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1 In the first year of Baltasar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream: and the vision of his head was upon his bed: and writing the dream, he comprehended it in a few words: and relating the sum of it in short, he said: 2 I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of the heavens strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of the sea. 4 The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was given to her. 5 And behold another beast, like a bear, stood up on one side: and there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had upon it four wings, as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and power was given to it. 7 After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with his feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before it, and had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and the ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire. 10 A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld, because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt: 12 And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that times of life were appointed them for a time, and a time.

13 I beheld, therefore, in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the ancient of days: and they presented him before him. 14 And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes, and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.

15 My spirit trembled; I, Daniel, was affrighted at these things, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I went near to one of them that stood by, and asked the truth of him concerning all these things, and he told me the interpretation of the words, and instructed me:


17 These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most high God shall take the kingdom: and they shall possess the kingdom for ever and ever. 19 After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast, which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest he stamped upon with his feet: 20 And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was greater than the rest. 21 I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and prevailed over them, 22 till the ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom.

23 And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings: and another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the former, and he shall bring down three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, and times, and half a time. 26 And a judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end. 27 And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him. 28 Hitherto is the end of the word. I, Daniel, was much troubled with my thoughts, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the word in my heart.

 

 

7:3-7 four great beasts: In speaking of a “lioness from the sea,” he meant the rising of the kingdom of Babylon, and that this was the “golden head of the image. Dan. 2:32” And in speaking of its “eagle wings,” he meant that king Nebuchadnezzar was exalted and that his glory was lifted up against God. Then he says “its wings were plucked off,” that his glory was destroyed; for he was driven out of his kingdom. And the words, “A man’s heart was given it, and it was made stand upon the feet of a man,” mean that he came to himself again, and recognized that he was but a man, and gave the glory to God Dan. 4:25-31. Then after the lioness he sees a second beast, “like a bear,” which signified the Persians. For after the Babylonians the Persians obtained the power. And in saying that “it had three ribs in its mouth,” he pointed to the three nations, Persians, Medes, and Babylonians, which were expressed in the image by the silver after the gold Dan. 2:32. Then comes the third beast, “a leopard,” which means the Greeks; for after the Persians, Alexander of Macedon had the power, when Darius was overthrown, which was also indicated by the brass in the image Dan 4:39. And in saying that the beast “had four wings of a fowl, and four heads,” he showed most clearly how the kingdom of Alexander was parted into four divisions. For in speaking of four heads, he meant the four kings that arose out of it. For Alexander, when dying, divided his kingdom into four parts. Then he says, “The fourth beast (was) dreadful and terrible: it had iron teeth, and claws of iron.” Who, then, are meant by this but the Romans, whose kingdom, the kingdom that still stands, is expressed by the iron? “for,” says he, “its legs are of iron. Dan 2:33” (St. Hippolytus) 7:7-8 The fourth beast being the Roman Empire, has ruled throughout different stages of history. Though ancient Rome is no longer in power, there will be a continuation, a new Rome, that will rule the world in the same manner as before. The ten horns are 10 kings of Rome, in which the Antichrist (little horn) will come up and remove (pluck up) three who are ruling at that time, while the other seven will willfully submit to his rule. This vision is very similar to what St. John saw in Revelation 13:2, And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority." Daniel saw a vision of four separate animals, not one beast composed of parts from three animals, which means that the Antichrist's rule will include all of the areas represented by these animals — Greece, Persia and Mesopotamia. 7:9 Ancient of days: By the Ancient of days he means none other than the Lord and God and Ruler of all, and even of Christ Himself, who never ages because He is eternal. (St. Hippolytus) In that vision the whole order of the judicial power is clearly expressed. This power is in God Himself as its first

