The Bible Says
Revelation 13:1-6 Meaning

In Revelation 13:1-6, the Apostle John describes a harrowing vision of a beast who represents a ruler who will dominate the earth. This beast will worship the dragon (Satan) who gives authority to the beast: And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names (v. 1).

The dragon here is previously identified as Satan (Revelation 12:9). We will see in verse 4 that the dragon (Satan) will give his authority to this beast. The authority of Satan is as the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 16:11). His authority was overthrown when Jesus died for the sins of the world and raised from the dead (Matthew 28:18). However, it appears Satan has been like a “lame duck” ruler who is in the period between losing an election and the installation of the new ruler. His authority is scheduled to end, but his power remains for the moment.

We saw in Chapter 12 that Satan was thrown down to earth, losing whatever “lame duck” authority he had remaining in heaven. The earth was warned, “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time” (Revelation 12:12). It appears that now this “great wrath” of the dragon will be manifested through the agency of the beast coming up out of the sea.

Since we know the dragon gives the beast his authority, the image of the dragon standing on the sand of the seashore as the beast rises from the sea might picture the dragon calling the beast out of the sea, bidding him to rise to power and granting him his authority (Daniel 7:2-3). When Satan tempted Jesus, he claimed authority to make Jesus ruler over the earth, and Jesus did not dispute the claim (Matthew 4:8-9). It now appears that Satan has chosen this beast as the person he will install over the kingdoms of the earth.

The beast emerges out of the sea. This is a similar picture as the four beasts in Daniel 7 which also arise from a sea (Daniel 7:2-7). The sea in scripture often depicts the chaos of a fallen sea of humanity. Humankind is lost in sin. Sin is living apart from God’s design. God’s design brings all things into harmony. So, when all things are apart from God’s design, disharmony, chaos, and turmoil ensue, like the currents and waves of the sea.

We are told in Daniel 7:17 that “These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.” That these kings “arise from the earth” and arise from the chaotic sea indicate that their authority will come from the dragon’s realm, and their kingdoms will be tyrannies as he is a tyrant. Satan’s ethic of the strong exploiting the weak was the pagan ethic, opposite of God’s covenant cultural ethic for Israel to love our neighbors as ourselves. As would be expected, an ethic of strong exploiting weak spread violence throughout the earth.

The beast’s ten horns and seven heads (v. 1) and ten diadems or crowns emphasize both its earthly dominion and the extent of its power. This appears to mirror the historical might of Rome. The seven heads might be the same as the “seven heads” of Revelation 17:9 which are said to also be “seven mountains upon which the woman sits.” In that case the “woman” is Babylon the harlot.

The western Roman Empire centered on the city of Rome, which is said to have been built upon the “seven hills” of Rome. (Revelation 17:9). The Greek word translated “mountains” could also be translated “hills.”  The same word is used to describe the Mount of Olives, which would reasonably fit into the category of being a hill. Accordingly, the seven heads could represent the authority of Rome.

This is significant because, from the prophetic perspective, the earth will remain in the Roman era until the Kingdom of God is ushered in, as declared in Daniel 2:44. As described in Daniel 2:40-43, the kingdom of Rome is not defeated-it simply shatters into pieces. The western Roman Empire became the “Holy Roman Empire” of Europe until the late 1800s. It then splintered into the current countries of western Europe. Its strength projected around the globe, including into the United States.

The number seven represents completeness in scripture, as in seven days to complete creation. That there are seven heads might indicate that the beast has authority over all. It appears that this beast will unite the seven heads with ten horns. The horn in scripture often symbolizes power, which is likely what is depicted here.

The number ten is often used to represent “without end,” as in Genesis 31:7 where Jacob complains of his wages being changed “ten times,” and Numbers 14:22 where God tells Israel they tested Him “ten times.” It might be here that seven heads with ten horns represents the beast as being given absolute power and authority over the earth.

This interpretation is consistent with the actions the beast will undertake, which includes him being worshipped by all who are not written in the book of life. This beast stands in direct contrast to the authority of God, as on his heads were blasphemous names. The Greek word translated blasphemous can also be translated “slanderous.”

The implication here is that this beast will slander God and His Christ. He will insist on being worshipped and will persecute those who follow Jesus. This mirrors the prediction of Daniel 7:25, which says a king will arise out of the fourth kingdom and will “speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One.”

Here in Revelation, John sees only one creature, the beast, as compared to four distinct creatures as in Daniel 7. In Daniel 7, the four beasts are:

• A lion with wings of an eagle, representing the Babylonian Empire (Daniel 7:4)
• A ravenous bear, representing the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 7:5)
• A leopard with four wings and four heads, which represents Greece and the four kingdoms that splintered off from Alexander the Great (Daniel 7:6)
• A fourth beast with large iron teeth that trampled and crushed down.

The Revelation beast appears as one composite figure, suggesting a final conglomeration of the previous empires referenced in Daniel’s vision-Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome: And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority (v.2).

