¹⁶ So I spoke to someone who was standing near God's throne. I asked him to explain what all these things meant. He told me the meaning of my vision. ¹⁷ He said, “The four large animals are four kings. They will rule kingdoms on the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people of the Most High God will receive authority to rule as kings. God's kingdom will belong to them for ever.”