# another animal, one that looked like a leopard

This was not an actual leopard, but a symbolic animal that was similar to a leopard. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage]])

# four wings ... four heads

The four wings and four heads are symbols, but their meaning is unclear. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage]])

# it had four heads

"the animal had four heads"

# It was given authority to rule

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Someone gave it authority to rule" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])