Daniel 7

The Vision of the Four Beasts and the Ancient of Days

¹In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

²Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea.

³Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.

⁴“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.

⁵“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’

⁶“After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.

⁷“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.

⁸“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.

⁹“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.

¹⁰A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.

¹¹“I watched at that time because of the voice of the arrogant words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.

¹²As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

¹³“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.

¹⁴Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.

The Interpretation of the Four Kingdoms Vision

¹⁵“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

¹⁶I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

¹⁷‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.

¹⁸But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

¹⁹“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;

²⁰and concerning the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

²¹I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,

²²until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

²³“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down and break it in pieces.

²⁴As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings.

²⁵He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

²⁶“‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.

²⁷The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’

²⁸“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

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Next Daniel 8

Daniel receives a prophetic vision of four successive world empires represented as beasts rising from the sea, culminating in God's eternal kingdom. The vision reveals the Ancient of Days presiding over divine judgment and granting dominion to 'one like a son of man' whose kingdom will never be destroyed. This apocalyptic revelation provides hope that despite earthly persecution and the arrogance of human rulers, God's sovereign plan will ultimately triumph.

Context

This chapter marks a shift from historical narratives to apocalyptic visions, transitioning from Daniel's experiences in Babylon to prophetic revelations about future world empires.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Daniel's Vision Begins Daniel dreams of four winds stirring the sea and four great beasts emerging from the waters.
4-8
The Four Beasts Described Daniel sees a lion with eagle's wings, a bear with three ribs, a leopard with four wings and heads, and a terrifying fourth beast with ten horns and a boastful little horn.
9-12
The Ancient of Days and Divine Judgment God appears on His fiery throne surrounded by countless servants, opens the books of judgment, and destroys the fourth beast.
13-14
The Son of Man Receives Dominion One like a son of man approaches the Ancient of Days and receives an everlasting kingdom over all peoples and nations.
15-28
Interpretation of the Vision An angelic interpreter explains that the beasts represent four kingdoms, with the saints ultimately receiving God's eternal kingdom despite persecution.

The Vision of the Four Beasts and the Ancient of Days

7:1–7:14

apocalyptic vision solemn

Daniel receives a vision of four great beasts representing earthly kingdoms, followed by the Ancient of Days establishing divine judgment. This apocalyptic vision reveals God's ultimate sovereignty over human empires and the coming divine kingdom.

person_contrast

Daniel's vision uniquely combines maritime chaos imagery ("four winds...broke out on the great sea") with courtroom language ("thrones were placed," "books were opened"), creating an unprecedented fusion of cosmic disorder and divine legal proceedings.

The Interpretation of the Four Kingdoms Vision

7:15–7:28

apocalyptic instruction hopeful

An angelic interpreter explains Daniel's vision, revealing that the four beasts represent earthly kingdoms that will persecute God's people before the saints ultimately receive the eternal kingdom. The vision promises God's people will triumph despite temporary suffering.

person_contrast

Daniel's distress over the vision contrasts sharply with the angel's reassuring interpretation that "the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom" (v. 18), transforming apocalyptic terror into ultimate hope.