A selection of verses showing that beasts or animals are symbols to represent the power and influence of ruling forces in the earth.
The prophet Daniel was given an interpretation of a vision he had seen:
Daniel 7 verses 15 to 17
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this.“So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
The king of Egypt is referred to as a great monster:
Ezekiel 29 verse 3
3 Speak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says:“Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers,that has said, ‘My river is my own,and I have made it for myself.’
Eekiel 32 verse 2
2 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and tell him,‘You were likened to a young lion of the nations;yet you are as a monster in the seas.You broke out with your rivers,and troubled the waters with your feet,and fouled their rivers.’ ”
The prophet Joel said that a nation like a lion would come against his land:
Joel 1 verse 6
6 For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and without number.His teeth are the teeth of a lion,and he has the fangs of a lioness.
The remnant of Jacob are symbolised as a lion:
Micah 5 verse 8
8 The remnant of Jacob will be amongst the nations,amongst many peoples,like a lion amongst the animals of the forest,like a young lion amongst the flocks of sheep;who, if he goes through, treads down and tears in pieces,and there is no one to deliver.