origin, and more especially in the Father Who is the fount of the entire Godhead; wherefore it is stated in the first place that the "Ancient of days sat." But the judicial power was transmitted from the Father to the Son, not only from eternity in respect of the Divine nature, but also in time in respect of the human nature wherein He merited it. Hence in the aforesaid vision it is further stated Daniel 7:13-14: "Lo, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and He came even to the Ancient of days . . . And He gave Him power and glory, and a kingdom." (St. Thomas Aquinas) 7:10 Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will. (St. Clement of Rome) books were opened: God is said to have books, which is not physical books but spiritual books, that is, the eternal memory in which the names of the elect are kept. (Apringius of Beja) 7:11-12 The Antichrist is the horn, and the body of the beast mentioned is more than likely the Antichrist as well, even though Rome was called a beast above. The Antichrist is referred to as the beast in Revelation 13, and his body given over to be burnt in the fire is mentiond by John in Revelation 19:20. The other beasts is not to be confused with the other empires mentioned above (Babylon, Persians, Greeks) since they were destroyed centuries ago, but they are the other kings who followed the Antichrist, who were not thrown into the the Lake of Fire immediately with the Antichrist, perhaps they are given an extended time to repent. 7:13 The Old Greek Septuagint version has an interesting reading that says that the Son of man is the Ancient of Days, "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, as it were the son of man was coming upon the clouds of heaven. And he came as the Ancient of Days, and the attendants were present with him." This agrees with the similarities between the Ancient of Days in verse 7:9 and that of Christ in Revelation 1:13-14, Dan. 7:9 "his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire." and Rev. 1:13-14, "in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire." There is also evidence in verse 7:22 that shows the Ancient of Days coming in Person to bring judgment, which resembles what Christ is going to do, not the Father. The reading from the Septuagint could very well be an original reading due to the age of the version and the similarities found in St. John's vision as quoted above, but it is only speculation considering its lack of other evidence to support it.

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7:21-22, 25 Along with this passage, these are the principal texts which seem to refer to this last persecution, Dan. 11:31-33; Dan. 12:10,11; Matt. 24:21; Rev. 13:5-8; Rev. 20:1-9. These passages were understood by the early Christians to relate to the Persecution which was to come in the last times; and they seem evidently to bear upon them that meaning. Our Lord's words, indeed, about the fierce trial which was coming, might seem at first sight to refer to the early persecutions, those to which the first Christians were exposed; and doubtless so they do also: yet, violent as these persecutions were, they were not considered by those very men who underwent them to be the proper fulfilment of the prophecy; and this surely is itself a strong reason for thinking they were not so. (John Henry Newman) change times and laws: The Antichrist shall exalt himself to such a height of arrogance as to attempt changing the very laws of God and the sacred rites as well. until a time, and times, and half a time: For it is believed, that during three years and a half, as far as may be conjectured from the prophecy of Daniel and the Revelations of John 11:2, 13:5, the Church is to be attacked. (St. Bede) Well is it for Christians

that the days are shortened!—shortened for the elect's sake, lest they should be overwhelmed,—shortened, as it would seem, to three years and a half. (John Henry Newman) 7:26 He shall destroy the Antichrist in his body and his soul together, first because of his wickedness, as he is unworthy to be among the people of God, second as an example of God's power, which is able to annihilate visible beings and invisible, and third that sinners may recognize the greatness of God’s grace. (Ishodad of Merv) Then even this is not the last judgment of the wicked; but the last judgment is that which they shall suffer when the bodily resurrection has taken place. (St. Augustine) 7:27 In other words, this is the end of all the affairs of this life, all the empires of earth coming to a close and the eternal kingdom being given to the saints of the Most High, with those in charge obeying and devotely serving Him, since His kingdom is eternal and does not come to an end. (Theodoret of Cyrus)

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4 The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was given to her.	17 These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.
5 And behold another beast, like a bear, stood up on one side: and there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh.	17 These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.
6 After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had upon it four wings, as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and power was given to it.	17 These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.
7 After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with his feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before it, and had ten horns.	23 And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings:
8 I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.	24b and another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the former, and he shall bring down three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, and times, and half a time.
9 I beheld till thrones were placed, and the ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire. 10 A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld, because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt: 12 And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that times of life were appointed them for a time, and a time. 13 I beheld, therefore, in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the ancient of days: and they presented him before him. 14 And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes, and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.	26 And a judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end. 27 And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him.