CHAPTER 13

Revelation 13:1

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and upon each head a blasphemous (sacrilegious) name.

Much of what we read in the Book of Revelation is also presented to us in the Book of Daniel. Daniel was given a preview of the history of the world dating from his time to the very end of the world. What John saw was different only in perspective; he saw a view that was a panoramic historical world view of the system brought on by the Beast that began with the Egyptian Empire all the way through too the last days, when the ten-horned kingdom spoken of in Daniel appears on the world scene. This ten-horned kingdom we believe today is the EU (European Union) or the ECM (European Common Market). John's initial description of this beast is not in the vague sense of a living creature but of a wild and dangerous animal. This beast is like the dragon mentioned in Rev. 12:3 and is clearly identified as Satan in Rev. 12:9. It comes up out of the sea which sometimes represents evil and chaos to the Jewish people, a place of terror and danger.

Isaiah 57:20

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Ignorance of history creates blindness and blocks the ability of God's people to look into the prophetic future. From the beginning Satan's executive power has been behind the political/economic and religious empires of the world, beginning with Babylon and will end with a Global World Government, or as it is being now called, a New World Order.

The 7 heads spoken of here have been looked at by some as being 7 literal mountains or hills (7 hills of Rome) upon which the Harlot sat (Rev. 17:3). But as we continue on in the Scriptures we see it pointed out that the supposed 7 Mountains are in reality 7 Kings or 7 great ruling powers or empires spoken of in Rev. 17: 7-13. If we follow through with this premise we will see that in Scripture a mountain is one of the common images, used to represent a kingdom, a regal dominion or empire. So the 7 heads spoken of here represent 7 successive kingdoms or 7 world Gentile powers that have existed during the history of the world.

Psalm 30:7

O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain (kingdom) stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

Jeremiah 51:25

I am against you, O destroying mountain (Babylon), you who destroy the whole earth, declares the LORD.

Daniel 2:35

But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain (Kingdom of God) and filled the whole earth.

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The ten horns mentioned here represent might and power and they are seen as being on one of the heads and each head proclaims blasphemy against God. These horns are also mentioned in the Book of Daniel in Chapter 7: 19, 20,24. The last phase of the Beast System will climax when 10 Kings or Kingdoms will arise and give their allegiance to an elite man the Bible calls the Antichrist. This man will be the supreme ruler of a Global World Empire. The ten horns represent the ten nations or kingdoms which will be the last great empires of the gentile rulers and will be seen in a ten member confederacy that will combine the same territory formerly controlled by the old Roman Empire during the time of Christ. We need to remember for future reference that a horn used in Scripture represents a king or kingdom.

To clarify this if possible by reviewing what we have read up to this point. The Beast rising out of the sea is the same as the dragon in Chapter 12:3 and is clearly identified in Chapter 12:9 as Satan. Each of the seven heads represents an Imperial Empire not a nation, for they ruled the known world at the time of their existence. The ten horns represent ten nations and these horns plus the Little Horn of Daniel 8 make up or comprise the entire Beast 'That was and is not and is about to come' spoken of in Rev. 17:7-13.

Revelation 13:2

The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority

Here John describes what this Beast looked like to him and his description is similar to what we read in Daniel 7:1-12. Daniel describes the Gentile World Governments as though they were wild animals, human governments that extended from his time until Jesus returns to rule the world. He saw the Babylonian Empire as a roaring lion - the Medo-Persian Empire as a powerful bear - the Greek Empire as a leopard with two wings. There was a fourth animal, the last Empire that he saw and this animal was a dreadful, indescribable beast which shares the most terrifying characteristics of the previous beasts and it represents the final revived Roman World Empire which will be under the rule of the satanically empowered dictator, the Antichrist. John saw all of this in his vision some 600 years after Daniel.

Revelation 13:3

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

This is where so many have been stymied, if the heads are world empires than which one is John talking about here. Who were the seven empires represented by the seven heads and which one was mortally wounded and then revived so to speak? Most of this comes out in later verses in this chapter but we must understand that John is talking about empires, world systems, not men. It is this revived head or empire that will cause the world to follow the Antichrist. The world empires that are represented by the heads are as follows and the first five have already fallen and they are in ascending order through world history:

1. Egypt

2. Assyria

3. Babylon

4. Medo-Persia

5. Greece

6. Rome

Revelation 17:10-11

10 And they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one still exists [and is reigning]; the other [the seventh] has not yet appeared, and when he does arrive, he must stay [but] a brief time.

