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The Seven Personages: The Two Beasts
I. The Sea Beast - Revelation 13:1-10
A. Satan stands on the beach (between the sea and the earth)
1. From the sea is summoned a beast
2. The tumult of the nations is often called a sea - Ps. 65:7; Isa 17:12
3. The mass of wicked people are also seen as a troubled sea - Isa 57:20-21
4. Similar to Dan 7:2-3. In fact much of Revelation 13 is allusions to Daniel 7.
B. A beast rises from the sea having seven heads and ten horns
1. Notice that while this beast is not Satan, it is described just like Satan was in Rev. 12:3
2. Each horn wore a crown
a. Horns are a symbol of power
b. Particularly those vested in a ruler (the crown - diadem)
3. The seven heads carry blasphemous names
a. Heads are a symbol of intelligence
4. The beast is described again in Rev 17:3, and its meaning is given in Rev 17:9-13
a. Seven heads refers to the seven mountains which “Babylon” sits on (Seven hills of Rome)
b. Seven heads also refer to seven kings (we will discuss who they are later).
c. The ten horns refer to ten kings without a kingdom.
C. The beast was like a leopard, feet like a bear, mouth like a lion
1. The most dangerous part of each ferocious beast
2. Similar to Daniel’s vision - Dan 7:3-7
a. However, Daniel’s vision is four beasts and this is one beast with the qualities of the four, but notice how similar it is to the fourth beast.
b. Like Daniel’s four kingdoms (Dan 7:17), this beast also represents a kingdom.
c. The fourth beast had ten horns as this beast (Dan 7:7,19-20). The fourth beast in Daniel’s vision was the Roman Empire.
3. In this one beast is combined the tearing power of the Babylonians, the crushing force of the Medo-Persians, and the swift destruction of the Macedonians (Alexander the Great).
D. The beast received his power, his throne, and his authority from Satan (the dragon)
E. One head was cut off (a moral wound), but it was healed
1. Many interpretations are given, but they all are really just guesses.
2. Instead of lessening its power, it increased its popularity with the people
3. When the people worshiped the beast, they were actually worshiping Satan (Verse 4)
F. For 42 months (3 ½ years - a short indefinite period of time), the beast spoke blasphemies against God and the church
1. The beast persecuted Christians
a. As Daniel saw in Dan 7:19-25
2. The rest would worship the beast
3. There is some debate on the reading of verse 8.
a. “hath been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.”
b. Or, “written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
c. The former is generally used since it matches Rev 17:8 which does not include the phrase “of the Lamb”
d. Either reading is in harmony with the scriptures
(1) Jesus was selected for dying before the world - I Peter 1:20, Acts 2:23, John17:24
(2) Christians have been selected before the world, not individual, but as a group or a type of people - Eph 1:4-11
(3) Jesus did not die before the world, neither were individual Christians written down before the world, but the purpose was establish and the plan was laid.
G. However, God promises retribution on those who persecute his people (vs. 10)
1. Similar to Matt 26:52 - Those who take the sword, perish with the sword
2. Also remindful of Gal 6:7 - What you sow, you will reap
3. Those who persecute God’s people will suffer in turn.
a. There is no need for God’s people to strike back.
b. In fact, it would be dangerous to do so.
4. God people do not fight the civil powers - Rom 13:2, I Peter 2:13
a. Our war is on the spiritual plain - II Cor 10:3-5, Eph 6:10-18
H. Lessons for us
1. People admire evil.
2. Even when evil is given a mortal blow, it continues on, and oddly people become more enthralled with it.
a. The fact that it is able to continue, though wounded, makes people believe it has power.
II. The Land Beast - Revelation 13:11-18
A. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like the dragon (Satan)
1. The lamb is usually associated with Jesus, but this is only an imitation.
2. The horns of a lamb indicate using the authority of Jesus, but it is not really the authority of the Christ.
B. A number is associated with the Beast (666)
1. Some text has 616, but they are discounted by scholars
2. This number has been associated with the name of numerous people.
a. The problem is that there are nearly an infinite ways to make the letters of a person’s name add up to 666, especially if you are allowed to determine the substitution scale for the letters to numbers.
b. The Greek does not have an article before “man,” so John is probably not referring to a particular individual but to say it is of human origin.
3. 6 is one less than 7 (perfect)
a. It is close, but not actual
b. Three is associated with the Godhead, but this is an imperfect copy.
C. Later this beast is labeled “the false prophet” - Rev 16:13, 19:20, 20:10
D. This beast derives its authority from the first beast
E. This beast performs false signs supporting the first beast.
1. Idol worship of the first beast is encouraged
2. Those who refuse are persecuted, even economically. Remember the third seal with the black horseman with the balance in Revelation 6:6?
F. The description adds up to a leader of a false religion
1. Satan and his servants disguise themselves as righteous - II Cor 11:14-15
2. False prophets in sheep’s clothing - Matt 7:15
3. Beguiling the world with enticing words - Col 2:4
4. Displaying false signs - II Thess 2:9
5. Jesus warned that such would come before the fall of Jerusalem - Matt 24:24
G. The mark of the beast is not a physical mark, but alludes to the old slavery practice of marking those who are own by others.
1. Similar to God marking His servants with His Word - Deut 6:6-8
2. In this case, the people have made themselves slaves of sin.
H. This particular incarnation of evil appears to match the emperor and empire worship of Rome
1. “The patriotic deification of the Roman State became, indeed, in the days of the republic. The word of the ‘Dea Roma’ may be found in Smyrna as early as B.C. 195. This reverence was strengthened by the popularity of the empire in the provinces as securing them better government than that of the republic. As early as B.C. 29, Pergamum had a temple to Rome and Augustus. This worship, directed to the ruler as the embodiment of the state, or rather to his ‘genius’ or indwelling spirit, spread rapidly. It soon had an elaborate priesthood under state patronage, divided and organized by provinces, and celebrating not only worship but annual games on a large scale. . . . But early Christian feeling regarded this worship of the Emperor as utterly irreconcilable with the allegiance to Christ. . . . Christian refusal to render the worship seemed treasonable, and was the great occasion of the martyrdoms.” [A History of the Christian Church, Williston Walker, page 9]
2. Later, he goes on to say, “The charges brought against the Christians were atheism and anarchy. Their rejection of the old gods seemed atheism; their refusal to join in emperor worship appeared treasonable. [page 49]
3. “The empire as the guaranty of peace and the source of all blessings of culture appeared to the people as divine power.” [The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. I, page 315]
I. It still applies today. All false religions are a danger to Christians.
1. Sometimes bad governments and false religions work separately. But it is exceedingly dangerous with they unite and work jointly.
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