4 Esdras (2 Esdras) 11

And I saw a dream, and behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings and three heads.

And I saw, and behold, it spread its wings over all the earth, and all the winds of heaven blew upon it, and were gathered together.

And I saw, and from its feathers there grew opposing feathers, and these became small and little plumes.

For its heads were at rest, and the middle head was greater than the other heads, yet it too rested with them.

And I saw, and behold, the eagle flew upon its wings, and reigned over the earth, and over those who dwell in it.

And I saw that all things under heaven were subject to it, and no one contradicted it, not one of the creatures that is upon the earth.

And I saw, and behold, the eagle rose upon its talons, and sent forth a voice to its wings, saying,

Do not all keep watch at once; let each one sleep in his own place, and watch in turn.

But let the heads be kept for the last.

And I saw, and behold, the voice did not come from its heads, but from the middle of its body.

And I counted its opposing feathers, and behold, they were eight.

And I saw, and behold, on the right side one wing rose up, and reigned over all the earth.

And it came to pass, when it reigned, that its end came, and its place did not appear; and the next one rose up and reigned. This one held its time long.

And it came to pass, when it reigned and its end was coming, that it did not appear like the former.

And behold, a voice was sent to it, saying,

Hear, you who have held the earth so long. This I announce to you before you begin to disappear:

No one after you shall hold your time, not even half of it.

And the third rose up, and held the rule like the former ones; and it too did not appear.

And so it came to pass with all the others, that they exercised the rule one by one, and again appeared nowhere.

And I saw, and behold, in due time the following feathers were raised up on the right side, that they too might hold the rule; and some of these did hold it, yet at once they appeared no more.

For some of them were raised up, but did not hold the rule.

And I saw after these things, and behold, the twelve feathers and the two plumes appeared no more;

and nothing remained in the body of the eagle, except two heads at rest and six little plumes.

And I saw, and behold, two of the six little plumes separated themselves, and remained under the head that is on the right side; for four remained in their place.

And I saw, and behold, the under-wings thought to raise themselves up, and to hold the rule.

And I saw, and behold, one was raised up, but at once it did not appear.

And the second, faster than the former, did not appear.

And I saw, and behold, the two that remained were thinking within themselves that they too should reign.

And while they were thinking, behold, one of the heads at rest, the one that was in the middle, awoke; for this was the greater of the two heads.

And I saw that the two heads were joined together with it;

and behold, the head turned with those that were with it, and devoured the two under-wings that were thinking to reign.

And this head terrified the whole earth, and ruled over those who dwell on the earth with much oppression, and held the dominion of the world over all the wings that had been.

And I saw after these things, and behold, the middle head suddenly appeared no more, and this too like the wings.

But the two heads remained, which likewise reigned over the earth, and over those who dwell in it.

And I saw, and behold, the head on the right side devoured the one on the left.

And I heard a voice saying to me, Look before you, and consider what you see.

And I saw, and behold, as it were a lion, roused out of the forest, roaring; and I saw that he sent forth the voice of a man to the eagle, and he spoke, saying,

Hear me, and I will speak to you, and the Most High will say to you,

Are you not the one who has outlasted the four beasts which I had made to reign in my age, that through them the end of their times might come?

And the fourth, coming, overcame all the beasts that had passed away, and held the world in his power with much trembling, and the whole earth with grievous oppression; and he dwelt so long in the world with deceit.

And you judged the earth, but not with truth.

For you have afflicted the meek, and harmed the peaceable, and loved the liars, and destroyed the dwellings of those who bore fruit, and brought low the walls of those who had done you no harm.

And your insolence has gone up to the Most High, and your pride to the Mighty One.

And the Most High has regarded the proud times, and behold, they are ended, and his crimes are fulfilled.

Therefore appear no more, you eagle, with your dreadful wings, and your most evil plumes, and your malicious heads, and your most cruel talons, and all your worthless body,

that all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, set free from your violence, and may hope for the judgement and mercy of him who made it.