The Characteristics of the Two Beasts of Revelation

Revelation 13

The First Beast (Rev 13:1-10):

• Rises out of the sea.

• Has ten horns.

• Has seven heads.

• Ten diadems upon its horns.

• A blasphemous name is upon its heads.

• The head of a leopard.

• The feet of a bear.

• The mouth of a lion.

• The dragon (Satan) gave it his power, throne and authority.

• One of its heads has a mortal wound that has healed.

• The whole earth follows it with wonder.

• Men worship the dragon and the beast.

• Utters haughty and blasphemous words.

• Is allowed to exercise authority for 42 months.

• Utters blasphemies against God, God’s name, God’s dwelling (heaven), and those who dwell in heaven.

• Allowed to make war on and conquer the saints.

• Authority given to it over all people; all those whose names not written in the book of life worship it.

The main characteristics to remember are:

(i) Satan gives him his own power and authority over all of the people for a limited time;

(ii) those who will lose their eternal salvation worship the beast and Satan; and

(iii) he blasphemes God and heaven and wars with and conquers the saints.

The Second Beast (Rev 13:11-18):

• Rises out of the earth.

• Has two horns like a lamb.

• Speaks like a dragon.

• Exercises all authority of the first beast.

• Makes all people worship the first beast.

• Works great signs, makes fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men.

• Deceives the people by these signs.

• Bids the people to make an image for the first beast and gives breath to the image so that it speaks.

• Causes those who do not worship the image of the first beast to be slain.

• Causes all to be marked on the right hand or the forehead so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark which is the name of the first beast or the number of its name.

• The first beast’s number is 666.

The main characteristics to remember are:

(i) he has features of a lamb, but speaks like Satan;

(ii) he exercises the same power and authority of the First Beast (belonging to Satan);

(iii) he deceives the people with great signs;

(iv) he tells the people to make an image of the First Beast, gives life to the image (breath, speech), and makes people worship the image; those who do not worship the First Beast, he causes to be slain; and

(v) he causes all to be marked on the right hand or the forehead with the number of the First Beast, 666, which is needed to buy or sell.

Future articles will discuss the symbolism of the two beasts, the dragon, Babylon and the plagues.

viator.world

Next see:

Symbolism of the First Beast of Revelation

Symbolism of the Second Beast of Revelation

Sources:

Attridge, Harold W. ed. The HarperCollins Study Bible, Including Apocryphal Deuterocanonical Books. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.

Harrelson, Walter J., ed. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.

Harrington, Daniel J., ed. Sacra Pagina: Revelation. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993.