NOTE: This Bible study on the end times comes from the perspective of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
Tonight, we are going to look at Revelation chapter thirteen. We left off with discussing the dragon, which we identified as Satan, who strives to make war on Israel’s offspring. Now, we are going to talk about two beasts – one from the sea, and one from the earth – and discuss their possible identities. We will also encounter a lot of other interesting symbolism; and, I want to encourage you to be filling out the provided handout, so you can keep track of this information. We will begin examining chapter thirteen by looking at “The Beast from the Sea.”
(Refer to Handout: “The Symbolism of Chapter 13)
The Beast from the Sea
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 13:1:
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.
• In our last study we learned that the dragon is Satan, so who do you think the beast is in verse 1?
On your provided handout, please fill in “The Antichrist.”
According to Harold Hunter, the phrase “rising up out of the sea,” is a biblical allusion to the Gentile nations, which means that the Antichrist will probably be a Gentile.
Tim LaHaye has a different opinion on this phrase. He says, “Whenever the Bible refers to the ‘sea,’ it means the Mediterranean Sea . . . The meaning, then, is that the Antichrist arises from among the people around the Mediterranean Sea.”
These two interpretations could be combined to say that the Antichrist will be a Gentile who is from the Mediterranean region of the world. This is confirmed by commentator John Walvoord, who states, “Probably both are true in that the beast is a Gentile and does come from the Mediterranean.” He adds that the reference to the sea portrays the Roman Empire.
The Seven Heads
• Keeping in mind that the Antichrist will possibly arise from the Mediterranean region, what do you think the seven heads represent in verse 1?
Revelation chapter seventeen can help us in our understanding. Revelation 17:9 says, “The seven heads are the seven mountains.” Edward Hindson states, “This is obviously intended to identify Rome, the city of seven hills.”
On your provided handout, please fill in “The City of Rome.”
In Revelation 17:3, we read, “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” Revelation 17:18 tells us, “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” The city ruling over the kings of the earth during the time of John’s writing of Revelation was Rome. To further substantiate this fact, Revelation 17:9, when read in its entirety, says, “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.” The woman, or Rome, sits on the seven hills.
What we have seen so far is that the Antichrist is going to have some kind of connection with the Roman Empire and the city of Rome.
The Ten Horns
• Now, what do the ten horns represent in verse 1?
Revelation 17:12 tells us, “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.”
On your provided handout, please fill in “The Ten Kings.”
The picture here recalls the description of the ten kings in Daniel 2:41, represented by the toes of a statue in one of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. The dream Daniel interpreted, in Daniel 2:31-45, was a prophecy about the “countries” that would rule over the middle east after Babylon. The prophecy then moves from the toes of the statue to the different sections of the body. These different sections represent large “empires” rather than small “countries.”
The massive statue’s golden head represented the Babylonian Empire. The chest and arms of silver would be the Medo-Persian Empire. The midsection of bronze would be the Grecian Empire. The iron legs would be the Roman Empire. In the dream, this final empire is struck by a supernatural stone which shatters the entire statue to powder (Daniel 2:31–35). The stone probably represents the Messiah (Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:8). Daniel says that after the final empire is struck, then “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).
Harold Hunter says that this final Roman Empire represents a confederacy, possibly one which is European, which will side with the beast; one that is comprised of ten rulers who give their power to the Antichrist during the Tribulation period.
I think we need to keep a close watch on Europe. For instance, Europe has one common currency called the Euro, which is paving the way for a stronger European confederacy called the European Union. The Web Page on the Euro says, “History was made on January 1, 1999 when eleven European Union countries irrevocably established the conversion rates between their respective national currencies and the Euro and created a monetary union with a single currency, giving birth to the Euro.” The Euro has been in development since March 25, 1957 in what was called “The Treaty of Rome.” The EU currently has more than ten countries involved; but ten major players might one day emerge from this union.
The Lion, the Bear, and the Leopard
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 13:2:
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.
• In verse two, we see a description of the Antichrist and he is described as being like a lion, a bear, and a leopard. In a broad sense, what do these three creatures represent?
They represent three empires. More specifically, they represent three modern empires that will comprise the Antichrist’s kingdom.
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Daniel 7:2-7: 2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ 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. 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.”
