Daniel 7:1-10

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

1 In the first year of p Belshazzar king of Babylon, q Daniel saw a dream and r visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, 1 "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, s the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts t came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, u another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.' 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a v leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and w dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, x terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; x it devoured and broke in pieces x and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and y it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, z there came up among them another horn, a little one, z before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a a mouth speaking great things.

The Ancient of Days Reigns

9 "As I looked,
b thrones were placed,
and the c Ancient of Days took his seat;
d his clothing was white as snow,
and e the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
f its wheels were burning fire.
 10 g A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
h a thousand thousands i served him,
h and ten thousand times ten thousand j stood before him;
the k court sat in judgment,
and l the books were opened.

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 5:1
    King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 1:17
    As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 7:15
    As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
    Daniel 2:28
    But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
    Daniel 4:5
    I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 8:8
    Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
    Daniel 11:4
    And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.
    Ezekiel 37:9
    Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God : Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.
    Zechariah 2:6
    Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord.
    Revelation 7:1
    After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.
  5. Cross References
    Revelation 13:1
    And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 2:39
    Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
  7. Cross References
    Habakkuk 1:8
    Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.
    Revelation 13:2
    And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 11:5
    Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.
  9. Cross References
    Daniel 7:19
    Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet.
    Daniel 7:23
    Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 7:19
    Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet.
    Daniel 7:23
    Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 7:19
    Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet.
    Daniel 7:23
    Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
  12. Cross References
    Daniel 7:20
    And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
    Revelation 12:3
    And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
    Revelation 13:1
    And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
    Revelation 17:12
    And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
  13. Cross References
    Daniel 7:20 - 21
    And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
    Daniel 7:24
    As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
    Daniel 8:9
    Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
  14. Cross References
    Daniel 7:20 - 21
    And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
    Daniel 7:24
    As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
    Daniel 8:9
    Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
  15. Cross References
    Daniel 7:20
    And about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
    Revelation 13:5 - 6
    And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
  16. Cross References
    Revelation 20:4
    Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
    Matthew 19:28
    Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
    1 Kings 22:19
    And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left.
  17. Cross References
    Daniel 7:22
    Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
    Psalms 90:2
    Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 28:3
    His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 1:14
    The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:16
    As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.
    Ezekiel 10:2
    And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in before my eyes.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 21:9
    You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 68:17
    The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
    Hebrews 12:22
    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering.
    Revelation 5:11
    Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 68:17
    The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
    Hebrews 12:22
    But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering.
    Revelation 5:11
    Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
  24. Cross References
    Psalms 103:21
    Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
  25. Cross References
    Zechariah 3:4
    And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.
  26. Cross References
    Daniel 7:22
    Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
    Daniel 7:26
    But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
    Revelation 11:18
    The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.
    Revelation 20:4
    Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
  27. Cross References
    Revelation 20:12
    And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.