Study Desk

Daniel's Vision of a Man

In the third year of Cyrus^(a) king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).^(b) Its message was true^(c) and it concerned a great war.^[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned^(d) for three weeks.

I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;^(e) and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

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

I looked up^(h) and there before me was a man dressed in linen,⁽ⁱ⁾ with a belt of fine gold^(j) from Uphaz around his waist.

His body was like topaz,^(k) his face like lightning,^(l) his eyes like flaming torches,^(m) his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze,⁽ⁿ⁾ and his voice^(o) like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it,^(p) but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.

So I was left alone,^(q) gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left,^(r) my face turned deathly pale^(s) and I was helpless.^(t)

Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.^(u)

A hand touched me^(v) and set me trembling on my hands and knees.^(w)

He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,^(x) consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up,^(y) for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid,^(z) Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble^(aa) yourself before your God, your words^(ab) were heard, and I have come in response to them.^(ac)

But the prince^(ad) of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael,^(ae) one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

Now I have come to explain^(af) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(ag) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(ah)"

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.^(ai)

Then one who looked like a man^[b] touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.^(aj) I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish^(ak) because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak.

How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."^(al)

Again the one who looked like a man touched^(am) me and gave me strength.^(an)

"Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,"^(ao) he said. "Peace!^(ap) Be strong now; be strong."^(aq) When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."^(ar)

So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece^(as) will come;

but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.^(at) (No one supports me against them except Michael,^(au) your prince.

¹And in the first year of Darius^(a) the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

The Kings of the South and the North

"Now then, I tell you the truth:^(b) Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.^(c)

Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.^(d)

After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.^(e) It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted^(f) and given to others.

"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power^[a] will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father^[b] and the one who supported her.

"One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North^(g) and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.

He will also seize their gods,^(h) their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.⁽ⁱ⁾ For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.

Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood^(j) and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

"Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.^(k)

When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.

For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

"In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.

Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps^(l) and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand.

The invader will do as he pleases;^(m) no one will be able to stand against him.⁽ⁿ⁾ He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.^(o)

He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans^[c] will not succeed^(p) or help him.

Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands^(q) and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.^(r)

After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall,^(s) to be seen no more.^(t)

"His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor.^(u) In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

"He will be succeeded by a contemptible^(v) person who has not been given the honor of royalty.^(w) He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.

Then an overwhelming army will be swept away^(x) before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.^(y)

After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully,^(z) and with only a few people he will rise to power.

When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers.^(aa) He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

"With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him.

Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.

The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil,^(ab) will sit at the same table and lie^(ac) to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.^(ad)

The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

"At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before.

Ships of the western coastlands^(ae) will oppose him, and he will lose heart.^(af) Then he will turn back and vent his fury^(ag) against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.^(ah) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.^(ai)

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(aj) him.

"Those who are wise will instruct^(ak) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.^(al)

When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere^(am) will join them.

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,^(an) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

"The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(ao) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(ap) against the God of gods.^(aq) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(ar) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^(as)

He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.

He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.^[d]

"At the time of the end the king of the South^(at) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm^(au) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.^(av)

He will also invade the Beautiful Land.^(aw) Many countries will fall, but Edom,^(ax) Moab^(ay) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.

He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.

He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,^(az) with the Libyans^(ba) and Cushites^[e] in submission.

But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.

He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at^[f] the beautiful holy mountain.^(bb) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

"At that time Michael,^(a) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress^(b) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book^(c)—will be delivered.^(d)

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:^(e) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.^(f)

Those who are wise^[a](g) will shine^(h) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,⁽ⁱ⁾ like the stars for ever and ever.^(j)

But you, Daniel, roll up and seal^(k) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.^(l) Many will go here and there^(m) to increase knowledge."

Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.⁽ⁿ⁾

One of them said to the man clothed in linen,^(o) who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"^(p)

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand^(q) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,^(r) saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[b](s) When the power of the holy people^(t) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.^(u)"

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?"

He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed^(v) until the time of the end.^(w)

Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,^(x) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.^(y) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.^(z)

"From the time that the daily sacrifice^(aa) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation^(ab) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.^(ac)

Blessed is the one who waits^(ad) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.^(ae)

"As for you, go your way till the end.^(af) You will rest,^(ag) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.^(ah)"