Harold Hunter and Tim LaHaye both tell us that these creatures are the four world empires that existed in Daniel’s time, which I have already named. As I name them again, please “DO NOT” write them in the blanks provided on your handout. If you wish to jot them down elsewhere, such as in the margin, then that is perfectly alright. The empires of Daniel’s time were the Babylonian Empire (the lion), the Medo-Persian Empire (the bear), the Grecian Empire (the leopard), and the Roman Empire (the nondescript beast).
In endtime prophecy these creatures represent totally different empires, which you should write in the blanks on your handout as I provide the answers.
We read in verse 4 that “the first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings.” This is apparently a description of the British Empire; and if you will recall, almost every British coat of arms depicts a lion on it. Verse 4 continues to say, “Its wings were plucked off,” and this is apparently a reference to the United States, which fought for its independence from England; and our country’s symbol is the eagle.
On your provided handout, for the lion, please fill in “The British Empire.”
Verse 5 says, “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear.” The bear is widely recognized as the universal symbol of Russia and her various satellite nations during the era of the Soviet Union. Time Magazine once ran a major story that depicted on its front cover Russia as a hungry bear (Baxter). The “three ribs in his mouth between his teeth” likely represent the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that were gobbled up by the Soviet Union in 1939. These three Baltic states are currently part of NATO, but they are under constant threat by Russia. The “devouring of much flesh” probably refers to the approximately 50 million people that were executed in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
On your provided handout, for the bear, please fill in “The Russian Empire.”
Verse 6 says, “and there was another, like a leopard.” This is likely Germany, for the German people seem to have a particular fondness for the leopard. Another word for leopard is “panther.” For example, in the country of India it is commonly called a panther. In the German television industry, a major vendor is Panther Electronics. In the military, two prominent naval vessels (a cruiser and a gunboat) were both named The Panther. Under Hitler’s Third Reich, the primary tanks were named Panthers. The armored division of the Nazi’s was called the Panzer division, sounding similar to panther.
On your provided handout, for the leopard, please fill in “The German Empire.”
Verse 7 speaks of “a fourth beast,” a nondescript beast, which still represents the Roman Empire. We see here the reference to the ten horns, as in Revelation 17:12. If you will recall, the ten horns are the ten rulers who give the Antichrist their power during the Tribulation period. Harold Hunter says that this ten-country confederation of nations will be under the leadership of the Antichrist from his headquarters which will be located in Rome.
On your provided handout, for the nondescript beast, please fill in “The Roman Empire.”
What we see here are the major world powers or empires that will be present in the final days. Now, let us continue looking at some further descriptions of the Antichrist, found in verses 3-10.
A Further Description
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 13:3-10:
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.
• In verses 3-4, we see that people will come to worship the Antichrist. Why?
He will perform the miracle of being fatally wounded, and then he will be healed. It is believed that the Antichrist will cause people to worship him by claiming to possess the power of Christ. He might even claim to be the Christ. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 24:23-24, “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 says, “The coming of the lawless one [the Antichrist] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish.”
Something else to note concerning this false miracle, seen in verse 3, is that it is also interpreted as the resurrection, or re-appearing, of the Roman Empire. Harold Hunter states, “Contrary to popular beliefs, the Roman Empire was not utterly and completely destroyed . . . [The Vatican in Rome] is a state unto itself and it is governed by the same systems as the old Roman Empire. I believe that from this small seed the world government at the end of this age will spring. And, the resurrection of this Roman Empire style of religious-political-economic leadership will amaze this godless world.”
In chapter 13, verses 5-8, we see how the Antichrist is given authority for forty-two months, or for the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation; and that he will also blaspheme God and make war with the saints. We actually see such a description mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 says, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
The Antichrist will claim to be God, and these verses in 2 Thessalonians are derived from a prophecy found in Daniel 9:27 which states, “He [the Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring and end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.”
A prophetic week in the Scripture is seven years. Genesis 29:27 says, “Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” If a prophetic week is seven years, then this is a reference to the seven-year Tribulation period; and we learn that in the middle of the week, or 3 ½ years, the Antichrist shall bring an end to the sacrifices to God.
In Daniel 9:27, we are also told about “one who makes desolate,” which is reference to the ancient Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes who was commonly referred to as the Abomination of Desolation. Antichus IV Epiphanes sacrificed a hog upon the altar and then erected an image of himself in the temple during the Maccabean era of the Inter-testamental Period. The Antichrist of the endtimes will apparently repeat similar atrocities.
