Daniel's Dream of Four Beasts

   In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

       Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea, Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

       "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

       "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!'

       "After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

       "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

       "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

       "As I looked,

       "thrones were set in place,

          and THE ANCIENT OF DAYS took HIS seat.

       HIS clothing was as white as snow;

          the hair of HIS head was white like wool.

       HIS throne was flaming with fire,

          and its wheels were all ablaze.

       A river of fire was flowing,

          coming out from before HIM.

       Thousands upon thousands attended HIM;

          ten thousand times ten thousand stood before HIM.

       The court was seated,

          and the books were opened.

       "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

       "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. HE approached THE ANCIENT OF DAYS and was led into HIS presence. HE was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped HIM. HIS dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and HIS kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel: chapter 7, verses 1 - 14

The Interpretation of the Dream

       "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.

       "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 'The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of THE MOST HIGH will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever.'

       "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws--the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until THE ANCIENT OF DAYS came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of THE MOST HIGH, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

       "He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against THE MOST HIGH and oppress HIS saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

       " 'But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of THE MOST HIGH. HIS kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey HIM.'

       "This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."

Daniel: chapter 7, verses 15 - 28

Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat

   In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

       As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage. I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power. The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.

       Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

       Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled--the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"

       HE said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings, then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."

Daniel: chapter 8, verses 1 - 14

The Interpretation of the Vision

       While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."

       As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."

       While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

       He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

       "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

       "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."

       I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Daniel: chapter 8, verses 15 - 27

The Seventy "Sevens"

       While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to THE LORD my GOD for HIS holy hill--while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:

       "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint THE MOST HOLY.

       "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until THE ANOINTED ONE, THE RULER, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' THE ANOINTED ONE will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

Daniel: chapter 9, verses 20 - 27

The Abomination that Causes Desolation

       "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their GOD will firmly resist him.

       "Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

Daniel: chapter 11, verses 31 - 35

The King Who Exalts Himself

       "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the GOD of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

       "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and calvary and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel: chapter 11, verses 36 - 45

The End Times

       "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."

       Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to THE MAN CLOTHED IN LINEN, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"

       THE MAN CLOTHED IN LINEN, who was above the waters of the river, lifted HIS right hand and HIS left hand toward heaven, and I heard HIM swear by HIM who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

       I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My LORD, what will the outcome of all this be?"

       HE replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

       "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

       "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

Daniel: chapter 12

Signs of the End of the Age

   As HE was leaving the temple, one of HIS disciples said to HIM, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"

       "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied JESUS. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

       As JESUS was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked HIM privately, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"

       JESUS said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in MY name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

       "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of ME you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but THE HOLY SPIRIT.

       "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of ME, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

       "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when GOD created the world, until now--and never to be equaled again. If THE LORD had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom HE has chosen, HE has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

       "But in those days, following that distress,

       " 'the sun will be darkened,

          and the moon will not give its light;

       the stars will fall from the sky,

          and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

       "At that time men will see THE SON OF MAN coming in clouds with great power and glory. And HE will send HIS angels and gather HIS elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

       "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY words will never pass away."

Gospel of Mark: chapter 13, verses 1 - 31

The Day and Hour Unknown

       "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor THE SON, but only THE FATHER. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

       "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

Gospel of Mark: chapter 13, verses 32 - 37