Revelation 13:1-2 – The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” The dragon, the devil stood on the shore watching the “beast” (the Antichrist) rising out of the sea. The sea if often used to represent something ominous, sinister and threatening. Revelation 17:15 seems to state that waters, or the sea, represents the gentile nations. Actually both of these interpretations of the sea could bring a fuller understanding. Indeed something ominous, sinister and threatening is rising up from the gentile nations.
The horns represent power and the crowns are representative of authority.
The beast will have “ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns.” Meaning is brought to this scripture in Daniel 7. Looking at Vs 2-8 and also Daniel 2 the seven heads are identified as Greece (7:6), Medo-Persia (7:5), Babylon (7:4) and the Roman Empire (7:7). Daniel 7:17 states “The four great beast are four kings that will rise from the earth.”
Revelation 17:9 says that the seven heads are seven hills. Many interpret this to be the seven hills that surround Rome (Aventine Hill, Caelian Hill, Capitoline Hill, Esquiline Hill, Palatine Hill, Quirinal Hill, and Viminal Hill) and thusly believe the Antichrist will rise from Rome.
“The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.” You will notice that Daniel lists the order of these empires in reverse order than John does. The reason is because Daniel was looking forward and John was looking back. Greece is the leopard as they quickly overtook nations. The bear represents the Medes and Persians. It has three ribs in its mouth between its teeth (7:5). The three ribs in its mouth represent the three nations it conquered: Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. The Lion is representative of Babylon (King Nebuchadnezzar) (7:4).
“The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” The dragon is trying copy God. He wanted to replace God and was thrown out of heaven. Now he makes an unholy “trinity” with him as the father, the Antichrist as his son, and the False Prophet (2nd beast) like the Holy Spirit. As Jesus walked in the full authority and power of Father God, the devil gives his “son” his power and authority. The Antichrist is the one that resists, that rebels against God. He is the devil’s version of a copycat Jesus. Of course we know that the devil is not God and does not have God’s power and authority. In reality, the Antichrist is an infinitely weaker version of Jesus. The Antichrist is the enemy’s effort, again, to overthrow God. Of course we have read the “end of the book” and know that the devil again loses. God wins and so we win. In fact, we know we have already won.
The Antichrist has great power to yield, but he has no power of his own. He gets all his power from the devil. The power that the devil wields is limited by God. So God allows authority and power to the devil, and to the two beasts. But only for a time and not unlimited power. We needn’t worry, the Lord God has it all in control. The devil and his beasts think they are supreme and in control. However, what they mean for bad, God turns for good…all the time (Romans 8:28).
Family the devil uses counterfeits and pollutes what is God’s creation. God gave the Holy Spirit to us to teach, guide, lead and correct us. We have been gifted to us from God the Holy Spirit and with Him the fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. The devil attempts to counter these, but because the devil counterfeits them that does not mean that the original does not exist. In fact, the counterfeit proves the existence of the original. God creates, and the devil copies and pollutes.
Again, we need not be afraid, God is victorious in all ways. As it has been said, while we are in the will of God, we are invincible. We are invincible in the power of Almighty God! May we take comfort in that! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.