RESOURCES: The Sixth King as well as The End of the Age
There is a very strange and destructive empire dominating the earth during the end times. According to Revelation 13, it arises “out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns.” The “sea” in this case is the world of politics and power. But that’s not all. In addition to these heads and horns, it somehow also possesses the animal characteristics of a lion, a leopard, and a bear. This strange confluence of descriptions is of the empire of the Antichrist. Our focus is limited to the lion, leopard and bear and its relation to America’s future.
Understanding that the Antichrist kingdom will have major nation-state allies aligned with it is another critical part of the prophetic puzzle. The case is presented here that the lion, leopard, and bear are animal representations of those major allies. But the significance of this knowledge goes well beyond simply quenching curiosity.
Like so many prophecies in the Bible, the one concerning the lion, leopard, and bear in Daniel 7 has different interpretations. And probably the most prevalent interpretation is that they symbolize the ancient kingdoms of Babylon, Media-Persia, and Greece in that order. But there are significant problems with that view, as will be shown. In fact, a better reading of this prophecy is that these animals represent the symbolism of major allied nations of the Beast Kingdom. And if so, then it is very likely that it is also telling us that the United States is set free during the end times from the grasp of the Antichrist and his Beast Kingdom. We’ll get to that. But first, consider why there are those who believe these animals represent kingdoms from the ancient past.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream:
Part of the basis for the perspective that the lion, leopard, and bear prophecy in Daniel 7 are ancient kingdoms comes from the prophecy in Daniel 2 of a “great image” dreamed of by the ancient pagan Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The dream consists of a large image of a man whose body parts are made from various metals. The image has a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a middle area and thighs made of bronze, and legs of iron mixed with clay. The interpretation by Daniel of the King’s Dream makes it clear that these symbolic descriptions represent the ancient kingdoms of Babylon (head), Media-Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), and Rome past and future (iron and clay).
This prophecy given to King Nebuchadnezzar appears to represent the major earthly kingdoms up until the last one, just before the kingdom of God takes over. Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and then finally the Roman Empire as a depiction of the Antichrist kingdom of the end times. And there is little doubt that this is what the Daniel 2 prophecy is telling the reader, as the prophet appears to be quite clear in relaying it. However, does this mean that the lion, leopard, and bear prophecy in Daniel 7 is a repeat of Nebuchadnezzar’s Daniel 2 prophecy? And, of course, the answer is that it does not have to be. This is how we know it is not, and why a very important detail of the prophecy likely relates to the United States.
The lion, Leopard, and Bear:
When we come to the prophecy of the lion, leopard, and bear in Daniel 7, at first glance, the reader may see it as a simple repeat of the Daniel 2 prophecy. After all, before getting to the Antichrist Empire in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, there are three empires depicted. And this is also the case in the lion, leopard, and bear prophecy of Daniel 7. Three nations are depicted before getting to the Antichrist Empire, described as the unique last beast of the four beasts. But that is where the similarities between the Daniel 2 prophecy and the Daniel 7 prophecy of the lion, leopard, and bear end, with dramatic implications for the United States.
For starters, the lion, leopard, and bear prophecy in Daniel 7 does not name the specific kingdoms they represent, unlike the Daniel 2 prophecy, which does. So now a new level of discernment is required that goes beyond simply assuming it has to be a repeat. Fortunately, a little further along in Daniel 7 information is provided that eliminates the lion, leopard, and bear from representing ancient kingdoms. In fact, it makes it impossible, in spite of what many teach. Consider why.
The beginning of chapter 7 verses 1-8 is an introduction to the lion, leopard, bear, and the fourth beast, the Antichrist Empire. Immediately after introducing them, a description of their demise is given, completing a broad brush description of their rise and fall during the end times. Consider first their introduction verses:
In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. 2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 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. 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. 7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong.
Daniel 7:1-7
With these verses, the lion, leopard, and bear are introduced. And notice the underlined words. The four beasts are introduced together without any indication that their existence as nations is from the deep past. That doesn’t prove this cannot be the case, but only that it is not given to us in support of the claims by those who believe they are ancient kingdoms. Then, only two verses later, in a single breath, Daniel tells us about the conclusion of all four beasts.
“I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, (lion, leopard, and bear) they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Daniel 7:11-12
In verse 11, we are told that eventually the beast (Antichrist) will be slain, with his body given to burning flames. This relates to Revelation 19:19-21 wherein we are told his fate is the lake of fire. But notice in verse 12 what we are told is the fate of the lion, leopard, and bear- “the rest of the beasts.” Their “dominion is taken away,” indicating they possessed it prior to being destroyed along with Antichrist. We are then told, “Their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” In other words, what we are being told concerning the final outcome of the lion, leopard, and bear indicates that not only are they contemporaries of Antichrist. This in itself rules out the notion that they can be the ancient kingdoms of Daniel, Chapter 2. But there is another reason as well.
The Ram and the Goat
It is always helpful when Bible prophecy provides specific details for identifying who it is speaking about. And Daniel 8 is one such example. In it, we also find animal symbolism, as in the previous chapter. In chapter 8, we find descriptions of the rise and fall of two ancient empires. The empires in question are those of Media-Persia and Greece. Since some claim these two empires are also included within the lion, leopard, and bear prophecy, we should see similarities, between the two. However, not only do we not see similarities but we also see conflict.
The first empire looked at is depicted as a ram “that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.” (Daniel 8:4). Then comes the next empire, symbolized by a goat. This goat is quick and furious, and the ram is trampled by it. (Daniel 8:7) Thus, the prophecy tells us another kingdom arises after the ram. Fortunately, later in chapter 8, we are told which empires the ram and goat represent. In Daniel 8:20-21, we are told:
The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece.
Daniel 8:20-21
The animal depictions used by Daniel for ancient Media-Persia and ancient Greece are the ram and goat and not the lion, leopard, or bear. Considering this information, we are able to rule out Media-Persia and Greece as being among the lion, leopard, and bear in the previous chapter since the Lord applies different animal symbolism to them. So what/who are the lion, leopard, and bear? The most likely explanation is that they are major allied nations of the Beast Kingdom. And as we will shortly see, this brings America into focus.
Great Britain, Germany, and Russia
Due to the limited information provided in scripture on the lion, leopard, and bear, we can only speculate as to what nations they represent today. But the speculation done here, you may agree, has a logic to it. By considering the animal symbolism associated with certain powerful nations today, we are able to associate the lion, leopard, and bear with three powerful countries. And because Daniel tells us that the lion possesses eagle wings on its back, which break free, we know of a nation whose national bird is the eagle. The United States.
It is generally accepted that the eagle is associated with the United States. We know that the lion is the animal that symbolizes Great Britain. And, of course, we know the bear is associated with Russia. For those of us who lived through the last part of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, news reports would consistently refer to Russia as the bear. As for the leopard, many see that as symbolizing Germany.
Since we were told that the lion, leopard, and bear are disposed of at the same time as the kingdom of the Antichrist, then they must be contemporary allies of Antichrist. But to be an ally of Antichrist during the end times, it is reasonable to believe such nations will possess real military and economic might. Based on this logic, Great Britain, Germany, and Russia qualify as candidates. If this logic is correct and the lion is Great Britain, then the following verse is of the utmost importance to America’s future.
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.
Daniel 7:4
We are told the lion had eagle’s wings that get plucked off. And later in the chapter, as the lion, leopard, and bear are being disposed of, the eagle’s wings are not mentioned. And this makes sense since earlier in the chapter they are separated from the lion, with whom they had been closely connected.
The best reading of this is that as the lion (Great Britain) joins with the Antichrist and his Beast Kingdom, the eagle (America) breaks free from both her alliance with Great Britain, which is not a part of the nations conquered by the Antichrist. Because if America were also incorporated into the Beast Kingdom, then there would be no reason for the close association with Great Britain to be disrupted in this prophecy by Daniel.
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