Daniel 7 (ESV)
Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and 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, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts 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, 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 leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, 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 mouth speaking great things.
The Ancient of Days Reigns
9 “ As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 “ I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
The Son of Man Is Given Dominion
13 “ I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel’s Vision Interpreted
15 “ As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me2 was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘ These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
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, 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. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 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.
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.
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.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’3
28 “ Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Footnotes
Daniel 7 Commentary
In Daniel 7, in the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel had a dream featuring four beasts emerging from the sea, each distinct (Daniel 7:1-3). The first beast resembled a lion with eagle’s wings, which were torn off, and it was given a human mind (Daniel 7:4). The second beast looked like a bear with three ribs in its mouth, commanded to consume flesh (Daniel 7:5). The third beast was a leopard with four wings and four heads, granted dominion (Daniel 7:6). The fourth beast was terrifying, with iron teeth and ten horns, among which a smaller horn emerged, speaking arrogantly (Daniel 7:7-8).
Daniel then saw the Ancient of Days take his throne, surrounded by fire and thousands serving him (Daniel 7:9-10). The fourth beast was killed, while the other beasts had their dominion removed but were allowed to live for a time (Daniel 7:11-12). A figure resembling a son of man approached the Ancient of Days and was given everlasting dominion and a kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14).
Daniel, troubled by the visions, sought interpretation (Daniel 7:15–16). He learned that the four beasts represented four kings, with the holy ones ultimately receiving the kingdom (Daniel 7:17-18). The fourth beast would be a powerful kingdom, and a king would rise, oppressing the holy ones (Daniel 7:19-25). However, judgment would come, and the kingdom would be given to the holy ones of the Most High, establishing an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:26-27). Daniel was deeply disturbed by the visions but kept them to himself (Daniel 7:28).
Turning Point
Daniel 7 marks a turning point in the book, introducing a powerful vision that echoes earlier chapters while expanding on God’s sovereign plan for history. Though the imagery is striking and often unsettling (beasts rising from the sea, horns with eyes, a courtroom in heaven), at its core, the chapter reminds us that God, the Ancient of Days, reigns over all earthly powers. While kingdoms rise and fall, and evil may appear to dominate for a time, ultimate authority belongs to God alone, who will one day give dominion to “one like a son of man” (Daniel 7:13).
This vision parallels the dream in Daniel 2, showing four world empires in symbolic form, now not as metals but as beasts. They are wild, terrifying, and increasingly destructive. The fourth beast, especially, represents a system of terrifying power and persecution. Yet in the midst of this chaos, Daniel sees a divine courtroom scene. The Ancient of Days takes His seat, judgment is rendered, and the final beast is destroyed. Then, a human-like figure (one like a son of man) is given eternal authority and a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
The identity of this “Son of Man” in Daniel 7 has sparked much discussion. Some interpret him as a symbol of the faithful people of God, while others view him as a distinct individual who represents humanity as it was always meant to be (fully righteous, fully submitted to God). Christians see this ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Regardless of interpretation, what’s clear is that this figure stands in stark contrast to the beastly empires that came before. He is not violent, power-hungry, or oppressive. Instead, He is exalted, just, and truly human. He reflects the image of God in the way humanity was always intended to. This is a vision of redeemed leadership. It is a glimpse of the kingdom to come.
The Vision
Chronologically, the vision in Daniel 7 takes place during the reign of King Belshazzar, placing it between chapters 4 and 5. If you recall, in Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that required interpretation. That dream featured a statue made of four metals, each representing a world-dominating kingdom. Now, in Daniel 7, Daniel himself receives a vision of four beasts. It’s quite possible that, after interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel began to wonder and pray about how God would bring these events to pass. He may have wondered how they would relate to the promised Messiah through the line of David. In response, God gave him a parallel vision.
Here’s how the two visions align:
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ⇒ Head of Gold ⇒ Babylon
Daniel’s Vision ⇒ Lion ⇒ Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ⇒ Chest and Arms of Silver ⇒ Persia
Daniel’s Vision ⇒ Bear ⇒ Persia
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ⇒ Thighs of Bronze ⇒ Greece
Daniel’s Vision ⇒ Leopard ⇒ Greece
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream ⇒ Legs of Iron / Feet of Iron & Clay ⇒ Rome
Daniel’s Vision ⇒ Terrifying Beast ⇒ Rome
What Does This Mean For Us Today?
The four winds of Daniel’s vision have begun to blow. Just look at the culture around us…
“And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.”
Daniel 7:8b CSB
This small but boastful horn seems eerily familiar. We live in a time where truth is flipped upside down. There is a reversal of right and wrong. Humanism elevates self to a god-like status. Media empires (much like the Greek theater of old) shape values, normalize sin, and seduce through subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages. We’re told to “follow our heart” instead of following God. Like the days of Judges, everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Truth is now subjective. The horn speaks “great things,” not just loud opinions, but deceptive ideologies that appeal to the flesh and tickle the ears of a willing world.
Let me be clear: I’m not saying the prophecy of Daniel 7 is being fulfilled today. I don’t know that. But we are absolutely drifting in that direction. The winds are blowing.
“As I was watching, this horn waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them [22] until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment 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.”
Daniel 7:21-22 (CSB)
“He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”
Daniel 7:25 (CSB)
Daniel was shaken by what he saw. The horn made war with God’s people. It exhausted the saints. It rewrote morality and truth. It “changed the times and the law.” But even in the chaos, there is hope.
In the end, the kingdom will be given to the saints, not by conquest, but by the authority of Jesus Christ. Satan and the systems of this world are on a ticking clock. Though they may win some battles, the war is already over. Jesus reigns. His Kingdom can’t be taken by force. It can’t be manipulated, earned, or rigged. Like Salvation, it is a gift – freely given, perfectly timed, and completely secure in the hands of the Giver. So as His saints, we wait. Not in fear, but in faith. Not in panic, but in perseverance.
