DanielChapter 7

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¹It was the first year that Belshazzar ruled over Babylon. Daniel had a dream. Visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream. Here is the main part of what he wrote. ²Daniel said, "I looked in my vision at night. Suddenly, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. ³Then four huge beasts came up out of the sea. Each one was different from the others. ⁴The first beast was like a lion, and it had an eagle's wings. I watched until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a man. And it was given the mind of a man. ⁵Suddenly I saw another beast. It looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat all the meat you want!' ⁶After that, as I watched, another beast suddenly appeared. It was like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like a bird's wings. This beast also had four heads. It was given power to rule. ⁷After this, I kept watching in my vision at night. Suddenly a fourth beast appeared. It was terrifying and frightening and very strong. It had big iron teeth. It ate and crushed its victims. Then it stomped on whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it. And it had ten horns. ⁸I was thinking about the horns. Suddenly another horn came up among them. It was a little one. Three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man's eyes. It had a mouth that bragged about itself. ⁹As I kept watching,
thrones were set in place.
The Ancient of Days sat down.
His clothes were as white as snow.
The hair on his head was like pure wool.
His throne was flaming with fire.
Its wheels were all on fire. ¹⁰A river of fire was flowing.
It came out from in front of him.
Thousands and thousands served him.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court sat down to judge.
And the books were opened. ¹¹Then I kept watching because of the proud words the horn was speaking. I kept watching until the beast was killed. Its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. ¹²The other beasts had their power to rule taken away. But they were allowed to live a while longer, for a season and a time. ¹³In my vision at night I kept watching.
I saw One like the Son of Man
coming with the clouds of heaven.
He came to the Ancient of Days
and was led into his presence. ¹⁴He was given power and glory and a kingdom.
People of every nation and language were to serve him.
His rule is a rule that lasts forever.
It will never pass away.
His kingdom will never be destroyed. ¹⁵I, Daniel, was troubled in my spirit. The visions in my mind frightened me. ¹⁶I went up to one of those standing there. I asked him what all this really meant. So he explained these things to me. ¹⁷He said, 'These four huge beasts are four kings. They will rise up from the earth. ¹⁸But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom. They will have it forever. Yes, forever and ever.'a ¹⁹Then I wanted to know what the fourth beast really meant. It was different from all the others. It was very terrifying. It had iron teeth and bronze claws. It ate and crushed its victims. Then it stomped on whatever was left. ²⁰I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head. And I wanted to know about the other horn that came up. Three of the horns fell in front of it. This horn looked more powerful than the others. It had eyes, and it had a mouth that bragged about itself. ²¹As I watched, this horn was making war against God's holy people. And it was winning. ²²This went on until the Ancient of Days came. He judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time came for them to take over the kingdom. ²³This is what he told me. 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom. It will appear on the earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will eat up the whole earth. It will stomp it down and crush it. ²⁴The ten horns are ten kings. They will rise from this kingdom. After them another king will rise. He will be different from the kings before him. He will defeat three kings. ²⁵He will speak against the Most High. He will treat the holy people of the Most High cruelly. He will try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. ²⁶But the court will sit to judge. His power to rule will be taken away. It will be completely destroyed forever. ²⁷Then the kingdom and power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over. They will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever. All rulers will serve him and obey him.' ²⁸That is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me very much. My face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself."