Vision #1 of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king (#3) of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions [a]in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the [b]following summary of [c]it. 2 Daniel [d]said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. NATIONS / PEOPLES
3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. 1st EMPIRE / BEAST: BABYLON I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human [e]mind also was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. 2 SIDES; 2ND EMPIRE / BEAST: MEDO-PERSIA (IRAN / ELIM) And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs (TURKEY (THRACE), LYDIA BABYLON?) were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, 3RD EMPIRE / BEAST: GREECE which had on its [f]back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (AND TURKEY AND SYRIA?)
“The speed of the animal, represented by the four wings, is characteristic of the tremendous conquests of Alexander the Great as he subdued the Medo-Persian Empire and conquered the whole civilized world in a very short time. The four heads of this beast represent the four divisions of Alexander’s kingdom after his death: Thrace (Turkey), Syria, Egypt and Macedonia. The leopard corresponds to the abdomen of brass of Nebuchadnezzar’s image” p. 67 The Book of Daniel, Marilyn Hickey Ministries RAM? THE GOAT (GREECE) BEATS THEM?
7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns (DIVIDED GREECE TURKEY SYRIA EGYPT?. 4th EMPIRE/ BEAST)
“This fourth beast was hideous to look at. It had iron teeth and ten horns, which correspond to the iron legs and the 10 toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s (#1 king) great image. Rome ruled the world with an iron hand and certainly broke in pieces anyone who came against it. The Jews who found themselves trapped in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD learned.” P. 68 ROMAN EMPIRE (IRON) WILL BE DEMOCRATIC AND LIKE A DICTATOR?
8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, ANTICHRIST? came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, [g]this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
The Ancient of Days Reigns/Thrones cast down; Judgement throne set up, action starts in heaven; books opened/ VISION 2
9 “I kept looking until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days (FATHER?) took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was [h]ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10 “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.
11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the [i]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning [j]fire.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
The Son of Man (JESUS?) Presented
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds (SPIRIT) of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and [k]a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every [l]language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
The Vision Interpreted
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed [m]within me, and the visions [n]in my mind kept alarming me.
16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the [o]exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the [p]saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, [q]for all ages to come.’
19 “Then I desired to know the [r]exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all [s]the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and [t]which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the [u]saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was [v]passed in favor of the [w]saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the [x]saints took possession of the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. TRIBULATION SAINTS 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak [y]out against the Most High and wear down the [z]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and [aa]they will be given into his hand for a [ab]time, [ac]times, and half a [ad]time. JUDGMENT OF BEAST / SAINTS POSSESS THE KINGDOM 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, [ae]annihilated and destroyed [af]forever. 27 Then the [ag]sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the [ah]saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ 28 “[ai]At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my [aj]face grew pale, but I kept the matter [ak]to myself.”
Footnotes
Daniel 7:1 Lit of his head
Daniel 7:1 Or beginning
Daniel 7:1 Lit words
Daniel 7:2 Lit spoke and said
Daniel 7:4 Lit heart
Daniel 7:6 Or sides
Daniel 7:8 Lit in this horn were eyes
Daniel 7:9 Lit flames of fire
Daniel 7:11 Lit great
Daniel 7:11 Lit of the fire
Daniel 7:14 Or sovereignty
Daniel 7:14 Lit tongue
Daniel 7:15 Lit in the midst of its sheath
Daniel 7:15 Lit of my head
Daniel 7:16 Lit truth concerning
Daniel 7:18 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:18 Lit and unto the age of the ages
Daniel 7:19 Lit truth concerning
Daniel 7:19 Lit of them
Daniel 7:20 Lit its appearance was larger
Daniel 7:21 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:22 Lit given for
Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:22 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:25 Lit words
Daniel 7:25 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:25 I.e. the saints
Daniel 7:25 I.e. year(s)
Daniel 7:25 I.e. year(s)
Daniel 7:25 I.e. year(s)
Daniel 7:26 Lit to annihilate and to destroy
Daniel 7:26 Lit to the end
Daniel 7:27 Or kingdom
Daniel 7:27 Lit holy ones
Daniel 7:28 Lit To here the end of the word
Daniel 7:28 Lit brightness was changing upon me
Daniel 7:28 Lit in my heart
Vision of the Ram and Goat
8 In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the 3RD king a vision appeared to me, [a]Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me [b]previously. 2 I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel (CAPITAL) of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai [c]Canal (IN IRAN).
3 Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the [d]canal. Now the two horns were [e]long, but one was [f]longer than the other, with the [g]longer one coming up last. MEDIA AND PERSIA PER VERSE 20
4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his [h]power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.
5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the [i]goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. GREECE PER VERSE 21 (AEGEAN SEA; NATIONAL SYMBOL)
6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the [j]canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. (AND TURKEY AND SYRIA?)
7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his [k]power. 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
The Little Horn - 3 ASSAULTS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD
9 Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the [l]Beautiful Land. “OUT OF ONE OF THE 4 WINDS; WAXES GREAT; DESTROY WONDERFUL THINGS” STARS CAST DOWN (PRINCIPALITIES/POWERS) 10 It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. 11 It even magnified itself [m]to be equal with the [n]Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. DESTROY HOLY PEOPLE / ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION 12 And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, [o]while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host [p]to be trampled?” 14 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be [q]properly restored.” ABOUT 6 YEARS
Interpretation of the Vision (GABRIEL IS MENTIONED HERE, DAN 9: 20, 21; AND RE: JESUS' BIRTH in Luke 1: 19, 26) MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL IS MENTIONED IN DANIEL 10, 12, JUDE 9, REV 12. THIS IMPLIES THERE IS A HIERARCHY OF ANGELS, AND CONVERSELY OF DEMONS. SOME CITIES ARE IMPACTED BY A SPECIFIC SIN.)
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [r]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [s]who looked like a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” HE PERHAPS "RESTED / WAS SLAIN" IN THE SPIRIT.
18 Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [t]upright. 19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.
The Ram’s Identity
20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia (IRAN).
The Goat
21 The shaggy [u]goat represents the [v]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22 The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.
23 “In the latter period of their [w]rule, When the transgressors have [x]run their course, A king will arise, [y]Insolent and skilled in [z]intrigue. DIVIDED EMPIRE (GREECE TURKEY SYRIA EGYPT?) / TOES
24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will [aa]destroy to an extraordinary degree
And prosper and perform his will; He will [ab]destroy mighty men and [ac]the holy people. ANTICHRIST DESTROYED WITHOUT A HAND?
25 “And through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by his [ad]influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will [ae]destroy many while they are [af]at ease. He will even [ag]oppose the Prince of princes*
But he will be broken without [ah]human agency. (*GOD, LORD PER CAMBRIDGE BIBLE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES)
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings Which has been told is true; But keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future.”
27 Then I, Daniel, was [ai]exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to [aj]explain it. I AM EXHAUSTED AFTER WED - SUN WORK.
Footnotes
a. Daniel 8:1 Lit I, Daniel
b. Daniel 8:1 Lit at the beginning
c. Daniel 8:2 Or river
d. Daniel 8:3 Or river
e. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
f. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
g. Daniel 8:3 Lit high(er)
h. Daniel 8:4 Lit hand
i. Daniel 8:5 Lit buck
j. Daniel 8:6 Or river
k. Daniel 8:7 Lit hand
l. Daniel 8:9 I.e. Palestine
m. Daniel 8:11 Lit up to the
n. Daniel 8:11 Or Prince
o. Daniel 8:13 Or possibly and the transgression that horrifies
p. Daniel 8:13 Lit as a trampling
q. Daniel 8:14 Lit vindicated
r. Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
s. Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
t. Daniel 8:18 Lit on my standing
u. Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
v. Daniel 8:21 Lit king
w. Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
x. Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
y. Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
z. Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
aa. Daniel 8:24 Or corrupt
bb. Daniel 8:24 Or corrupt
cc. Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
dd. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
ee. Daniel 8:25 Or corrupt
ff. Daniel 8:25 Or secure
gg. Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
hh. Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
ii. Daniel 8:27 Or done in
jj. Daniel 8:27 Lit make me understand
Daniel’s Prayer for His People
9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans (S. IRAQ) — 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 So I [a]gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. WHAT DO WE GIVE UP FOR THE LORD? 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed (I CONFESS DAILY) and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. GOD VS. JUDAH:
7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us [b]open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You.
