[Revelation 13]

13 Then (he)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 if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. ⁴ So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped 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. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The unknown is scary, frightening, creepy, terrifying – yes all of this, and sinister, threatening and evil. All of these words and every synonym conceivable could describe the feelings of the ancient world towards the sea. It is understandable. 

The sea was a mystery of gigantic creatures and dark, unknown waters erupting in violent storms ripping their wooden ships apart and drowning the helpless seafarers. Yet so much travelling had to be done over the sea. Judea was a treacherous sea journey away from the rest of the Roman Empire and Rome.

This chapter (13) starts off like a dramatic poem:

And I stood on the sandy shore of the sea. Then I saw a [vicious] beast coming up out of the sea…

Some translations put “the dragon” instead of “I”.  It could be either.  The NASB says the dragon and it could be interpreted that he came out of the hellish waters and stand on the shore to summon his helpers from the chaos of the sea from which he himself comes.

The anti-Christ will rise out of the sea, here a symbol of chaotic, political events.

The fuller picture of the counterfeit trinity that emerges in this description is super important to equip the saints with the grand plan of evil, opposing God on every possible level.

Satan delegates his power to two beasts. The beast is composite of Daniel’s monsterin Daniel 7: 2-7 (the one with seven heads and ten horns). It describes the incarnation of all evil – a lion with eagle’s wings – a symbol of Babylon, a bear – the symbol of Media, a leopard with four wings – a symbol of Persia and the fourth beast that is not named with ten horns is a symbol of the Greeks under Alexander the Great trampling all that had gone before.  All these empires are symbolic of political power and the rulers of history.

The seven heads are a composite of the four beasts of Daniel.  

Daniel 7:24 (ten horns) is interpreted as ten kings.  This could be explained from history and has been done throughout the Church’s walk in Revelation over the ages.  It is better to see the 10 as symbolic of earthly kings and governments with blasphemous names, grabbing power and abusing might over people and each other.  A horn is a symbol of judicial authority and could be used positively or negatively.

Seven and ten are seen as the completeness of oppressive power and the worldwide effect. The dragon has ultimate rule and mandates his will through the beast that arises from the dark waters of the home of the dragon.  It is from her that the dragon spews floods of ungodliness over the Church (12:15) while the harlot sits on many waters (17:1).

All of these could be seen in the Roman Empire as described by H.B. Swete:

The empire has the vigilance, craft and cruelty of the leopard, ever ready to spring upon its prey; it has the crushing strength of the bear; it is like the lion whose roar terrifies the flock.

Paul was respectful towards the Roman authorities, using his citizenship as a tool for the advancement of his missionary calling. 

Here in Revelation we see a shift in the attitude towards Rome. It is all out war between the government and the Church and Rome is the representation of all evil representing earthly authority throughout history.

Thefirst beastrepresents the reality of anti-Christian government and political power. 

The second beastrepresents anti-Christian religion, philosophy and ideology. Together they produce the ultimately deceptive and seductive anti-Christian secular society, commerce and culture. 

The third beastis the False Prophet (13:11).

The beast of Revelation includes everything that Daniel described. Seven heads and ten horns indicate the rulers of Rome and the many consequent organizations and political powers. Many emperors and rulers took for themselves blasphemous names. They called themselves God, Saviour, Divine and so forth.  The emperors saw themselves as the saviours of the people with divine authority.  We see it clearly around us – every government comes into power with promises of prosperity for all, better circumstances .

Blasphemy is all irreverent speech and actions. To call what is human divine and to call evil good is the lie of the world we are living in today. It is a parody of the cry of the saints: “Who is like our God”. (Exodus 15:11)

Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return, Then I will bring you back;
You shall stand before Me;
If you take out the precious from the vile,
You shall be as My mouth.
Let them return to you,
But you must not return to them. (Jeremiah 15:19)

The beast (more particularly the false prophet) has the ability to use religious institutions. (2:9)  The persecution of Christians by the Jews is called the “synagogue of satan”. 

The beast has power to pervert the original divine intention.  The warfare of the Church is to bring the original order of Creation back.

One of the heads IS slain and a fatal wound was healed.  The Greek for “wound” = plēgē,translated plague.  It occurs 11 time in Revelation always indicating something of divine origin.  This is the wound inflicted by Christ’s resurrection and the truth of Genesis 3:15, the promise of the head wound.

In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong,
Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
Leviathan that twisted serpent;
And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.  (Isaiah 27:1)

It IS slain, not it had been slain.  It is slain for all eternity.

The fatal wound is healed.  The enemy is able to continue its activity but his days are numbered and his power limited.  It is God’s power and Christ’s victory that limit the beast.  The Church stands against it in the 3,5 years until the second coming.  “As slain” is the same expression used in 5:6 of the Lamb standing “as slain” so that it is clear that the beast is a satanic counterfeit of Christ.

