Another interpretation in that the four great beasts represent, the Babylonian Empire, Medo-Persian Empire, Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire. What these empires have in common is that they persecuted, conquered and/or enslaved Israel in ancient history. Not only that but they are composites of one another in that the Medo-Persia Empire conquered the Babylonian Empire, the Grecian empire conquered the Medes and Persians, and the Roman Empire conquered the Grecian empire. The relevance of these four empires is that the the antichrist will come from the revised Roman Empire and in the time of the end there will ten kings ruling in land that was part of the old Roman Empire. and the antichrist will arise and destroy three of these kings/nations and will rule the last three and half years of the trubulations until Christ returns.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
This reference alludes to Daniel chapter 4 where King Nebuchadnezzr, the king of Babylon goes insane for seven years and lives like a beast in the field. “Let his heart be changed from a man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.” Daniel 4:16
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him –Revelations 6
This is a symbol of the antichrist that is come to take peace from the earth after the first seal is broken during the seven years of tribulation. The seven years of tribulation are referred to as “Jacob’s trouble” in the old Testament. Christ’s church will be raptured before the appearance of the antichrist. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9.
