The First Beast (13:1-10)

The dragon takes his stand on the seashore and coming out of the sea, John sees a beast. Remember John is still seeing a vision, these are not descriptions that are literally occurring on the earth. The beast is described as having ten horns, seven heads, and ten diadems. This description is very similar to that of the dragon in chapter 12. Remember the dragon had ten horns, seven heads, and seven diadems. The only difference in the description between the beast and the dragon is that they have a different number of diadems. Just as we saw with the dragon, the same symbols occur here. This beast, by having these number of heads, horns, and diadems, exerts great power and authority. The beast’s similar description to the dragon seems to indicate to us that this beast has the same characteristics of evil.

We also see that the beast was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon, who we know to be Satan from Revelation 12:9, has given the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. Satan has given the beast this authority and is the reason for the similar description of horns and heads. We see that one of this beast’s heads have been fatally wounded, but the fatal wound was healed. Verse 5 tells us that the beast spoke boastfully and spoke blasphemies.

Who is the beast?

The question that immediately comes up that we must answer is who is the beast? What does the beast represent? Most commentators and scholars in nearly every commentary you could pick up would tell you that the beast is the Antichrist. They say that this is the Antichrist that will come with great power and raise a rebellion against God in the end times, either during the tribulation or before the tribulation. They also go to the end of the chapter and say the Antichrist is the one who has the 666. But what do the scriptures teach?

1 John 2:18 says, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” John says that at that time in the first century was the last hour and many antichrists had already come. The Antichrist is not one individual, but a group of people. Who are they? Read 2 John 7, “Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” Those who went into the world teaching that Jesus did not come in the flesh were the Antichrist. The Antichrist is not an individual who would take over the world, but people then and even now who would deny that Jesus did not come in the flesh. Notice that John says “they do not confess,” showing that the Antichrist is not a particular individual, but people who deny the Lord. The scriptures never refer to the Antichrist as one powerful person, but as any person who rejects that Jesus came in the flesh. Revelation does not tell us that the beast is the Antichrist. Instead of assuming that the beast is the Antichrist, we must read the scriptures to know who is the beast. Revelation is made easier when we know our Old Testament prophets. Daniel 7 is the first time we read about this beast.

Daniel 7 tells us who the beast is

Daniel 7 gives us clarity as to what we are looking at in Revelation 13 and will identify the beast. In the first eight verses of Daniel 7 we read about four beasts. Daniel 2:31-45 has identified these four beasts as four world empires. Babylon is the first beast, Medo-Persia is the second beast, Greece is the third beast, and Rome is the fourth beast. Read the material on this site in Daniel 2 for a further explanation of these four beasts representing these four empires. Daniel 7:17 repeats that these beasts are “the four kingdoms that rise from the earth.”

In Daniel 7, the first beast is like a lion, the second beast like a bear, and the third beast like a leopard. These are the same animals in Revelation 13 that we see in this great and terrifying beast. The beast in Revelation 13 is the culmination of these three kingdoms. In Daniel 7:7, Daniel sees the fourth and terrifying beast. Notice that this fourth beast is described with ten horns, just like the beast in Revelation 13. Both the beast in Revelation and in Daniel speak boastfully (Daniel 7:8; Revelation 13:5).

Both beasts are given authority for time, times, and half a time or 42 months (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5). In Daniel 7:25 we see that they shall be given into his power for a time, times, and half a time. In Revelation 13:5 we see that the beast is given authority for 42 months, the same time frame as the time, times, and half a time. Please note again, if you have taken the numbers literally thus far, you must take this number literally as well. If you like a literal 42 months before, then you must take this one as well. But this is a symbolic reference to draw to the readers mind the words of Daniel. We know the saints were persecuted for more than 42 months. The Roman empire was empower for hundreds of years. The things that we read are symbols and not to be taken literally.

Both beasts are permitted to wage war against the saints (Daniel 7:20-21; Revelation 13:7). But there are more similarities. In Daniel 7:11-12 we see the horn speaks arrogantly but the body of the beast is destroyed. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion is taken away but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. Revelation 13:3 speaks the same way about the beast whose head is fatally wounded but yet continues to live and blaspheme and speak boastfully.

Therefore, there seems to be no doubt that this beast in Revelation 13 is the Roman Empire. The similarities between the beasts of Daniel’s vision and John’s vision are so strong that they must refer to the same thing. Thus we are reading about the great power of the Roman empire and its characteristics. The Roman Empire was given power by Satan and therefore is sent out to make war against the saints, as we see Satan doing in Revelation 12:17. The Roman Empire is Satan’s instrument for waging war against God’s people. The Roman empire would be an empire that would stand against God and speak against God, as certainly seen by the emperors’ attempts to deify themselves.

The Fatally Wounded Head (13:3)

Much speculation has arisen about trying to understand the meaning of the fatally wounded head that was healed. Many have tried to identify this head to a particular emperor. Some say that this is a reference to Nero because upon his death, there was chaos in the empire. There were three usurpers to the emperor’s throne until Vespasian dispatched of them and became emperor. Some say that this is a reference to Julius, who was killed by the Senate in an effort to prevent dictatorship. However, emperors arose from the empire after Julius’ death.