11 And as for the beast that [once] was, but now is no more, he [himself] is an eighth ruler (king, head), but he is of the seven and belongs to them, and he goes to perdition.

The seventh head we will talk about later for it is out of this head that the eighth spoken of here will arise, it is a revived world imperial system that has recovered from a mortal wound. Some think John was talking about a man being healed but the Scripture speaks of an imperial head being resurrected, not a human being.

Revelation 13:4

Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

John says that at this time men are worshipping the dragon which is Satan and the beast which he empowers. Men today are toying with Satanic worship but on this day it will be drastically different for they will bow down to this beast not realizing they are bowing down to Satan. They will not be turned off by the ugliness of a demon for Satan himself can transform himself into an angel of light and his followers likewise.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15

14 And no wonder! For Satan, he transforms himself into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Let me try once again to clarify what we have been discussing concerning the various beast spoken of.

1. There is a beast that is know as the 'lawless one' that is the Antichrist who is empowered by the dragon (Satan).

2. Then there is the first of two beasts, the one with the ten horns which is the One World Government and it is under the complete control of the Antichrist.

3. The second of the two beasts which appears as a lamb with two horns but speaks like a dragon (Rev. 13:11) is referred to as the 'False Prophet', this is not a man it is a system.

These three are distinctly different, but all are connected together to serve one purpose, to bring about a system, a One world Government and Dictator and to get the people of the world to bow down to this system and dictator and unknowingly worship it's creator Satan.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-9

8 And then the lawless one (Antichrist) shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of His coming;

9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displaying all kinds of power and signs and lying wonders,

Revelation 13:5-6

5 The beast (Antichrist) was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months (31/2years).

6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander His name and His dwelling place and those who live in heaven.

This beast was given the freedom to continue what he is doing for a period of 31/2 years without any interference from God. During this time he is emboldened to open his mouth and to blatantly blaspheme Almighty God and all those who dwell in Heaven and are out from under his control. He does this with proud, boastful and arrogant words. But God is still in control and his time is limited and he knows it.

Revelation 13:7-8

7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

Here we read that the beast was given authority to war against the saints and to kill them. Who are these saints? Who they are depends on your view of the timing of the 'Rapture'. If you believe the church was 'Raptured' before the Tribulation then these who are killed by the forces of Antichrist, are those who are saved during the Tribulation for refusing to bow down and worship the beast and accept his Mark (666). Every man, woman and child who refuses to worship the beast and his One World System will pay the ultimate price for not doing so with their lives. All others who's names are not in the "Lamb's Book of Life' will submit to the Antichrist and his Government and worship and serve him.

Revelation 13:9

He who has an ear, let him hear.

Once again the Holy Spirit is admonishing those who have ears to hear to open them and hear what is being said. That means both the physical and the spiritual ears.

Revelation 13:10

He who leads into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

What is being said here is that those who cause these things to happen will not escape the guilt of what they are doing. With whatever means they use to harm the saints the same will fall on them. If they lead some into captivity they to will end up in captivity and whatever means they use to kill someone they will be killed in the same manner. Patience and endurance will be the saint's only course of action when repressive government authorities exercise brutal power over them while under Satan's control. God is allowing the evil forces of Satan to exercise this control over the people and to inflict pain and death but their time of power has been limited by God long before they ever came into power. The forces of Antichrist and his system will not be beaten by man and his weapons, but by the God and the patient endurance and faith of the saints through this time will be their only recourse.

Revelation 13:11

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon

This second beast we are reading about is in essence the same type as the previous beast in that they are both 'wild beasts' and they both spoke like a dragon, but they are different in specifics. The first one comes out of the sea and the second one comes out of the earth and it is subordinate to the first beast. Its main function will be to get all the people on the earth to worship the first beast the Antichrist and accept the Mark of his system. This beast has a mild, 'lamb-like' appearance and has two horns on its head which are interpreted differently by various scholars. Some say it symbolizes authority in two realms, religious and political or it just may be a mark of a lamb, but Scripture interprets Scripture and it does not change and we cannot make it change to suit our theories or interpretations.

