If the Beast empire described prophetically in the Book of Revelation as a lion, leopard, and bear is indeed alluding to the empires in the visions of the Book of Daniel, it will be historically surprising and unexpected to witness its development. Especially astonishing would be a coalition involving Iran (Persia/Medes and the Kurds), Iraq (Babylon), and Greece or the Balkans, as the prophecies appear to suggest. To see Iran and Iraq uniting would be particularly unexpected given current and historical tensions.
The prophecy, however, implies this outcome. In Daniel’s vision, the lion is identified with Babylon (modern Iraq) (Daniel 7:4), the bear with Persia and the Medes (modern Iran and the Kurds) (Daniel 7:5), and the leopard with Greece and Macedonia (modern Greece, the Balkans, and perhaps the western part of Turkey) (Daniel 7:6). Revelation 13:2 depicts the Beast as combining the lion, the bear, and the leopard, indicating an empire blending these components.
Such a coalition would indeed be extraordinary, not to mention a compelling sign that the end times may be approaching (Matthew 24:33). Historically, a similar empire existed during the reign of the Achaemenid Empire, which united Persia, Babylon, and parts of Greece. Revelation 17:12-14 hints that other nations could join this coalition, emphasizing its global scope.
Given the current political dynamics, the fulfillment of such prophecies could take several decades. This timeframe might suggest a prolonged period of preparation before the eventual emergence of the global Beast regime and, ultimately, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints to bring it to an abrupt end (Revelation 19:11-21; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
