The Four Beasts
Daniel 7:4-12 describes 4 beasts, which are four countries/kingdoms.
I cannot tell you why I have always believed that Jesus coming back would be in my lifetime; why I have such a persistant interest in understanding the prophecies; why finding answers to questions is so difficult; or why the interpretation given to the four beasts of Daniel has never seemed right to me. (Although, since I have been reading/studying more intently, I can say that I believe that the predominately accepted interpretation of the four beasts even less, because of verse 7:12, "As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time." Plus, they predominately accepted interpretation does not address the various details described for each beast.)
I have looked up many, many things, and read information and interpretations from various sources and view points. I came across some information on Persia (Iran) one day, and it was showing pictures/reliefs and other art from the Persian empire. Some of the creatures depicted reminded me of some descriptions in the Bible. At that point I realized that the symbolism in Daniel, Revelation (and the rest) would have made more sense to them, because symbolism was so much more common place then, although they still would not have understood the full magnitude of the visions. Since many things today do not symbolize the same things as back then, I have researched a lot of things in as old of books/sources as I can find.
From what I have found, and researched, this is what I think, (for explanation of why, go to http://suprememystery.net/Prophecy.html )...
Beast 1: "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off: and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man,and a man's heart was given to it." ===== I believe this is America. It's "connection" to God is being removed. Because, our country is so deeply rooted in God & the Bible, that America's foundation has to be completely uprooted, the government remade to match other countries, and it's people made to conform to the world's view. (tidbit: you know when the AntiChrist shows up - nothing of God will be tolerated.)
Beast 2: "And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'"===== This describes a bear waking up from hybernation. This is a country that is strong, known for brutality and being cruel, but that has been quiet (not really hearing much from it, almost seeming to be doing nothing). The ribs are 3 countries that have been "taken in" by the stronger country. The strong country will, after having been "quiet" will be encouraged to once again begin being brutal and cruel. -- This may be Russia, who has been working with Iran, N Korea, and Venezuela. (I don't consider Russia as a possibility because its symbol is a bear - California's symbol is a bear too. I think it's possibly Russia, because of it's size, strength, history, associations, and that it does seem to have been relatively "quiet" since the '80s when the Wall came down and ended the Cold War.)
Beast 3: "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it." ===== I'm not sure about this one, but I can't seem to move passed this being the European Union. The reason I think the EU, is for one, "and dominion was given to it," and two, the number 4 symbolizes "the orderly arrangement of what is separate..." The EU is an orderly arrangement of separate countries and the countries have given the EU dominion over them.
Beast 4: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth: it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns..." =====I'm not sure about all of this one either, but this one is the United Nations. Since the UN came into existence, it has been gradually taking over in the name of the peace and conservation. The UN is striving for a one-world government, one-world religion, one-world currency, with required conformity of every person (which will be enforced by constant monitoring and tracking). The UN is responsible for many atrocities around the world, and is a whole lot closer to acheiving their goal than people realize, because there is so little reporting on the UN. (tidbit: think about this - how little do you know about what our government does and works on? There is quite a bit of reporting on our government, and there is still so much that we don't know about what they do! And since they don't read even read it, or not all of it, they don't even know what all they do - and they're there. So, just imagine how much there is that we don't know about the UN, since there is almost no reporting on it!!!)
For more in depth explanation, go to http://suprememystery.net/Prophecy.html
