THE THREE BEASTS
Revelation 13:1-10
James A. Gunn
Preached on September 9, 2007
Copyright © 2007 James A. Gunn
All rights reserved
Used by permission.
All By Grace
Sola Christus
Sola Scriptura Sola Gratia Sola Fida Soli Deo Gloria
Revelation 13:1-10
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 on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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 on his heads a blasphemous name.
There is some disagreement about who is meant in verse 1 by “I stood.” Some writers say it is the Dragon of Chapter 12 that saw the other beasts; but it is John’s vision and the rest of the chapter refers to what John saw.
In our Sunday morning Bible Study we have been studying the prophecies of Daniel. Comparing Daniel Chapter 7 with John’s vision you will find that the Apocalypse refers to the same beasts that Daniel saw rising out of the sea.
In Chapter 12 the Dragon persecutes the Church. In Chapter 13 the Dragon has two helpers. John, in Chapter 13, saw three beasts. The three beasts are named as the Dragon, the beast out of the sea, and the beast out of the earth.
The word “beast” is symbolic and has no correspondence to any known creature. The “dragon” in mythology always stands for destruction and wrath. The image of a
fire-breathing monster comes to mind.
In Scripture the Dragon is a symbol of Satan himself, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan….” Cf. 12:9.
There are two other beasts; the first to rise out of the sea and the second to rise out of the earth; and the order is significant. The Mighty One of Revelation 10:2, who is Christ, has His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the land. This vision of Christ in Chapter 10 shows His sovereignty over the entire universe as He controls times and seasons, governments and powers.
In His hand is the “Little Book” of the divine decrees of Almighty God which culminate in the destruction of Satan and the glorification of Christ and His Church.
The beast that rises out of the sea is given the power and the authority of the Dragon, which is Satan.
“Out of the sea” symbolizes the unrest of the nations of the world; usually wicked ones. The history of the nations of the world is characterized by turmoil and agitation and a never ending desire to have power over other nations
Isaiah 57:20-21
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
When it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 "There is no peace,"
Says my God, "for the wicked."
This beast is described as having seven heads and ten horns, with each horn bearing a crown.
In 12:3 the Dragon or Satan is similarly described as having seven heads and ten horns, except in his case the heads are crowned and not the horns. The difference is meant to show that the beast out of the sea is subordinate to the Dragon. The head is greater than the horn that comes out of the head.
The vision shows that Satan has a kingdom over which he reigns and the seven crowned heads indicate the complete extent of that kingdom throughout history.
Now it is not necessary to say, but I will remind you any way, Satan has only the power that God permits him to exercise. Always go to the Book of Job for the doctrine of Satan’s power.
Satan is like a dog on a chain. The dog can run about only as far as the chain will reach. When I was about 11 years old I rode my bicycle to “throw” newspapers. We called it throwing papers because that is how we delivered papers, we threw them at porches and sometimes roofs. Well, I used to cut across the corner of a yard to go from one dirt road to another. There was a big ole chow dog chained to a water hydrant and I knew exactly how far the chain would reach. So I made great sport out of riding as close to the dog as I could. It never dawned on me that the dog might be “loosed for a season.” Such is the folly of young boys.
Satan is limited by God but he is still an awful power to be dealt with by the saints of God.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
In Daniel 7 the four great monarchies of history are represented by four beasts which arise from the sea: A Lion represents Babylon [Iraq]; a Bear represents Medo-Persia [Iran]; a Leopard represents Alexander’s Greece [An empire not just the country]; and a fourth beast which is too awful to be described as being like any known animal represents the Roman Empire. The fourth beast, or the Roman Empire, in Daniel’s vision has ten horns.
Horns symbolize power of a person or nation. In Hebrew it is the word picture of an ox pushing with the point of his horn – power.
In the course of Daniel’s vision a “Little Horn” emerges and takes the place of three of the existing horns.
After the fall of Rome there has never been a political empire that so dominated the world. During the time of the Roman Empire [~ 1000 years], through its dreadful “iron teeth”, was established the peace, commerce, and ease of travel [All roads lead to Rome.] and a common language [Greek] that was providentially used by God to usher in the Kingdom of Christ.
All of history is clearly under the sovereign hand of God else how could the vision given to Daniel be fulfilled in so complete detail? The critics of the Bible say that Daniel must have been written after the rise and fall of these four world empires.
The scoffers must believe that else they are confronted with the only true God who is sovereign over the affairs of men and with whom they have to do.
