Revelation Chapter 13

Revelation Chapter 12 ended with Satan enraged with the remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Chapter 13 describes the two end-time powers through whom Satan will work to attempt to destroy the remnant.

2. A History of the Beast (Verses 1 – 10)

The first power described in Verses 1-10 is the beast, representing the Church of Rome.

Verse 1

I [John] stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea – Here the apostle John has a vision similar to the one Daniel received in Daniel Chapter 7. The sea represents the peoples of the earth (Rev. 17:15), and the beast represents a kingdom (Daniel 7:17,23). However, instead of a succession of beasts rising up out of the sea, John sees only one, a composite beast made up of all the different beasts in Daniel 7. This represents that the Roman church has many of the same characteristics as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Pagan Rome. It is a political power similar in character to these previous kingdoms, and it incorporates many of the same pagan religious practices.

Having seven heads – The four beasts in Daniel 7 had a total of seven heads (four on the leopard and one each on the lion, bear, and dragon beast).

Ten horns – These are the ten horns from the dragon beast in Daniel 7, representing the nations of Western Europe. The Papacy had power over these nations during her 1260-year rule.

On his horns ten crowns – Compare with Rev. 12:3, where the dragon has crowns on his seven heads. The crowns symbolize that the kingdoms represented by these heads were monarchies. In Revelation 13, the beast has crowns on his ten horns, representing that the nations of Europe also are monarchies.

On his heads a blasphemous name – This is a reference back to the little horn of Daniel 7, who spoke pompous (blasphemous) words (Daniel 7:8,20,25). We will study more about this in Verse 6.

Verse 2

The beast which I saw was like a leopard…bear…lion – As we have noted, the beast is made up of all the beasts from Daniel 7. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome were all perpetuated in the Papacy. Notice that the order of the beasts in Revelation 13 is the opposite from the order in Daniel 7. This is because Daniel was looking forward in history (lion, bear, leopard), and John was looking back at the same history (leopard, bear, lion).

The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority – The dragon represents Satan, but he often uses nations he can control to do his bidding (see Rev. 12:2-4, where he used the Roman Empire to attempt to kill the baby Jesus). This reveals that the Papacy received its power, throne, and great authority from Satan through the Roman Empire. (SOP 1)

Verses 3 and 4 give the history of the beast.

Verse 3

I saw one of its heads as if it had been mortally wounded – As we have noted, the seven heads are from the beasts in Daniel 7. The head that received the mortal wound is that of the fourth beast (Rome), from which sprouted the little horn. The Papacy received its deadly wound in 1798, when the French army removed the Pope from his throne and took away the Papacy’s political power.

His deadly wound was healed – The apparently deadly wound did not prove to be fatal, but was healed instead. In 1929, Mussolini executed the Concordat with the Pope, restoring the properties that had been taken away, making the Pope king again, and Vatican City a sovereign political power.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast – After the deadly wound was healed, the entire world followed the beast. Since the Papacy has been restored as a political power, it has been growing as a world influence. Most of the nations of the world have now exchanged ambassadors with Vatican City. (SOP 2)

Verse 4

So they [the world] worshiped the dragon, who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast – This is a prediction that the world will worship the Papacy, and in so doing will worship Satan, who gave the Papacy its power and authority. This is what the Third Angel warns us against in Rev. 14:9,10.

Saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” – To all appearances, the restored beast is invincible and no one can successfully oppose his authority. This is how the Papacy will be viewed by the world at the time the Mark of the Beast is enforced.

The character and activities of the beast are described in Verses 5-7.

Verses 5,6

He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God – This is an obvious reference to the little horn in Daniel 7, which had a mouth speaking pompous words (Daniel 7:8). The Bible defines blasphemy as human beings claiming to be God, or claiming to be able to forgive sin (Mark 2:7, John 10:32,33). The Papacy makes both of these claims.

He was given power to continue for forty-two months – The little horn of Daniel 7 ruled for 1260 days (years). Here the Papacy has power for 42 months, which is the same prophetic time period. (A Jewish month is always 30 days, so 30 X 42 months = 1260 days.) The Papacy’s political rule lasted for exactly 1260 years, from 538 AD to 1798 AD.

To blaspheme His name – God’s name is His character (Exodus 33:18,19, 34:5-7). The Papacy blasphemes (misrepresents) the character of God by her claims and activities.

To blaspheme…His tabernacle – God’s tabernacle is the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1,2), where Jesus ministers as our High Priest. The Papacy blasphemes God’s tabernacle by substituting an earthly priesthood, to whom people are required to go for the forgiveness of sin.

