Revelation 13:1
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
stood upon the sand of the sea may refer to John who stands with believers (Genesis 22:17) (Genesis 32:12) (Joshua 11:4).
beast rise up out of the sea we have learned that the sea represents hell (being under the wrath of God) and this vision corresponds to
Satan being loosed at the beginning of the tribulation (Revelation 20:3) (Revelation 20:7-8).
seven heads represents Satan's rule over unsaved mankind throughout history.
ten horns Satan's complete reign over all the nations during the tribulation period (Revelation 17:12)
upon his horns ten crowns the crowns upon his horns puts emphasis on Satan's rule during the tribulation period.
Revelation 13:2
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
leopard, bear, lion identifies with the kingdoms described in
(Daniel 7:1-7)
dragon Satan (Revelation 12:9)
power, seat, great authority God allows Satan to deceive the nations and sit in the congregations during the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
(Matthew 24:15-28)
Many have concluded that there will be a one world political leader during the tribulation, referred as the son of perdidtion or antichrist.
This antichrist is Satan himself who has influence over all the nations of the world. This is accurately interpreted by the fact that this
beast is made up of multiple Kingdoms as referred to by the leopard, bear, and lion, and also the ten kings who receive power one hour with the beast
(Revelation 17:12). There will still be individual nations, but are all under complete influence of Satan, and his fallen angels. Satan is not
omnipresent, so it is possible that he will enter into whomsoever he wishes in which God permits of the unsaved leaders of the world. Before
God set up the kingdom of Heaven upon earth, we had a similar situation as Rome governed over all the other kingdoms of the world. See also the
example of Satan's reign over the kingdoms over the world before the cross as he tempts our Lord (Matthew 4:8-9).
Please note that after the cross Satan still had power over the nations as we have seen many evil empires arise, but he had no claim over the elect
as Jesus came to deliver them from his hold on them (Matthew 12:29) (John 8:36). At the Lords return, once and for all, Satan will be completely
defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 11:15) (Revelation 20:10).
That is why we are not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2) (James 4:4). We are just passing through until all the elect are brought into
the kingdom, and then the end shall come (Matthew 24:14).
Revelation 13:3
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
head/wounded to death Jesus gave Satan his death blow at the cross (Genesis 3:15) (Hebrews 2:14). Satan was placed under the wrath of God, and his judgement is made certain. See also (Psalm 110:6)
deadly wound healed Satan's wound appears to be healed as he has one last reign of deception during the tribulation (Revelation 17:8).
Revelation 13:4
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
worshipped the dragon/beast any non-born again believer worships Satan whether he acknowledges it or not. Just a few examples in which the world worships Satan: Materialism, witchcraft, sexual immorality, all other religions, music, movies, television, and worse of all, Apostate Christiandom.
Revelation 13:5
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
mouth speaking great things speaks lies leaving men in their sins under false sense of security in this world and false sense of salvation (Revelation 9:19) (Revelation 12:15) (Revelation 16:13-14)
Revelation 13:6
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
blaspheme God, his name, and his tabernacle Satan's chief target is the Body of Christ. The true believers which are the saints.
Revelation 13:7
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
make war/overcome the saints Satan overcomes the saints by driving them away from the congregations and kills their witness
(Revelation 11:7) (John 16:2). This also corresponds with the trumpet judgements. See study notes on Revelation chapters 8 and 9.
See also (Daniel 7:20-28)
Revelation 13:8
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
worship him all will worship the beast, knowingly or unknowingly, except the remnant Christ had redeemed by His blood and sealed in the Holy Spirit (Revelation 13:4).
book of life/lamb all those who were predestined to salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-14).
slain from the foundation of the world God's plan of salvation was planned before the foundations
of the world (Isaiah 41:22) (Isaiah 46:10) (Isaiah 48:3) (Jeremiah 1:5) (Matthew 25:34) (Ephesians 1:4)
(Hebrews 4:3) (1 Peter 1:18-21) (Revelation 17:8)
Revelation 13:9
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
let him hear only believers can hear (Mark 4:11-12) (1 Corinthians 2:14) (John 5:25) (John 10:27) (John 14:17) (John 18:37)
Revelation 13:10
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
captivity/captivity, sword/sword when God has accomplished His work on Mount Zion, His refining work, then He will turn His hand against the enemies of His people (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12).
patience and the faith of the saints the tribulation is a time of great turmoil for true believers
upon the earth, as they watch the world go to hell, but they must be patient knowing God is in complete control
and will work out all things according to His will, and His justice shall prevail in the end (Revelation 14:8-12).
Everything that happens,
good or bad, even the use of the unsaved is for the believers sake
(2 Corinthians 4:15)
Revelation 13:11
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
another beast/out of the earth this beast is also Satan represented as Christ the Lamb of God. That is he looks
and acts like Christ
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan here masquerades himself as if he is Christ and takes over the rulership
of the churches and congregations during the Tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
See also (Isaiah 14:12-17).
two horns like a lamb he appears Christlike (Matthew 24:4)
(Matthew 24:21-28) (1 John 2:18)
(1 John 4:1-4) (2 John 1:7-11)
spake as a dragon the dragon is Satan who mingles the truth of God's word with lies (John 8:44).