(Cf. Romans 13:1-10)
Daniel sees the entire sweep of world history from Daniel’s time of captivity in Babylon to the never ending Kingdom of Christ which is established at the advent of Christ, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ as He comes to the Ancient of Days.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
A “kingdom” is not a geographical area. It is the reign of a person. The Kingdom of God is a people under submission to King Jesus. Cf. Ephesians 4:8
NKJV has 127 references to “kingdom” [55 kingdom of heaven; 32 kingdom of God]
Matt 19:23-24
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Please see that the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God are not two separate things. Jesus uses both to mean the same thing: “And again I say to you….”
Matt 3:1-3
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.'"
Matt 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matt 8:8-13
8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
Matt 10:7-8
7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Luke 4:42-44
42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;
43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."
44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
Luke 17:20-21
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
The Kingdom of God is not a geographical entity and it cannot be seen with the natural eye.
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see [cannot understand] the kingdom of God."
John 18:33-37
33 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
34 Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?"
35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?"
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
John sees the future from his time under Roman persecution until the Kingdom of God is established and until the end of this present age and into eternity.
Some of the writers of commentaries struggle with the fact that Daniel’s vision only four heads or empires while the beast out of the sea in John’s vision has seven heads. The answer is quite simple and is given in Daniel 7:6.
"After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
The Leopard in Daniel has four heads representing the four kingdoms into which Alexander’s Empire was divided at his untimely death. One of Daniel’s four empires divides into four other empires. And three and four make seven. Thus the seven heads of John’s vision correspond exactly with Daniel’s vision.
The “Little Horn” of Daniel 7 is the antichristian apostasy which was to arise near the end of the Fourth Beast or the Roman Empire.
Daniel 7:7-8
7 "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
The Antichrist of the spirit of antichrist?
We may not agree on the emergence of a single person who is the Antichrist who will arise during or close to the end of this present age. There may well be such a person but the same apostle John tells us in his Second Epistle that even in his own time, late in the first century, there were already many antichrists in the world.
History is stacked high with men who at one time or another have been called “the Antichrist”. Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler, Kissinger, the Pope, and nearly every man who seems somehow to fit the description have been called “the Antichrist”.
We shall have to wait and see if there will be a personal “Antichrist”, but my belief is that it is the “spirit of antichrist” that John warns us of and not an individual.
2 John 7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
1 John 2:18-23
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
To be fair, the Apostle Paul does seem to indicate a personal “man of Sin” who may be “the Antichrist,” although Paul does not specifically name him as such.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
As always, your eschatology interprets Scripture.
Some believe that Paul refers to a personal Antichrist and that it is the Holy Spirit that is meant by “He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”
May I offer to you another view that says that Paul means that it is the Roman Caesars who hinder the Church, that will be “taken out of the way” as the Roman Empire crumbles and the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ is spread throughout the world.
Keep in mind that in Scripture the word “horn” means power. As the power of the old Roman Empire begins to fall, the “little horn” of Daniel emerges out of the ten horns as a new “Roman Empire”. This new empire is modeled after the old empire and is false and blasphemous as it claims to be the only true Church.
“The Little Horn overthrows three of the ten horns. The Little Horn is the Papal Horn, which seized temporal power in the early days of the Popes by annexing three of the Italian kingdom-states, which event is commemorated to this day in the Pope’s triple-tiara which he wears a part of his official regalia. There is no other event in history other than the rise of the Papacy, which corresponds to the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation.
“Paul gives the Thessalonians a preview of that mystery of iniquity which presents itself as the Kingdom of God, but is in fact the kingdom of the evil one.
“This antichrist, the Little Horn has been with us a long time. He was already emerging when John writing some 30 years after Paul, declared:
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
(1 John 2:18)
“But the full development of the spirit of antichrist was delayed until the Romans Caesars were “taken out of the way”.
“Daniel’s prophecy does not allow for 2000 years going by between the end of the old Roman Empire and the emergence of the “little horn”. Antichrist is already here and he has been with us for over 1500 years!
Now we do not make the mistake of declaring that the Pope is “the” one and only antichrist. Anyone who presumes to take the place of Christ with the power to forgive sin and wields the threat of excommunication is antichrist.” CDA
Verses 1 and 2 describe the characteristics of the beast out of the sea. This is the beast that was given the power and great authority of the Dragon or Satan. The beast answers to Satan and his kingdom on earth, the kingdom of error and darkness by which Satan works to enslave mankind.
The beast has seven heads and ten horns, crowned with the name of blasphemy.
He has the body of the Grecian Leopard of Alexander’s empire, the feet of the Persian Bear, which Alexander destroyed, the mouth of the Chaldean Lion, Babylon, which was overcome by Persian power. This is the same sequence seen by Daniel in his vision of Daniel 7.
Thus Satan’s dominion of the earthly powers passes through the course of history and finds its ultimate form in a religious and political empire that challenges the Gospel of free grace; that takes the name of Christian but blasphemes the truth of God in Christ.
