Study Desk

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind^(a) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,^(b) and here is the summary^[a] of his account.

Daniel said, "In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven^(c) stirred up the great sea.

Four huge beasts^(d) came up from the sea,^(e) each different from the other.

"The first was like a lion^(f) but had eagle's wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

"Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.^(g) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.'

"While I was watching, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard^(h) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads⁽ⁱ⁾ and was given authority to rule.

"While I was watching in the night visions, a fourth beast^(j) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had 10 horns.^(k)

"While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,^(l) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. There were eyes in this horn like a man's, and it had a mouth that spoke arrogantly.^(m)

"As I kept watching, thrones were set in place,⁽ⁿ⁾ and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow,^(o) and the hair of His head like whitest wool.^(p) His throne was flaming fire;^(q) its wheels were blazing fire.^(r)

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands^(s) served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand^(t) stood before Him. The court was convened,^(u) and the books were opened.^(v)

"I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.^(w)

As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.^(x)

I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man^(y) coming with the clouds of heaven.^(z) He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him.

He was given authority to rule,^(aa) and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language^(ab) should serve^(ac) Him. His dominion is an everlasting^(ad) dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

"As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,^[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.^(ae)

I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him^(af) the true meaning of all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:^(ag)

‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.

But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.'^(ah)

"Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,^(ai) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left.

I also wanted to know about the 10 horns^(aj) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,^(ak) and that was more visible than the others.

As I was watching, this horn waged war^(al) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them

until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment^(am) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

"This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

The 10 horns^(an) are 10 kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings.

He will speak words against the Most High^(ao) and oppress^[c] the holy ones^(ap) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals^[d] and laws,^(aq) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.^[e](ar)

But the court will convene,^(as) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.^(at)

The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,^(au) and all rulers will serve and obey Him.'

"This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,^(av) and my face turned pale,^[f] but I kept the matter to myself."^(aw)

In the third year of King Belshazzar's^(a) reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier.^(b)

I saw the vision, and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa,^(c) in the province of Elam.^(d) I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

I looked up,^[a] and there was a ram^(e) standing beside the canal. He had two horns. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up last.

I saw the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south.^(f) No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted^(g) and became great.

As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn^[b] between his eyes.^(h)

He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury.

I saw him approaching the ram, and infuriated with him, he struck the ram, shattering his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him. The goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power.

Then the male goat became very great,⁽ⁱ⁾ but when he became powerful, the large horn was shattered.^(j) Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.^(k)

From one of them a little horn^(l) emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land.^[c](m)

It grew as high as the heavenly host, made some of the stars and some of the host fall to the earth,⁽ⁿ⁾ and trampled them.^(o)

It made itself great,^(p) even up to the Prince of the host;^(q) it removed His daily sacrifice^(r) and overthrew the place of His sanctuary.

Because of rebellion, a host, together with the daily sacrifice, will be given over. The horn will throw truth to the ground and will be successful^(s) in whatever it does.

Then I heard a holy one speaking,^(t) and another holy one said to the speaker, "How long will the events of this vision last^(u)—the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?"^(v)

He said to me,^[d] "For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be restored."

While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man.^(w)

I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: "Gabriel,^(x) explain the vision to this man."

So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown.^(y) "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision refers to the time of the end."^(z)

While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep,^(aa) with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up,^(ab)

and said, "I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end.^(ac)

The two-horned ram^(ad) that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king.^[e]

The four horns that took the place of the shattered horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power.

Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin,^[f] an insolent king, skilled in intrigue,^[g] will come to the throne.

His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction^(ae) and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the powerful along with the holy people.^(af)

He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will make himself great. He will destroy many in a time of peace; he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be shattered—not by human hands.^(ag)

The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. Now you must seal up the vision^(ah) because it refers to many days in the future."

I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days.^(ai) Then I got up and went about the king's business.^(aj) I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it.

In the first year of Darius,^(a) the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans:

In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70.^(b)

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.^(c)

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God^(d) who keeps His gracious covenant^(e) with those who love Him^(f) and keep His commands^(g)—

we have sinned,^(h) done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled,⁽ⁱ⁾ and turned away from Your commands and ordinances.^(j)

We have not listened to Your servants the prophets,^(k) who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

Lord, righteousness belongs to You,^(l) but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You.

