John likens this beast to a leopard, its feet to a bear’s feet, its mouth to a lion’s mouth. These are the same three beasts that Daniel mentioned, though in Daniel’s vision he saw separate animals (and four of them). The beast John sees rising from the sea (the underworld, the abyss) combines the qualities of the beasts Daniel saw. These three animals denote cunning (leopard), ruthless power (a bear’s paw can kill a man), and the drive to devour (lion). We recognize elements of human depravity in those characteristics.
2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.