The Beast from the Earth
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 13:11-18:
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
• We recently learned that “the beast from the sea” is the Antichrist, so who do you think “the beast from the earth” might be?
Edward Hindson tells us, “This creature is distinct from the beast of the sea in that he calls attention to the first beast and persuades the world to worship the Antichrist . . . The second beast looks like a lamb (a possible parody of The Lamb – Jesus Christ), but he talks like a dragon (the power and authority of Satan). He also exercises all the authority of the first beast. This second beast is called the false prophet. [We find these references in Revelation 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10]. Thus, he is pictured as a false religious leader, in contrast to the more political nature of the first beast.” It should be noted that some have attempted to identify the false prophet as the Pope.
On your provided handout, please fill in “The False Prophet.”
The Image of the Beast
• In verses 14-15, we see how the false prophet will make an image of the beast; or rather, an image of the Antichrist. What do you think this image might be?
Some commentators suggest that it might be some kind of televised image, or that it could be a sophisticated super computer. The bottom-line answer is that no one really knows.
Allow me to read an excerpt from the Christian website GotQuestion.org. It begins by asking, “What exactly is the nature of the image of the beast?” It answers, like this: “The Bible does not say. The old speculation was that the image of the beast is a statue given the appearance of life. With the rise of new technologies come new theories, including a hologram, an android, a cyborg, a human-animal hybrid, or a human clone. Whatever it is, the image of the beast is the focal point of worship in the ‘religion of the beast’ during the second half of the tribulation.” I would like to add that it might even have something to do with the rise of artificial intelligence, known as A.I.
On your provided handout, you can fill in “Super Computer,” “Artificial Intelligence,” or whatever you think is best.
The Mark of the Beast
• In verses 16-18, we read about how the false prophet will cause everyone to take a mark upon them. What is this mark commonly called?
It is called “The Mark of the Beast.” The Mark of the Beast is the mark of the Antichrist.
• In verse 16, where do we read that this mark is to be placed?
It is to be placed either on their right hand, or on their forehead.
• In verse 17, what is the penalty for those who do not have the mark?
They will be unable to buy or sell anything, which means that people will be unable to purchase provisions for their family without this mark.
• In verse 18, what number is contained within the Mark of the Beast?
The answer is 666, which is the number of a man (v. 18).
• In your opinion, what might the Mark of the Beast be?
There is much speculation over the Mark of the Beast. Let us look at one of the possible interpretations of the number 666. I want to read for you what Harold Hunter writes: “In Jewish studies can be found an area called gamatria, which is the designation of meaning to numbers . . . ‘Seven’ is the number of ‘God’s completion.’ ‘Six’ is the number of man because of his ‘creation on the sixth day’.” Adding to this interpretation, Edward Hindson says, “In other words, the Antichrist will be the ultimate man – a super man. Six, [which is] the number of man, falls short of seven, the number of divine perfection. Despite all of his greatest efforts, the Antichrist will fall short in the end.” Therefore, the number 666 portrays the symbol of mankind, and his being one step away from divinity, but falling short.
On your provided handout, you can fill in “The Mark of Imperfection,” or perhaps, “The Mark of Fallen Mankind.”
Going a step further, perhaps the Mark of the Beast is the RFID chip, which stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Wal-Mart uses RFID chips for inventory tracking. RFID chips are used to track pets if you have ever had your pet tagged. Many credit and debit cards now have an RFID chip inside them. Here is the real shocker: The company called “Applied Digital Solutions has designed an RFID tag, called the VeriChip, for people. Only 11 mm long, it is designed to go under the skin, where it can be read from four feet away.” So, one day, your credit card might be under the skin on your right hand.
Perhaps the Mark of the Beast has something to do with a world digital currency. Forbes.com reports that “The U.S. government is reportedly exploring the creation of a central bank digital currency, commonly referred to as a CBDC.” In this same article by Forbes, Paul Farella, says, “Through the eyes of a power-hungry state, CBDCs provide huge benefits around surveillance through the ability to track, monitor, and control all financial transactions on the CBDC’s network . . . This gives the government the ability to freeze or blacklist anyone using their system, and they could have complete insight into every transaction you make and know exactly how you spend your dollars and who you send them to” (Forbes.com: “Central Bank Digital Currency: What Is A CBDC?”). This ability to blacklist people is something that China is already doing with the use of their social credit system and digital currency.
On your provided handout, you may even wish to fill in “The RFID Chip” or “Central Bank Digital Currency.”