The ten horns of the beast represent the ever changing nations of the western world, always in a struggle for survival, and never to have the security of the power held by the Caesars of Rome. The fourth empire of Rome has never been succeeded by any one world power.
The beast out of the sea is there in John’s day as the Christians faced the blasphemy of Emperor Worship. In old Rome you were allowed to worship Jesus Christ as long as you would say, “Caesar is lord.” But if you said, “Jesus is Lord,” meaning that only Jesus is Lord, you would be killed. To bow to Caesar as lord was to surrender to Satan in bowing to a man as a god.
Postmodern pluralism is not new. In our day you are allowed to worship anything or nothing at all; but you must not say that Jesus Christ is the only way to God!
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
In verse 3 one of the heads of the beast out of the sea appears to have been mortally wounded but his deadly wound was healed. After 1000 years imperial Rome disappeared as though mortally wounded.
But as old Rome dies another Rome rises from the ashes, Phoenix-like, the same yet different. A religious empire modeled exactly upon the imperial political system, which went before it.
It even assumes the same title – Pontifex Maximus – worn by the Caesars, dwelling in the same temples, with the same apparatus of images, sacrifices, incense, priesthood, and religious orders, as the old empire.
In ancient Rome a “pontifex” was a member of the supreme college of priests. Pontifex Maximus was the head of the priests.
So all the world marvelled and worshipped the Dragon and worshipped the beast.
The word translated “worship” means “kiss toward.” When someone kisses a hand or a ring or an image they are worshipping that object no matter what they may think to the contrary.
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The “forty-two months” is the span of time known only to God. A length of time specific and limited by God, but not revealed to man. All of the attempts to equate 42 months, 3 ½ years, 1260 days [all the same] to actual days, months, or years have failed to be proven out. Yet, men will go on in their stubborn refusal to see symbolism and try to make these literal.
The “tabernacle” is the tent where God meets with man. In the OT there was a tabernacle in the wilderness; and in the NT God “tabernacled” with man as “the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us.” (John 1:14)
Now there has never been a world power that absolutely has the authority of verses 7 and 8. But it symbolizes the power of the beast that was “healed” in the form of a religious empire that has enslaved people in religious superstition all over the world.
The blasphemy is against God and His true heavenly kingdom which is the congregation of believers in the OT and the NT. Over against an earthly religious visible empire is the Kingdom of God, the saints whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The battle is between the “beasts’ and the saints of God. The Church of Rome is held in awe by the vast number of merely religious people. Long after John’s time we see “religion” portrayed in the movies and on television as a “priest”. The protestant preachers are mostly seen as fools, which in fact some are.
The Church of Rome makes its blasphemous claims of magic; that its priests can say certain words and turn simple bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Jesus Christ who died once according to the Scriptures, they claim, is crucified countless millions of times over the centuries every time the “mass” [Eucharist] is celebrated.
And except for the grace of God you too would be worshipping the beast.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
There will be various reactions to these apparently harsh words. It is not considered politically correct to criticize another religion. So you may be uncomfortable hearing about the blasphemous claims of the Church of Rome because you have family or friends who follow these superstitions. You may be saddened, as I am that so many people are taken in by this false religion.
Dear souls, if we are to guard against error we must hear the truth. The word “hear” means much more than aural perception. Back in 1:3 we are given the key to this Book.
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
In verse 10, John recalls the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Now the context of Jeremiah was the coming captivity of Judah. John applies this prophecy to the persecution of the Church and to the Church’s perseverance.
Jeremiah 15:1-2
1 Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.
2 And it shall be, if they say to you, 'Where should we go?' then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD:
"Such as are for death, to death;
And such as are for the sword, to the sword;
And such as are for the famine, to the famine;
And such as are for the captivity , to the captivity ."'
The saints of God are subject to persecution of every kind.
The saints of God are subject to every illness and calamity that may happen to the most ignorant and wicked of men.
But the saints of God, like Job, do not quit God.
As saints of God we have the twin virtues of perseverance and preservation.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Jude warned of the dangers from within the Church.
Jude 16-25
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
The Dragon gave power and authority to the beast out of the sea. One of his heads had a deadly wound that was healed. In verse 11, the second beast out of the earth is an extension of the first beast.
Keep in mind that this is symbolism and if you insist on a literal number of beasts you will miss the point that Satan uses the wickedness of men to wage war against the saints. In a sense, all three of the beasts are simply manifestations of evil, under the authority of Satan.
Keep your focus on the grace of God that put your name in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
How will you know that your name is written in that Book?
Do you know that Jesus is Lord? Do you repent of your sin? Do you need religious crutches to add to what Jesus did for sinners on the cross?
1 John 3:1-3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
May God have mercy on us all.
Amen
