New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Daniel 7
1
It was the first year that Belshazzar was king of Babylon. Daniel had a dream. He was lying on his bed. In his dream, visions passed through his mind. He wrote down what he saw.
Reference
Kingdom
Daniel 5:1
Parallel theme
Joel 2:28
Daniel 4:5
Jeremiah 23:28
Amos 3:7
Daniel 1:17
Revelation 1:19
Genesis 46:2
Habakkuk 2:2
Numbers 12:6
2
Daniel said, "I had a vision at night. I looked up and saw the four winds of heaven. They were stirring up the Mediterranean Sea.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 7:1
4
"The first animal was like a lion. It had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off. Then it was lifted up from the ground. It stood on two feet like a man. And a man's heart was given to it.
Reference
5
"I saw a second animal. It looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides. And it had three ribs between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up! Eat meat until you are full!'
Reference
Resurrection
Daniel 2:39
6
"After that, I saw another animal. It looked like a leopard. On its back were four wings like the wings of a bird. It had four heads. And it was given authority to rule.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 13:2
7
"After that, in my vision I looked up and saw a fourth animal. It was terrifying and very powerful. It had large iron teeth. It crushed those it attacked and ate them up. It stomped on anything that was left. It was different from the other animals. And it had ten horns.
Reference
8
"I thought about the horns. Then I saw another horn. It was a little one. It grew up among the other horns. Three of the first horns were pulled up by their roots to make room for it. The little horn had eyes like the eyes of a man. Its mouth was always bragging.
Reference
9
"As I watched, "thrones were set in place. The Eternal God took his seat. His clothes were as white as snow. The hair on his head was white like wool. His throne was blazing with fire. And flames were all around its wheels.
Reference
10
A river of fire was flowing. It was coming out from in front of God. Thousands and thousands of angels served him. Millions of them stood in front of him. The court was seated. And the books were opened.
Reference
Judgment
Daniel 7:22
Parallel theme
Isaiah 30:27
Deuteronomy 33:2
Psalm 50:3
Revelation 5:11
Isaiah 30:33
Psalm 68:17
1 Kings 22:19
Matthew 25:31
Jude 1:14
11
"Then I continued to watch because of the way the horn was bragging. I kept looking until the fourth animal was killed. I watched until its body was destroyed. It was thrown into the blazing fire.
Reference
12
The authority of the other animals had been stripped away from them. But they were allowed to live for a period of time.
13
"In my vision I saw One who looked like a son of man. He was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Eternal God. He was led right up to him.
Reference
14
And he was given authority, glory and a kingdom. People from every nation and language worshiped him. His authority will last forever. It will not pass away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Reference
Kingdom
Revelation 11:15
Daniel 7:27
Daniel 2:44
Hebrews 12:28
Revelation 17:14
Isaiah 9:7
Parallel theme
John 3:35
Matthew 11:27
Matthew 28:18
Revelation 3:21
15
"My spirit was troubled. The visions that passed through my mind upset me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 7:28
16
I approached an angel who was standing there. I asked him what all of those things really meant. "So he explained everything to me. He told me what it meant. He said,
Reference
17
'The four large animals stand for four kingdoms. The kingdoms will appear on the earth.
18
But the holy people of the Most High God will receive the kingdom. They will possess it forever. It will belong to them for ever and ever.'
Reference
Kingdom
Daniel 7:27
Revelation 5:10
Revelation 20:4
Daniel 7:22
Parallel theme
Psalm 45:16
Ephesians 1:3
19
"Then I wanted to know what the fourth animal stood for. It was different from the others. It was the most terrifying of all. It had iron teeth and bronze claws. It crushed those it attacked and ate them up. It stomped on anything that was left.
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 7:7
20
"I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head. And I wanted to know about the other horn that grew up later. It caused three of the ten horns to fall out. It appeared to be stronger than the others. It had eyes. And its mouth was always bragging.
Reference
21
"I saw that the horn was at war with God's people. It was winning the battle over them.
Reference
22
But then the Eternal God came. He decided in favor of his holy people. So the time came when the kingdom was given to them.
Reference
Judgment
Revelation 20:4
Kingdom
Daniel 7:18
Revelation 5:10
Parallel theme
Matthew 19:28
2 Thessalonians 2:8
23
"Here's how the angel explained it to me. He said, 'The fourth animal stands for a fourth kingdom. It will appear on earth. It will be different from the other kingdoms. It will eat up the whole earth. It will stomp on it and crush it.
Reference
24
The ten horns stand for ten kings. They will come from the fourth kingdom. " 'After them another king will appear. He will be different from the earlier ones. He'll bring three kings under his control.
Reference
25
He'll speak against the Most High God. He'll treat God's people badly. He will try to change the times and laws that were given by God. God's people will be handed over to him for three and a half years.
Reference
26
" 'But the court will open. And the power of that king will be taken away from him. It will be completely destroyed forever.
27
Then the authority, power and greatness of all of the kingdoms on earth will be handed over to the people of the Most High God. His kingdom will last forever. Every ruler will worship and obey him.'
