At the beginning of
Revelation 13 we see the dragon standing on the shore of the sea. He has been
pursuing the offspring of the woman from Revelation 12. The emergence of the
beast from the sea is not a diversion from this story, but a continuation. The beast
is a spiritual embodiment, a culmination of all of satan’s evil which opposes
what God has birthed on the earth. This beast is further described in Daniel 7
and Revelation 17.
In Revelation 17 we read that the sea is “peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” (Rev 17:15). There can be no evil embodiment on earth except it affect and find its entitlement in people. From the beginning of Mankind up until the end, evil grows on the earth because evil grows in men. But the opposite is true as well: Good spreads across the earth because good grows in the sons of God. In this chapter of Revelation the Lord is showing a depiction of the evil that has grown because of all the people who have followed wrong thinking and wrong practices. In the second half we see an embodiment of the physical manifestation who will carry satan’s intentions towards his ultimate purpose. Satan’s goal is to end God’s representation on this earth.
The first beast has seven heads and ten horns like the dragon, however, he has ten crowns instead of seven crowns. This indicates that there is a full measure of authority. From Revelation 17 we know that the ten horns are ten kings “who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” (Rev 17:12). Horns are indications of speaking forth, therefore these kings will voice their beliefs during this time period. The horns also represent the strength of the kings.
The interpretation of the seven heads also comes from Revelation 17. They are seven kings (Rev 17:10). The Lord is giving us a picture of evil spiritual kingdoms rising, over time. Just as Christians can chart the progress of God’s work from one generation to the next, so satan’s spiritual kingdom also has progressed. Interestingly, the prophet Daniel saw this spiritual beast in his time.
The vision given to Daniel (Dan 7) was actually four beasts whose physical image and natures are incorporated into the first beast in Revelation 13. This beast is a false counterpart to God’s four living creatures described in Revelation 4 and Ezekiel 1. It is interesting that God gave Ezekiel and Daniel, who were close to being contemporaries in physical time, spiritual pictures that are both incorporated into Revelation. The first beast that Daniel saw was like a lion, which had the wings of an eagle. It had the wings torn off, stood on its feet like a man, and had the heart of a man. This represents one who will devour with his words. The eagle’s wings represent the Spirit of Wisdom, which is torn from this spirit, for his words do not give spiritual wisdom, but carnal wisdom from the heart of men. This is satan’s counterpart to the eagle (one face of the four living creatures) who imparts God’s spiritual wisdom to man.
The second beast Daniel saw looked like a bear on its side, having three ribs in its mouth. It was told to eat until it was full. Ribs represent Adam’s rib from where the Lord formed the woman Eve. The union/relationship between God and men is physically represented by marriage (Eph 5:25-27), and this spirit is devouring intimacy/marriage. In a broad sense, the number three represents conformity, showing that it will become common and acceptable for men and women to divorce, or to not marry at all. This is satan’s counterpart to the oxen representation of God’s spiritual creature who imparts God’s spirit of sacrifice to man. The bear devours for itself and represents the spirit of greed and self-indulgence, the opposite of physical and spiritual intimacy.
The third beast Daniel saw looked like a leopard and he had four wings like a bird. He also had four heads and authority to rule as 4 is a symbol of ruling. Bird wings are inferior to eagle’s wings and do not carry one up to the upper heights, so as to see the “big picture”. This spirit is short-sighted, taking action in the moment, concerning itself with maintaining only the immediate authority. This is satan’s counterpart to the face of the lion (another face of the four living creature) who rules through God’s Spirit of Revelation. He has the inherent right to knowledge, whereas the leopard is “spotty” and does not have the ability to understand knowledge and wisdom, therefore, he cannot reach revelation.
The fourth beast from Daniel’s vision was a devourer with large iron teeth. It had ten horns. Another horn came up amongst the ten, uprooting three of them. This horn had the eyes and mouth like a man and spoke boastfully, waging war with the saints and defeating them. He subdues kings and speaks against God, seeking to change set times and laws. It is during the reign of this one that the saints will be oppressed for 3 ½ years. This is a rebellious spirit that opposes all that is from God. This spiritual form is the opposite of the face of the man on the four living creatures. That man confirms “yes and amen” to God’s truth, whereas this beast speaks against God as if in rebellion, just as satan rebelled. From the beginning this spirit of rebellion has been held back until He who restrains Him restrains him no more. The “man of lawlessness” will be revealed and will “oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thes 2:3-7). This is what satan tried to do in heaven, and is repeated again in the world through rebellion.
Like the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision, the beast in Revelation 13 has a mouth that speaks proud and blasphemous words. He, as a spiritual being, makes war against the saints 3 ½ years and has great authority. He is so influential that all those in the world whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will worship him. This will be the great division between saints and the unbelieving peoples of the world; between those who follow Jesus and are dressed in white, having their lamps trimmed with oil, and those who have been foolish, and soiled their garments with the world. Therefore, because of the harshness of these times, there is a call for the “patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (Rev 13:10).