Either of these explanations are possible. But there may be a greater point than pointing out one man like Julius or Nero Caesar. Even though the Roman empire was taking fatal wounds, it would still live and exercise its great power. The Roman empire was an unstoppable force according to man. No one believed the empire could fall even with all of the attacks made against it in later years. Nothing would be able to stop the empire except God himself. We are seeing the images of the unbelievable power of the Roman empire politically and militarily.

The Second Beast (13:11-18)

Now we see another beast, but this beast comes out of the earth. The beast of the earth has two horns like a lamb, but he sounds like a dragon. We see that this beast is a deceiver because it looks like a lamb, but it is not. It speaks like the dragon. This beast also has the evil characteristics of Satan. The second beast is powerful for it exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf. The second beast compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast (13:12). This second beast also performs great signs and deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs this beasts performs (13:13-14). Those who would not worship the image of the beast would be killed (13:15) and a mark was given to those who were of the beast so only they could buy and sell (13:16-17).

Who is the second beast?

We read about the great power of this second beast and its authority comes from the Roman empire, the first beast. The important question that we must ask is: who is this second beast? Let us again allow the scriptures tell us. Later in this book we are given further information about this second beast. Notice Revelation 16:13, “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” In Revelation 16:13 the dragon, the first beast, and the second beast are described. The dragon we know is Satan. The beast we know is the Roman empire.Tthe second beast is called the false prophet. Notice also Revelation 19:20, “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” The false prophet is described further and has the same characteristics of this second beast that we are reading about in Revelation 13. So we know that this second beast is also called the false prophet. Can we determine more?

2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 gives us more information. Verse 9 says the lawless one is based upon Satan’s workings, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. This sounds like the power of the false prophet who performs great signs and deceives the people (Revelation 13:13-14). What we are reading about is the great religious paganism that was occurring throughout the empire. Emperor worship and idol worship was enforced in the empire. The first beast described for us the political and military power of Rome. The second beast is the religious power Rome had to compel those on the earth to worship Caesar and the pagan gods or die.

This worship would be enforced by the pagan priesthood as well as the localities and provinces throughout the empire. Remember the Roman empire gave power to governors and prefects to rule over certain provinces. Recall that Pilate was given power on behalf of the Roman empire to settle disputes and rule to the Judean region. Pilate had the power to put to death or release Jesus. But these governors were accountable to Caesar. The second beast are the localities within the empire that would enforce and kill those who did not worship the emperor.

Consequences for not worshipping

Revelation 13:15-17 describes the consequences against those who would keep their faith in God and not bow to the image of the beast: they would not be able to buy and sell and many would be killed. We must understand the set up of the Roman empire. If a person wanted to go the market and buy food, the person first would have to bow to the pagan image before making purchases. If a person needed to banking, the person would have to offer worship to the Roman god before making transactions. Of course, the Christian would not do this. If a person would not worship the emperor as god, that person would be killed. Therefore, we see the persecuting arm of the Roman empire that occurred under many of the emperors like Nero, Domitian, and Diocletian.

The saints of God would be refused food for not having the mark of the beast. Many have speculated whether there was a literal mark that occurred in those days or not. But this marking seems to be similar to the marking of the saints that we read about in Revelation 7 and will see in Revelation 14. The saints were marked and sealed by God in Revelation 7 to be protected from the Roman empire against Jerusalem. This was not a literal marking on their heads, but a symbol that they were owned and protected by God. In the same way, the people on the earth who would bow to the image of the beast and participate in the emperor worship were owned and protected by Rome. Therefore they are the beast’s and not the Lord’s.

666 (13:18)

In verse 18 we read about the number of the beast, which is the number of man, which is 666. Many speculations have occurred to identify the meaning of this number. Some say when you convert the numbers to letters you get Nero Caesar. But the problem is that this requires a conversion to Hebrew to spell this out. This conversion to Hebrew also requires adding a letter and misspelling Caesar. Any answer that requires the misspelling of a name and conversion to another language is not a reasonable explanation. Greek was the language of the day and the language of the common man. Many others have tried to make this spell various name. Some say it is Martin Luther, John Calvin, the Roman Catholic church, Hitler, Napolean, Saddam, and many others. You can convert these numbers into about anything you want. None of these answers fit with the context.

The translation of this passage makes us believe that we are looking for a particular individual. Most versions say, “it is the number of a man.” But the definite article “the” is not in the original. So a correct translation would be “it is man’s number.” And this is exactly how the NIV translates this verse. So we have no reason to be trying to identify a particular individual. Further, the text does not say that the number translates into the name of a man. It says that it is a man’s number. Reread verse 17 so that we do not lose the context of what we are talking about. No one can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast’s name or the number of his name. The beast is the Roman empire and the worship of the emperor. We are talking about the emperors of Rome who demanded worshipping them as God.

The point seems to be that these emperors who claim to be so great are only men and thus have the man’s number. They are not marked by God and are not numbered by God. So why the number 666? Remember that 7 is the number of perfection. We have seen seven churches, seven trumpets, seven seals, seven thunders, and we will see seven bowls. The number six is a number that is a reference to falling short. We need to put ourselves in the situation of those who lived during the power of the empire. What would you think as Christians were being killed for their belief in God? There would be great doubt as to what to do. The people would wonder if the emperors are deity and needed to bow and worship the pagan images. The rest of the world treated the emperors as gods and worshipped them. This vision reminds all the readers that the emperors are not gods and they are not to be worshipped as gods. The emperors fall short. Only God is the true and living God. This explanation fits with what John sees next in chapter 14.