Revelation 13:1-7

The First Beast

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, 1with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and 2blasphemous names on its heads.
2 And the beast that I saw was 3like a leopard; its feet were like 4a bear's, and its mouth was like 5a lion's mouth. And to it 6the dragon gave his power and 7his throne and great authority.
3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and 8the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 9"Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"
5 And the beast was given 10a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for 11forty-two months.
6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,[a] that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7 Also it was allowed 12to make war on the saints and to conquer them.[b] And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,

Revelation 13:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 13

This chapter contains a description of the Romish antichrist, under the figure of two beasts, the one representing him in his civil power, the other in his ecclesiastical power. The first beast is described by its origin, the sea, and by the monstrous shape its several parts; its heads seven, in which were the name of blasphemy; its horns ten, on which were crowns; its skin like a leopard, its feet as a bear, and its mouth as a lion; and by its state and condition, having power, a throne, and great authority; and having one of its heads wounded, and healed; and by the great regard had unto him, being wondered at, and worshipped by all the world, and declared to be more powerful than any, and none to be like them, Re 13:1-4. Next an account is given of what he was suffered to have, a blaspheming mouth, and power to continue forty two months, Re 13:5; and of what he said or uttered, his blasphemy against God, his name, tabernacle, and the inhabitants of heaven, Re 13:6; and of what he did by permission, made war with the saints, overcame them, and had power over all people, Re 13:7; and of the worship given him by the reprobate part of the world, Re 13:8; and the whole is concluded with an exhortation exciting attention to what had been said, with a threatening to the beast, and a word of comfort to the saints, Re 13:9,10. And then follows the description of the second beast, by its original the earth; by its likeness to a lamb, and a dragon; to the former for its two horns, and to the latter for its speech, Re 13:11; and by the actions ascribed to it, which are many; as exercising all the power of the first beast; causing all the inhabitants of the earth to worship that; doing miracles, of which one is mentioned, thereby deceiving the men of the world; ordering them to make an image to the wounded beast; giving life to it, so that it could speak; putting to death all that refused to worship it; obliging men of all ranks and degrees to have a mark in their right hands or foreheads, and forbidding such that had not to buy or sell, Re 13:12-17. And the chapter is concluded with an epiphonema, exciting men of understanding to search out, and count the number of the beast's name, since it is possible to be done, being the number of a man, and easy to be done, consisting of three Greek letters, c x v, which are numerically 666, Re 13:18.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Daniel 7:3; See Revelation 12:3
  • 2. Revelation 17:3
  • 3. Daniel 7:6
  • 4. Daniel 7:5
  • 5. Daniel 7:4
  • 6. ver. 4, 11; [Luke 4:6]
  • 7. Revelation 16:10
  • 8. [Revelation 17:8]
  • 9. [Revelation 18:18]
  • 10. Dan. 7:8, 11, 20; Daniel 11:36; [2 Thessalonians 2:4]
  • 11. Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:6
  • 12. Revelation 11:7; Revelation 12:17; Daniel 7:21

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or tabernacle
  • [b]. Some manuscripts omit this sentence
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.