Again, we see that the dragon, who was thrown down to earth, appears to still have authority over the earth, which is described as his throne and great authority. The beast of Revelation appears to stand on the foundation of all previous empires.

• The Babylonian Empire had absolute rule (mouth of a lion),
• the Medo-Persian Empire had a massive bureaucracy that controlled a vast empire (feet were like those of a bear),
• Alexander the Great conquered the known world in blazing speed (like a leopard),
• And as we will see this beast will exercise immense power to trample and crush all that is in his path, like the fourth beast of Daniel 7.

This beast appears to amalgamate Daniel’s four beasts into one final monster.

The source of all this strength is the dragon (v. 2)-Satan himself-who grants authority from his throne. Since Satan was “thrown down” in the prior chapter, and a “woe” was pronounced to the earth, it seems Satan’s loss of heavenly power focuses his efforts on the earth (which is why it is a “woe” to the earth, Revelation 12:12).

We know to the extent Satan has power, it was because it was granted by God. But Jesus has been granted all authority, and Satan’s authority will be revoked (Matthew 28:18, John 12:31). But Satan’s earthly authority will not be removed before he wreaks much havoc upon the earth.

John observes a startling event where the beast appears to undergo a counterfeit resurrection: I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast (v.3).

The phrase one of his heads likely refers to one ruler out of a coalition of rulers. This ruler appears to have a fatal wound which was healed. As a result of this recovery this one ruler appears to be elevated above all others, and becomes the beast. It appears that Satan uses this episode as a means to elevate his selected person as the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.

This might be Satan executing a parody of Jesus Christ’s own victorious rising from the dead (Luke 24:6-7). This would fit Satan’s pattern of twisting what is true, contorting it into a lie. Whatever the situation, the result is that the beast now has the following of the whole earth. Satan has used his wiles to place this person in total authority over the entire world.

The phrase as if it had been slain (v. 3) reminds us of earlier references to the Lamb (Jesus) who was slain (Revelation 5:6). Here, the beast becomes an antichrist figure-an echo of the real Christ, but with the purpose of deceiving the world. This apparent “death and resurrection” triggers awe and allegiance among the whole world. The phrase as if in the phrase as if it had been slain might indicate that the event was a successful hoax or counterfeit miracle intended to deceive and elevate this person to become the beast.

This beast is sometimes referred to as “the antichrist” even though that name is not used in Daniel or Revelation. But it is a reasonable term because of another writing from the Apostle John. In 1 John 1:2:18, John says “…just as you heard that antichrist is coming” and in 1 John 2:22 he says, “This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.” It is clear in this passage in Revelation that the beast is intended as the negative image of Jesus. He stands in complete opposition to the Lamb.

In a great irony, the Lamb will defeat the vicious, trampling beast. The Servant will crush the head of the tyrant. This beast will be the ultimate fulfillment, the archetype of the antichrist, but John also says, “even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.” Since John wrote that “it is the last hour” in the first century, we can take from this that we have been living in the last days for over two thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).

We can also take that there have been and will continue to be those (antichrists) who deny and oppose Jesus. These opponents will be like the birth pangs leading up to the ultimate delivery. The beast will be a sort of crescendo compilation of opposition to Jesus.

The Greek word “thaumazo” translated was amazed in the phrase the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast is also used to describe a reaction of the crowds to miracles performed by Jesus:

“After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed [‘thaumazo’], and were saying, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’”
(Matthew 9:33).

The crowd that is the whole earth is amazed and decides to follow the beast.

The people of the earth are so amazed that they decide to submit to the authority of the beast, as the next verse says: They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’(v. 4).

The phrase who is able to wage war with him might infer that the resurrection of the beast could have a military component. Perhaps the beast, who is one of the heads, looks defeated then exerts some sort of power no one knew he had that causes people to fear him. To worship is to acknowledge and submit to authority.

We can see this in Matthew 8:2, where a synagogue official came to Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” The text says that this official “proskyneo” by saying this to Jesus.  In Matthew 8:2, “proskyneo” is translated to English as “and bowed down before.” “Proskyneo” is the same Greek root word translated as They worshipped in the phrase They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast.

The idea is that the world begins to submit to the authority of the dragon. This could be saying that Satan has manifested himself as an angel of light who deceives and the world has taken the bait, so the world is directly worshipping Satan because they know he is the power behind the beast (2 Corinthians 11:14). Or it could be saying that by submitting to the authority of the beast the people are, thereby, worshipping Satan, because he is the power behind the beast.

Either way, the people have decided to submit to the beast. They are awed and submit, saying  Who is like the beast? (v.4). This mimics Scripture’s question, “Who is like God?” (Exodus 15:11). This further illustrates that the beast is the negative image of Christ, the antichrist.

Thus, the beast receives the submission properly given to God alone. The dragon (Satan) fosters this worship by empowering the beast. In doing so, the dragon creates an unholy trinity with the dragon being a false father, the beast being a false son, and the false prophet we will be introduced to in Revelation 13:12-13 like a false spirit. Continuing the vision, John affirms that There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him (v.5).

