Daniel 7:2-28

2Daniel 1said, “I was 2looking in my vision by night, and behold, the 3four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3And four great 4beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4The first was 5like 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 6mind also was given to it. 5And 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!’ 6After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, 7like a leopard, which had on its 8back four wings of a bird; the beast also had 9four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a 10fourth 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 11ten horns. 8While I was thinking about the horns, behold, 12another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, 13this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and 14a mouth uttering great boasts.

9“I kept looking Until 15thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His 16garment was white as snow, And the 17hair of His head like pure wool. His 18throne was 19ablaze with flames, Its 20wheels were a burning fire.10A river of 21fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; 22Thousands upon thousands were serving Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The 23court 24convened, And 25the books were opened. 11Then I kept looking because of the sound of the 26boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the 27burning 28fire. 12As 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.

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.14And to Him was given 29dominion, Honor, and 3031a kingdom, 32So that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all 33languages Might serve Him. 34His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; 35And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within 36me, and the 37visions 38in my mind kept 39alarming me. 16I approached one of those who were 40standing by and began requesting of him the 41exact meaning of all this. So he 42told 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. 18But the 4344saints of the Highest One will 45receive the kingdom and take possession of the kingdom forever, 46for all ages to come.’

19“Then I desired to know the 47exact meaning of the 48fourth beast, which was different from all 49the 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, 20and 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 50which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21I kept looking, and that horn was 51waging war with the 52saints and prevailing against them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and 53judgment was 54passed in favor of the 55saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the 56saints 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. 24As for the 57ten 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 58humble three kings. 25And he will 5960speak against the 61Most High and 62wear down the 63saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make 64alterations in times and in law; and 65they will be handed over to him for a 6667time, 68times, and half a 69time. 26But the court will 70convene for judgment, and his dominion will be 71taken away, 72annihilated and destroyed 73forever. 27Then the 7475sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the 76saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an 77everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will 78serve and obey Him.’

28“79At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were 80greatly alarming me and my 81face became pale, but I 82kept the matter 83to myself.”