What is the Beast Out of the Sea?
The Combined Beast
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. (Revelation 13: 1-2)
The beast described in Revelation 13 appears to be a combination of the 4 beasts described in Daniel 7. But it also resembles the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.
Based on Daniel’s 4 separate beasts, the 7 heads could be identified as follows: 1 lion, 1 bear, 4 leopard, and 1 terrifying beast with 10 horns. But notice that this combination beast of Revelation 13 describes the lion, bear, and leopard as simply body parts. It doesn’t actually describe the heads.
This beast more closely resembles the scarlet beast described in Revelation 17, which describes the 7 heads as kingdoms.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. (Revelation 17: 9-11)
Each head has a blasphemous name on it. These kings/kingdoms are given names that blaspheme Jehovah God. (See: What are the 4 Beasts of Daniel?)
Its mouth is like that of a lion. If the lion represents Great Britain, this is consistent with the use of the English language as the world’s language.
Its feet are like that of a bear. If the bear represents Russia, this would be consistent with the use of its military might (e.g. powerful claws, foot soldiers).
Its body resembled that of a leopard. If the leopard represents Germany / France / the European Union, this would be consistent with how the body of the beast is structured. The body of the European Union was designed primarily by Germany. This geographical area could also be called a revived Holy Roman empire (Germany claimed the first Holy Roman empire as its 1st Reich).
The terrifying 4th beast of Daniel 7 had 10 horns. According to Daniel 7, the 10 horns represented 10 kings within that kingdom. The 4th beast of Daniel 7 appears to be Islam (possibly a union of 10 Islamic kings).
This combined beast would be a divided kingdom like the feet and toes described in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: iron mixed with clay:
41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. (Daniel 2: 41-43)
This scripture also states that the dragon gave the beast his power, throne, and authority. This indicates that Satan (the dragon) will be the power behind the combined beast of Revelation 13.
A Fatal Wound was Healed
3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. (Revelation 13: 3)
One of the heads appeared to have a fatal wound but the fatal wound had been healed. This indicates that in the past, one of the kings/kingdoms had been completely destroyed but somehow it survived.
There is a possibility that it is referring to one of the leopard’s heads. After WW2, Germany was divided by the Berlin Wall but in 1989 the Berlin Wall was removed and healed a split Germany.
More than likely, it is a reference to one of the scarlet beast’s heads which described a past kingdom that would be revived.
This could be referring to Alexander the Great’s Grecian empire (a kingdom based in Europe). Or it could be referring to the Islamic Ottoman Empire which was completely defeated and dismantled after WW1 but it is currently being resurrected by fundamental Islamic groups bent on world domination. (See: Why is 9/11 Important to Islam?)
The New World Government
4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13: 4)
People worship the dragon (Satan) because he gave authority to the beast. People will worship the one that gave the beast its power. Because Satan is the great deceiver, people may not realize that they are worshiping Satan.
People worship the beast. They ask: Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it? This beast will be considered so powerful that no one would be able to conquer it. (See: What is the Mark of the Beast?)
The Antichrist
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13: 5-6)
The beast will have a spokesperson: the Antichrist. He will speak pridefully / boastfully. He will have power for 42 months (3-1/2 years). He will blaspheme Jehovah God, slander His name, slander His dwelling place, and slander those who live in heaven. (See: What is the Antichrist?)
The Great Tribulation
7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13: 7-8)
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. (Revelation 13: 9-10)
The Antichrist will have the power to wage war against God’s holy people (Jews & Christians) and to conquer them. This takes place during the Great Tribulation.
All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – everyone whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life. Those who don’t worship the beast will be severely persecuted (e.g. taken captive or killed/martyred). This calls for faithfulness and patient endurance on the part of God’s people. (See: What is the Great Tribulation?) (See: What is Faithfulness & Patient Endurance?)
Photo credits: The exceptional graphics/images of the beast that appears in this article are from “End of the Age Ministries”
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