What is the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10?

 

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The Beast found in Revelation 13 has been a mystery to many people for quite a long time.  This page outline a discussion of some of our thoughts concerning of the nature of this beast.  

This Beast is driven by Satan and his power, and it has been the vehicle of Satan's deception throughout the generations of this earth.  It is an all  encompassing force that has led many peoples, nations and tongues into sin and deception.   It has caused them to unknowingly go against God's truth.  In the second verse of this chapter, we read:

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And the beast which I saw was like unto 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.  [Revelation 13:2]

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This beast is the vehicle that Satan has used throughout the generations of this earth.  We see from  the description in the previous verse that the beast appeared like a leopard, a bear and a lion.  Let us examine the dream that was given to Daniel during his time in the Babylonian captivity.

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Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.   [Daniel 7:2-7]

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The first of the four beasts was like a lion.  This represented the Babylonian empire.  The second was like a bear, and this represented the Medo-Persian empire.  The third was like a leopard, and this represented the Grecian empire, while the fourth, with great iron teeth, represented the Roman empire.  These four are summed up in the Beast we see in Revelation 13.  Satan promoted the religions of these kingdoms which were against God's truth.  Let us read what the interpretation of the four beasts was.

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These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.  [Daniel 7:17]

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Continued study the seventh chapter of Daniel will bring further insight about these four kings.
 

This Beast has a mark.  

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And he 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]

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A mark in the forehead means the thoughts of the people would be inclined toward the workings of the Beast.  The mark in the hands would mean the actions of the people would do the bidding of the Beast.

We hear many people speak about the mark of the Beast.  Let us read where this mark is found and what it is.  

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And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  [Revelation 13:1]

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Notice the last sentence of this verse;  "and upon his heads the name of blasphemy".   The mark of the beast is blasphemy.  What is blasphemy one might ask?  It is defined as showing contempt or the lack of reverence toward God.  God has given us the Truth of His Word.  Satan twists these truths and tries to convince people that Satan's lies are truth.  This is blasphemous.  Satan gives his power to the Beast of Revelation 13, and he has used this beast to blaspheme God and to deceive the people of this earth.  The methods he uses, and the kingdoms he directs make up the workings of this beast.  This beast has continued throughout all the generations of the earth, and it will continue until Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom on the earth.  Let us now read verses 4-6.

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And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  [Revelation 13:4-6]

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Notice here that power was given the "mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" for forty-two months (which is a time period of three and one half years). Now let's go back to Daniel and read Daniel 7:8.  

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I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.  [Daniel 7:8]

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This little horn speaking great things lasts for three and one half years.  This is expressed in Daniel as a time (one year), times (two more years), and the dividing of a times (one half year).  This makes a total of three and one half years.  Let us read this in Daniel 7:25 where the interpretation of this "little horn" is given.

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And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.  [Daniel 7:25]

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This "little horn" will be taken out of the way when Jesus sets up His kingdom.  

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But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.  And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.  [Daniel 7:26-27]

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We know this beast power will survive until Jesus takes it out of the way at the battle of Armageddon.  This beast power will then be cast into the lake of fire.

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And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  [Revelation 19:20]

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Satan wants to deceive as many people as possible before the Lord returns.  If he can get us to climb upon the Beast of blasphemy, he will try to do so any way he can.  Satan is very subtle and tries to make his lies appear as God's truth.  Stay off this beast - do not be caught up in its deceptions.  Satan has had great success and has caused many to ride this beast.  It is up to us to make sure we are not being deceived by this beast power.  That is why we must prove all things with the Word of God, and hold fast to God's Truth.  The mark of the beast will be put on our foreheads, if we believe Satan's teachings.  It will be placed on our hands if we do the things he proscribes.  Satan is very dangerous and strong.  He gives his power to this Beast, so we must be very alert to stay away from this mighty beast power.  Jesus is more powerful and has defeated this beast power when He died on the cross, but this beast survives and is rampant throughout the world today.  To defeat it and stay off it, we must turn our lives over to Jesus and then follow Him in the path He has chosen for us. In this way, we can be a part of that first resurrection where we, too, will have conquered that beast power.

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Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  [Revelation 20:6]