{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/apo/es2011.htm","path":"bib/apo/es2011.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/es2011.htm","text":"1 Then saw I a dream, and, behold, there came up from the sea an eagle, which had twelve feathered wings, and three heads.\n2 And I saw, and, behold, she spread her wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew on her, and were gathered together.\n3 And I beheld, and out of her feathers there grew other contrary feathers; and they became little feathers and small.\n4 But her heads were at rest: the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue.\n5 Moreover I beheld, and, lo, the eagle flew with her feathers, and reigned upon earth, and over them that dwelt therein.\n6 And I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto her, and no man spake against her, no, not one creature upon earth.\n7 And I beheld, and, lo, the eagle rose upon her talons, and spake to her feathers, saying,\n8 Watch not all at once: sleep every one in his own place, and watch by course:\n9 But let the heads be preserved for the last.\n10 And I beheld, and, lo, the voice went not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.\n11 And I numbered her contrary feathers, and, behold, there were eight of them.\n12 And I looked, and, behold, on the right side there arose one feather, and reigned over all the earth;\n13 And so it was, that when it reigned, the end of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more: so the next following stood up. and reigned, and had a great time;\n14 And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more.\n15 Then came there a voice unto it, and said,\n16 Hear thou that hast borne rule over the earth so long: this I say unto thee, before thou beginnest to appear no more,\n17 There shall none after thee attain unto thy time, neither unto the half thereof.\n18 Then arose the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also.\n19 So went it with all the residue one after another, as that every one reigned, and then appeared no more.\n20 Then I beheld, and, lo, in process of time the feathers that followed stood up upon the right side, that they might rule also; and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more:\n21 For some of them were set up, but ruled not.\n22 After this I looked, and, behold, the twelve feathers appeared no more, nor the two little feathers:\n23 And there was no more upon the eagle's body, but three heads that rested, and six little wings.\n24 Then saw I also that two little feathers divided themselves from the six, and remained under the head that was upon the right side: for the four continued in their place.\n25 And I beheld, and, lo, the feathers that were under the wing thought to set up themselves and to have the rule.\n26 And I beheld, and, lo, there was one set up, but shortly it appeared no more.\n27 And the second was sooner away than the first.\n28 And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign:\n29 And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.\n30 And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.\n31 And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned.\n32 But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been.\n33 And after this I beheld, and, lo, the head that was in the midst suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings.\n34 But there remained the two heads, which also in like sort ruled upon the earth, and over those that dwelt therein.\n35 And I beheld, and, lo, the head upon the right side devoured it that was upon the left side.\n36 Then I head a voice, which said unto me, Look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seest.\n37 And I beheld, and lo, as it were a roaring lion chased out of the wood: and I saw that he sent out a man's voice unto the eagle, and said,\n38 Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee,\n39 Art not thou it that remainest of the four beasts, whom I made to reign in my world, that the end of their times might come through them?\n40 And the fourth came, and overcame all the beasts that were past, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with much wicked oppression; and so long time dwelt he upon the earth with deceit.\n41 For the earth hast thou not judged with truth.\n42 For thou hast afflicted the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable, thou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm.\n43 Therefore is thy wrongful dealing come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty.\n44 The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and, behold, they are ended, and his abominations are fulfilled.\n45 And therefore appear no more, thou eagle, nor thy horrible wings, nor thy wicked feathers nor thy malicious heads, nor thy hurtful claws, nor all thy vain body:\n46 That all the earth may be refreshed, and may return, being delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgment and mercy of him that made her.","title":"The Apocrypha: 2 Esdras: 2 Esdras Chapter 11","type":"page"}