The prophet Daniel is given a vision of four beasts that also illustrate prophetic events concerning nations as recorded in Daniel 7. The individual beasts, the lion, the bear and the leopard represent specific nations that will be in power during the last days. The fourth beast is different from the other three. This fourth beast represents the joining together of the other three beasts and is much more powerful than the individual beasts.

The apostle John was also given a prophetic vision of a beast.

Revelation 13:1-2
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

This beast coming up out of the sea represents the three individual nations that have consolidated into one confederation of nations represented by the fourth beast. It is a combination of the other three beasts, the lion, the leopard and the bear. This beast in Revelation 13 is the same as the fourth beast in Daniel 7. This beast is also represented by the feet and toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue (Daniel 2). All three prophetic visions represent nations in the Mediterranean and Mid-east area that will unite into a dominant government alliance during the last days.

Daniel was given many prophetic visions. Satan did not want Daniel to know these revelations from God, even to the point of trying to prevent the angel Gabriel from delivering the message. Gabriel, however, was successful in delivering the message. (Daniel 10:12-13)

All of Daniel’s words are there for a purpose…even the words concerning the animals, beasts and statues. They were written to teach us. They are not there to confuse us but to encourage us and give us hope in the knowledge of these last days. (Romans 15:4)