12. The authority of the other animals had been stripped away from them. But they were allowed to live for a period of time.
13. "In my vision I saw One who looked like a son of man. He was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Eternal God. He was led right up to him.
14. And he was given authority, glory and a kingdom. People from every nation and language worshiped him. His authority will last forever. It will not pass away. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
15. "My spirit was troubled. The visions that passed through my mind upset me.
16. I approached an angel who was standing there. I asked him what all of those things really meant. "So he explained everything to me. He told me what it meant. He said,
17. 'The four large animals stand for four kingdoms. The kingdoms will appear on the earth.