Revelation 13:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we are told about the rise, appearance, and progress of the first beast. John seems to have stood on the seashore, though he was probably still in a vision. He thought of himself as being on the island of Patmos, but he could not tell whether he was in the body or out of it.

The beast came up out of the sea. Yet from its description, it seems more like a land monster. The more monstrous it was in every way, the better it served as a picture of the mystery of evil and tyranny. Its body was mostly like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s feet, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. It had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads was the name of blasphemy, the most terrible and ugly monster imaginable. Some of this description seems to point back to Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, which stood for the four kingdoms (Daniel 7:1-3). One beast was like a lion, another like a bear, and another like a leopard. This beast seems to combine the fierceness, strength, and speed of all three. The seven heads and ten horns appear to stand for its many powers, and the ten crowns for its subject rulers. The word blasphemy on its forehead shows its direct hatred of God’s glory, especially through idolatry.

Its authority came from the dragon. The dragon gave it his power, his throne, and great authority. In other words, the devil set it up and supported it in doing his work and advancing his cause. The devil gave it every help he could.

A deadly wound was given to one of its heads, yet the wound was healed (Revelation 13:3). Some think this wounded head means the end of pagan idolatry, and the healing of the wound means the rise of popish idolatry, which is the same evil in substance, only in a new form. It still serves the devil’s purpose just as fully as the old form did.

This infernal monster received great honor and worship. All the world wondered after the beast. They admired its power, skill, and success. They worshiped the dragon who gave power to the beast, and they worshiped the beast itself. They paid honor and loyalty to the devil and his servants, and they thought no power could stand against them. So great was the world’s darkness, corruption, and madness.

The beast used its power and skill in evil ways. It had a mouth that spoke great things and blasphemies. It blasphemed God, God’s name, God’s dwelling, and all who live in heaven. It also made war on the saints, overcame them, and gained a kind of worldwide rule. Its hatred was mainly aimed at the God of heaven and the people of heaven. It dishonored God by making images of the invisible God and worshiping them. It dishonored the tabernacle of God, that is, as some say, the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which God lives as in a tent. This is dishonored by the doctrine of transubstantiation, which does not allow Christ’s body to be a true body and puts it in the priest’s power to make a body for Christ. It also opposed those who dwell in heaven, the glorified saints, by putting them in the place of pagan demons and praying to them, which the saints themselves would rightly see as an insult. This is how the devil’s hatred shows itself against heaven and its blessed inhabitants. They are beyond his power. He can only blaspheme them. But the saints on earth are more exposed to his cruelty, and sometimes he is allowed to triumph over them and trample on them.

The devil’s power and success are limited, both in time and in the people he can fully control. His reign is limited in time, lasting forty-two months (Revelation 13:5), which fits the other prophetic signs of antichrist’s rule. He is also limited in the people he can completely rule over. It is only those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. Christ has a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, and sealed by his Spirit. Even if the devil and antichrist overcome their bodies and take their natural lives, they can never conquer their souls or turn them away from their Savior.

We are told to pay close attention to what is shown here about the church’s sufferings and troubles. We are also assured that when God has finished his work on Mount Zion, his refining work, he will turn against the enemies of his people. Those who kill with the sword will die by the sword themselves (Revelation 13:10), and those who lead God’s people into captivity will themselves be taken captive. This should train the saints in patience, as they look ahead to such great suffering, and in faith, as they look ahead to such a glorious deliverance.