Lord , public shame^(m) belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.⁽ⁿ⁾

Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him

and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His instructions that He set before us through His servants^(o) the prophets.

All Israel has broken Your law and turned away,^(p) refusing to obey You. The promised curse^[a] written in the law of Moses,^(q) the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him.

He has carried out His words^(r) that He spoke against us and against our rulers^[b](s) by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done^(t) under all of heaven.

Just as it is written in the law of Moses,^(u) all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased^(v) the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.^(w)

So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand^(x) and made Your name renowned^(y) as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly.

Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, may Your anger and wrath^(z) turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain;^(aa) for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of ridicule to all those around us.

Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of Your servant. Show Your favor^(ab) to Your desolate sanctuary^(ac) for the Lord's sake.

Listen,^[c] my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city called by Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You based on our righteous acts, but based on Your abundant compassion.

Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay,^(ad) because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,^(ae) and presenting my petition before Yahweh my God concerning the holy mountain of my God—

while I was praying, Gabriel,^(af) the man I had seen in the first vision,^(ag) came to me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering.^(ah)

He gave me this explanation: "Daniel, I've come now to give you understanding.^(ai)

At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.^(aj) So consider the message and understand the vision:^(ak)

Seventy weeks^[d] are decreed^(al) about your people and your holy city— to bring the rebellion to an end, to put a stop to sin, to wipe away iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness,^(am) to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.

Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem^(an) until Messiah^(ao) the Prince^[e] will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.^[f] It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times.

After those 62 weeks^[g] the Messiah will be cut off^(ap) and will have nothing. The people of the coming prince will destroy the city^(aq) and the sanctuary. The^[h] end will come with a flood,^(ar) and until the end there will be^[i] war; desolations are decreed.

He will make a firm covenant^[j] with many for one week,^[k] but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation^(as) will be on a wing^(at) of the temple^[l][m] until the decreed destruction^(au) is poured out on the desolator."

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,^(a) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.^(b) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.^(c)

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.^(d)

I didn't eat any rich food,^(e) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn't put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,^(f) the Tigris,

I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,^(g) with a belt of gold^(h) from Uphaz^[b](i) around his waist.

His body was like topaz,^[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,^(j) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.^(k)

Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.^(l) The men who were with me did not see it,^(m) but a great terror fell on them,⁽ⁿ⁾ and they ran and hid.

I was left alone, looking at this great vision.^(o) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,^[d](p) and I was powerless.

I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,^[e](q) with my face to the ground.

Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees.

He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.^(r) Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet,^(s) for I have now been sent to you."^(t) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

"Don't be afraid,^(u) Daniel," he said to me, "for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,^(v) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.^(w)

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael,^(x) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.^(y)

Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,^(z) for the vision refers to those days."^(aa)

While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.^(ab)

Suddenly one with human likeness^(ac) touched my lips.^(ad) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, "My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.^(ae)

How can someone like me,^(af) your servant,^[f] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me."

Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.^(ag)

He said, "Don't be afraid,^(ah) you who are^[g] treasured by God.^(ai) Peace to you; be very strong!"^(aj) As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."^(ak)

He said, "Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.^(al)

No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael,^(am) your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.

¹In the first year of Darius the Mede,^(a) I stood up to strengthen and protect him.

Now I will tell you the truth.^(b) "Three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than the others. By the power he gains through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.^(c)

Then a warrior king will arise; he will rule a vast realm and do whatever he wants.^(d)

But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven,^(e) but not to his descendants; it will not be the same kingdom that he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and will go to others besides them.^(f)

"The king of the South^(g) will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his.

After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North^(h) to seal the agreement. She will not retain power, and his strength will not endure. She will be given up, together with her entourage, her father,^[a] and the one who supported her during those times.

In the place of the king of the South, one from her family^[b] will rise up, come against the army, and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will take action against them and triumph.

He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious articles of silver and gold.⁽ⁱ⁾ For some years he will stay away from the king of the North,

who will enter the kingdom of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

"His sons will mobilize for war and assemble a large number of armed forces. They will advance, sweeping through like a flood,^[c](j) and will again wage war as far as his fortress.

