The Interpretation of the Dream
15 âI, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
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I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. âSo he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
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âThe four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
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But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it foreverâyes, for ever and ever.â
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âThen I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze clawsâthe beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
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I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fellâthe horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
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As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,
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until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
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âHe gave me this explanation: âThe fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
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The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
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He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
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â âBut the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
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Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.â
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âThis is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.â