Some things to consider which seem to be taking place upon the earth are these:  In Daniel chapter 7 there are seen four animals representing Dominions or Governments. It is said by many that these are past kingdoms or governments, but are they?  These same beasts or animals are also represented to us in Revelation chapter 13 as part of the Beast system of the end time. These will exist in the midst of the Tribulation.  So the question has to be can these animals be identified with nations in our present time that would then necessarily remain until that final beast which brings about Jesus coming to earth?  

Examining what we see listed in Daniel’s vision we find: Daniel 7:3-7 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man;… And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side,…and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 

Notice that the four beasts were coming from the sea together as a group; and this vision precedes the coming of the Lord in Glory later in the same chapter. There is somewhat a mystery to this fourth terrible beast who has devoured the rest.  It comes up with the others but does not devour until they have been established. 

For a closer look.  What we find listed is: first a beast which is a lion with Eagles wings– the lion today probably represents Great Britain, where the Lion is present in much of its symbolism; and plucked from its back are what once belonged to it as, I believe, the 13 colonies.  Represented here as its eagles wings — which today likely represents the United States.  We were plucked from Great Britain’s Commonwealth were we not?  Then we have the bear which today represents Russia; then the four headed leopard– this would seem to be the present Islamic Persian empire with four main factions represented by the leopards four heads.  Today within the Muslim empire we have between the 7th and 9th centuries CE (Kharijites, Mu’tazila, Sunnīs, Shīʿas) (these represent the original 4 sects who followed Mohammad).  But the Shias represent almost 90 percent of Islam.   Iran is now mainly Shia. The fourth beast devours the others and is seen in Revelation 13 representing a world government ruled by the Antichrist the little horn.  The beast of Revelation contains the remnant of those that it has trampled —  the lion, the bear and the leopard; but where are the Eagles wings–the United States?

Before we get to that it’s worth noting that Islam was not in existence in Daniel’s, nor in John’s day when either of their prophecies were given them by God.   So we should expect to see all of these established nations during the end time and we should see them being taken over. 

Though it may be a consolation to know that the U S is not included in the beast system in Revelation, still there is a grave question concerning her; for we find the eagles wings in Revelation chapter 12 protecting Israel, but for how long?  We have seen that protection fade during the Obama years, only to be reinstated under Trump.  But the US government under each administration always attempts to foster a peace agreement in Israel as indeed it is prophesied to occur; but this diminishing of US aid to Israel when it occurs, will see Israel finding herself standing alone during Great Tribulation, when the forth beast rages and rises to devour Israel.  She is almost there, except for the U.S. support. 

But there is this peace treaty prophesied to take place.  What is so obvious, is the fact that there will be no treaty without it being initiated by the Islamic nations

So again are we in the last of the last days at the end of the age?  The answer I believe is obvious– we likely are close, but not quite there.  All of these countries implicated in Daniel’s prophecy are being invaded by an increased Muslim population.  The invading of Persia took effect in around 10 to 12 hundred AD by the Muslims .  So are Muslims the evidence of the rise of the fourth beast?  We in the U.S.  are allowing Islam to rise even in our own country, but then we have no real choice as we are a nation where man has freedom to worship as he chooses.  Even though Islam is an enemy system bent on the overthrow of our Government still it is touted as a “religion”.   Will their outspoken radical agenda against America be their downfall here?  It just may be so, since the Eagles wings are no where present in the Fourth terrible beast.  But we must ask are there ulterior motives feeding our present support of Israel. We at present seldom see Israel’s plight properly presented in the news. Protests are in our streets against Israel.  The United Nations is becoming more in vogue in the world, and she is against Israel.  Men are calling for a new world order. And at the same time we are witnessing a falling away from the Christian Faith on the left.  But at this very same time there is a revival taking place on the right.  

The Lord is coming at an hour that you think not.  When you actually see these empires (Apparently the British; the Russian; and the Persian or Iranian Muslims) all being incorporated into and ruled by a greater Power with an Antichrist leader at its helm; then know that you are near the end of days.  We are definitely seeing the Brits fall under Islam’s spell. Will they fall in line with Iran’s demise, which fully came under Islamic control in the 70’s following Israel’s rebirth in the 1940’s?  Will Russia who is being weakened with the Ukrainian war follow suit. The Islamic population in Russia is around 20%, and is greater than Britains. And she is slated according to prophetic scholars to join Iran in a major battle against Israel. 

  But from my study of Daniel this Antichrist system, seems to face opposition, even until the end.  Yet, Revelation reveals plagues from Heaven that impact the whole earth.  I think it is necessary to distinguish between Satan’s wrath on the earth toward God’s people, and God’s judgments of the earth during this time, which judgments are often directed at only those, who have received the mark and who worship the beast.  However there will definitely be world wide effects from some of the coming plagues.  This seems true even of the bowls of Gods wrath, with some affecting the whole earth.  Rev 16:2 the first bowl affects only those with the mark and who worship the beast. But the second and third bowl turns all waters on the planet to blood.  That to us should say that life on earth will soon be over unless Jesus returns very soon thereafter. And He will.  Man cannot live on bread alone, and he certainly can’t live for long without water. 

Rev 16:9 as opposed to vs 10, reveal a reversal of conditions. For likely in a matter of one or two days things go from a scorching sun, to a darkness over Satan’s kingdom, which is this earth. Then following the gathering of the kings of earth to Armageddon we hear: Revelation 16:15  (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) (NASB1995)

Jesus had told us in Matthew 24 and in Mark 13, that He was coming following days of a darkened Sun, Moon and stars.  Joel’s prophecy had also told us that this would be the conditions on earth when the day of the Lord was near.  Now Jesus is again allowing us to see that darkness is the condition on earth before His coming in the Day of the Lord. 

This darkness that precedes this in verse 10 states: 

Revelation 16:10  Then the fifth [angel] poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,  11  and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. (NASB1995)

This earth at this time described here is now ready for final harvest. So once you see the rebuilding of the Temple; then you will know that we are much nearer to the kingdom of the Antichrist, whose kingdom is called out as being Daniel’s fourth beast.  Then the times are very near. It is in my opinion evident, that there will be no peace treaty for Israel until the Islamists are commanded to establish this peace, by the Antichrist.  He will, I believe, negotiate peace in order to take over God’s throne.  

We are to be watchers of the signs.  But more than that we are to be giving out warning.  As you see these things progress, warn your loved ones and your friends and your neighbors, and warn even your enemies should they see fit to listen.