Daniel 7:1-8
Four Beasts from the Sea
Read the passage
1In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
2Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.
3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.
5Suddenly another beast appeared, 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. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
6Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
During the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel dreams of four winds churning the great sea. Four different beasts rise from it, and he writes down what he sees.
The first resembles a lion with eagle’s wings. Its wings are torn off; it is made to stand like a man and given a human mind. The second looks like a bear, raised on one side, with three ribs between its teeth. It is told to gorge itself on flesh. The third resembles a leopard with four wings and four heads, and it is given authority to rule.
The fourth beast is dreadful and extremely strong. Its iron teeth devour and crush, and it tramples what remains. It has ten horns. As Daniel watches, a little horn appears and uproots three of them. It has humanlike eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant words. These images are frightening, and Daniel has not yet received their explanation.
Questions
1 Where do the beasts come from?
AnswerFour different beasts rise from the great sea as the four winds of heaven churn it.
2 What happens to the lionlike beast?
AnswerIts wings are torn off, it is made to stand on two feet like a man, and it receives a human mind.
3 What distinguishes the fourth beast?
AnswerIt is terrifying and extremely strong, with iron teeth and ten horns. It devours, crushes, and tramples what remains.
4 What does Daniel notice about the little horn?
AnswerThree horns are uprooted before it. It has eyes like a man’s and a mouth that speaks arrogantly.
What This Means for Us
Daniel's vision does not flatter empire. The dream asks the reader to see what power does from the underside, where people experience its appetite rather than its monuments.
The images are symbolic, and the passage itself has an interpreter later. Humility is necessary: vivid prophecy should not become an excuse for confident speculation detached from the text.
When you hear grand claims about a leader or institution, examine the effects on the vulnerable. Look past the costume and ask whether the system protects life or devours it.
Prayer
God of truth, help us see power clearly when appearances are impressive. Protect people harmed by violent systems, give us humility with prophetic images, and keep our household from admiring domination. Amen.
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