Daniel 7:3 - 6 (NKJV) 3And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4The 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. 5“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!’ 6“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. 
There are some that will tell you that God is using another way to describe the four kingdoms in the statue of Daniel Chapter 2. I am not convinced of this explanation. Daniel 7:12 tells us that these kingdoms will still be in existence when the fourth one arises.
Daniel 7:12 (NKJV) 12As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. ”They still existed, but they were subdued and quiet… Their power had passed away… We should naturally look for the fulfillment of this in the fact that the nations referred to by these first three beasts were still in being, and could be recognized as nations, in their boundaries, or customs, or languages; but that the power which they had wielded had passed into other hands” (Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament Second Edition: Copyright: Electronic Edition STEP
Files Copyright © 1999, Parsons Technology, Inc.In Quickverse 2009).
The Babylonian empire, the Medes and the Persian empires are gone. They are no longer in existence.
The second reason is in Daniel 7:17. Here we are told “shall arise”, future tense. At the time of this writing in Daniel the Babylonian empire was gone, the Medes and Persians were in power and Greece was already forming. These two verses make it difficult to say it is the four empires of Daniel 2. I want to take Daniel 7:3-6 apart and look at another theory.
“4The first was like a lion” What nation today is represented as the lion? England. “and had eagle’s wings.” First note that the type of bird is specifically mentioned. What nation today has an eagle as its symbol? U.S.A. ” I watched till its wings were plucked off” mer-at' (Chaldee); It means what it says, to pull or pluck. America was forcefully removed from England, it plucked itself away. Daniel 7:12 tells us they had their dominion taken away. The United States has to fall for Europe to rise. I see our leadership turning its back on Israel. God made a promise and he will keep it. He said he would bless those that bless Israel and curse those that don’t. As long as we are backing Israel God has to bless us. This is why are leaders are turning on Israel.
“it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man” The British coat of arms depicts a lion standing on its back legs. “a second, like a bear” What nation uses the Bear? Russia. “Arise, devour much flesh!” The Communist revolution did just this, devoured much of its own flesh. “Most estimates of human losses during the war range from seven million to eight million, of which more than five million were civilian casualties. Between the outbreak of World War I and the end of the civil war, an estimated 16 million people died in Russia, the vast majority of whom were civilians ("Russian Civil War" (2009). Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2009 from http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved).
Until the latter 1800s Russia was an isolationist group with their equivalent of kings they called Czars. Russia now is weaker then it was in the 1970s.
“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.” The leopard is fast and has been used as a symbol for some African and Arab countries. As we saw earlier God specifically mentioned eagles wings. Here he is just saying a bird. This means the type of bird is not important, what we look at then, is the fact that this represents speed. This beast has four wings, it will rise very quickly. It has four heads, this represents kingdoms or leaders. What I am looking for is either 4 nations to get together with the leopard as their symbol or four leaders to rule a group of nations. The Arabs have created an Arab Inter-parliamentary Union (AIPU), will they build off of this, or will some other form of military government arise?
Again this is just a theory, but is one that does not contradict chapter 7:12, 17 as does the one comparing it to the statue. Let us take this and compare it to Revelation 13:2. We are told in Daniel that this beast is different from all the others. We also know by scripture that the antichrist rises up out of the Roman Empire. With this beast, we must look at character and personality, rather than specific countries.
“was like unto a leopard” If the leopard represents the Muslim world then this would indicate what type of religious control there will be. In satan’s losing attempt at world control religion will play a major role. The leopard is the body or large part of the beast. Rev. 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,…
Revelation 13:2b“his feet were as the feet of a bear,”
In Daniel 7:19, 23 we are told he “stamped the residue with his feet” “and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces”. These feet represent the fierce power with which the antichrist government tramples the people.
Revelation 13:2c“the mouth of a lion” The roar of the king of beasts. Dan. 7:25a And he shall speak great words against the most High,… Revelation 13:2d“and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
Revelation 12:9 (NKJV) 9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, … satan is giving this antichrist government its power.
As I have said so often do not accept every thing your told about what God’s Word means.
Research it for yourself. It is not as difficult as some make it seem. A good Bible and Strong’s Concordance is all you need to get a good start.
