Daniel Sees Visions Of Current And Future Events

Famously interpreted as the era of Babylonia, Persia, Greece and Romans.

Beyond these kingdoms will be the everlasting kingdom — the Messianic era.

A clear indication that the Messiah is yet to come.

“Daniel’s Vision Of The Four Beasts”

“The Judgment”

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylonia, Daniel saw a dream and visions in his head upon his bed; he then wrote down the dream, and told the major parts.
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Four immense beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
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The first was like a lion, and it had eagle’s wings. …
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Then behold! another beast, a second one, similar to a bear; … ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
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After this I was watching and behold! another [beast], like a leopard, with four bird’s wings on its back; the beast had four heads, and it was given dominion.
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… a fourth beast, exceedingly terrifying, awesome and strong. it had immense iron teeth, and it was devouring and crumbling, and trampling with its feet what remained. It was different from all the beasts that had preceded it, and it had ten horns.
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… another horn, a small one, … There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a mouth speaking haughty words.
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I watched as thrones were set up, and the One of Ancient Days sat. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like clean wool; His throne was of fiery flames, its wheels blazing fire.
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A stream of fire was flowing forth from before Him, a thousand thousands were serving Him and myriad myriads were standing before Him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened.
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.. I watch until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and consigned to a flame of fire.
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… one like a man came; he came up to the One of Ancient Days, and they brought him before Him.
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he was given dominion, honor and kingship, so that all peoples, nations and languages would serve him; his dominion would be an everlasting dominion that would never pass, and his kingship would never be destroyed.
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I approached one of the standing ones, and I asked him for the truth concerning all this. So he spoke to me, making the interpretation of the matters known to me:
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‘These immense beasts, which are four: Four kingdoms will arise from the earth.
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But the holy supreme ones will receive the kingship, and they will inherit the kingship forever, forever and ever.’
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Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from them all —
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until the One of Ancient Days came and the holy supreme ones were granted justice; and the time came, and the holy ones inherited the kingship.
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This is what he said, ‘The fourth beast: There will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all kingdoms; it will devour the entire earth, and trample and crumble it.
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… and he will humble three kings.
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He will speak words against the Supreme One, and he will exhaust the holy supreme ones, and he will plan to alter the seasons and the law; …
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But judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion to be annihilated and to be destroyed completely.
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And the kingship, the dominion and the grandeur of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the holy supreme nation. Its kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey it.’
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Until here is the end of the description. I, Daniel — my thoughts frightened me greatly and my countenance changed; but I guarded the matter in my heart.
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1 In the first year of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and the visions of his mind [while asleep] on his bed; then he wrote the dream and said the beginnings of the matters.
2 Daniel raised his voice and said: I saw in my vision during the night, and behold the four winds of the heavens were stirring up the Great Sea.
3 And four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea, each one different from the other.
4 The first one was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle, until its wings were plucked and it was taken from the earth, and it stood on feet like a man, and the heart of a mortal was given it.
5 And behold another second beast, resembling a bear, and it stood to one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth, and so did they say to it, ‘Get up, eat much meat.’
6 After this, I saw, and behold another one, like a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird on its back, and the beast had four heads, and dominion was given it.
7 After this, I saw in the visions of the night, and behold a fourth beast, awesome and dreadful and exceedingly strong, and it had huge iron teeth. It ate and crushed, and trampled the rest with its feet, and it was different from all the beasts that were before me, and it had ten horns.
8 I looked at these horns and behold another small horn came up among them, and three of the first horns were plucked out before it, and behold eyes like human eyes were on this horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.
9 I was looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days sat; His raiment was as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like clean wool; His throne was sparks of fire, its wheels were a burning fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing and emerging from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand ten thousands arose before Him. Justice was established, and the books were opened.
11 I saw then from the sound of the arrogant words that the horn spoke, I looked until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to a flame of fire.
12 But as for the other beasts, their dominion was removed, and they were given an extension of life until a set time.
13 I saw in the visions of the night, and behold with the clouds of the heaven, one like a man was coming, and he came up to the Ancient of Days and was brought before Him.
14 And He gave him dominion and glory and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and tongues shall serve him; his dominion is an eternal dominion, which will not be removed, and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
15 My spirit-I, Daniel-became troubled within its sheath, and the visions of my mind terrified me.
16 I drew near to one of those standing [there], and I asked him the truth of all this, and he told it to me, and he let me know the interpretation of the matters.
17 [He said] “These huge beasts, which are four, are four kingdoms, which will arise from the earth.
18 And the high holy ones will receive the kingdom, and they will inherit the kingdom forever and to all eternity.”
19 Then I wished to determine the truth of the fourth beast, which was different from all of them- excessively dreadful; its teeth were of iron and its nails of copper; it ate and crushed to powder, and the rest it trampled with its feet.
20 And concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other one that came up and [the] three [that] fell before it, and the horn that was like this and that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogantly, and its appearance was greater than [that of] its companions.
21 I looked and the horn that was like this waged war with the holy ones and overwhelmed them.
22 Until the Ancient of Days came and gave revenge to the high holy ones, and the time arrived that the holy ones inherited the kingdom.
23 So he said, “The fourth beast [represents] a fourth kingdom [that] will be on the earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and it will devour the whole land and trample it and crush it.
24 And the ten horns that [sprout] from that kingdom [represent] ten kings [that] will rise, and the last one will rise after them, and he will be different from the first, and he will humble three kings.
25 And he will speak words against the Most High, and he will oppress the high holy ones, and he will think to change the times and the law, and they will be delivered into his hand until a time, two times, and half a time.
26 And the judgment shall be established, and they will remove his dominion to be destroyed and annihilated until the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people of the high holy ones; its kingdom is a perpetual kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey [it].”
28 Until here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my colors changed upon me, and I kept the matter in my heart.