This beast represents Satan, masquerading as Christ, and is extremely dangerous as it will be the most deceptive (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
(Matthew 7:21-23) (Matthew 24:24). Those who continue in the churches under Satan's reign are really under false teachings that
are so close to truth, that they are actually worshipping the beast, Satan
(Revelation 13:12). Satan, who is king of all his
fallen angels, who rule as ministers of righteousness in the congregations throughout the world, is also referred to as the
false prophet in (Revelation 16:13)
(Revelation 19:20) (Revelation 20:10). When the Bible uses the terms the dragon, beast,
and false prophet, it actually means the following:
dragon Satan himself, who rules the beast and false prophet
beast all the political world, under tyrannical rule
false prophet the corporate churches throughout all the world under blasphemous rule. These false prophets are under the influence of the devils that are loosed in Revelation Chapter 9. The Bible gives us an accurate interpretation in (Revelation 16:13-14).
Revelation 13:12
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
exerciseth all the power of the first beast they have the same power as they are under the same authority, which is Satan (Revelation 13:2) (Revelation 13:4) (Revelation 13:5) (Revelation 13:7) (Revelation 13:14) (Revelation 13:15). Also see (Revelation 17:12-13).
worship the first beast Satan's kingdom
deadly wound healed See study notes for Revelation 13:3
Revelation 13:13
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
great wonders (Matthew 24:24) (Mark 13:22) (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
fire comes down from heaven Satan is the great imitator. It appears in these last days, Satan has had great success imitating the day of
pentecost in what we see as the charismatic movement (Acts 2:1-4). Jesus warns that "a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign"
(Matthew 16:4). This modern movement has lost its faith bases
(Hebrews 11:1) (Hebrews 10:38) (Romans 1:17) (Galatians 3:11)
(Habakkuk 2:3-4), and is filled with signs and wonders such as prosperity gospels, phoney healings, the phenomenon of tongues, falling
backwards, being slain in the spirit, visions, dreams, new messages
from heaven, etc...
These all come from Satan as he tries to assure those in these churches that Christ is still ruling there. Isaiah prophesied of this movement,
particularly tongues and falling backward in (Isaiah 28:9-13) compare with (1 Corinthians 14:21-22) also note (Isaiah 1:21-24).
Revelation 13:14
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
deceiveth/by the means of those miracles see notes from
Revelation 13:13
sight of the beast in sight of Satan who dwells within the congregations/churches.
make an image unbelievers, the deceived, etc... are in the image of their father the devil (John 8:44). True believers come into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) (Colossians 3:10) (Romans 1:23)
wound by a sword and did live Satan, see notes from Revelation 13:3
Note: here it is said the wound was by a sword (Revelation 1:16) (Revelation 19:15).
Revelation 13:15
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
power to give life this verse speaks of tapping into the supernatural, the miracles, signs, wonders, etc...
see notes for Revelation 13:13
would not worship/be killed we covered previously that the true believers are spiritually protected (Matthew 10:28). Physically killing
is always a possible reality, but this also refers to the killing of the true witness (Revelation 9:4) (Revelation 11:7) See also study notes from
Revelation 8:6 after trumpets. Those who do not participate in these demonic activities in the churches will be cast out or leave on their
own when they see the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15)
(Mark 13:14). Note also: (John 16:2) when true believers leave the churches, the truth is dead.
Revelation 13:16
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
receive a mark Like a cattleman puts his ownership brand on his cattle so there is no question about who owns the cattle, so Satan spiritually has his mark or brand on those who worship him or his image. True believers receive the Mark of their Father (Revelation 14:1).
right hand The action of ones will, or the tool to carry out ones will.
foreheads i.e. the mind
Foreheads represent ones will. All who have not been saved have the mark of their father the devil (Revelation 21:8). see study notes for Revelation 9:4
Revelation 13:17
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
buy or sell spiritually this refers to giving and receiving the true Gospel (Isaiah 55:1-3) (Revelation 3:18). No one will be allowed to "buy or sell" unless they bring the false Gospels of Satan. No one can bring a gospel into the churches unless they have the mark of the beast. No one can preach or teach there unless they are unsaved. This will help us later to understand (Revelation 18:11), which has spiritual implications that will be explained later, but notice "souls of men" (Revelation 18:13). This may also fall under the prosperity Gospels, "Give your money and receive blessings" see (Mark 11:15-17) also (1 Peter 5:2) Purchasing gifts/salvation (Acts 8:18-23)
Revelation 13:18
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
number of the beast/a man the word "a man" is really the word "man". The indefinite article "a" is not part of the original text. Man could be rendered as "mankind".
six hundred three score and six the decimal equivalent to two thirds (Zechariah 13:8-9) See also study notes on Revelation 8:6, together
the word "man" and 666 is a picture of all the unsaved portion of humanity. This view is supported by the fact that the number of "man" is also
"the number of the beast". The focus is upon all the unbelievers who burden the earth with their false doctrines and false worship.
see also
Numbers in the Bible number 6
Bottom line, this number represents the cursed.
