15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed inside me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing there and asked him what was going on, so he told me, and then he revealed the interpretation of those things to me:

17 Those four large creatures, they represent four kingdoms that will come to be in the world, 18 but the dedicated followers of the highest one will receive the kingdom, and they will take possession of the kingdom forever.

19 But I still wanted to know more about the fourth creature that was different from all the others, absolutely dreadful, with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and which devoured, then crushed and trampled down with its feet what was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other horn that came up later, with three other horns falling. That horn had eyes and a mouth that said amazing things, and it looked stronger than the others. 21 I kept watching, and that horn was waging war with those followers and gaining over them[ref] 22 until the ancient one arrived and judged in favour of his followers. Then the time arrived when they took possession of the kingdom.[ref]

23 Then he said:

The fourth creature will be a fourth kingdom in the world which will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole world, and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, ten kings will become prominent in that kingdom, and then another king will appear. He will be different from the previous kings, and he will overcome three of them. [ref] 25 He will speak out against the highest one and will wear out the highest one’s followers. He will intend to change the times and the law, and indeed he’ll be allowed to for a two times and a half.[ref] 26 But the court will sit, and then his authority to rule will be taken away—to perish and be forever destroyed. 27 Then the kingdom and the authority to rule and the greatness of the kingdoms under all the heavens will be given to the people who are the followers of the highest one. His kingdom will continue forever, and all earthly rulers will serve and obey him.[ref]

28 That’s everything that I saw in my visions. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts made me very upset and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.