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I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
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'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.
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But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'
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Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;
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and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
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I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
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until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
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"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.
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The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.
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He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
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'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.