2 Esdras 11:30-40

30 And I saw how it allied the two heads with itself,
31 and how the head turned with those that were with it and devoured the two little wings that were planning to reign.
32 Moreover this head gained control of the whole earth, and with much oppression dominated its inhabitants; it had greater power over the world than all the wings that had gone before.
33 After this I looked again and saw the head in the middle suddenly disappear, just as the wings had done.
34 But the two heads remained, which also in like manner ruled over the earth and its inhabitants.
35 And while I looked, I saw the head on the right side devour the one on the left.
36 Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Look in front of you and consider what you see."
37 When I looked, I saw what seemed to be a lion roused from the forest, roaring; and I heard how it uttered a human voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,
38 "Listen and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you,
39 "Are you not the one that remains of the four beasts that I had made to reign in my world, so that the end of my times might come through them?
40 You, the fourth that has come, have conquered all the beasts that have gone before; and you have held sway over the world with great terror, and over all the earth with grievous oppression; and for so long you have lived on the earth with deceit.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Syr: Lat [underwings]
  • [b]. Syr Arab Arm: Lat Ethiop [The fourth came, however, and conquered . . . and held sway . . . and for so long lived]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.