8 [c]Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, [d]for we have rebelled against Him;
10 nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His [e]teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. 12 Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our [f]rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not [g]sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and [h]giving attention to Your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has [i]kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.
15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked.
16 O Lord, in accordance with all Your [j]righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for [k]Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. I PRAY OUR SANCTUARY ISN'T DESOLATE. THIS IS A GOOD PRAYER:
18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not [l]presenting our supplications before You on account of [m]any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Gabriel Brings an Answer
20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and [n]presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision [o]previously, [p]came to me [q]in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
23 At the beginning of your supplications the [r]command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are [s]highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
Seventy Weeks (ABOUT 1 YEAR AND A THIRD) and the Messiah
“6 purposes, p. 98, Daniel (MHM) transgressions of Jews
Sins
Iniquity
p. 100 righteousness
seal up vision prophecy
anoint holy temple”
24 “Seventy [t]weeks (UNITS OF 7) have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to [u]finish the transgression, to [v]make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and [w]prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 (SEE CHART ON P. 108 MHM) So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a [x]decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [y]Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with [z]plaza and moat, even in times of distress. ABOUT JESUS!
26 Then after the sixty-two weeks (14 MONTHS) the [aa]Messiah (ANOINTED ONE, JESUS!) will be cut off and have [ab]nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And [ac]its end will come with a flood; even to the end [ad]there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of [ae]abominations will come one who [af]makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who [ag]makes desolate.” WHAT OFFERINGS DO WE BRING TO THE LORD? ABOMINATION OF DESOLOLATIONS IS MENTIONED IN EZEKIEL 13, DANIEL 11, 12, MATTHEW 24, AND MARK 13.
Footnotes
a. Daniel 9:3 Lit set my face
b. Daniel 9:7 Lit the shame of face
c. Daniel 9:8 Lit The shame of face
d. Daniel 9:9 Or though
e. Daniel 9:10 Or laws
f. Daniel 9:12 Lit judges who judged us
g. Daniel 9:13 Lit softened the face of
h. Daniel 9:13 Or having insight into
i. Daniel 9:14 Lit watched over the evil
j. Daniel 9:16 Lit righteousnesses
k. Daniel 9:17 Lit the sake of the Lord
l. Daniel 9:18 Lit causing to fall
m. Daniel 9:18 Lit our righteousnesses
n. Daniel 9:20 Lit causing to fall
o. Daniel 9:21 Lit at the beginning
p. Daniel 9:21 Lit was reaching; or touching
q. Daniel 9:21 Lit wearied with weariness
r. Daniel 9:23 Lit word went out
s. Daniel 9:23 Lit desirable; or precious
t. Daniel 9:24 Or units of seven, and so throughout the ch
u. Daniel 9:24 Or restrain
v. Daniel 9:24 Another reading is seal up sins
w. Daniel 9:24 Lit prophet
x. Daniel 9:25 Lit word
y. Daniel 9:25 Or an anointed one
z. Daniel 9:25 Or streets
aa. Daniel 9:26 Or anointed one
bb. Daniel 9:26 Or no one
cc. Daniel 9:26 Or his
dd. Daniel 9:26 Or war will be decreed for desolations
ee. Daniel 9:27 Or detestable things
ff. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror
gg. Daniel 9:27 Or causes horror
