Daniel 9 describes seventy weeks of years (490 years) that predict when Jesus the Messiah brings redemption and returns. Seven years are left to be fulfilled in the Tribulation. During the first 3½ years, a ten nations union rules the world. Then during the last 3½ years, Satan chooses the Antichrist with the False Prophet to rule the world. They control the world through the economy.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him (Daniel 9:27 NIV).

In Revelation 12, there is a war in heaven. God and the angels defeat Satan and his demons and are cast to earth. In Revelation 13, Satan sets up a political, religious and economic union. Antichrist leads the beast (government union). The False Prophet leads the 2nd beast (religious union).

There was war in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time (Revelation 12:7, 9, 12).

The third seal is the black horse of economic trade. In accounting, when a company is in the red, they have a loss but when they are "in the black", they have a profit. Since 1588, the United Kingdom became superpower and "the sun never set on its empire". At the end of World War II, the United States and Soviet Union became superpowers. During the Cold War, the red horse of communism and black horse of capitalism fought to rule the world. In 1991, Red Russia fell from power and Red China continues to rise. The US Treasury seal has a pair of balances.

When he [Jesus] had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny [denarius], and three measures of barley for a penny [denarius]; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine (Revelation 6:5-6).

Before the information age, business was calculated by hand then adding machines. The United States began tracking people through social security numbers and credit cards. During the beginnings of computers, prophecy schollars predicted one supercomputer would control everything. In the 1960's, the US government connected computers through academic and military networks. With billions of personal computers and smart phones, the network expanded into the modern day internet. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracks products, pets and a few people. Currently, globalists are replacing cash with a digital currency. Finally, control people through controlling access to the economic system.

He [Antichrist] caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is χξς (Revelation 13:16-17, 18).

Antichrist (man) is synonymous with the Beast (World Government). The identity of the Antichrist is given in a puzzle. In Hebrew and Greek, letters have numeric values and the Beast adds up to 666. χξς means the name of Allah and two swords. Since the lion/bear/leopard is the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany, the Antichrist is from the European Union and not the US or Middle East. He will confirm the covenant and later become king of the world at the middle of the Tribulation.

Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time (1 John 2:18).

After the Rapture, there will be deviating war between China and the United States and India. During the Tribulation, the European Union (lion, bear, leopard) leads the world and then Antichrist and the False Prophet lead the people using the world economy. But Russia and radical Islam (Iran, Libya, Turkey) usurp Antichrist authority and attack Israel. Finally, all nations gather at Armageddon. Finally at the Second Coming, Jesus returns to Jerusalem and reigns a thousand years as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars, Chapter 20 - Players in the Game, Chapter 21 - Four Horses on the Run, Chapter 25 - Iraq War III, Daniel's Dream, World Government, World Religion, Seals, Trumpets, Tribulation Articles, Revelation Articles, Covenant Articles, Timeline of the Tribulation