Yes, the beast imagery symbolizes political empires and governments, culminating in a revived Roman Empire headed by the Antichrist.
According to Les Feldick, the beasts in Daniel and Revelation represent empires—not literal creatures. Daniel saw Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome as beasts. In Revelation 13, the beast is the revived Roman Empire, a consortium of nations headed by the Antichrist, with features of all previous empires.
Daniel 7:7 — Describes the fourth beast as dreadful and terrible, with iron teeth—identified by Les as the Roman Empire.
Revelation 13:1-2 — Presents a beast rising from the sea with seven heads and ten horns, which Les interprets as the revived Roman Empire with attributes of earlier empires.
In Daniel 7, the prophet sees four great beasts coming up from the sea (Daniel 7:3). The first was like a lion (Babylon), the second like a bear (Medo-Persia), the third like a leopard with four wings and four heads (Greece), and the fourth was dreadful and terrible, with great iron teeth and ten horns (Daniel 7:7). This fourth beast is diverse from all before it and has ten horns, which are later explained as ten kings (Daniel 7:24). In Revelation 13, John sees a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns upon his horns and blasphemy upon his heads. This beast is like a leopard, with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion (Revelation 13:1-2). The dragon (Satan) gives him his power, throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:2).
Les emphasizes that the beasts in Daniel and Revelation are symbolic of political empires and governments, not literal animals. They arise from the 'sea of humanity'—the masses of nations. The Roman Empire was 'dreadful and terrible' with iron teeth, representing its political strength, and it differed from earlier empires by introducing a democratic form of government. The ten horns signify ten kings, and after Rome's fall, there is a gap until the present-day European community appears as a revived Roman Empire. In Revelation 13, the beast is this revived empire, a consortium of nations headed by the Antichrist. It has features of the earlier empires—leopard (Greece), bear (Medo-Persia), lion (Babylon)—showing that all previous empires' attributes are present in this final world system. The dragon, Satan, gives the Antichrist his power and authority.
Les Feldick explains that the four beasts in Daniel 7 are symbolic of four empires: Babylon (lion), Medo-Persia (bear), Greece (leopard with four wings and four heads), and Rome (dreadful and terrible with iron teeth). These empires arise from the sea of humanity, representing governments, not literal creatures.
Les teaches that the beast in Revelation 13 is the same pattern as Daniel's fourth beast—a revived Roman Empire. It has seven heads and ten horns, with features of the earlier empires (leopard, bear, lion), showing that all previous empires' attributes come to a head in this final empire. John sees these in reverse order because he looks back from his time.
The sea is symbolic of the mass of humanity. Les explains that the beast arises 'out of the sea' meaning out of the masses of nations, not from the ocean. This is a symbolic statement that from humanity, a final empire will emerge, which we see today with the European community.
The ten horns represent ten kings, and the seven heads are also seen in Revelation. Les notes that these are not literal but symbolic of political power and authority. In Daniel, the ten horns are a base for the Antichrist's rule. In Revelation, the horns have ten crowns, and the heads have blasphemous names, indicating their opposition to God.
Les teaches that the word 'beast' has a two-fold meaning: it refers to both the Roman Empire (original and revived) and to the man of sin, the Antichrist, who rules this final world system. The dragon (Satan) gives him power, throne, and authority, showing this man is satanically driven.
Daniel's Four Beasts Explained
Les identifies the leopard as Greece, with four wings representing Alexander's four generals, and the fourth beast as Rome, a democracy with iron teeth.
Beast as Consortium of Nations
Les explains the beast in Revelation as a consortium of nations headed by the Antichrist, with attributes of earlier empires.
The Sea Symbolizes Humanity
Les clarifies that the sea represents the mass of humanity, and the beast is a final empire, not a sea monster.
Daniel's Beasts Are Empires
Les reiterates that the beasts in Daniel are empires, not animals, and outlines the lion, bear, leopard, and the fourth beast.
Why Called a Beast
Les explains that the government is called a beast because of its brutality and lack of concern for human rights.
Revival of Roman Empire
Les connects the fourth beast to the revival of the Roman Empire, which will have ten horns.
Reverse Order in Revelation
Les notes that John sees the beast in reverse order (leopard, bear, lion) because he looks back from history, and the dragon gives power.
Attributes of Previous Empires
Les explains that the beast in Revelation has features of all previous empires—their best parts are still present in this revived Roman Empire.
Daniel 7:2: Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Sets the scene of the vision, with the sea representing humanity.
Daniel 7:7: 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.
Describes the Roman Empire as strong and diverse with ten horns.
Revelation 13:1: 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.
Presents the beast in Revelation, paralleling Daniel's vision.
Revelation 13:2: 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.
Combines features of all four empires and shows Satan's role.
No. Les Feldick teaches that they are symbolic of political empires and governments, not literal creatures. They arise from the sea of humanity.
According to Les, it represents the revived Roman Empire, a consortium of nations headed by the Antichrist, with attributes of previous empires.
The dragon, identified as Satan, gives the beast its power, throne, and authority, as stated in Revelation 13:2.
Watch the Teaching: Daniel's Four Beasts and the Revived Roman Empire Explained