The interpretation of Daniel 7 can be a bit perplexing. I thought I would attempt a quick and hopefully simple breakdown of Daniels four beasts that rise from the sea. It will aid in the interpretation of the beast kingdom in Revelation 13, and 17, and perhaps offer some clarity concerning the fourth kingdom which rises in the latter days, prior to the second coming of Christ Jesus - Yeshua Hamashiach.
The writing below is simply a reiteration of scripture. The Bible is interconnecting as scripture defines scripture. Daniels night vision interconnects with Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar was perplexed by a dream that prophesized the future of his kingdom. His dream began with his role as the king of Babylon, the kingdom which ruled the middle east. This kingdom was followed by two additional kingdoms, one of silver and another of brass. These future kingdoms would rise to rule the middle east - the kingdom of Babylon. The dream ended with a fourth and final kingdom that would rise to seize world power in the latter days. The Bible doesn't require outside sources to interpret scripture but, we often find that historical events fill in the gaps.
Daniel 7 adds additional information that parallels the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The kings dream revolved around four metals found in the dream image which represented the king, and the future of his kingdom. The four beasts parallel four metals from the dream image:
Four Beast: 1) Lion - Babylon 2) Bear- Mede-Persian 3) Leopard - Greek, Grecian 4) Beast of ten horns - Tribulation-Antichrist kingdom.
Four Metals: 1) Gold - Babylon, 2) Silver - Mede-Persian, 3) Brass - Grecian, 4a) Iron - God's judgement, fall of Babylon, 4b) Iron mixed with clay - Tribulation - Antichrist.
