Revelation 13:1-8

The Beast from the Sea

1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a 1beast coming up out of the sea, having 2ten horns and 3seven heads, and on his horns were 4ten diadems, and on his heads were 5blasphemous names.
2 And the beast which I saw was 6like a leopard, and his feet were like those of 7a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of 8a lion. And the 9dragon gave him his power and his 10throne and great authority.
3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his 11fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth 12was amazed and followed after the beast;
4 they worshiped the 13dragon because he 14gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "15Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
5 There was given to him a mouth 16speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for 17forty-two * months was given to him.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, 18those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was also given to him to 19make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over 20every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
8 All who 21dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone 22whose name has not been written 23from the foundation of the world in the 24book of life of 25the Lamb who has been slain.

Revelation 13:1-8 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 25

  • 1. Daniel 7:3; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 13:14, 15; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 17:8
  • 2. Revelation 12:3
  • 3. Revelation 12:3
  • 4. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 17:12
  • 5. Daniel 7:8; Daniel 11:36; Revelation 17:3
  • 6. Daniel 7:6; Hosea 13:7
  • 7. Daniel 7:5
  • 8. Daniel 7:4
  • 9. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:4, 12
  • 10. Revelation 2:13; Revelation 16:10
  • 11. Revelation 13:12, 14
  • 12. Revelation 17:8
  • 13. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:2, 12
  • 14. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:2, 12
  • 15. Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 46:5; Revelation 18:18
  • 16. Dan 7:8, 11, 20, 25; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
  • 17. Revelation 11:2
  • 18. Revelation 7:15; Revelation 12:12
  • 19. Daniel 7:21; Revelation 11:7
  • 20. Revelation 5:9
  • 21. Revelation 3:10; Revelation 13:12, 14
  • 22. Revelation 3:5
  • 23. Matthew 25:34; Revelation 17:8
  • 24. Psalms 69:28
  • 25. Revelation 5:6

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Lit "sea"
  • [b]. Lit "slaughtered to death"
  • [c]. Lit "great things"
  • [d]. Or "tabernacle"
  • [e]. Or "holy ones"
  • [f]. Or "written in the book...slain from the foundation of the world"
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