¹⁷ He said, ‘These four great animals are four kings who will rise to power from the earth. ¹⁸ But the saints of the Highest will receive the kingdom forever, inheriting it^[a] forever and ever.’

¹⁹ “I wanted to learn the precise significance of the fourth animal that was different from all the others, extremely awe-inspiring, with iron teeth and bronze claws, and that had devoured and crushed things,^[b] trampling under its feet whatever remained.