 Lit watched over the evil
  86. Daniel 9:16 Lit righteousnesses
  87. Daniel 9:17 Lit the sake of the Lord
  88. Daniel 9:18 Lit casting down
  89. Daniel 9:18 Lit our righteousnesses
  90. Daniel 9:20 Lit casting down
  91. Daniel 9:21 Lit at the beginning
  92. Daniel 9:21 Lit was reaching; or touching
  93. Daniel 9:21 Or in swift flight
  94. Daniel 9:23 Lit word went out
  95. Daniel 9:23 Lit desirable; or precious
  96. Daniel 9:24 Or units of seven, and so throughout the ch
  97. Daniel 9:24 Or bring to an end
  98. Daniel 9:24 Another reading is seal up sins
  99. Daniel 9:24 Lit prophet
  100. Daniel 9:25 Lit word
  101. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one
  102. Daniel 9:25 Or city square
  103. Daniel 9:26 Or anointed one
  104. Daniel 9:26 Or no one
  105. Daniel 9:26 Or his
  106. Daniel 9:26 Or war will be decreed for desolations
  107. Daniel 9:27 Or detestable things
  108. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror
  109. Daniel 9:27 Or determined
  110. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror

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