I will be getting into more information about the Beast of Revelation 13 and want to bring this out so you can keep these ideas in mind as we delve into the matter. There is a major world power that fits all of these characteristics and as we start getting into the history of the Bible, hopefully this will become more clear.
Please look below the graphic for references to scriptures.
Revelation 13:2
2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Revelation 13:5
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
Ezekiel 4:6
6 "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
Revelation 12:6
6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
Revelation 13:7
7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
Revelation 13:5
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.
Revelation 13:3 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
Revelation 13:10
10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
Revelation 13:3 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.
Revelation 13:18
18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.