Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

In the first year of (A)Belshazzar king of Babylon, (B)Daniel saw a dream and (C)visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared,[a] “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, (D)the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts (E)came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, (F)another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a (G)leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and (H)dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, (I)terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; (J)it devoured and broke in pieces (K)and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and (L)it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, (M)there came up among them another horn, a little one, (N)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 (O)a mouth speaking great things.

The Ancient of Days Reigns

“As I looked,

(P)thrones were placed,
    and the (Q)Ancient of Days took his seat;
(R)his clothing was white as snow,
    and (S)the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
    (T)its wheels were burning fire.
10 (U)A stream of fire issued
    and came out from before him;
(V)a thousand thousands (W)served him,
    (X)and ten thousand times ten thousand (Y)stood before him;
the (Z)court sat in judgment,
    and (AA)the books were opened.

11 “I looked then because of the sound of (AB)the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, (AC)the beast was killed, and its body destroyed (AD)and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, (AE)their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and (AF)behold, with the clouds of heaven
    there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the (AG)Ancient of Days
    and was presented before him.
14 (AH)And to him was given dominion
    and glory and a kingdom,
that all (AI)peoples, nations, and languages
    should serve him;
(AJ)his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
    that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel's Vision Interpreted

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me[b] was anxious, and (AK)the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 (AL)‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But (AM)the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:2 Aramaic answered and said
  2. Daniel 7:15 Aramaic within its sheath

11 In him we have obtained (A)an inheritance, (B)having been predestined (C)according to the purpose of him who works all things according to (D)the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be (E)to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard (F)the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, (G)were sealed with the (H)promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is (I)the guarantee[a] of our (J)inheritance until (K)we acquire (L)possession of it,[b] (M)to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, (N)because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[c] toward all the saints, 16 I (O)do not cease to give thanks for you, (P)remembering you in my prayers, 17 that (Q)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, (R)may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 (S)having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is (T)the hope to which he has called you, what are (U)the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, (V)according to the working of (W)his great might 20 that he worked in Christ (X)when he raised him from the dead and (Y)seated him at his right hand (Z)in the heavenly places, 21 (AA)far above (AB)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above (AC)every name that is named, not only in (AD)this age but also in the one to come. 22 And (AE)he put all things under his feet and gave him as (AF)head over all things to the church, 23 (AG)which is his body, (AH)the fullness of him (AI)who fills (AJ)all in all.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 1:14 Or down payment
  2. Ephesians 1:14 Or until God redeems his possession
  3. Ephesians 1:15 Some manuscripts omit your love

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