Revelation 13:3-13

3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his 1fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth 2was amazed and followed after the beast;
4 they worshiped the 3dragon because he 4gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "5Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
5 There was given to him a mouth 6speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for 7forty-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, 8those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was also given to him to 9make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over 10every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
8 All who 11dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone 12whose name has not been written 13from the foundation of the world in the 14book of life of 15the Lamb who has been slain.
9 16If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 17If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; 18if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is 19the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then 20I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had 21two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a 22dragon.
12 He 23exercises all the authority of the first beast 24in his presence. And he makes 25the earth and those who dwell in it to 26worship the first beast, whose 27fatal wound was healed.
13 He 28performs great signs, so that he even makes 29fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

Revelation 13:3-13 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 29

  • 1. Revelation 13:12, 14
  • 2. Revelation 17:8
  • 3. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:2, 12
  • 4. Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:2, 12
  • 5. Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 46:5; Revelation 18:18
  • 6. Dan 7:8, 11, 20, 25; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
  • 7. Revelation 11:2
  • 8. Revelation 7:15; Revelation 12:12
  • 9. Daniel 7:21; Revelation 11:7
  • 10. Revelation 5:9
  • 11. Revelation 3:10; Revelation 13:12, 14
  • 12. Revelation 3:5
  • 13. Matthew 25:34; Revelation 17:8
  • 14. Psalms 69:28
  • 15. Revelation 5:6
  • 16. Revelation 2:7
  • 17. Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 43:11
  • 18. Genesis 9:6; Matthew 26:52; Revelation 11:18
  • 19. Hebrews 6:12; Revelation 14:12
  • 20. Revelation 13:1; Revelation 16:13
  • 21. Daniel 8:3
  • 22. Revelation 13:4
  • 23. Revelation 13:4
  • 24. Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20
  • 25. Revelation 13:8
  • 26. Revelation 13:15; Revelation 14:9, 11; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4
  • 27. Revelation 13:3
  • 28. Matthew 24:24; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:20
  • 29. 1 Kings 18:38; Luke 9:54; Revelation 11:5; Revelation 20:9

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Lit "slaughtered to death"
  • [b]. Lit "great things"
  • [c]. Or "tabernacle"
  • [d]. Or "holy ones"
  • [e]. Or "written in the book...slain from the foundation of the world"
  • [f]. Or leads "into captivity"
  • [g]. Or "steadfastness"
  • [h]. Or "holy ones"
  • [i]. Or "by his authority"
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