Decoding Revelation 13: Beasts, Image, and Mark

Revelation 13

1 And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.

The thirteenth chapter of Revelation introduces three significant symbolic beasts, which are crucial for understanding a chain of prophecy spanning from the birth of Christ to the deliverance of the saints. These three beasts—the dragon, the seven-headed and ten-horned beast, and the lamb-like two-horned beast—succeed each other in the prophetic narrative and represent various powers throughout historyTBUS 5.1.

The First Beast: The Seven-Headed and Ten-Horned Beast

The first beast, rising out of the sea, is described as having seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns upon its horns and the name of blasphemy upon its heads Revelation 13:1. This beast is likened to a leopard, with the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion Revelation 13:2. This imagery connects it to Daniel's prophecy of four great beasts, which symbolize successive empires on Earth: a lion, a bear, and a leopard, before the fourth dreadful beast with ten horns Daniel 7:3-6+1. The dragon, identified as Satan Revelation 20:2+1 bestowed its power, seat, and great authority upon this beast Revelation 13:2+1. This signifies the Roman power, particularly its pagan form, giving way to the papal form. The seat given to the beast is Rome, where it received its powerARSH May 19, 1851, page 82.6+1.

This seven-headed and ten-horned beast, often referred to as the Papacy, was granted authority to continue for forty-two months Revelation 13:5 which is prophetically understood as 1260 years Revelation 12:6+4 during which it would make war with the saints and overcome them Revelation 13:7+2. This period began with the full establishment of the Papacy around A.D. 538 and concluded in 1798HF 272.1+3. During this time, the beast spoke great words and blasphemies against God, His name, and those dwelling in heaven Revelation 13:5-6. Blasphemy, in this context, refers to the usurpation of divine authority, such as claiming the ability to forgive sins or exalting oneself above God Luke 5:21+3. The historical persecution of those who opposed the church's authority, especially regarding conscience, is consistent with this prophecySSP 230.2+1.

At the close of the 1260-year period, the first beast received a "deadly wound by a sword" and was led into captivity Revelation 13:3+1. This event took place around 1798, when the temporal sovereignty of the Pope was abolishedHF 272.1+3. This wound, though deadly, was not intended to be fatal to the beast's existence, but rather to its dominion Daniel 7:12THB 24.1. The prophecy indicates that this deadly wound would be healed, leading "all the world" to wonder after the beast Revelation 13:3. This healing implies a restoration of influence and power, which has been observed since 1798ARSH March 21, 1854, page 65.10.

The Second Beast: The Two-Horned Beast

Following the wounding of the first beast, "another beast" is seen coming up out of the earth Revelation 13:11. This second beast has "two horns like a lamb" but "spake as a dragon" Revelation 13:11. This signifies a power that initially appears gentle and benevolent, yet eventually speaks with the fierceness and authority of the dragon, which symbolizes Satan's animating influence on the Roman power (Revelation 12:3+1; Revelation 29). The emergence of this beast is distinct from the first; it is not formed on the ruins of the first but rises as an independent power after the first beast receives its deadly woundTBUS 5.1+1. This timing places its rise around or after 1798ARSH December 23, 1851, page 69.26+1.

The two horns like a lamb represent Republicanism and Protestantism, indicating a government founded on principles of civil and religious liberty, which were novel at the time of its emergenceUSLP 77.4+1. This points to the United States as the power symbolized by this beastDAR1909 558+3. The nation's foundational principles of equality and liberty, combined with its historical actions, such as the upholding of slavery despite professed ideals, illustrate the initial lamb-like appearance4SP 502.6.

The primary work of the two-horned beast is to "exercise all the power of the first beast before him" (meaning in its sight) and to "cause the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" (Revelation 13:12; Revelation 30; Revelation 33). This clearly indicates that the two-horned beast is a distinct power that works in cooperation with, and ultimately promotes the worship of, the first beast after its healingTMR 80.1+5. It performs "great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men," deceiving those who dwell on the earth by these miracles (Revelation 13:13-14; Revelation 36; Revelation 48). These miracles suggest a period of significant technological advancement and widespread deceptionMANA 148.1.

The Image of the Beast and the Mark of the Beast

The two-horned beast further commands those on earth to "make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live" (Revelation 13:14; Revelation 62). This "image of the beast" is a separate entity that resembles the first beast, specifically in its combination of church and state power, aiming to enforce worship (Revelation 28; Revelation 62)AMS October 20, 1892, page 322.7+1. The image is given "power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed" Revelation 13:15. This signifies the image's ability to enact decrees and enforce its will through coercion, even to the point of death Revelation 13:15.

Finally, the two-horned beast "causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" Revelation 13:16-17. This "mark of the beast" is a critical identifier connected to worshiping the beast and its image Revelation 14:9-11+2. The number of the beast is "six hundred threescore and six" (666) Revelation 13:18.

The actions of the two-horned beast, including the enforcement of the image's worship and the mark, have not yet fully come to pass but are part of future prophecy that will unfold after the deadly wound of the first beast is healedSHR 29.1+4. This prophecy warns of a future time of trouble and persecution for those who refuse to worship the beast and its image and to receive its mark Revelation 14:9-12.