Open English Translation DAN Chapter 7

7 Previously, in Babylonian King Belshatstsar’s first year, Daniel had seen a dream and visions in his mind while lying on his bed. Then he wrote the dream down and gave a summary of it. 2 He explained:

In my vision at night I was looking, and suddenly, the four winds were stirring up the massive ocean, 3 and four huge creatures, each one different from the other, were coming up out of it.[ref]

• 4 The first one was like a lion but had the wings of an eagle. But as I watched, its wings were torn off, and it was lifted up and made to stand on two feet like a man, and then it was given a human mind.[ref]
• 5 The second creature resembled a bear with one arm raised. It was chomping on three ribs and it was told to go and gorge itself on more meat.
• 6 Next I saw another creature that resembled a leopard, but with four wings (like birds’ wings) attached to its back, and with four heads. It was given the authority to rule people.
• 7 The final creature that I saw in the vision was dreadful and terrifying. It was extremely strong with large iron teeth and it was devouring things then trampling and crushing the remainder. Another difference from the other creatures was that it had ten horns on its head.[ref]

8 While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among the others and three of the first horns that were in its way got pulled completely out. Incredibly, this new had eyes like a person and a mouth that had a lot of incredible things to say.[ref]

9 I kept looking in the vision while thrones were set up and the ancient one took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, and his hair looked like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were burning fire.[ref] 10 A river of fire was coming out and flowing along in front of him. Thousands and thousands served him, and myriads upon myriads were standing in front of him. The court sat in session and the documents were opened.[ref]

11 Then I continued looking because of the amazing things that the horn was saying. I kept looking until that final creature was killed and its body destroyed in the fire. 12 As for the other creatures, their authority to rule was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for a season and a time.

13 I was looking in the visions of the night, and suddenly, someone like a human male was coming with the clouds, and he came to the ancient one and was presented to him.[ref] 14 He was given authority to rule and splendour and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and ethnic groups will serve him. His authority will never end, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.[ref]

15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed inside me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing there and asked him what was going on, so he told me, and then he revealed the interpretation of those things to me:

17 Those four large creatures, they represent four kingdoms that will come to be in the world, 18 but the dedicated followers of the highest one will receive the kingdom, and they will take possession of the kingdom forever.

19 But I still wanted to know more about the fourth creature that was different from all the others, absolutely dreadful, with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and which devoured, then crushed and trampled down with its feet what was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up later, with three other horns falling. That horn had eyes and a mouth that said amazing things, and it looked stronger than the others. 21 I kept watching, and that horn was waging war with those followers and gaining over them[ref] 22 until the ancient one arrived and judged in favour of his followers. Then the time arrived when they took possession of the kingdom.[ref]

23 Then he said:

The fourth creature will be a fourth kingdom in the world which will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole world, and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, ten kings will become prominent in that kingdom, and then another king will appear. He will be different from the previous kings, and he will overcome three of them.[ref] 25 He will speak out against the highest one and will wear out the highest one’s followers. He will intend to change the times and the law, and indeed he’ll be allowed to for a two times and a half.[ref] 26 But the court will sit, and then his authority to rule will be taken away—to perish and be forever destroyed. 27 Then the kingdom and the authority to rule and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people who are the followers of the highest one. His kingdom will continue forever, and all earthly rulers will serve and obey him.[ref]

28 That’s everything that I saw in my visions. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts made me very upset and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.