Daniel 7

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and here is the summary^[a] of his account.

2 Daniel said, "In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea.

3 Four huge beasts^[b] came up from the sea,^[c] each different from the other.

4 "The first was like a lion^[d] but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

5 "Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.^[e] It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.'

6 "While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard^[f] with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads and was given authority to rule.

7 "While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast^[g] appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.^[h]

8 "While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,^[i] a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it.^[j] There were eyes in this horn like a man's, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

9 "As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool.^[k] His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.

10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened,^[l] and the books were opened.

11 "I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.^[m]

12 As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.^[n]

13 I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man^[o] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him.

14 He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve^[p] Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.^[q]

Interpretation of the Vision

15 "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,^[r] and the visions in my mind terrified me.

16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:

17 'These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.

18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.'

19 "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.

20 [I also wanted to know] about the 10 horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell-the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that was more visible than the others.

21 As I was watching, this horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them

22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

23 "This is what he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

24 The 10 horns are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.

25 He will speak words against the Most High and oppress^[s] the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals^[t] and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.^[u][v]

26 But the court will convene,^[w] and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.^[x]

27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.'

28 "This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale,^[y] but I kept the matter to myself."

Daniel 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

Daniel's vision of the four beasts. (1-8) and of Christ's kingdom. (9-14) The interpretation. (15-28)

Verses 1-8 This vision contains the same prophetic representations with Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The great sea agitated by the winds, represented the earth and the dwellers on it troubled by ambitious princes and conquerors. The four beasts signified the same four empires, as the four parts of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Mighty conquerors are but instruments of God's vengeance on a guilty world. The savage beast represents the hateful features of their characters. But the dominion given to each has a limit; their wrath shall be made to praise the Lord, and the remainder of it he will restrain.

Verses 9-14 These verses are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them. Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come, have plain allusion to this vision; especially ( revelation 20:11 revelation 20:12 ) . The Messiah is here called the Son of man; he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and was found in fashion as a man, but he is the Son of God. The great event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destroy every antichristian power, and to render his own kingdom universal upon earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expect that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of our death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects.

Verses 15-28 It is desirable to obtain the right and full sense of what we see and hear from God; and those that would know, must ask by faithful and fervent prayer. The angel told Daniel plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little horn, which made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Here is foretold the rage of papal Rome against true Christians. St. John, in his visions and prophecies, which point in the first place at Rome, has plain reference to these visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of our blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up; a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved. The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit beginning
• [b]. Dn 7:17
• [c]. Rv 13:1
• [d]. Rv 13:2
• [e]. Rv 13:2
• [f]. Rv 13:2
• [g]. Dn 7:19,23
• [h]. Dn 7:20,24; Rv 12:3; 13:1
• [i]. Dn 7:11,20-21,24-26
• [j]. Dn 7:20,24
• [k]. Isa 1:18
• [l]. Dn 7:26
• [m]. Dn 7:26
• [n]. Dn 2:21
• [o]. Mt 16:27-28; 26:64; Rv 1:7
• [p]. Dn 3:14,17-18,28; 6:17,21; 7:27
• [q]. Dn 7:27
• [r]. Lit was distressed in the middle of its sheath
• [s]. Lit wear out
• [t]. Lit change times
• [u]. Or for three and a half years
• [v]. Dn 12:7; Rv 12:14
• [w]. Dn 7:10
• [x]. Rv 19:20
• [y]. Lit my brightness changed on me; Dn 5:6,9-10

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 7

This chapter contains Daniel's vision of the four beasts, The time, place, manner, writing, and declaration of the vision, Da 7:1, the rise of the beasts, and the description of them, Da 7:2-8, the judgment of God upon them, especially the last, and the delivery of universal monarchy to his Son, Da 7:9-14, the interpretation of the vision at the request of Daniel, being greatly affected with it, Da 7:15-18, a particular inquiry of his about the fourth beast, concerning which a full account is given, Da 7:19-27, all which caused in him many thoughts of heart, and reflections of mind, Da 7:28.