18 As he spoke to me, I fainted facedown on the ground, but he touched me and made me stand up.
19 He said, “I will tell you what will happen in the last days, ⌊the time of God’s⌋ anger, because the end time has been determined.
20 “The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia.
21 The hairy male goat is the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is its first king.
22 The horn broke off, and four horns replaced it. Four kingdoms will come out of that nation, but they won’t be as strong as the first king was.
23 “In the last days of those kingdoms, when rebellions are finished, a stern-looking king who understands mysterious things will rise to power.
24 He will become very strong, but not by his own strength. He will cause astounding destruction and will be successful in everything he does. He will destroy those who are powerful along with some holy people.