Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
(Revelation 13:1–10)

1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the sum of the matters.

2Daniel answered and said: “I was looking in my vision at night, and behold, four winds of the heavens were stirring up the great sea.† 3And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, changing this one from this one.

4The first was like a lion, with wings of an eagle unto it. I was looking until that its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and it was made to stand on two feet like a man, and a heart of man was given to it.

5And behold, another beast, a second, being like a bear, and to one side it was raised up, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

6After this, I was looking, and behold, another, like a leopard, and unto it were four wings of a bird on its back, and four heads were unto the beast, and dominion was given to it.

7After this, I was looking in my visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, being fearsome and terrible and exceedingly strong. Great teeth of iron were unto it; it was devouring and breaking in pieces, and it was trampling the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and ten horns were unto it. 8I was giving consideration to these horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it. And behold, the eyes were like the eyes of a man in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel’s Vision of the Ancient of Days

9I was looking,

until that thrones were set in place,

and the Ancient of Days took His seat.

His garment was white as snow,

and the hair of His head was was like pure wool.

His throne was as flames of fire,

and its wheels were burning fire;

10A river of fire was flowing

and coming forth from before Him.

A thousand thousands ministered to Him,

and myriads upon myriads stood before Him;

the judgment was seated,

and books were opened.

11I was looking then, because of the voice of the great words that the horn was speaking; I was looking until that the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and was given to the burning flame. 12And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; and an extension in life was given to them for a season and a time.

Daniel’s Vision of the Son of Man

13I was looking in my visions of the night,

and behold, upon the clouds of heaven,

One like the Son of Man† was coming,†

and to the Ancient of Days he reached,

and before Him they brought Him near.

14And to him was given dominion,

and honor, and a kingdom,

so that all the peoples, nations, and languages

should give service to him;

his dominion is a dominion everlasting,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom

is one that shall not be destroyed!

Daniel’s Visions Interpreted

15My spirit was grieved—I, Daniel—in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16I came near to one of those standing there, and I asked of him the truth about all this.

And he told it to me, and the interpretation of these things he made known to me. 17‘These great beasts, of which they are four, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18And the saints will receive the kingdom of the Most High, and they will possess the kingdom to the age, and to the age of Ages!’

19Then I wished to know about the fourth beast, which was different from them all, exceedingly fearsome, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, devouring, breaking into pieces, and trampling the remainder with its feet, 20and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that came up, and how fell from before it three, and this horn with eyes unto it, and a mouth speaking great things, and its appearance greater than its companions. 21I was looking, and this horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22until that the Ancient of Days came and judgment was made for the saints of the Most High, and the time was reached for the saints to possess the kingdom.

23Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms; It will devour all the earth, and will trample it, and break it in pieces. 24And the ten horns: From the kingdom, ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former, and three kings he will bring low. 25And he will speak words against the Most High, and the saints of the Most High he will wear out, and he will intend to change the times and the law; they will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

26And the judgment will be seated, and his dominion they will take away, to devastate and to destroy it to the end. 27And the kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom is a kingdom everlasting, and all dominions will serve and will obey Him.’

28Even to this is end the of the matter. I, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed about me, and I kept the matter in my heart.”