Daniel 7

1 In the first [initial, beginning] year of the reign [kingly rule, dominion] of Belshazzar [king of Babylon, son of Nebuchadnezzar] over Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion], Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] had a dream [vision, supernatural revelation], and visions [sights, appearances] passed through his mind [thoughts, imagination] as he lay [rested, slept] on his bed [couch, place of rest]. He wrote down [recorded, documented] the dream [vision, revelation], and this is the summary [account, narrative] of his account [story, testimony]. word study 2 Daniel declared [spoke and said]: “In my vision [sight or appearance, a dream] in the night [darkness, the period of rest] I looked, and suddenly [behold, look!] the four [a quantity of four] winds [spirits, breezes] of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] were churning up [striving, rushing forth] the great [large, abundant] sea [a large body of water, the Mediterranean]. word study 3 Then four [a quantity of, numeric value] great [large in size or influence] beasts [living creatures, animals] came up [to ascend, go up] out of the sea [a large body of water], each one [this, a specific one] different [changed, altered] from the others [from one another, diverse]: word study 4 The first [former, preceding] beast was like a lion [fierce and powerful], and it had the wings [feathered limbs for flying] of an eagle. I watched [gazed, observed] until its wings [bird’s wings] were torn off [plucked, pulled off] and it was lifted up [raised, elevated] from the ground [earth, the world] and made to stand [established, set up] on two feet [like a human, on hind legs] like a man [a human being, mankind], and given [provided, bestowed] the mind [heart, inner self] of a man [a human being, with thoughts and feelings]. word study 5 Suddenly [without warning, unexpectedly] another [different, distinct] beast [wild animal, creature] appeared, which looked like [resembled, was similar to] a bear [large carnivorous mammal]. It was raised up [lifted, stood] on one [single, sole] of its sides [areas, regions], and it had three [a trio, a set of three] ribs [curved bones, skeletal framework] in its mouth [oral cavity, opening] between [among, amidst] its teeth [sharp, pointed structures]. So it was told [commanded, instructed], ‘Get up [arise, stand] and gorge [consume, devour] yourself on flesh [animal tissue, living matter] [abundantly, extensively]!’ word study 6 Next, as I watched [observed, beheld], another [different, distinct] beast [living creature, animal] appeared [came into view]. It was like a leopard [with striped fur], and on its back [side, rear] it had four [exactly four, a specific number] wings like those of a bird [fowl, flying creature]. The beast also had four [exactly four, a specific number] heads [rulers, leaders], and it was given [granted, provided with] authority [dominion, power] to rule [govern, have control]. word study 7 After this, as I watched in my vision [night-visions, a prophetic dream] in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying [causing fear]—dreadful [inspiring awe] and extremely strong [powerful, mighty]—with large [great, enormous] iron teeth. It devoured [ate, consumed] and crushed [broke in pieces, shattered]; then it trampled underfoot [stamped, tread down] whatever was left [the remainder, the residue]. It was different [unique, distinct] from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. word study 8 While I was contemplating [meditating, carefully considering] the horns [a cornet], suddenly another [different, distinct] horn, a little [small, insignificant] one, came up [ascended, arose] among them, and three [a specific number, a triad] of the first [former, preceding] horns were uprooted [completely removed, eradicated] before it [in its presence, because of it]. This horn had eyes [organs of sight, windows to the soul] like those of a man [human-like, with human characteristics] and a mouth [the instrument of speech] that spoke words of arrogance [boastful, proud, and haughty speech]. word study 9 As I continued to watch [until the scene unfolded], thrones [seats of judgment and authority] were set in place [established, positioned], and the Ancient of Days [the eternal, all-powerful God] took His seat [ascended to the throne, began to reign]. His clothing [garment, robe] was white [pure, spotless] as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure [clean, untainted] wool [a natural, unblemished fiber]. His throne [the seat of His power and authority] was flaming [ablaze, fiery] with fire, and its wheels [the means of movement and progression] were all ablaze [on fire, burning intensely]. word study 10 A river [stream, flood] of fire [flames, fiery] was flowing [proceeding, issuing], coming out [going out, brought forth] from His presence [before Him, from His face]. Thousands [a thousand thousands, many thousands] upon thousands [myriads, ten thousand times ten thousand] attended [ministered, served] Him, and myriads [countless, innumerable] upon myriads [tens of thousands] stood [rose up, established] before [in the presence of] Him. The court [judgment, tribunal] was convened [set, seated], and the books [scrolls, records] were opened [unsealed, revealed]. word study 11 Then I kept watching [because of the voice of the great words, at that time] because of the arrogant words [boastful, presumptuous] the horn [a cornet] was speaking [uttering, proclaiming]. As I continued to watch [gazed, observed], the beast [wild animal, creature] was slain [killed, put to death], and its body [physical form, flesh] was destroyed [perished, ruined] and thrown into the blazing fire [burning flame, fiery furnace]. word study 12 As for the rest [remainder, what is left] of the beasts [animals, creatures], their dominion [kingdom, authority, control] was removed [taken away, passed on], but they were granted [given, allowed] an extension [lengthening, prolongation] of life [living, existence] for a season [set time, scheduled period] and a time [year, specific period, duration]. word study 13 In my vision [night-visions, prophetic dreams] in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man [a human being, having God’s nature] coming with the clouds [coverings of the sky] of heaven [the celestial realm, God’s throne]. He approached [drew near, came to] the Ancient of Days [the