The Beast From The Sea

John's Revelation makes it abundantly clear that the people of God will be opposed, persecuted and killed, but they will prevail and ultimately win the victory. And so now comes an agent of the dragon, the Beast!

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. - Rev 13:1-2

The prophet Daniel had received a vision of four great beasts coming up out of the sea, pointing to the four great empires that were to follow (best understood as the Assyrian, Median, Medo-Persian and Greek). The sea from which the beasts arise is a symbol of chaos and destruction (Isa. 27:1), but the LORD is in full control of that sea (Psa 89:9; Prov. 8:29; Jer. 5:22). He leads his people safely through it and destroys their enemies (Psa 66:6; 78:13). Nevertheless the enemies of God and his people continue to rise from the sea. The Revelation to John appears to be an update to that of Daniel. John's beast appears as a composite of Daniel's four. His first was like a lion with eagle's wings, the second like a bear, the third like a leopard and a fourth with iron teeth and ten horns (Dan. 7:3-8).  To the Johannine beast the dragon, the devil, gives his power, throne and great authority. John continues,

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"- Rev 13:3-4 ESV

Daniel's prophecy pointed to the Seleucid Empire that began with the collapse of Alexander the Great's. The Roman Empire replaced the Seleucid and in John's day became the great anti-Christ. The role of Daniel's fourth beast had been filled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who desecrated Jerusalem's temple in 167 B.C. by sacrificing a pig to Zeus/Baal upon its altar. Now John's beast from the sea represents Rome, the world power opposing the reign of Christ.

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. - Rev 13:5-6 ESV

Beginning with Julius Caesar, Roman emperors had been declared gods, the early ones after their deaths, but later emperors even during their lifetime. Emperor Domitian required that people address him as "our master and god."

The Holy Roman Emperor

The "mortal wound" that was healed refers to the Nero legend. The 32-year-old Nero committed suicide in A.D. 68. The earliest legend claimed that Nero did not really die, but fled to Rome's greatest enemy, Parthia. From there he would return with a large army to Rome to destroy it. Thus the mortal wound was "healed" and the beast continued to utter blasphemies against God, God's name and dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

The Lord Jesus had predicted that false christs and false prophets would arise and perform signs and wonders so as to lead men astray (Mark 13:21-22). He also predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, an event a generation prior to John's Revelation (Mark 13:14-20). But the opposition to Christ and his people continued as the beast was allowed to make war on the saints, throwing God's word in their faces. In mockery they cried, "Who is like the beast?" and "Who can fight against it?" These words are parodies of the words of the worshippers of the true God, "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?" (Exod 15:11; Deut 33:26; 1 Kings 8:23).

John points to the beast receiving a blasphemous mouth and authority from the dragon. That authority is world wide, "over every tribe and people and language and nation." However note carefully what John also says,

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: - Rev 13:7-9 ESV

Four times in vv. 5-7 John points out that the beast "was allowed" or "was given" (Greek - edothē). So John reminds his readers, "If anyone has an ear, let him hear." Not even the Antichrist can escape God's plan and time frame. His time and power are limited. He is given forty-two months (3 1/2 years - Rev 11:2; 12:6). After that he loses his authority. He continues only until his time is up. 

The same lessons apply in our day as beasts and anti-christs of various kind arise to persecute and kill the people of God. But we are comforted. They cannot, they will not prevail, but Christ's kingdom will. That is the great message proclaimed throughout John's Revelation.