THEN saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.
And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.
And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.
But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the remnant.
Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.
And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spoke against her, no, not one creature upon earth.
And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spoke to her feathers, saying,
Watch not all at once: sleep everyone in his own place, and watch by course:
But let the heads be preserved for the last.
And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.
And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.
And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;
And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up and reigned, and had a great time;
And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.
Then came there a voice unto it, and said,
Hear you that have borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto you, before you begin to appear no more,
There shall none after you attain unto your time, neither unto the half thereof.
Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.
So went it with all the remnant one after another, as that everyone reigned, and then appeared no more.
Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:
For some of them were set up, but ruled not.
After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:
And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.
Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their place.
And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.
And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.
And the second was sooner away than the first.
And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:
And when they so thought, behold, there awakened one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.
And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.
And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.
But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bore rule in it over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.
And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.
But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.
And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.
Then I heard a voice, which said unto me, Look before you, and consider the thing that you see.
And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,
Hear, I will talk with you, and El Elyon shall say unto you,
Are not you it that remain of the four living creatures, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?
And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.
For the earth have you not judged with truth.
For you have afflicted the meek, you have hurt the peaceable, you have loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and have cast down the walls of such as did you no harm.
Therefore is your wrongful dealing come up unto El Elyon, and your pride unto El.
El Elyon also has looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.
And therefore appear no more, you eagle, nor your horrible wings, nor your wicked feathers nor your malicious heads, nor your hurtful claws, nor all your vain body:
That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from your violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.