Infuriated, the king of the South will march out to fight with the king of the North who will raise a large army but they will be handed over to his enemy.

When the army is carried off, he will become arrogant and cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not triumph.

The king of the North will again raise a multitude larger than the first. After some years^[d](k) he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

"In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will assert themselves to fulfill a vision, but they will fail.

Then the king of the North will come, build up an assault ramp,^(l) and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their select troops will not be able to resist.

The king of the North who comes against him will do whatever he wants,^(m) and no one can oppose him. He will establish himself in the beautiful land^[e](n) with total destruction in his hand.

He will resolve^(o) to come with the force of his whole kingdom and will reach an agreement with him.^[f] He will give him a daughter in marriage^[g] to destroy it,^[h] but she will not stand with him or support him.

Then he will turn his attention to the coasts and islands^[i](p) and capture many. But a commander will put an end to his taunting; instead, he will turn his taunts against him.^(q)

He will turn his attention back to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble, fall,^(r) and be no more.^(s)

"In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector^(t) for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger^[j] or in battle.

"In his place a despised^(u) person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace^[k](v) and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be shattered, as well as the covenant prince.

After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.^[l]

During a time of peace,^[m] he will come into the richest parts of the province^(w) and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

"With a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will prepare for battle with an extremely large and powerful army, but he will not succeed, because plots will be made against him.

Those who eat his provisions^(x) will destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.

The two kings, whose hearts are bent on evil, will speak lies^(y) at the same table but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time.^(z)

The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant;^[n] he will take action, then return to his own land.

"At the appointed time he will come again to the South, but this time^[o] will not be like the first.

Ships of Kittim^[p](aa) will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant.

His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice^(ab) and set up the abomination of desolation.^(ac)

With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.^(ad)

Those who are wise among the people^(ae) will give understanding to many, yet they will die by sword and flame,^(af) and be captured and plundered for a time.

When defeated, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.^(ag)

Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined,^(ah) purified, and cleansed^(ai) until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

"Then the king will do whatever he wants.^(aj) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,^(ak) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.^(al) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,^(am) because what has been decreed will be accomplished.

He will not show regard for the gods^[q] of his fathers, the god longed for by women, or for any other god,^(an) because he will magnify himself above all.

Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches.

He will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him,^[r] making them rulers over many and distributing land as a reward.

"At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm against him^(ao) with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade countries and sweep through them like a flood.^(ap)

He will also invade the beautiful land,^(aq) and many will fall. But these will escape from his power: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people^[s] of the Ammonites.^(ar)

He will extend his power against the countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape.

He will get control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also be in submission.^[t](as)

But reports from the east^(at) and the north will terrify him, and he will go out with great fury to annihilate and completely destroy many.

He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and^[u] the beautiful holy mountain,^(au) but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

At that time Michael^(a) the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress^(b) such as never has occurred^(c) since nations came into being until that time.^(d) But at that time all your people who are found written in the book^(e) will escape.^(f)

Many of those who sleep in the dust^(g) of the earth will awake, some to eternal life,^(h) and some to shame and eternal contempt.⁽ⁱ⁾

Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens,^(j) and those who lead many to righteousness,^(k) like the stars forever and ever.

"But you, Daniel, keep these words secret^(l) and seal the book^(m) until the time of the end.⁽ⁿ⁾ Many will roam about,^(o) and knowledge will increase."^[a]

Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other.

One of them said to the man dressed in linen,^(p) who was above the waters of the river,^(q) "How long until the end^(r) of these extraordinary things?"

Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised both his hands^[b](s) toward heaven and swore by Him who lives eternally^(t) that it would be for a time, times, and half a time.^(u) When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

I heard but did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?"^(v)

He said, "Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret^(w) and sealed until the time of the end.^(x)

Many will be purified,^(y) cleansed, and refined,^(z) but the wicked will act wickedly;^(aa) none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.^(ab)

From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation^(ac) is set up,^(ad) there will be 1,290 days.

The one who waits^(ae) for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed.

But as for you, go on your way to the end;^[c] you will rest, then rise^(af) to your destiny at the end of the days."