Oh brakelite, I honestly expect no less from you! This gave me such a good laugh. And, I would hope you know me well enough by now to know I welcome your can. "Release the worms".
So far so good, mostly. I actually fully agree with you that Revelation's beasts point to the visions Daniel had of the beasts. Revelation again and again pulls imagery from the OT, requiring us to see how
they interpreted that image. Understanding how they interpreted it, lets us know how we ought to in Revelation. So, yes, I agree that the Beast is not likely meant to be a specific person but perhaps a nation, empire or, maybe in today's consideration, a corporation. I think the only 'extra' I would add to the subject at large here is that both Paul and John seem to speak quite clearly of A person who would come at the end. THE Antichrist. THE man of lawlessness. Every nation, empire or corporation must, by necessity, have someone leading them, however, so I suppose that presents not too big of an issue when trying to consider the picture as a whole.
As far as the papacy being the beast, I do believe I have heard the argument before. Feel free to present it again, as it was some time ago. I do freely admit that at times in the past both RCC and Pope displayed characteristics of antichrist. But as John said, there are many antichrist already in the world. I suppose the question is; does it fit the characteristics to be the ultimate and final one? I'm not actually sure that's something that anyone can answer until the time for the Antichrist "to be revealed".
Mmm. See...this is where I find things get....wobby. Is America powerful? Yes. Now. But could something happen to knock them off their perch? Sure. Nothing is set in stone. Except scripture. And we just don't see America in scripture. The balance in the world is a delicate thing. China is a looming menace in both finance and technology. They too are building their military might. Russia is strong under Putin. A war with either could put America in a position where they won't be able to dictate to anyone.
So...my trouble with saying that the Antichrist HAS to be the papacy, when Paul tells us that 'the man of lawlessness' won't be revealed until the restrainer (whoever he is) is taken away, is that you are assuming that the restrainer was removed hundreds of years ago, and you've known since then. Paul also tells us that this "man" will be killed by Christ AT his coming, implying that this will be an end time event. Then when we move on to assuming that America MUST be the second beast, we are again assuming that America and all other Countries will continue on as they are.
That is far too many assumptions and maybe's in my book. You know I'll listen to your argument and consider it, but at the moment, that's where I sit.