Daniel 7

The Four Beasts

1 In the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel had a wild dream. He saw some crazy visions in his sleep and wrote them down.

2 Daniel said, “I saw four winds going wild across the ocean.”

3 “Then, four giant beasts came up outta the water, each one different from the other.”

4 “The first one looked like a lion, but it had eagle wings. Then the wings got ripped off, and it stood up on two feet like a man, and it was given a human heart.”

5 “The second beast looked like a bear, and it was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth, and somebody said, ‘Get up and eat a lot of flesh!’”

6 “Then I saw another one, like a leopard, but it had four wings on its back and four heads. This beast had mad power.”

7 “Then I saw a fourth beast, and this one was different from the rest. It was terrifying, super strong, with iron teeth. It smashed and crushed everything in its way and stomped on anything left over. It had ten horns.”

8 “As I was looking at the horns, another little horn came up and knocked out three of the first horns. This horn had eyes like a man and a mouth talking mad trash.”

The Ancient of Days

9 “Then I saw thrones set up, and the Ancient of Days (God) sat down. His clothes were white like snow, and His hair was like pure wool. His throne was fire, and the wheels of the throne were flames.”

10 “A river of fire was flowing out from Him. Millions of people were serving Him, and the court was in session, with books being opened.”

11 “I kept watching because that little horn kept talking smack. Then the beast got killed, and its body was destroyed and thrown in the fire.”

12 “The other beasts lost their power, but they were still allowed to live for a little while.”

The Son of Man’s Kingdom

13 “I kept looking, and then I saw someone like the Son of Man, riding the clouds, coming up to the Ancient of Days. They brought Him before God.”

14 “He was given mad glory, dominion, and a kingdom, so all nations and languages would serve Him. His rule is forever, and His kingdom cannot be destroyed.”

Interpretation of the Vision

15 Daniel said, “Man, my spirit was shook, and I was freaked out by what I saw.”

16 “So, I went up to someone in the vision and asked what all this meant, and they broke it down for me.”

17 “These four beasts are four kings who are going to rise up in the world.”

18 “But the real ones, the saints of the Most High, are going to take the kingdom and own it forever, no doubt.”

19 “Then I wanted to know more about the fourth beast, the one that was different, the one that was extra terrifying with iron teeth and brass claws, the one that smashed and stomped everything.”

20 “And I asked about those ten horns, especially that little horn that came up and knocked three of them down, the one that had eyes and a mouth that talked big.”

21 “I saw that horn wage war against God’s people, and it was winning.”

22 “But then the Ancient of Days showed up, and judgment came for God’s people. The time came for them to own the kingdom.”

23 “The guy told me, ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that is going to dominate the whole earth, crush it, and break everything.’”

24 “Those ten horns, They are ten kings that will come out of that kingdom. Then another king will rise, who will be different and take out three of them.”

25 “He is going to talk trash against the Most High and wear out God’s people. He will try to change the times and laws, and God’s people will be under his control for a while.”

26 “But the court is going to take him out, strip his power, and destroy him for good.”

27 “Then the kingdom, the power, and all dominion under heaven will be given to God’s people. His kingdom is forever, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.”

28 “That is the end of it. I, Daniel, was shook for days and could not stop thinking about it, but I kept it all to myself.”