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Daniel 7 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:1 - Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylon,[fn] Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:2 - In my vision that night, I, Daniel, saw a great storm churning the surface of a great sea, with strong winds blowing from every direction.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:3 - Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:4 - The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:5 - Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, “Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:6 - Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird’s wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:7 - Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:8 - As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:9 - I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One[fn] sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:10 - and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:11 - I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn’s boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:12 - The other three beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a while longer.[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:13 - As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man[fn] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:14 - He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
The Vision Is Explained
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:15 - I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:16 - So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this:
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:17 - “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:18 - But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:19 - Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:20 - I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:21 - As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them,
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:22 - until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:23 - Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:24 - Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:25 - He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:26 - “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:27 - Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 7:28 - That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
NLT Footnotes
The first year of Belshazzar’s reign (who was co-regent with his father, Nabonidus) was 556 B.C. (or perhaps as late as 553 B.C.).
Aramaic an Ancient of Days; also in 7:13, 22.
Aramaic for a season and a time.
Or like a Son of Man.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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