Revelation Chapter 13 Beasts
Revelation Chapter 13 The First Beast
We now come to the chapter of the beasts, one from the sea and another from the land. Yes, these definitely are two separate beasts or personages. We can find evidence in Rev. 19:20 where Scripture tells us that “the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet. . .These both were cast alive. . .” Also in Rev. 13:1 the first beast came from the “sea” and in Rev. 13:11 we find that the second beast came from the “earth”. They did not come from the same location.
In the first few verses of chapter thirteen, we have the first beast, the sixth personage of Revelation, having seven heads with names of blasphemy, having ten horns with a crown upon each. The second beast, the seventh personage, was like a lamb with two horns and v. 12 tells us “he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.” This evidence should put an end to the discussions of those claiming both beasts are in one personage; these Scriptures plainly describe two separate beings.
This article will concentrate on the first beast. For some history we need to go back to Daniel and re-read chapter 7:2-7 and keep in mind the order of the beasts. Remembering this order we can compare John’s version to Daniel’s and see that Daniel is looking forward in time while that John is looking backward, causing the order to be reversed. Daniel’s first beast was a lion for the Babylonian Empire, the second was the bear for the Medo-Persia, and the third was the leopard or Grecian Empire. The fourth beast was like no other ever known, but symbolized the Roman Empire. John’s version mentions the leopard first, next the bear and then the lion, but all these characteristics are on the same beast. John was living in the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans were who imprisoned him on the Isle of Patmos.
All of Daniel’s beasts symbolized world empires that were dominated by a person (Dan. 7:12). The empire was a government headed by a president, or a king, or a ruler of some title (Dan. 7:24). The anti-christ and beast are not the same, but they are linked, just like Obama and the USA are not the same, but he is the President. The king and beast are linked together as one is the leader and the other is what he leads. One can hardly think of one without associating it with the other. Just like Alexander the Great was to the Grecian Empire, Nebuchadnezzar to the Babylonian Empire, etc.
This leaves the word “beast” symbolic in nature just like the word “beast” in Daniel. I believe that we have a two fold meaning here, just as when we speak of a major political figure of today, such as Winston Churchill we think of England or with Hitler we will think of Nazi or any other major leader will be associated with his reign. In the same way the anti-christ and the beast are linked, the man with his empire. Since Daniel’s fourth beast was the Roman Empire, and portions of the Roman Empire still exists today, then Roman Empire has never completely expired. It is logical then to think that John’s beast also will be the revised Roman Empire. Remember that much of our language has Roman roots, as well as our laws, social structure, governing system, etc.
In Rev. 13:1-10 we are talking about the first beast out of the sea, which is the personage of the anti-christ. What we have here is that the first beast and the anti-christ is synonymous, they are one in the same. One is the name and the other is the symbol for what he stands, which like Daniel’s will be an empire.
The first beast comes out of the “sea”. And sea is a term used often in the Bible to stand for nations or world population. Since this beast comes out of the populous then he has to be in the image of a human.
When comparing Daniel’s fourth beast and John’s first beast we find many similarities.
- Both exist for the same amount of time. 3½ years.
- Both are to be destroyed at the second coming of Christ.
- Both occupy the same location.
- Both behave in evil ways.
- Both come up out of the sea.
- Neither is like any other existing beast.
- Each had ten horns.
- Horns stand for kings.
Differences:
1. Daniel’s had one head. 1. John’s had seven heads.
2. A little head among the horns. 2. No little horn or little head mentioned.
The heads of the beasts represents seven mountains (Rev. 17:9). We also know that mountains many times in the Bible are a symbol for kingdoms. Over these seven heads we can find different interpretations from biblical scholars and I too, have my own. I believe that the difference between Daniel’s and John’s number of heads is that Daniel talked of empires that were ruled mostly by one ruler or government, such as Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes or Alexander the Great. So when he got to the fourth beast, the Roman Empire was still one big military powerful regime just like the former three. These empires were taken by using the military might of one army. Now when we get to John’s beast in the tribulation we find that the anti-christ will take over by political power. He rides a horse with bow, but no arrows (Rev. 6:2). He will combine kingdoms to form a united governmental rule of huge proportions. He will put his regime together something similar to that of the EU (compare Rev. 17:12), several countries or kingdoms put together, but with one person as the president. And the one-hour time means it is of short duration (Rev. 17:10). This time could be the 3½ years (13:5) or for even the total seven years, it is but a short time compared to most reigns like Saul, David and Solomon each with 40 years and Manasseh who reigned 55 years.
The blasphemy against God is pretty much confined to verbally saying evil things about God. So in verse six the anti-christ is saying evil things against God, His name, His temple and all those in heaven.
In verse seven he was given the power to make war against the saints. Since the anti-christ had been cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:9 the saints cannot be those in heaven. Neither can it be ones protected by God, the 144,00 sealed ones and those that left Jerusalem Rev. 12:13-17. This will answer two questions, the saints that the anti-christ wars with are the one that accept the message of the kingdom and are put to death during the Great Tribulation, the latter 3½ years. This is a universal massacre, it is world wide Jews and Gentiles.
Of course the anti-christ will continue all the way up to Rev. 19:20, where he and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, and as Paul Harvey used to say, “This is the rest of the story”.
The anti-christ is the tangible part that we see and the beast is his dominion. He will take over his regime by political power and rule with seven subordinate kings for a period of 3 1/2 years. This last 3 1/2 years are known as the tribulation.