Reference
Kingdom
Psalm 72:11
Revelation 11:15
Luke 1:33
Daniel 7:14
Daniel 7:18
Daniel 2:44
Isaiah 9:7
Psalm 145:13
Parallel theme
Psalm 22:27
Psalm 86:9
Chapter Summary
Daniel 7 presents a sweeping vision of four monstrous kingdoms rising from the turbulent sea, followed by the appearance of the Ancient of Days in a heavenly courtroom and the arrival of one “like a son of man” who receives everlasting authority and an indestructible kingdom, creating a powerful contrast between earthly empires that depend upon violence, conquest, pride, and political strength and God's kingdom, which ultimately receives universal authority and grants lasting dominion to the faithful people of God.
The vision begins with the four winds stirring the great sea, from which four very different beasts emerge.
The first resembles a winged lion, the second a powerful bear, the third a four-winged leopard with four heads, and the fourth is so terrifying and destructive that Daniel cannot easily compare it with any known animal.
These beasts represent successive kingdoms, and the imagery emphasizes that earthly political power can become increasingly aggressive, destructive, and opposed to God's purposes.
The fourth beast receives particular attention because it possesses ten horns, followed by another smaller horn that rises among them and becomes a source of arrogant speech and persecution.
The little horn represents a ruler or power that opposes God, attacks His people, and attempts to exercise authority over matters belonging to God.
Yet the vision suddenly changes from the frightening activity of earthly kingdoms to the majestic scene of the Ancient of Days seated upon the heavenly throne.
Fire surrounds the throne, countless heavenly beings serve before Him, and the court opens its books for judgment.
This transition is central to the chapter because it shows that the terrifying kingdoms that appear to control history are themselves being judged by a higher authority.
The fourth beast is destroyed, demonstrating that even the most powerful earthly kingdom cannot survive God's judgment forever.
Daniel then sees a figure like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, who approaches the Ancient of Days and receives authority, glory, and a kingdom that extends over every nation and language.
Unlike the beasts, whose kingdoms are temporary and destructive, this ruler receives an everlasting dominion that cannot be destroyed.
The heavenly interpretation explains that the four beasts represent four kingdoms, while the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom and possess it forever.
The vision does not deny the reality of suffering because Daniel sees the little horn making war against God's people and temporarily overcoming them.
Instead, it places that suffering within a larger story in which God's judgment eventually reverses the apparent victory of the persecuting power.
The saints may experience oppression for a limited period, but the Ancient of Days ultimately judges in their favor and gives them the kingdom.
The central message is that Daniel 7 reveals that human history may appear to be controlled by powerful kingdoms represented as terrifying beasts, and those kingdoms may conquer nations, persecute God's people, speak arrogantly against divine authority, and appear to possess overwhelming power, yet their authority is always temporary because the Ancient of Days remains seated in judgment above every earthly throne, and the vision ultimately shifts attention away from the frightening beasts toward the human-like ruler who receives everlasting dominion from God, showing that violence, pride, political power, and persecution cannot determine the final outcome of history because God's kingdom will overcome every temporary empire, the enemies of His people will be judged, and the saints who remain faithful through suffering will ultimately share in an everlasting kingdom that cannot be destroyed.
The vision begins with the four winds stirring the great sea, from which four very different beasts emerge.
The first resembles a winged lion, the second a powerful bear, the third a four-winged leopard with four heads, and the fourth is so terrifying and destructive that Daniel cannot easily compare it with any known animal.
These beasts represent successive kingdoms, and the imagery emphasizes that earthly political power can become increasingly aggressive, destructive, and opposed to God's purposes.
The fourth beast receives particular attention because it possesses ten horns, followed by another smaller horn that rises among them and becomes a source of arrogant speech and persecution.
The little horn represents a ruler or power that opposes God, attacks His people, and attempts to exercise authority over matters belonging to God.
Yet the vision suddenly changes from the frightening activity of earthly kingdoms to the majestic scene of the Ancient of Days seated upon the heavenly throne.
Fire surrounds the throne, countless heavenly beings serve before Him, and the court opens its books for judgment.
This transition is central to the chapter because it shows that the terrifying kingdoms that appear to control history are themselves being judged by a higher authority.
The fourth beast is destroyed, demonstrating that even the most powerful earthly kingdom cannot survive God's judgment forever.
Daniel then sees a figure like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, who approaches the Ancient of Days and receives authority, glory, and a kingdom that extends over every nation and language.
Unlike the beasts, whose kingdoms are temporary and destructive, this ruler receives an everlasting dominion that cannot be destroyed.
The heavenly interpretation explains that the four beasts represent four kingdoms, while the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom and possess it forever.
The vision does not deny the reality of suffering because Daniel sees the little horn making war against God's people and temporarily overcoming them.
Instead, it places that suffering within a larger story in which God's judgment eventually reverses the apparent victory of the persecuting power.
The saints may experience oppression for a limited period, but the Ancient of Days ultimately judges in their favor and gives them the kingdom.
The central message is that Daniel 7 reveals that human history may appear to be controlled by powerful kingdoms represented as terrifying beasts, and those kingdoms may conquer nations, persecute God's people, speak arrogantly against divine authority, and appear to possess overwhelming power, yet their authority is always temporary because the Ancient of Days remains seated in judgment above every earthly throne, and the vision ultimately shifts attention away from the frightening beasts toward the human-like ruler who receives everlasting dominion from God, showing that violence, pride, political power, and persecution cannot determine the final outcome of history because God's kingdom will overcome every temporary empire, the enemies of His people will be judged, and the saints who remain faithful through suffering will ultimately share in an everlasting kingdom that cannot be destroyed.