If horns, as have already been established represents kings or kingdoms, then the Beast with two horns represents two kings or kingdoms that have join together to form a system that the Bible calls the 'False Prophet'. It is interesting to note that in the 8th chapter of Daniel we read of two other animals with horns, a Ram with two horns that represented a two nation confederacy depicted as a two-horned beast, the Medio-Persia Empire and a one horned goat representing the nation of Greece. To interpret the False Prophet as a solitary man as many have done would not take into consideration the two horns in the light of Biblical precedent. It is clearly an alliance of two nations similar to the one in Daniel 8:20, forming a system of some kind. The second Beast or False Prophet, is false because it has the appearance of a lamb (Christ-like), but in reality it is demonically inspired by Satan and it speaks like a dragon. It could well represent two nations that in appearance are considered Christian. More on this subject will be discussed later in other chapters.

Daniel 8:20-22

20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.

21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.

22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from this nation but will not have the same power.

Revelation 13:12-13

12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and made the earth and all its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.

13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.

This portion of Scripture is important in that it does away with the idea that the False Prophet is a solitary man. What we need to take notice of is the statement, "he exercises all the authority of the first Beast" what is the extent of that authority? This 'lamb with two horns' has all the authority that Satan has empowered the first Beast (the Antichrist) with, the one with seven heads and ten horns which was a symbolic representation of all the empires that controlled the world, from the Egyptians up to the present time. The power that this represents is awesome and this second Beast who we are calling the False Prophet wields the same power as the Antichrist and his One World Government. The power and the authority of the False Prophet extends far beyond the religious dimension and he moves with ALL the authority of the First Beast and has the power to perform miracles and even call down fire from Heaven as the prophet Elijah had done (1KIngs 18:38). It would involve the control of the economic, political, military, educational, legal and religious areas of the nations of the world. This is more power than any one religious man could ever hope to cope with or to handle.

Revelation 13:14-15

14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

This Beast or system, empowered by Satan, has the signs and wonders to back up what he is doing and through these signs, wonders and miracles he is able to deceive the people of the world, and to top it off he has them create an image, a statue of the first Beast and he is able to bring it to life and make all the people worship this image. He causes anyone who refuses to worship this image to be killed. When you think of Iraq, China and Germany for starters, and the way their people where made to worship their leaders and their willingness to do so it is not so strange to envision the people worshipping this image that has come to life.

Revelation 13:16-18

16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

We are reading here of the economic system that is going to be set up by the Antichrist and his World Government. He will abolish all the present economic systems of the world where cash is used as a medium of exchange - to buy and sell. The system he will set up is a cashless system that will operate electronically through the medium of the Beasts number, '666'. This mark will be given to every person on earth and everyone must have this mark on their hand or forehead to be able to participate in this new world wide economic system. The technology for such a system is already fully developed and is slowly being spoon fed to a dumbed down population. The EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) is already in use around the world and with incredible speed can complete a transaction between an individual and a business without any money ever changing hands. Such a system has been developed here in America and is patented and approved by the government, it is called 'The Digital Angel', how's that for irony. We in this country have been blindly accepting this phase-in without so much as a whimper and we are powerless to stop this from happening. This is a tool that the False Prophet may use to bring about the enslavement of the peoples of the world to the New World Order and of Satan's false Christ, the Antichrist.

This is the 'Digital Angel' a micro chip the size of a grain of rice, fits in a needle and is simply embedded under the skin. It will contain all the information about an individual that is presently known about them and will be controlled from a centralized location.The number of the Beast has been a subject much discussed and argued about for years. Many names have been brought forth and accepted as the Antichrist and most of those individuals are now dead. The world will soon know who he is when he steps out on the world stage, and the world has never been so ready for him as it is now. His number may tell us who he is and it may not and I will not add to the list of those trying to figure out who he is and personally I really don't care who he is for I do not intend to be here to see him. Through imitation Satan will deceive the people with imitations that are similar to things we are familiar with and sometimes it is not easy to tell the difference. So we should not be obsessed with an interest in who the imitation Christ is going to be but instead be totally interested in who the genuine Christ is, God's Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ and don't be zeroed in on signs, be listening for sounds from Heaven, a Trumpet and a call to 'Come up here'.