After Nero’s death in AD 68, a tradition arose that he would return (perhaps from Parthia) and rule again, and John might have had that tradition in mind. Many understand this to refer to an individual, which is certainly possible. One of the heads of the beast had a mortal wound, from which it recovered (cf. This beast is not autonomous but derives its totalitarian rule from the dragon, and thus its governing authority is demonic (cf. John sees these beasts consummated in Daniel’s fourth beast, which is the beast he describes here (probably Rome cf. 7:5), and the third (probably Greece) was like a leopard (Dan. 7:4), the second (Medio-Persia) was like a bear (Dan. In Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, the first (Babylon) was like a lion with eagles’ wings (Dan. The beast coming out of the sea is like a leopard, with feet like a bear’s and a mouth like a lion’s. Read on your preferred digital device, including smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Take a 1-minute survey to join our mailing list and receive a free ebook in the format of your choosing. Get a free copy of the ebook ‘The Whole Armor of God’ by telling us a little bit about yourself! The beast is not confined to the Roman Empire it refers to Rome but applies also to every manifestation of evil in all governments throughout history, and also to the final conflict to come at the end. also 17:3), revealing again the divine pretensions of the beast. The seven heads bear blasphemous names, which are perhaps Roman claims to deity, such as “Lord,” “son of God,” and “Savior” (cf. The beast with its horns and diadems parodies the Christ (cf. 12:3), and he clearly has given his authority to the beast. The dragon had seven heads and ten horns (Rev. It has seven heads, also signifying its authority and power. 7:20, 24)-symbols of ruling authority-on its horns. The beast in Revelation has extraordinary power, for it has ten horns, with ten diadems (Rev. The beast described here is probably the fourth beast seen by Daniel (Dan. Instead, it is like a ravaging and ferocious beast, preying on its citizens. The kingdom rising out of the sea is not humane, civil, or supportive of its citizens. out of the sea.” The beasts in Daniel represent great empires, and a great empire - almost certainly Rome - is in John’s mind as well. The vision draws on Daniel 7:3, where Daniel sees “four great beasts. The sea was a place of chaos, danger, and evil for the Hebrews (cf. John sees a beast rising out of the sea, summoned by the dragon on the seashore (12:17). 18This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 13It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. Listen to the Passage Read the Passageġ1Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This article is part of the Tough Passages series.
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