We see in the first beast in Revelation 13 what satan has formed in Mankind
over time. It is spiritual and represents those demons which carry out satan’s
purposes. Just as the four living creatures are God’s help to the believers on
the earth, so the beast is satan’s influence over those whose minds are
darkened. They have not received the seal of God in their forehead and though
some of them may go to church, they do not listen to nor obey God. Though the
Lord has extended ministry from heaven to all who believe in Jesus, the
unbelieving reject His help, feeling a greater identity with their flesh and
this present world than Eternal Life and the Kingdom of God. To find out more about the Four Living Creatures in heaven please read the lesson from March on the Lion, Eagle Ox and Man.In Revelation 17 we read that the sea is “peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” (Rev 17:15). There can be no evil embodiment on earth except it affect and find its entitlement in people. From the beginning of Mankind up until the end, evil grows on the earth because evil grows in men. But the opposite is true as well: Good spreads across the earth because good grows in the sons of God. In this chapter of Revelation the Lord is showing a depiction of the evil that has grown because of all the people who have followed wrong thinking and wrong practices. In the second half we see an embodiment of the physical manifestation who will carry satan’s intentions towards his ultimate purpose. Satan’s goal is to end God’s representation on this earth.
The first beast has seven heads and ten horns like the dragon, however, he has ten crowns instead of seven crowns. This indicates that there is a full measure of authority. From Revelation 17 we know that the ten horns are ten kings “who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” (Rev 17:12). Horns are indications of speaking forth, therefore these kings will voice their beliefs during this time period. The horns also represent the strength of the kings.
The interpretation of the seven heads also comes from Revelation 17. They are seven kings (Rev 17:10). The Lord is giving us a picture of evil spiritual kingdoms rising, over time. Just as Christians can chart the progress of God’s work from one generation to the next, so satan’s spiritual kingdom also has progressed. Interestingly, the prophet Daniel saw this spiritual beast in his time.
The vision given to Daniel (Dan 7) was actually four beasts whose physical image and natures are incorporated into the first beast in Revelation 13. This beast is a false counterpart to God’s four living creatures described in Revelation 4 and Ezekiel 1. It is interesting that God gave Ezekiel and Daniel, who were close to being contemporaries in physical time, spiritual pictures that are both incorporated into Revelation. The first beast that Daniel saw was like a lion, which had the wings of an eagle. It had the wings torn off, stood on its feet like a man, and had the heart of a man. This represents one who will devour with his words. The eagle’s wings represent the Spirit of Wisdom, which is torn from this spirit, for his words do not give spiritual wisdom, but carnal wisdom from the heart of men. This is satan’s counterpart to the eagle (one face of the four living creatures) who imparts God’s spiritual wisdom to man.
The second beast Daniel saw looked like a bear on its side, having three ribs in its mouth. It was told to eat until it was full. Ribs represent Adam’s rib from where the Lord formed the woman Eve. The union/relationship between God and men is physically represented by marriage (Eph 5:25-27), and this spirit is devouring intimacy/marriage. In a broad sense, the number three represents conformity, showing that it will become common and acceptable for men and women to divorce, or to not marry at all. This is satan’s counterpart to the oxen representation of God’s spiritual creature who imparts God’s spirit of sacrifice to man. The bear devours for itself and represents the spirit of greed and self-indulgence, the opposite of physical and spiritual intimacy.
The third beast Daniel saw looked like a leopard and he had four wings like a bird. He also had four heads and authority to rule as 4 is a symbol of ruling. Bird wings are inferior to eagle’s wings and do not carry one up to the upper heights, so as to see the “big picture”. This spirit is short-sighted, taking action in the moment, concerning itself with maintaining only the immediate authority. This is satan’s counterpart to the face of the lion (another face of the four living creature) who rules through God’s Spirit of Revelation. He has the inherent right to knowledge, whereas the leopard is “spotty” and does not have the ability to understand knowledge and wisdom, therefore, he cannot reach revelation.
The fourth beast from Daniel’s vision was a devourer with large iron teeth. It had ten horns. Another horn came up amongst the ten, uprooting three of them. This horn had the eyes and mouth like a man and spoke boastfully, waging war with the saints and defeating them. He subdues kings and speaks against God, seeking to change set times and laws. It is during the reign of this one that the saints will be oppressed for 3 ½ years. This is a rebellious spirit that opposes all that is from God. This spiritual form is the opposite of the face of the man on the four living creatures. That man confirms “yes and amen” to God’s truth, whereas this beast speaks against God as if in rebellion, just as satan rebelled. From the beginning this spirit of rebellion has been held back until He who restrains Him restrains him no more. The “man of lawlessness” will be revealed and will “oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thes 2:3-7). This is what satan tried to do in heaven, and is repeated again in the world through rebellion.
Like the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision, the beast in Revelation 13 has a mouth that speaks proud and blasphemous words. He, as a spiritual being, makes war against the saints 3 ½ years and has great authority. He is so influential that all those in the world whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of Life will worship him. This will be the great division between saints and the unbelieving peoples of the world; between those who follow Jesus and are dressed in white, having their lamps trimmed with oil, and those who have been foolish, and soiled their garments with the world. Therefore, because of the harshness of these times, there is a call for the “patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (Rev 13:10).
Helen & Dave Kraemer
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