Lions, and Leopards, and Bears, Oh My! (Daniel 7)

By David J Grabe

This piece walks through the vision of Daniel 7—not as a study, but as something seen, felt, and told in story form. It traces kingdoms, conflict, and ultimately the quiet certainty that God still rules above it all.

1. In Belshazzar’s first year of his glory and might
   Daniel the prophet had a vision by night
   Then he wrote down the dream, told the sum of the matters
   But was grieved in his spirit, his mind near in tatters
2. For he saw in his vision by night, and beheld
   The four winds of the heaven, left the great sea unquelled
   Then from troubled sea, came these great beasts four,
   Each one more terrifying than the one before!
3. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
   Some given wings, so that they might fly,
   Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
   Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.
4. The first like a lion with wings of an eagle,
   Speaks of a kingdom so majestic and regal;
   (Now 1st RULE for a prophet given visions and signs
   The vision commences in the prophet’s own time!)
5. Since the vision appeared during Belshazzar’s reign,
   Then the “lion” is Babylon, Could this truth be more plain?
   Yet the Most High God still rules in His PLAN,
   For the heart of the beast, soon was one of a man!
6. The sea stirred again, and a BEAR would emerge,
   And Babylon, the lion, disappeared in its surge;
   Raised up on one side, 3 ribs in its jaws,
   It was told to DEVOUR, with its unalterable laws;
7. The Medes, then the Persians, held absolute sway,
   But the time would soon come, when they would give way
8. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
   Some given wings, so that they might fly,
   Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
   Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.
9. The sea convulsed, and a LEOPARD came forth!
   Now enter the Greeks, from the west and the north;
   Four wings of a fowl, and quaternal heads (4),
   Swift it would conquer, leaving his foes in shreds
10. But the sea was not done, as it belched out one more,
    A beast so dreadful and terrible, as it came ashore;
    Students of prophecy should not be perplexed,
    For history confirms that the Romans were next!
11. Armed with great iron teeth, and strong without equal,
    The ten horns on its head, assured there’s a sequel!
    For soon there arose a little horn ‘midst the ten,
    Which led me to wonder what would happen then!
12. Removing 3 horns and taking their place,
    It had eyes like a man, a mouth, but no face;
    And out of its mouth came most blasphemous things,
    To the Most High God, and the King of kings;
13. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
    Some given wings, so that they might fly,
    Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
    Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.
14. But the scene changed, and thrones were now placed
    A TIME to examine the lives men had traced;
    The Ancient of Days, God the Father alone,
    Was now seated upon His FIERY throne;
    The judgment was set, and the BOOKS were reviewed,
    To determine which hearts were truly renewed;
15. Then because of the great words which the horn had spoken,
    The beast was slain, and his power was broken.
    And because of his words to the Most High to defame,
    His body was destroyed and given unto the flame.
16. For the rest of the beasts, though their dominion was ended,
    Their total demise was for a time suspended.
    Then in this vision I BEHELD such a SIGHT!
    ONE like the Son of Man BECLOUDED in LIGHT;
17. Now unto the Ancient of Days was He brought,
    To receive ALL dominion which His PRECIOUS Blood had bought;
    His crimson-dipped Banner would soon be unfurled,
    For He is the LAMB Slain, from the foundation of the world!
18. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
    Some given wings, so that they might fly,
    Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
    Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.
19. Grieved in my spirit, and troubled in mind,
    I asked of the Angel, “Could you be so kind?
    I cannot grasp, all these things I have been shown,
    It’s interpretation, I pray, unto me make it known.”
20. The Angel replied, “The Four beasts that you saw,
    Which came up from the sea, with terror and awe,
    They are four kings that shall arise out of earth,
    And will vary in degree in moral worth;
21. But the saints of the Most High, in the end shall prevail,
    For God’s Word, as you know, it NEVER fails!
    Assured by the words which the Angel had said,
    I asked of the fourth beast of which I most dread;
22. And of the ten horns which were in his great head,
    And the little horn who plucked three, and left them for dead.
    With its blasphemous mouth, and a pair of man’s eyes,
    Whose look was more stout than the fellows his size;
23. I saw this same horn would make war with the saints,
    Prevailing against them without any restraints;
    Until the Ancient of Days vindicated His church,
    Those who were chosen, the reward for His search;
24. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
    Some given wings, so that they might fly,
    Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
    Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.
25. The Angel proceeded to reveal to me more truth,
    Something I’ve sought from the days of my youth;
    The Fourth beast, he said, “is the fourth kingdom on earth,
    Diverse from all others, exceeding strong from its birth.”
26. The ten horns from this kingdom are ten kings to arise,
    With another to come, the One with the eyes;
    It will subdue three kings from the ten at the first,
    And blaspheme the Most High, which he’ll be at his worst;
27. As you saw in the vision, he’ll shed the saints’ blood,
    Like the serpent cast water from his mouth like a flood;
    Thinking to change God’s law and history’s course,
    ’Tis no surprise when we surmise
    That all his power derived from a devilish source!
28. Yet the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
    So this horn has his “times” until the Lord God says “when!”
    As you saw in the vision when the thrones were cast down,
    The Ancient of Days sat in judgment and found,
29. The wicked were wanting, and pretenders found short,
    Thus the decision was rendered by the Heavenly COURT;
    Then the kingdom and dominion and its greatness restored,
    Once again, God’s universe is in one accord.
30. And the saints of the Most High shall possess the land,
    For the Most High Himself gives it into their hand.
    To serve and obey Him out of gratitude and love,
    The Most High God, the God of Heaven above.
31. Lions, and leopards, and bears, Oh my!
    Some given wings, so that they might fly,
    Some with four heads, one with great iron teeth,
    Symbols of kings, and of what lies beneath.