1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
The sea is probably the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean forms the western border of Israel and is referred to in the Scriptures as “the great sea” (Numbers 34:6; Joshua 1:4; Ezekiel 47:20). Daniel also had a vision of four beasts coming up from “the great sea” (see notes under verse 2 below). The Mediterranean region is the scene of the events described in the book of Revelation. As John stood on the sandy shore of the sea, he saw a beast rising out of the sea. The word used for “beast” here is not the same as that used in previous chapters for the four living creatures who are near God’s throne (4:6). The word used in 13:1 means “wild animal” and accurately describes the behavior of this being.
In the Old Testament there are several mentions of a sea creature called “leviathan.” In Job 41, it is clear that leviathan pictures Satan. That chapter concludes with the statement, He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride (Job 41:34). In describing God’s judgment on Egypt when Israel crossed the Red Sea, the Psalmist said, Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness (Psalm 74:14). In speaking of the last days, the prophet Isaiah said, In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea (Isaiah 27:1).
The beast that John sees in chapter 13 is similar to the dragon that he saw in chapter 12. Both had 7 heads and 10 horns. But the dragon had 7 crowns, which were on his 7 heads, whereas the beast in chapter 13 has 10 crowns, which are on its 10 horns. The difference makes a difference. The dragon that John saw in chapter 12 was specifically identified as Satan (12:9). The beast in chapter 13 will be identified as a leader to whom Satan gives power, a throne, and great authority (13:2). Each of the 7 heads of the dragon in chapter 12 wore a crown. The 7 heads represent the 7 empires which Satan has used throughout history to oppress Israel. The heads have blasphemous names. All are opposed to God. In chapter 12 every head wore a crown because the chapter encompassed the whole span of history from Satan’s first rebellion until the last days. In that chapter the dragon had 10 horns, but they were not identified in any way; the context of chapter 12 did not encompass the role of the 10 horns. In chapter 13, the 10 horns wear 10 crowns. As we will read, the 10 horns are 10 kings that will be active in the Tribulation period. The beast that John sees rising out of the sea will be a Satan-controlled world leader whose empire encompasses the role of 10 kings.
2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
A leopard, a bear, a lion. Daniel had a vision which included the same three animals but in reverse order. Daniel saw these three empires going forward from his day. John saw the three empires from the future looking back. Daniel saw four beasts come up from the Mediterranean: I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. (Daniel 7:2-3). The first beast that Daniel saw was like a lion and represented Babylon. The second beast was like a bear and represented Medo-Persia. The third was like a leopard and represented Greece (see Daniel 7:4-6). Then Daniel saw a fourth beast: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns (Daniel 7:7). The fourth beast that Daniel saw represented Rome.
John described the beast that he saw in Revelation 13 as being “like unto a leopard.” The feet are like those of Medo-Persia, the mouth is like that of Babylon, but the beast itself is most like Greece. The reason for that emphasis will become clearer especially in chapter 17. The beast that John saw combined strengths of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. This combination beast that John saw is Rome, the “dreadful and terrible” fourth beast that Daniel described.
Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. Four empires. So why seven heads? Daniel saw these four as he looked forward from his time. He also spoke of two distinct periods of the Roman empire (Daniel 2:40-43). We may speak of these periods as Rome I and Rome II. Before Daniel’s time two other world powers oppressed Israel: Egypt and Assyria (see notes under 12:3). Thus, in historical sequence the beast that ascends out of the sea shows each of its seven heads: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome I, and Rome II. John saw a particular and still future moment in the history of the beast. John saw the Rome II period, in which the restored Roman empire will be characterized by 10 kings.
3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
Verse 3 marks a change in the distribution of power in Rome II. One of the heads of the beast that John saw was “as it were wounded to death.” The head appeared to have suffered a mortal wound, but the head recovered from the wound. In the metaphor of the beast, a head represents both an empire and its leader (17:9-10). In 17:8,11 we read of the reappearance of one of the seven empires of history. The context of those verses seems to make clear that that empire will be Babylon. Also, verse 14 of this chapter 13 seems to indicate that a specific human leader will appear to have recovered from a mortal wound. Thus the wounded head may refer to both a restored empire and to a man in the future who leads that empire. That man will appear to have died and been raised to life again. The world will be so impressed with this counterfeit resurrection that they will conclude that the empire and its leader are invincible.
The world will worship the beast and Satan who gives him power, a throne, and authority. The world will give worship to the beast and the dragon instead of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ and God who has given Him all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). God will permit this for a short time.
When Israel crossed the Red Sea to safety from the army of Pharaoh, they said, Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11). Deceived by the Antichrist in the Tribulation period, the world will say, “Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
In the book of Revelation we first saw the Antichrist when he rode to power on the first horse of chapter 6. But he went out with only a bow, and “a crown was given unto him” (6:2). That evil leader will make a covenant with Israel for seven years but will show his true animosity toward Israel at the middle of the seven-year period (Daniel 9:27). During the last 3½ years (42 months) he will war with Israel, and “the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (11:2).
