Daniel 7

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and related the substance of the matter. Daniel said, “I was watching in my vision at night, and the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. Four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were plucked off. It was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a human mind was given to it. Then there was another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Rise and devour much flesh!’ After this I watched, and there was another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. The beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I watched in the night visions, and there was a fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled what remained with its feet. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. As I considered the horns, another horn, a little one, rose among them, and three of the former horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant words. I watched until thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool.
His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels were burning fire. A river of fire flowed and came out from before him.
A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court sat, and the books were opened. Then I watched because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. I kept watching until the beast was killed, its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the other beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I watched in the night visions, and there with the clouds of heaven came one like a son of man.
He approached the Ancient of Days and was brought before him. He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages would serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within my body, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the truth about all this. He spoke to me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and exceedingly terrifying. Its teeth were iron and its claws bronze. It devoured and crushed, and trampled what remained with its feet. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that rose, before which three fell. That horn had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant words, and it looked greater than its companions. As I watched, that horn waged war against the holy ones and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. Then the time came for the holy ones to possess the kingdom. He said, ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it, and crush it. The ten horns are ten kings who will arise from that kingdom. Another will arise after them, different from the former kings, and he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and wear down the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will sit, and his dominion will be taken away, to be annihilated and destroyed completely. Then the kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’ Here the matter ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Rights and attribution