To blaspheme…those who dwell in heaven – The Papacy misrepresents God by her false teachings about the character of God, such as her teaching that God burns sinners in an eternally burning hell. Another is that we must look to Mary and the saints to intercede for us before God.

Verse 7

It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them – The Papacy persecuted and killed millions of “heretics” during her 1260-year rule. Often she used the political powers under her control to accomplish this.

Authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation – The Papacy’s power and influence extended over the entire then-known world during her political reign.

Verses 8-10 reveal who will worship the beast and the fate of the beast.

Verses 8,9

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world – This is a prediction that every person on earth will give their allegiance to the beast, except for those who have a saving relationship with Christ. These two groups, the saved and the lost, are described in the Third Angel’s Message (Rev. 14:9-12).

Verse 10

In this verse, God assures the saints that the Papacy would be treated in the same manner as they were during her political rule. Her punishment occurred in 1798, when the Pope was taken captive and the Papacy received her deadly wound. Ultimately, this system will be destroyed at Jesus’ Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4,8, Rev. 19:11,19,20).

3. The Two-horned Beast (Verses 11 – 18)

Verses 11-17 describe the second beast, which represents the United States of America.

Verse 11

Then I saw another beast coming up - This new beast came up about the time the first beast received its deadly wound in 1798 (Verse 10). The USA came into existence at this very time. The U.S. Constitution was voted in 1787, the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, and in 1798 the United States was recognized for the first time as a sovereign power by another nation. (SOP 3)

Out of the earth – The first beast came up out of the sea, which represents peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues (Rev. 17:15). The Papacy arose in a densely populated part of the world, where other nations already existed. In contrast, this new beast comes up out of the earth, representing a relatively uninhabited part of the world. When the US arose, North America was largely a wilderness. Because of this, the United States arose peacefully and gradually.

He had two horns – In symbolic prophecy, horns represent divisions of a kingdom. For example, in Daniel 7 the Dragon Beast had 10 horns, representing the division of the Roman Empire into the nations of Europe. In Daniel 8, the he-goat grew 4 horns, representing the divisions of the Greek Empire after the death of Alexander the Great.

This second Beast in Revelation 13 has 2 horns. In what sense is the United States divided? The two horns represent the separation (division) of church and state. Our constitution guarantees a state without a king and a church without a Pope. The basis of our government is the twin principles of civil and religious freedom, the secret of our strength and prosperity. (SOP 4)

Like a lamb – Notice that this beast is lamb-like in character. A lamb is used as a symbol of Christ in the Bible. This represents that when the United States arose, it was founded upon Christian principles. (SOP 5)

And spoke like a dragon – Unfortunately, this prophecy does not end before this statement. It points to a day when the United States will speak like a dragon (Satan). The verses that follow explain how America will speak like a dragon.

Verse 12

He exercises all the authority of the first beast – The first beast is the Church of Rome, who ruled from 538-1798 AD. How did Rome exercise her authority? By requiring complete allegiance, and she influenced the civil government to punish dissenters. Those who refused to accept her authority were labeled “heretics,” persecuted and killed. This prophecy predicts that some day the United States will do the same - religion will be enforced by the power of the state.

In his presence – The United States will exercise her authority in the presence of the first beast. In other words, the Papacy’s deadly wound will be healed when this takes place.

And causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed - To “cause” someone to do something means to “make” or “force” them. This prophecy predicts that the United States will cause the entire world do something that will be an act of worship, or homage, to the Papacy. In order to do this, the United States must be a world power capable of influencing or forcing the entire world.

Verses 13,14

He performs great signs…and he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast – In the original language, the word “sign” also means “miracle.” Since miracles are religious in nature, this is an indication that the churches will be the instigators of this movement.

The United States is a Protestant nation, so it’s the Protestant churches of the United States who will lead out in this movement honoring the Papacy.

Miracles will be wrought, and the world will be deceived into thinking that God is at work. But these signs are from Satan, because they DECEIVE the world.

Notice the nature of these signs, or miracles:

So that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men – In the Bible, fire coming down from heaven is a symbol of God at work (1 Kings 18:36-39, Acts 2:1-4). We don’t know exactly what these miraculous signs will be. But it will appear that God is working, when in reality it is Satan deceiving the world.

Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived – An image is a likeness or a replica of the original. So an image to the first beast would be a likeness of the Papacy.

