Chapter Thirteen
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To notice two "beasts" Satan would use in making war against the
saints
2) To offer an explanation consistent with the context in which the
Revelation was written as to the identity of the two beasts
SUMMARY
This chapter reveals two agents the dragon (Satan) would use in
carrying out his war against the people of God.
The first is the beast from the sea. Described by John as having seven
heads and ten horns, there were ten crowns on his horns and on his
heads a blasphemous name. The beast was like a leopard, with feet like
a bear and a mouth like a lion. One of the heads of the beast
appeared mortally wounded, but was healed. To this beast the dragon
gave his power, his throne, and great authority, and all the world
marveled and worshiped the beast. Given a mouth speaking great things
and blasphemies against God, His name, His tabernacle, and those
dwelling in heaven, the beast was also granted to make war against the
saints for forty-two months. All on the earth worshiped him, except
those whose names were in the Lamb's Book of Life. With this
description of the beast and his activities, John gives a word of
caution to the saints (1-10).
John then saw the beast from the land, having two horns like a lamb and
speaking like a dragon. With the same authority as the first beast,
this second beast causes all to worship the first by deceiving them
with great signs. Telling them to make an image to the first beast, he
was given power to make the image speak and put to death those who
would not worship it. This second beast also causes all to receive a
mark on their right hands or on their forehead, without which they
cannot buy or sell. John then adds a word of wisdom, in which he tells
those with understanding to calculate the number of the beast, which is
the number of a man: 666 (11-18).
The identity of the first beast from the sea becomes clearer when we
get to chapter seventeen. I agree with those who say this beast from
the sea is the Roman Empire, especially as personified in its
persecuting emperors. The beast from the earth or land may represent
the Roman Concilia, a committee that was set up in Asia Minor where the
seven churches were located to enforce emperor worship at the time the
Revelation was given (Summers).
The significance of 666 should not be underestimated, as John
encourages those with understanding to calculate the number.
Unfortunately, through many ingenuous and fanciful ways people have
come up with the number to represent just about anyone (e.g., Nero, the
Pope, Hitler). Keeping the context of the Revelation and its time in
view, the number 666 may refer to "Lateinos" (which in Greek can be
calculated to 666); and in turn points to the ruler of the Latin or
Roman empire (Schaff, History Of The Christian Church, Vol. 1, p. 177).
Taken more symbolically, the number may simply signify evil raised to
its highest power (Hailey, Summers) as was the case in emperors like
Nero and Domitian.
OUTLINE
I. THE BEAST FROM THE SEA (1-10)
A. THE BEAST DESCRIBED (1-3a)
1. Seen by John as rising up out of the sea
2. Having seven heads, ten horns, with ten crowns on his horns,
and on his heads a blasphemous name
3. Like a leopard with feet like those of a bear and a mouth like
that of a lion
4. His power, throne, and great authority given him by the dragon
5. One of his heads was mortally wounded, but healed
B. THE ACTIVITY INVOLVING THE BEAST (3b-8)
1. All the world marveled and followed the beast
a. Worshipping the dragon who gave authority to the beast
b. Worshipping the beast because of his apparent invincibility
2. What the beast was given
a. A mouth speaking great things and blasphemies
b. Authority to continue (make war) for forty-two months
3. With this authority:
a. He blasphemed God, His name, His tabernacle, and those
dwelling in heaven
b. He was granted to make war with the saints and overcome
them
c. He was given authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation
d. All who dwell on earth would worship him, unless their
names are in the Book of Life of the Lamb
C. A NOTE OF CAUTION (9-10)
1. If anyone has an ear, let him hear
2. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who
kills with the sword must be killed with the sword
3. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints
II. THE BEAST FROM THE LAND (11-18)
A. THIS BEAST DESCRIBED (11)
1. Seen by John as coming up out of the earth
2. With two horns like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon
B. THE ACTIVITY OF THIS BEAST (12-17)
1. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his
presence
2. He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the
first beast
a. Performing great signs, making even fire come down from
heaven
b. Deceiving the world by the signs
3. He tells the world to make an image to the first beast
a. To which he is granted power to give breath
b. So the image could both speak and cause those who do not
worship it to be killed
4. He causes all to receive a mark on the right hand or on their
foreheads
a. Without which none can buy or sell
b. Which is the name of the beast, or the number of his name
C. A NOTE OF WISDOM (18)
1. Let those with understanding calculate the number of the beast
2. For it is the number of a man: His number is 666
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