Daniel Chapter 7 Vs. 5

 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. Dan. 7:5

to a bear... This is a fitting symbol of Medo-Persia because of their cruelty, thirst after blood, robberies, and love of spoil (Isa. 13:16-18; Jer. 51:48-56). A large species of bear is found in the mountains of Media.

on one side... This symbolizes the strength of the Persians compared to the Medes. It is the same thought as the higher horn of the ram in Dan. 8:3—Cyrus the Persian who was greater than Darius the Mede (Dan. 5:31) and who came up last (2Ch. 36:20-23; Ezr. 1:1-8; 3:7; 4:5; Isa. 44:28; 45:1). This kingdom is mentioned in Dan. 5:24-31; in Dan. 6:1-28; in Dan. 7:5, 7:17; in Dan. 8:1-4, 8:20; in Dan. 10:1-20; in Dan. 11:1-2; Isa. 13:17-22; 21:2; 2Ki. 17:6; 18:11; Est. 1:1-9:3.

three ribs in... This symbolizes the conquest of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt by the Medes and Persians. The bear devoured "much flesh."

In the image, this would be the Media Persian Empire with the greater side being Persia. Persia then is Iran now, is the very same place. The bear symbolizes Russia. The ribs are referring to vanquished nations.

We read in Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 38:5 “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:”

We know that there is to be a great battle, when these 4 forces (Russia, Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya), shall come against Israel. There will be the destruction of much flesh. Could Iran, Ethiopia, and Libya be the three spoken of above?

The second beast was like a bear, an animal of formidable strength (1Sam. 17:34; Amos 5:19; Hos. 13:8). This represents Medo-Persia, the empire that followed Babylon. The Medo-Persian army was strong and fierce (Isa. 13:15-18). Unlike the grace of the man-like lion, the bear was ponderous and ungainly. It was evidently reclining with one side higher than the other. This suggests that though Persia rose later than Media, Persia soon overshadowed the Medes in their united kingdom. The three ribs in the bear’s mouth may represent the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, which had preceded the empire represented by the bear. Or they may represent Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, three nations conquered by the Medes and Persians. The bear was told to devour flesh. This command suggests that kingdoms operate by divine appointment, not their own authority. In devouring other kingdoms and extending its territory into a vast empire, the bear was fulfilling God’s purpose.