A beast represents a kingdom or nation. Water represents multitudes of people or large populations.

The wings of eagles represent speed. (See also Jeremiah 4:13; Habakkuk 1:6–8.) Winds represent strife, commotion, and destruction. (See also Revelation 7:1–3.)

The bear is Medo-Persia, the second kingdom (Daniel 8:20 names it directly). The empire was made of two peoples. The Medes came up first (the bear raising up on one side), but the Persians eventually became stronger (the ram’s second horn that grew higher — Daniel 8:3). The three ribs represent the three principal powers conquered by Medo-Persia: Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt.

The four wings (instead of two, as the lion had) represent the incredible speed with which Alexander conquered the region. The four heads represent the four kingdoms into which Alexander the Great’s empire was divided when he died. The four generals who headed these areas were Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus.

The 10 horns represent the 10 kings or kingdoms into which pagan Rome eventually split (Daniel 7:24). (These are the same as the 10 toes of the image in Daniel 2:41–44.) Roving barbarian tribes swept in upon the Roman Empire and carved out land for their people. Seven of the 10 developed into the countries of modern Western Europe, while three were uprooted: Visigoths — Spain, Anglo-Saxons — England, Franks — France, Alemani — Germany, Burgundians — Switzerland, Lombards — Italy, Suevi — Portugal; while the Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Vandals were rooted up.

The little horn power appears next. We must identify it carefully because the biblical characteristics identify it as the antichrist of prophecy and history. There must be no mistake in making this identification.

Yes. God’s Word gives us nine characteristics of the antichrist in Daniel 7. A. It would come up among the 10 horns — the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). B. It would have a man at its head who speaks for it (Daniel 7:8). C. It would uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8). D. It would be different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24). E. It would make war with and persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21,25). F. It would emerge from the pagan Roman Empire — the fourth kingdom (Daniel 7:7). G. The saints would be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (Daniel 7:25). H. It would speak great words against God — blaspheme (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5). I. It would intend to change times and law (Daniel 7:25).

Yes, it fits every point. It came up among the 10 kingdoms of Western Europe (geographically in Rome, Italy). It has one man at its head — the pope — who speaks for it. Three Arian kingdoms (Vandals, Heruli, Ostrogoths) were uprooted to make way for it. It is different from the others as a religious power. It persecuted the saints for centuries. It emerged from the fourth kingdom — pagan Rome. The period “time, times, and half a time” appears seven times in Daniel and Revelation (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5): three times as “time, times, and half a time,” twice as 42 months, and twice as 1,260 days. By the day-for-a-year principle (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34), this is 1,260 years — from AD 538 to 1798, when Napoleon’s general Berthier took the pope captive. It blasphemes by claiming to forgive sins (Luke 5:21) and that the pope is God on earth (John 10:33), bypassing the one Mediator, Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). And it attempted to change God’s law: in its catechisms it omitted the second commandment, shortened the fourth, and split the tenth into two. (Compare the Ten Commandments in any catechism with Exodus 20:2-17.)

In Daniel 12:4, the prophet was told to seal the book till the time of the end. In verse 6 an angelic voice asked how long it would be until the end of these wonders, and verse 7 gives the span — a time, times, and half a time. The angel assured Daniel that the portion dealing with end-time prophecies would be opened after the end of the 1,260-year period of papal control — that is, 1798. So the time of the end began in 1798. The book of Daniel contains crucial messages from heaven for us today. We must understand it.

When a new Bible teaching is encountered, the only safe procedure is to compare it carefully with Scripture to see if it is in harmony with God’s Word.