Daniel said concerning the ten horns, I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things (Daniel 7:8). A king called “another little horn” will overcome three of the 10 kings of Rome II. That king will seem like someone to trust; he will have “eyes like the eyes of a man,” but he will be an evil leader. This is probably the moment of the change in the distribution of power in Rome II, the emergence of Babylon II, and the attack on Israel. The beast will speak blasphemy against the name of God and will malign His people in heaven. He will be given authority over all the peoples of the earth. Everyone on earth will worship the false Christ except those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Daniel said concerning the little horn that overcomes 3 of the 10 kings, And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (Daniel 7:25). “A time and times and the dividing of time” are the 3½ years (42 months) of which John wrote. As we read in verse 2, that blasphemous leader will have a mouth like Babylon. He was already present in verse 2 at the time of the 10 kings, but he will show his true face at the middle of the Tribulation period.
9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
In chapters 2 and 3, after each of the letters to the seven churches are found the words, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Verse 9 above is markedly different. There is no mention of the churches. All believers in the churches will be taken out of the world to be with Christ before the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period.
Likely through the ministry of the 144 thousand servants of God (7:3-8) and the ministry of God’s two witnesses (11:3-12) the Gospel will go out to all the earth (Matthew 24:14). Some from Israel and the other nations will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not all of the people of Israel will have fled to safety in the wilderness (see 12:6,14-16). Especially during the last 3½ years of the Tribulation period, many of Israel, including many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, will be taken as captives or killed. But verse 10 above gives assurance that God will avenge His people.
Isaiah 33:1-2 seems to speak of the same events: Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
The first beast that John saw rose out of the sea. John also saw a second beast that rose out of the land. Twice in the book of Revelation this second beast is called “the false prophet” (19:20; 20:10). The first beast was given authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation (verse 7), and the second beast uses all of that authority to cause the peoples of the earth to worship the first beast. In the Old Testament God said that He would send the prophet Elijah before the return of Christ (Malachi 4:5). The second beast is a false Elijah for the Antichrist. The fire of the LORD fell to consume the sacrifice when Elijah prayed (I Kings 18:36-39). Similarly, the false Elijah will make fire come down from heaven. But when Elijah prayed, his objective was that the LORD be glorified. The objective of the false Elijah will be to deceive people to worship the first beast.
Probably the second beast ascends out of the land of Israel. In speaking of the Tribulation period, Jesus said, For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24). Jesus had also earlier warned, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15). The second beast will look like a lamb but will speak like a dragon.
14and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
The first beast is both an empire and the leader of the empire. The personal nature of the beast is made clear in that an image of him will be made. We also learn from verse 14 that the apparently deadly wound of this leader was by a sword. The implication in 17:10-11 that the Babylonian empire will be revived and the comparison of the mouth of the first beast with the mouth of Babylon (see notes under verse 2 above) should be taken into account in considering verses 14-15. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a golden image of himself. He required that “people, nations, and languages” fall down and worship the image of himself that he had made (Daniel 3:1-7). There appears to be a clear parallel between the image of Revelation 13 and the image of Nebuchadnezzar. The beast that arises out of the sea will likely be the leader of Babylon II.
In Matthew 24, Jesus’ words seem to make a distinction between genuine believers (“you”) in the Tribulation period and those who are only religious (“many”):
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matthew 24:4-5,9-12).
In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus probably spoke especially of Jews during the Tribulation period. Many Jews, along with the other peoples of the earth, will be deceived by the false prophet that looks like a lamb, does miraculous signs like Elijah, but speaks like a dragon.
15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Perhaps the most deceptive thing that the false prophet will do will be to make the image of the first beast breathe and talk. How will the false prophet do this? Probably a demon will be used to give “life” to the statue. Paul said, What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (I Corinthians 10:19-20). Behind a lifeless idol are living demons.
The false prophet will also receive authority to have killed anyone who does not worship the image of the Antichrist.
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here 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 Six hundred threescore and six.
During the Tribulation period, God will choose 144,000 from Israel to be His servants. They will be sealed on their foreheads (7:1-8). It may be in mimicry of God’s seal that Satan will have his followers marked in their right hand or in their forehead. Satan will seek to claim the rest of earth’s population for himself. The mark will be either the name of the Antichrist or the number of his name. The number of the beast will be “666.”
What does the number “666” mean? We don’t know. The Antichrist will not be revealed until the seven-year Tribulation period. The church will be removed from the earth to be with Christ before that time. Just as the admonition in verse 9 above was not written to the church (see notes there), the admonition in verse 18 to count the number of the beast is not written to the church. When the Antichrist is revealed, God will give His people on earth at that time understanding to discern the meaning of the number “666.” Verse 18 above only tells us that “it is the number of a man.” The Antichrist will be given power, a throne, and great authority by Satan, but the Antichrist will be just a man.
During that part of the Tribulation, the false prophet will impose a world system in which no one can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast. A century ago Bible students probably puzzled over how such a system could be imposed. Today, the “how” is not so puzzling. We seem to be moving rapidly toward the events of the last days.
Note: All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.