And the BEAST which I saw was
Many scholars equate this imagery to that shown in Daniel 7:1-8. Here, though, John sees the description of the BEAST's attributes in reverse order. This may indicate that John is looking back into the past from the Tribulation time, while Daniel saw the BEAST into the future.
Likewise, these attributes have been equated to great empires: leopard (Greek), bear (Medo-Persian), and lion (Babylonian). This is not a real satisfying equivalence because the BEAST, in fact, as a whole entity comes up out of the Abyss to try to defeat "the Lamb" one more time (Revelation 17:8,14).
If the SEA BEAST is a counterfeit of Christ, as put forth in the previous verse, then the leopard is spotted or blemished (sin - Jeremiah 13:23) versus Christ the spotless One (1 Peter 1:19); the bear is a lumbering destroyer (mocking God's anointed prophet destroyed 42 lads by a bear - 2 Kings 2:23-25) versus Christ the restorer (Mark 1:21-28); and lion's mouth (roaring to strike fear into people turning them into cowards - Revelation 21:8) versus Christ's words so different, so life giving (John 7:37-52).
If you want to look at directional equivalents:
Leopard = peoples from the south
Bear = peoples from the north
Lion = peoples from the west
6th bowl (Revelation 16:12) = peoples from the east.
And the DRAGON gave him
This SEA BEAST is a super-human being with great demonic POWER like Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:1-6) to betray; a THRONE to govern over a following of peoples or nations (Luke 4:1-6-13); and GREAT AUTHORITY -- not ALL AUTHORITY, that was given to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). The SEA BEAST will look to Israel as the long awaited Messiah, and they will follow the BEAST because of these three attributes. Oh, that we may pray for our Jewish brothers that they may see it is a GREAT DECEPTION!