The beast’s power and authority to act is authorized, but with a constraint; God, who authorizes all events described in Revelation, allows the beast’s authority for a limited time-forty-two months (v. 5). The Jews used a lunar calendar, so 42 months times 30 days equals 1,260 days. This is the same time referenced in Revelation 12:6 for the woman, representing Israel, to be nourished in the wilderness, a place of refuge from persecution. This time period is also three-and-a-half years, or half of the seven-year period that is the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27).

We saw in Daniel 9:27 that “in the middle of the week” comes the abomination of desolation spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:15. The span of forty-two months is the same as half of seven years or 1,260 days. It is also the same as “time, times, and half a time” (as in Daniel 7:25, and Revelation 12:14). Jesus called this time after the abomination of desolation a time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).

The arrogant words and blasphemies spoken by the beast echo the descriptions of arrogant tyrants who might serve as a foreshadowing. Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, had a season of hubris before God humbled him (Daniel 4:29-37). Here, however, the beast does not repent but perseveres in rebellious blasphemy. He speaks against the Most High, reminiscent of the “little horn” in Daniel 7:8, who also utters great boasts.

The “little horn” of Daniel 7:8 displaces three other horns, pulling them out by their roots. This would indicate that the beast will arise through the overthrow, displacement, or coalescing of various realms. This could be a part of the episode with the beast’s fatal wound being healed in verse 3. The beast, who is likely the same as Daniel’s blasphemous little horn, now speaks: And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven (v. 6).

The Greek word translated blasphemies is “blasphemia” and the Greek word translated “to blaspheme” is “blasphemeo.” “Blasphemia” occurs five times in Revelation, three of them here in Chapter 13. “Blasphemeo” occurs four times, once in Chapter 13. The pattern is similar in these blasphemies. They represent slanderous accusations against God, claims of authority that stand against and oppose God, or expressions of defiance against God’s design and His ways of loving one another.

In the case of defiance against God’s design, the “Mother of Harlots” in Revelation 17:5 is said to be “full of blasphemous names.” She is drunk with the blood of faithful witnesses for Jesus who have been martyred (Revelation 17:6).

The blasphemies are against God, the creator and ruler of all things. This would appear to be expressions of defiance and opposition to the authority, kingdom, and people of God. They are also against His name and His tabernacle.

Three separate targets of blasphemy form a complete onslaught on God and His people. The first is God’s name, representing His identity. In the culture of Scripture, a name embodies one’s essence and reputation. The name of God would include His nature, authority, and purpose.

The second is God’s tabernacle, a symbol of His presence dwelling among His people. This was initially in the wilderness tabernacle, then the Temple. Both were locations where God’s presence dwelt among men. God’s tabernacle was also represented in Christ’s body who was God become flesh who came to dwell among men (John 2:19). The ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with humans will be when He permanently dwells on earth with His people (Revelation 21:3).

The Greek word translated tabernacle can also be translated “dwelling.” This is likely the idea here since it is added, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The idea is that the beast is expressing defiance and opposition not only to God but also to all who dwell with Him in heaven.

The third target of blasphemy is the heavenly host, those who dwell in heaven, including the angels and the saints who have joined the heavenly cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). By blaspheming all three, the beast attempts a total repudiation of God’s sovereignty over every realm. We saw in the previous chapter that Satan lost an angelic battle and was thrown down from heaven. This blasphemy seems to be Satan’s expression of defiance against all the forces of heaven who had defeated him (Revelation 12:7-9).

As previously expressed, there are many types of the beast or antichrist throughout scripture. One that comes to mind when we read of this boasting is that of Goliath. He defied the armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:10) and cursed David by his gods (1 Samuel 17:43). He was blasphemous against God and His people right up until the point he was utterly defeated.

Chapter 17 explains this blasphemous beast as follows:

“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.”
(Revelation 17:8)

This appears to overlap with the idea that the beast seemed to be dead and/or defeated then amazingly arose to health and/or power, which we saw in Revelation 13:3. But it also states that the beast “is about to come up out of the abyss.” This might indicate that Satan possesses the person who is the beast. This verse also indicates that those who are believers will not be fooled by the beast. This might be due to his blasphemies and his open attack and persecution against God and His people. As we will see in Revelation 13:7, the beast will “make war with the saints” of God.

The beast will war against God and all His people, but as always, God will prevail. Throughout history, rulers who contended with God-like Pharaoh (c. 15th-13th century B.C.) or Antiochus IV Epiphanes (2nd century B.C.)-eventually met divine justice. This verse highlights the beast’s utter rebellion. He mocks but will be defeated.

By way of application, believers this side of the great tribulation should heed the words of this prophecy and resist the wiles of the devil. He is like a prowling lion, seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Like the three young men in Babylon’s fiery furnace (Daniel 3:8-30), we are called to stand firm, refusing to bow down to any power that contradicts or supplants God’s sovereignty. This is how we overcome and live as faithful witnesses. And this is how we benefit from the admonition of Revelation 1:3 and gain a great blessing.