The Papacy is unique in that she is a church/state. She involves herself politically with the secular governments of the world in order to further her own ends. So this is a prediction that the United States will someday mirror the Papacy by uniting church and state. Inspired by false signs and miracles, the Protestant churches of the United States will call upon the world to enforce laws paying homage to the Papacy.

Verses 15-17 describe the formation of the image of the beast.

Verse 15

He was granted power to give breath [life] to the image of the beast – Notice that Verse 14 refers to the image “to” the beast, while Verse 15 refers to the image “of” the beast. This indicates that the image is being proposed in Verse 14, and has been formed in Verse 15. This image (church/state combination) is given life by the miracles from Satan. It is the miracles that convince the people to form the image. (SOP 6)

That the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed – The image of the beast will speak (legislate) and cause (enforce) the legislation involving worship. (SOP 7) A death decree will eventually be passed against those who refuse to worship according to this law (see Daniel 3). (SOP 8)

Verse 16

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads – The laws created and enforced by the United States will impose the Mark of the Beast upon the people. (SOP 9) We will identify the Mark of the Beast in Revelation Chapter 14.

Verse 17

And that no one may buy or sell – Before the death penalty is enacted, dissenters will be pressured with economic sanctions forbidding them to buy or sell. (SOP 10)

This prophecy paints a sad picture for those who love this land of freedom. Some day soon, the Protestant churches of the United States, deceived by Satan, will lead out in a movement to unite church and state. The purpose of this movement will be to enact laws enforcing the Mark of the Beast. This movement will originate in the United States, but it will spread worldwide because of the United States’ worldwide power and influence. It is this movement that will bring the final crisis upon the world just before Jesus’ Second Coming.

The last verse of this chapter gives one final point of identification for the beast.

Verse 18

Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast…his number is 666 – The beast has a number, 666. This prophecy calls upon those with wisdom to calculate the number and understand its significance.

It is a number of a man…the number of his name (Verse 17) – There is an official Latin title for the Pope, a title granted by the church itself. This title is found repeatedly in the publications of Rome. In the weekly Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor of April 1915, we have the interesting statement that the letters of the official title are inscribed in the Pope’s miter. Here is the quotation: “Vicarius Filii Dei, which is Latin for ‘Vicar of the Son of God.’” At present the words do not appear on the Pope’s miter, but they are incorporated into the coronation ceremonies of each newly crowned Pope.

There was an ancient practice of calculating numeric values for names by assigning Roman numerals to the letters. When we do this, we get the following number for the Pope’s title:

V - 5 F - 0 D - 500 112

I - 1 I - 1 E - 0 53

C - 100 L - 50 I - 1 501

A - 0 I - 1 ___ ___ R - 0 I - 1 501 666

I - 1 __

U or V - 5 53

S - 0

___

112

Spirit of Prophecy Quotations

1 “The dragon is said to be Satan (Revelation 12:9); he it was that moved upon Herod to put the Saviour to death. But the chief agent of Satan in making war upon Christ and His people during the first centuries of the Christian era was the Roman Empire, in which paganism was the prevailing religion. Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome.”

– The Great Controversy, page 438.

2 “Satan is working to the utmost to make himself as God and to destroy all who oppose his power. And today the world is bowing before him. His power is received as the power of God. The prophecy of the Revelation is being fulfilled, that “all the world wondered after the beast.”” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, page 14.

3 “It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with the lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy.” – The Great Controversy, page 579.

4 “Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundations of civil and religious liberty. Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence, which sets forth the great truth that “all men are created equal” and endowed with the inalienable right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity.” – The Great Controversy, page 441.

5 “The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as “coming up” in 1798.” – The Great Controversy, page 441.

6 “The “image to the beast” represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.”

“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy [image of the beast], and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” – The Great Controversy, page 445.

7 “The “speaking” of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities.” – The Great Controversy, page 442.

8 “When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction. . . . It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof.” – The Great Controversy, page 635.

9 “The worshipers of God will be especially distinguished by their regard of the fourth commandment, since this is the sign of God’s creative power and the witness to His claim upon man’s reverence and homage. The wicked will be distinguished by their efforts to tear down the Creator’s memorial and to exalt the institution of Rome. In the issue of the conflict, all Christendom will be divided into two great classes, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. Although the church and state will unite their power to compel all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive the mark of the beast, yet the people of God will not receive it.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, pages 16, 17.

10 “In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan, those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell. It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death. See Rev. 13:11-17. But to the obedient is given the promise, “He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the

munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isa. 33:16.” – The Desire of Ages, pages 121, 122.