2 Esdras 11:10-20

10 And I looked, and behold, the voice did not come from his heads, but from the midst of his body.
11 And I counted his opposing wings, and behold, there were eight of them.
12 And I looked, and behold, on the right side one wing arose, and it reigned over all the earth.
13 And while it was reigning it came to its end and disappeared, so that its place was not seen. Then the next wing arose and reigned, and it continued to reign a long time.
14 And while it was reigning its end came also, so that it disappeared like the first.
15 And behold, a voice sounded, saying to it.
16 "Hear me, you who have ruled the earth all this time; I announce this to you before you disappear.
17 After you no one shall rule as long as you, or even half as long."
18 Then the third wing raised itself up, and held the rule like the former ones, and it also disappeared.
19 And so it went with all the wings; they wielded power one after another and then were never seen again.
20 And I looked, and behold, in due course the wings that followed also rose up on the right side, in order to rule. There were some of them that ruled, yet disappeared suddenly;
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.