'Beasts' in the Bible

Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another.

"After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared -- one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.

As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living for a time and a season.

These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth.