Daniel

THE VISIONS

First: The Four Beasts

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon’s reign, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind while he was sleeping. When he woke up, he wrote down the dream. This is how the story began:

Daniel said: 

“I saw the following in my vision: the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, 

and four great beasts, each different from the others, came out of the sea.

The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings. As I looked at it, its wings were torn off. It was lifted from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart. 

The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told: ‘Go and devour much flesh. 

I kept watching and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

I continued experiencing my night visions and saw a terrifying fourth beast. It was fierce and incredibly powerful; it had large iron teeth; it ate, tore things apart, and crushed whatever remained beneath its feet. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns. 

I was watching the horns when another small horn appeared among them, and three of the original horns were pulled out by the roots to make room for the new one. It had eyes like a human’s and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.

I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place, and One of Great Age sat on his seat:

His robe was white, like snow, 

and his hair was white as washed wool. 

His throne was made of flames of fire 

with wheels of blazing fire. 

A river of fire burst forth 

And flowed before him. 

Thousands upon thousands 

served him 

and a countless multitude 

stood before him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats 

and opened the book. 

But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth, which I had seen before, this animal was killed before my eyes; and its body was destroyed and cast into the fire. 

Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to remain alive for a while, until the designated time.

I continued observing the night vision: Someone like a son of man appeared on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought before him. 

Dominion, honor, and kingship were bestowed upon him, and all peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is everlasting and will never end; his kingdom will never be destroyed.

I, Daniel, have been deeply troubled because these visions terrified me. 

I approached one of the people standing there and asked him to explain what all this meant. He responded and provided me with the interpretation of these things:

‘These four beasts are four kings who will rise from the earth.

But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, to possess it eternally, forever and ever.’

Then I wanted to understand the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from the others—extraordinarily terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained.

I also wanted to know about the ten horns it had on its head, the other horn that had grown, the first three horns that fell, and this horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, which looked greater than the other horns.

As I watched, this horn waged war against the holy ones and subdued them

until the One of Great Age arrived to deliver justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time finally came for the holy ones to possess the kingdom.

Then I was told:

‘The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the earth, crush it, and destroy it. 

The ten horns represent ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another will rise after them and will eliminate the three kings.

This king will insult the Most High and persecute the holy ones of the Most High. He will try to change the feasts and the laws. The holy ones will be handed over to his power for a time, two times, and half a time. 

But judgment will come, and dominion will be taken from him; he shall be destroyed and completely wiped out.  ²

The kingship, dominion, and leadership of all the kingdoms of the world shall be given to the people of God’s holy ones: his kingdom will be everlasting. All the kingdoms shall serve him and be under his authority.

Here ends the narrative. I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed in my thoughts. I grew pale, and I kept these things in my heart.