In 13:14 the recovery is described as a resurrection, but it is one that leads to destruction in 17:8.  The beast’s continuing existence is a reversal of Christ’s victory.  He lost all authority to accuse the saints and has no authority except what is allowed by God.  However, the dragon and the beast cover up the fact that their authority is limited and deceive the nations.  (Compare D-day when Europe was invaded to be liberated and lots of fighting still ahead with VE-day, the day of total victory.)

There were rumours that Nero was resurrected.  He was so bad that the people of Rome could not believe that he actually died and that they were released from his hellish rule.  He cannot solely represent the beast as some commentators would insist.  Believers and unbelievers alike were relieved to see him gone.  

The parody of the beast to the Lamb is important:

• Both were slain and raised to life. (5:6;13:3)
• Both have followers with their names written on their foreheads (7:3; 13:16;14:1)
• Both have horns (symbolic of authority) (5:6;13:1)
• Both have authority over every tribe, nation, tongue and people – all the earth (5:9;7:9;13:7;17:12,15)
• Both receive worldwide worship (5:8-14;13:4,8) – earthly but not heavenly for the beast
• Both have a final coming or manifestation – one destructive and one for eternal glory (17:7-18)

From this summary it is clear that the manifestation of evil cannot be limited to one historical person or epoch – evil activity spans the whole Church age.  Therefore it is also possible that one very evil anti-Christ figure could emerge, but that we should not wait for it, rather identify the many that go before and be aware and alert to the agenda of tempting the saints to compromise.  (1 John 2:18)

Whether it will be an individual or an institution is not clear.

The healing of the wound of the beast is different from the beast’s re-emergence from the abyss and the consequent destruction.  The time is determined by God.  In 13:5 it is 42 months and in 17:12 it is one hour.

The whole earth is amazed and follows the beast.  They use the mockery of the Scripture worshipping God (Exodus 8:10;15:11;Psalms 35:10; 71:19;86:8; 89:9; 113:5;  Isaiah 40:18; Micah 7:18) – Who is like him.

Daniel 7:25 is the basis for 13:5 – a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, authority given and the time period of 42 months.

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time.

God is the source of the authority of the beast.  God’s sets times and seasons – not the beast.  The beast relies on three “powers” – pride, blasphemy and deception.

He works against the Church (13:6) – those who dwell in the Tabernacle of God.  We are seated with Christ in heaven. (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1)

Daniel 7:25 is the basis for 13:7,8.  The same language is used to describe true and false worship. (3:7 and 7:14)

The phrase: Book of Life, appears five times in Revelation.  (13:8; 3:5; 17:8; 20:12;  21:27)  From the foundation of the earth indicates God’s foreknowledge NOT his will.  The Book stands in contrast to the record of the sins also written in a book. (20:12-13) and corresponds with the idea in Daniel of a book of redemption (12:1-2) and a book of sins. (7:10)

Their names written in the Book of the Lamb is a safeguard against any satanic storm that the beast can stir up.

An ear to hear is found in Isaiah 6 implying that the message will enlighten some while blinding others.

The verse about the sword (he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword) is a paraphrase of Jeremiah 15:2 and 43:11 indicating the exile of Israel.  God has destined his people into captivity and suffering by the sword (a symbol of his Word).  His faithful remnant also suffered under the sins of the people. (Ezekiel 14:12-23)  

This comes back to the most important foundational principle of duality – while sin is punished, believers are purified.  The perseverance of the saints in the face of persecution is glorified. (Revelation 1:5;2:10,13,19; 3:14; 14:12; 17:14)

The Beast from the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. ¹² And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. ¹⁴ And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. ¹⁵ He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. ¹⁶ He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Here we see another parody on the Lamb – two horns – like the two witnesses, the two olive trees and two lampstands.  The Lamb in 5:6 had two horns.  (Daniel 8:3 – a ram with two horns)

This beast speaks with the authority of the dragon – later called the false prophet. (16:13; 19:20; 20:10)  False prophets and teachers infiltrate the Church. (2:2,6,14-15,20-24)  Jesus prophesied this in Matthew 7:15; 24:5,11and Paul warned in Acts 20:28-29.  False teaching encourages compromise.

It is enormously important that we know we are living in the realm of the counterfeit trinityand are informed about their ways. God does not want us to be ignorant and perish because of lack of knowledge. We are the saints, faithful and strong. It is our response to difficult times that is the purveyor of the Gospel.

The head of the beast has been wounded by the Cross, but is healed to continue the deception and evil purposes. 

Revelation 13:9,10 reminds us of God’s judgment against Judahin Jeremiah 15:2,3. The persecuted are to maintain patient trust in God and not adopt the methods of the Beast and Dragon. It is repeated by Jesus in Matthew 26:52 (Amplified):

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword.

