Revelation Chapter 13 - The Beast from the Sea and the Beast from the Land

In the last blog we looked at the battle of Armageddon and its possible impact on people living today. We especially considered the trinity of evil; Satan (the Devil), the beast (Ruler of the revived Roman Empire and the false prophet (Anti-Christ). We also considered their downfall. In this blog we will take a look at Revelation chapter 13 where we get a more detailed description of the beast and the false prophet of Revelation chapter 16. It is important to note the symbolic language used in the book of Revelation. If we want to understand this book we need to understand the symbols God gives us in this book. For the sake of brevity I will touch on some relevant points in chapter 13.

Revelation 13:1-7

1         “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

2         Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

3         And I saw one of his heads as it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. All the world marvelled and followed the beast.

4         So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’

5         And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6         Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

7         It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”

The Beast from the Sea

The beast rises from the sea (nations of the world).

Verse 1: This beast is the revived Roman Empire. The seven heads are seven Rulers. The ten horns are ten kingdoms. The seven heads (Rulers) carry a blasphemous name. One of the seven Rulers controls three kingdoms; he is the Chief Ruler of the revived Roman Empire.

Verse 2: The Leopard refers to the Grecian Empire. The Bear refers to the Medes and Persian Empire. The Lion refers to the Chaldean Empire. The beast from the sea contains all the older world empires within itself i.e. the ancient Roman Empire. The Dragon (Satan) gives the Ruler of this revived Roman Empire ‘his power, his throne and great authority.’’ 

§  NB. It is important to distinguish between the Beast from the Sea in verses 1-3 and the Beast who is the Ruler of the revived Roman Empire. The Beast from the sea is the Empire itself, in verses 1-3. In verses 4-8 it is the man, the Ruler of this Empire who is given authority by Satan. 

Verse 3: The Beast from the Sea, one of its heads was mortally wounded and now it is healed; this shows us that the ancient Roman Empire will be revived in the end times.

The mortally wounded head occurred when the ancient Roman Empire was defeated. The wound being healed is the reviving of the Roman Empire in the end times.

Verse 4: The world worships the Dragon (Satan) and also worships the Ruler of the revived Roman Empire. There is no one in the world of mankind as powerful as the Ruler of the revived Roman Empire.

Verse 5: The Ruler of the revived Roman Empire speaks great things and blasphemes. He is allowed to continue for three and one half years (until Armageddon).

Verse 7: He makes war with the true believers in God and overcomes them. He is given authority over every nation.

The Beast from the Earth

Verse 11: Another beast is seen rising from the earth (Israel). He has two horns like a lamb (Jewish Anti-Christ). He appears to be lamb-like but speaks like a dragon (satanic).

Verse 12: The lamb-like beast (Anti-Christ) in Israel is given the full authority of the Ruler of the revived Roman Empire.  He causes the Israelis to become idolaters.

Verses 13 & 14: The Anti-Christ performs physical wonders and deceives Israelis into making an image to the beast (Ruler of the revived Roman Empire). 

Verse 15: The image of the beast is given life. Those Israelis who do not worship the image of the beast are killed.

Verses 16 & 17: All have to receive a mark on their right hand or forehead. No one can buy or sell unless they have a mark, or the name of the beast; or the beast’s number. The beast (Ruler of the revived Roman Empire), his number is 666.

Let us look at this in its Scriptural context. True Christianity is finished. God has turned His attention back to the nation of Israel. This is why Israel is so prominent. The Anti-Christ, that false prophet, the one who claims to be their Messiah but isn’t; he turns the nation away from the True God to worship himself.  They believe the lie! They become a nation of idol worshippers and that is why the nation of Israel is punished by God in the Great Tribulation.

The Lord Jesus told the Jews in John 5:43, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me: if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

 

I want to close with the solemn warning given in Revelation 13:8, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, (Ruler of the revived Roman Empire) whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” 

Is your name written in the Book of Life? The slain Lamb is a direct reference to the cross at Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins. Eternal life and your name written in the Book of Life are found only in Him!

Jon Peasey

[All Scripture quotations are from the New King James version]