Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions appeared in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related a summary of it. Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (the nations). And four great beasts, each different from the other, were coming up out of the sea [in succession].

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed and anxious within me, and the visions [that appeared] in my mind kept alarming (agitating) me. I approached one of those who stood by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of the things: ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints (believers) of the Most High [God] will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ [Rom 8:17; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 3:21]