Eternal One, very old] and was led [brought, presented] into His presence [before Him, in His sight]. word study 14 And He was given [absolute authority, power to rule] dominion [sovereign control, kingdom], glory [honor, esteem], and kingship [royal authority, reign], that the people [nations, communities] of every nation [ethnic group, country] and language [tongue, dialect] should serve [worship, obey] Him. His dominion [kingdom, rule] is an everlasting [eternal, perpetual] dominion that will not pass away [be taken away, come to an end], and His kingdom [reign, territory] is one that will never be destroyed [ruined, overthrown]. word study 15 I, Daniel [the prophet, God’s messenger], was grieved [deeply distressed, troubled] in my spirit [the inner self, emotions], and the visions [sights, appearances, revelations] in my mind [head, thoughts] alarmed [terrified, dismayed] me [my inner being, soul]. word study 16 I approached [drew near to, came close to] one of those who were standing [positioned, established] there, and I asked [sought, inquired of] him the true [certain, reliable] meaning [interpretation, explanation] of all [everything, the entirety] this [these things, this situation]. So he told [explained, made known] me the interpretation [explanation, revelation] of these things [events, visions]: word study 17 ‘These [specific, previously mentioned] four [a quantity of four] great [large, powerful, majestic] beasts [animals, kingdoms] are four [the same quantity, emphasizing unity] kings [rulers, monarchs, leaders] who will arise [be established, come to power] from [out of, originating in] the earth [the world, the physical realm]. word study 18 But the saints [holy ones, set apart] of the Most High [Supreme God, Almighty] will receive [take possession of, acquire] the kingdom [realm, dominion] and possess [take hold of, retain] it forever [for all eternity, perpetually]—yes, forever [always, continually] and ever [to the utmost extent, endlessly].’ word study 19 Then [at that specific point in time] I wanted to know [to understand, to be certain] the true meaning [the exact interpretation, the divine significance] of the fourth [the final, the last in a series] beast [a wild animal], which was different [unique, distinct] from all the others [the preceding three, the previous beasts]—extremely terrifying [causing great fear, dreadful]—devouring [consuming, eating] and crushing [breaking, destroying] with iron [strong, unyielding] teeth [sharp, pointed] and bronze [hard, metallic] claws [sharp, hooked nails], then trampling [crushing, treading down] underfoot [with its feet, beneath its power] whatever was left [the remainder, the surviving remnant]. word study 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other [additional, subsequent] horn that came up, before which [in the presence of, prior to] three of them fell—the horn whose appearance [vision, sight] was more imposing [stout, great] than the others, with eyes [organs of sight, perception] and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance [great things, presumptuous things]. word study 21 As I watched [beheld, saw a vision], this horn [a cornet] was waging war [making battle, conflict] against the saints [holy ones, set apart] and prevailing [gaining victory, overcoming] against them [God’s dedicated people], word study 22 until the Ancient of Days [the Supreme God, very old] arrived and pronounced judgment [a court decision, conflict or strife] in favor of the saints [holy, set apart] of the Most High [the Supreme, highest authority], and the time [a set season, scheduled event] came for them to possess [take control, have authority] the kingdom [the territory, area ruled by a king]. word study 23 This is what he said: ‘The fourth [last in a series of four] beast [living creature] is a fourth [final, concluding] kingdom [realm, domain of a king] that will appear [come into existence, arise] on the earth [the world, human domain], different [distinct, unique] from all the other kingdoms [nations, empires], and it will devour [consume, eat up] the whole earth [all the world, entire planet], trample [tread down, overpower] it down, and crush [break, shatter] it. word study 24 And the ten horns [a cornet] are ten kings [rulers, monarchs] who will rise [come to power, be established] from this kingdom [territory, realm]. After them [following their reign] another king [a different ruler, distinct from the earlier ones], different from the earlier ones, will rise [come to power, be established] and subdue [bring down, humble] three kings [rulers, monarchs]. word study 25 He will speak out [words of blasphemy, great words] against the Most High [the Supreme God, Elohim] and oppress [wear out, harass] the saints [holy ones, set apart] of the Most High, intending [thinking, planning] to change [alter, modify] the appointed times [scheduled seasons, festivals] and laws [decrees, commandments]; and the saints will be given into his hand [power, control] for a time [a year, a season], and times [years, seasons], and half a time [half a year, a short season]. word study 26 But the court [judgment, seat of authority] will convene [sit in judgment, be seated], and his dominion [kingdom, empire, territory under control] will be taken away [removed, passed on] and completely destroyed [consumed, perish] forever [to the end, till the conclusion]. word study 27 Then the sovereignty [right to rule, supreme authority], dominion [kingdom, empire], and greatness [majesty, high dignity] of the kingdoms under [beneath, in subjection to] all of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] will be given [provided, bestowed] to the people [nation, community], the saints [holy ones, set apart] of the Most High [the Supreme, Almighty God]. His kingdom [realm, territorial rule] will be an everlasting [eternal, perpetual] kingdom, and all rulers [dominions, kingdoms] will serve [worship, pay reverence] and obey [hear and follow, be subject to] Him.’ word study 28 Thus [hitherto, up to this point] ends the matter [the account, the word]. As for me, Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge], my thoughts [cogitations, mental conceptions] troubled me greatly [exceedingly, to a large extent], and my face [countenance, appearance] turned pale [changed, was altered]. But I kept [retained, held onto] the matter [the word, the subject] to myself [in my heart, secretly].” word study