I was hoping for a succint explanation of who the beast(s) are pictured in Revelation.
Did you know the book of Daniel is a close companion as other prophecy in many ways with the book of revelation ?
“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and,
behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
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.
And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear....
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
After this I saw in the night visions, and
behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and
it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.”
Daniel 7:2-7
Daniel sees seven heads on four beasts one as a leopard with
four heads one as a
bear , one as a
lion and then sees the
final beast with ten horns seven heads and ten horns upon beasts rising from the sea .
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a
beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns
ten crowns, and upon his
heads the name of blasphemy.
And the beast which I saw was
like unto a leopard, and his feet were as
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as
the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
And I saw
one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”
Revelation 13:1-3 KJV
when Daniel sees them it’s the beginning of the vision the first head ( Nebucahdnezzar ) had just been in power it’s the start of the Visio.
“And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
Daniel 12:6-7
when John sees the vision it’s during the reign of the sixth king ( Nero or Titus ) and the seventh is about to rise up
So the seven headed beast John sees consists of five kings who reigned in the past over Jerusalem beginning with Babylon and in johns day was Rome
“And there are seven kings:
five are fallen,
and
one is,
and
the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”
Revelation 17:10 KJV
so johns reference to how long in his vision is near the end of its unfolding concerning the seven heads
“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that
there should be time no longer:”
Revelation 10:5-6 KJV
But then there’s the other beast whomis the head that appears dead , and yet lives he is the eighth king that we know as the anti christ and has ten nations who will serve him before three are taken away but he is going to arise in the very end Before Christs return
“And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
Revelation 17:11-14 KJV
the seven headed beast is about Israel’s desolation beginning with Babylon through the Roman Empire and thier harsh rule over Jerusalem and the Jewish people , but this is going to happen worldwide in the end