Beginning

Daniel’s Vision

10 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar). The message was trustworthy and concerned a great conflict. He understood it and had insight concerning the vision.

² “At that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three straight weeks.^{[a] 3} I ate no fancy foods—neither meat nor wine entered my mouth. Furthermore, I didn’t use any ointment until the end of the entire three weeks.^{[b] 4} On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was beside the bank of the great Tigris^[c] River, ⁵ I lifted up my eyes to look, and to my surprise, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was encircled with gold from Uphaz! ⁶ His body was like beryl,^[d] his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs were like polished bronze, and his speech roared^[e] like that of a crowd.

⁷ “Now I, Daniel, was the only one to receive the vision—the men who were with me didn’t see it.^[f] However, an enormous fear overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide, ⁸ and I was left alone to observe this magnificent vision. Nevertheless, no strength remained in me—my face lost its color, and I became weak. ⁹ As I listened to the sound of his words, I fell down on my face unconscious, with my face to the ground.”

Daniel is Given Understanding

¹⁰ “All of a sudden, a hand touched me and lifted me upon my hands and knees. ¹¹ He told me, ‘Daniel, man highly regarded, understand the message that I’m about to relate to you. Stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.’ When he spoke this statement to me, I stood there trembling.

¹² “‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel,’ he told me, ‘because from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I’ve come in answer to^[g] your prayers. ¹³ However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then all of a sudden, Michael, one of the chief angels,^[h] came to assist me! I had been detained there near the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I’ve come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.’

¹⁵ “After he had spoken to me like this, I bowed my face to the ground, unable to speak. ¹⁶ But suddenly someone who resembled a human being touched my lips, so addressing the one who was standing in front of me, I opened my mouth and said, ‘Sir,^[i] I’m overwhelmed with anguish by this vision. I have no strength left.^{[j] 17} So how can a servant of my lord talk with someone like you, sir?^[k] And as for me, there’s no strength left in me, and I can hardly breathe.’

¹⁸ “Then this person who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me ¹⁹ and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, man highly regarded. Be at peace, and be strong.’

“As soon as he spoke to me, I gained strength and replied, ‘Sir, please^[l] speak, now that you’ve strengthened me.’

²⁰ “Then he said, ‘Do you understand why I came to you? Soon I’ll return to fight the prince of Persia. I’m going forth to war—and take note—the prince of Greece^[m] is coming! ²¹ I’ll inform you about what has been recorded in the Book of Truth. No one stands firmly with me against these opponents,^[n] except Michael your prince. 11 ¹ In year one of King Darius the Mede, I arose to fortify and strengthen him.’”

International Conflicts to Come

² “‘Now I’ll tell you the truth: Pay attention! Three more kings will arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain more than them all. As soon as he gains power by means of his wealth, he’ll stir up everyone against the Grecian kingdoms.

³ “‘A mighty king will come to power, and he’ll rule with awesome energy, doing whatever he pleases. ⁴ However, after he has come to power, his kingdom will be broken and parceled out in all directions.^[o] It won’t go to his succeeding descendants, nor will its power match how he ruled, because his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to successors besides them.

⁵ “‘The southern king will become strong, along with one of his officials, who will become stronger than he and rule over his own realm with great power. ⁶ After a number of years, they’ll become allies and the daughter of the southern king will go to the northern king in order to craft alliances. But she won’t remain in power, nor will he retain his power. Instead, she’ll be surrendered, along with her entourage, the one who fathered her, and the one who supported her at that time.

⁷ “‘One of her family line will replace him. He’ll come against the army and enter the fortress of the northern king, conquering them and becoming victorious. ⁸ He’ll also take their gods, their molten images, and their valuable vessels of silver and gold into Egypt as hostages. He’ll avoid the northern king for a number of years. ⁹ Then he’ll come against the realm of the southern king and then return to his own territory. ¹⁰ His sons will prepare for war, assembling an army of considerable force. One of them will come on forcefully, overflowing, passing through, and waging war up to his own fortress.

¹¹ “‘The southern king will fly into a rage and march out to fight the northern king. He’ll gather a large army, but that army will be handed over to him. ¹² When that army has been defeated, he’ll become overconfident and slaughter many thousands, but he won’t succeed. ¹³ The northern king will return and raise a greater army than before. After a few years, he’ll advance with a great force and with a vast amount of armaments.’”

Rebellion against the Southern King

¹⁴ “‘During those years, many will rebel against the southern king. The more violent ones among your people will rebel in order to fulfill this vision, but they will fail. ¹⁵ Then the northern king will come, erect a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The southern forces won’t prevail—not even with their best troops—and they’ll have no strength to take a stand.