The gospel of love cannot be defended by the violence of man. God will defend and revenge.

Performs great signs – to deceive people by doing things super-naturally.  Again the signs of Moses and Elijah are under fire so to speak.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.  (Matthew 24:24,25)

Another beast is the false prophet (13:11), the mouthpiece of the Beast.He is described as being like a lamb as a parody of the true Lamb. Caesar worship (as described in Pebbles nr 42) is symbolic of finding your salvation in politics and idolatry. Satan can also do magic and convict with signs and wonders in the occult for the purpose of deception.

To the unbeliever, the crucified Christ is not the victor. He only perceives the “healed head” of the Beast and it looks acceptable and even attractive to him. Only the true believer knows the victory of the Cross. 

The unbeliever is easily deceived. He sees the fire and the image and fall down to worship. The unbeliever would never acknowledge worship, but in actual fact, the practical consequence of rejecting Christ, is worship of the Beast.

An image of the beast – Nebuchadnezzar, Domitian in Ephesus, Emperor worship and all modern-day cults and idols even so-called Christian ones.

The mark (666) is the counterfeit of the “seal of the living God” of Revelation 7:2-4. Rome issued certificates for Caesar-worship.  

It is not a number that has to be the key to some indication of the signs of the times.  It would be out of character to the rest of the Book, that this number is literal while all the other numbers in Revelation have to be symbolically interpreted.

The numbers indicate a spiritual reality.  The word number in Greek as used in Revelation always indicates an uncountable multitude.

The sixth seal, the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl all indicate God’s judgement on the followers of the beast.  So the seventh of all of these indicates the establishment and reality of the Kingdom of God.

One scholar calls 666 the completeness (3 numbers) of sinful incompleteness.

It is the number of man – the number of humanity in contrast to the divine.  Wisdom is the awareness of compromise and deception; to be able to recognize and understand the 666 in the world and to see the danger of it.  The Church needs to be strong.  Knowledge and insight bring enlightenment – the mind of Christ, eyes of the mind. (Ephesians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:16)

Hebrew and Greek had no separate numerical system. All the letters of their alphabet carried numerical value, hence the number 666 which is the numerical value of his name.

The Jews literally wore the Word on their forehead and wrist according to the commandments in Exodus 13 and Deuteronomy 6 and 11. When the slaves were branded it was called a stigma and denoted belonging one man possessing another.You belong to the one you worship. We carry the mark of God, the seal of baptism and the Holy Spirit.  

In the ancient world a mark was important. It depicted:

• Ownership: slaves and animals were branded. There was no dispute about ownership and no removal possible.
• Loyalty: soldiers willingly branded themselves with the name of a respected general.
• Security: a mark was stamped onto a person for safekeeping in time of death. We are marked in life and death.
• Dependence: the Arab chieftains used branding to mark the people they were responsible for and who were dependent on them. We are dependent on the love and grace of the Lamb.
• Safety: Syrians tattooed their god on their wrist or neck. The temple of Heracles possessed the right of asylum – any slave escaping into the temple received a sacred mark to secure him. None could touch him. In the Lamb we are safe and secure.

The mark of the believer is invisible and so is the mark of the beast.  They are parallels in the spiritual world.  Believers are protected by the name of Christ which is the mark of his Presence with them.  The mark implies image and that implies character.  Our “mark” is the character of Christ (thinking and actions) that we live by in a world that is marked by the contrasting characteristics of the beast.

Buy or sell refers to the economic measures against Christians.  The emperor’s seal had to be on business contracts and for that you had to have the certificate of emperor worship – the “stamp of approval” from the Emperor. The Emperor’s head is on the coins.  Everything in the economic and banking system is secular, worshipping the beast (Mammon).  It is for Christians to conduct their financial affairs in the framework of the Bible and God’s provision.  

The warning to be alert to this deception can be found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12:

Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God.

Just reading the Word of God secures us for the deceit and treachery of the world order and the agenda of the counterfeit trinity.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)

…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:3)

The Lamb’s Book of Lifeis a heavenly register of those belonging to God. According to 1 Peter 1:20 our names have been written there since the beginning, since the foundation of the earth. This fact should not be interpreted as predestination. It is merely the statement of God’s foreknowledge. 

God wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), but he knows who will choose rightly and who will reject him until the very end. He is above time and sees all of history and the future in a moment. As mentioned so often in Revelation, time is irrelevant for God.

Nothing that the Beast does or could ever plan, can pluck us from His hand.

The end of Chapter 13 is actually the victorious worship song in 15:2-4:

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name,standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. ³ They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
⁴ Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Here is the link to the podcast on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WOqk4XhBCKVGvPJoP1tvx?si=x-wRWO7VTISIS8h_hwz8Tg