¹⁶ “‘However, the one who invades him will do whatever he wants to do. No one will oppose him. He’ll establish himself in the Beautiful Land, wielding devastating power. ¹⁷ He’ll decide to come with the full power of his kingdom, bringing with him an alliance that he’ll implement. He’ll give him a daughter in marriage to overthrow it, but it won’t succeed or work out for him. ¹⁸ Then he’ll turn his attention to the coastal lands^[p] and will capture many. But a commander will put an end to his insolence, repaying him for his scorn. ¹⁹ He’ll turn his attention toward the fortresses in his own territory, but he’ll stumble and fall, and won’t endure. ²⁰ His successor will send out a tax collector for royal splendor, but in a short period of time he’ll be shattered, though neither in anger nor in battle.’”

The Despicable King

²¹ “‘In his place there will arise a despicable person, upon whom no royal authority has been conferred, but he’ll invade in a time of tranquility, taking over the kingdom through deception. ²² Overwhelming forces will be carried away before him, along with the Commander-in-Chief^[q] of the covenant. ²³ From the time that an alliance is made with him, he’ll act deceitfully, and he will go up and take power with only a small group of nations. ²⁴ He’ll invade the most prosperous areas of the province during a time of tranquility, accomplishing what neither his predecessors nor his ancestors ever could. He’ll distribute war spoils, booty, and wealth to them, and he’ll plot the overthrow of fortresses, though only for a time. ²⁵ He’ll encourage himself against the southern king by raising^[r] a large army. As a result, the southern king will mobilize for war with a large and powerful army, but he won’t succeed because they will devise elaborate schemes against him. ²⁶ His own security detail^[s] will undermine him, his army will be swept away, and many will fall and be killed in battle.^{[t] 27} Now as for the two kings, their intentions will be evil, and they’ll promote deception at their dinner table, but none of this will succeed, because the end won’t have come yet. ²⁸ Then he’ll return to his homeland with great wealth, will focus his attention against the holy covenant, and will take action as he returns to his land.’”

Desecration of the Sanctuary

²⁹ “‘At the scheduled time he’ll return, moving southward, but the end result won’t be as before, ³⁰ because ships will come against him from the Mediterranean islands.^[u] Disheartened, he’ll return, incited to vehemence against the holy covenant, and he’ll take action. As he returns, he’ll show deference to those who abandon the holy covenant. ³¹ Armed forces will arise from his midst, and they’ll desecrate the fortified Sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and establish the destructive desecration. ³² Through flattery he’ll corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but people who know their God will be strong and take action. ³³ Insightful people^[v] will impart understanding to many, though they’ll fall by sword, by fire, by captivity, and as war booty for a while.^{[w] 34} When they fall, they’ll be given some relief, but many will join them by pretending to be sympathetic to their cause. ³⁵ Some of the insightful will fall so they may be refined, purged, and purified until the time of the end, since it will surely come about.’”

The King Who Calls Himself God

³⁶ “‘The king will do as he pleases. He’ll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of Gods. He’ll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out. ³⁷ He’ll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women—he won’t recognize any god, because he’ll exalt himself above everything. ³⁸ He’ll glorify the god of fortresses,^[x] a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures. ³⁹ He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he’ll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he’ll parcel out the land for a profit.

⁴⁰ “‘At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. He’ll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through. ⁴¹ He’ll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials.

⁴² He’ll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt won’t escape. ⁴³ He’ll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites^[y] at his feet. ⁴⁴ However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he’ll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many. ⁴⁵ When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas^[z] facing the mountain of holy Glory, he’ll come to his end, and no one will help him.’”

The End Times

12 “‘At that time, Michael^[aa] will arise, the great prince who will stand up on behalf of your people, and a time of trouble will come like there has never been since nations began until that time. Also at that time, your people will be delivered—everyone who will have been written in the book. ² Many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken—some to life everlasting, and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt. ³ Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine^[ab] like the stars for ever and ever. ⁴ Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.’”

The Vision of the Two Speakers

⁵ “Then while I, Daniel, continued watching, suddenly two others stood there, one on this side of the river bank and one on the other side. ⁶ One asked the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing^[ac] above the waters of the river, ‘How long until the fulfillment of the wonders?’

⁷ “I heard the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing^[ad] above the waters of the river as he lifted his right and left hands to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half. When the shattering of the power of the holy people has occurred, all these things will conclude.”

Daniel’s Unanswered Question

⁸ “I heard, but I didn’t understand. So I asked, ‘Sir,^[ae] what happens next?’

⁹ “He answered, ‘Go on your way, Daniel, because these matters^[af] are wrapped up and sealed until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, though the wicked will continue to act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. Nevertheless, the insightful^[ag] will understand. ¹¹ There will be^[ah] 1,290 days from the time the regular burnt offering^[ai] is rescinded and the destructive desolation established. ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres and attains to the 1,335 days. ¹³ Now as for you, keep on going until the end—you’ll rest and then rise to receive your reward at the end of the age.’”^[aj]