Rev 13 - two beasts

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The Three Beasts and 666 Image Download - Revelation Productions

By Jimmy Lau

The first beast comes "out of the sea" is Empires.

The first beast comes "out of the sea" and is given authority and power by the dragon (v.1-10). 

It is like a leopard, with feet like the feet of a bear, and has a mouth like a lion. This description resembles the vision of four beasts in Daniel chapter 7. Daniel’s first three beasts, representing the Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian kingdom, had the forms of a lion, bear, and leopard respectively. Daniel’s fourth beast is dreadful and terrible and it has a mouth speaking great things (Daniel 7:8). Daniel’s fourth beast is the Roman Empire.
 
Daniel’s fourth beast fits the description of this beast that comes out of the sea. This sea beast also has a mouth that speaks great things (v.5). They are not good words of edification but blasphemous words against God (v.5, 6). And it makes war with the saints (v.7). Clearly, Rome fits the description.

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The second beast comes "out of the earth" is False Prophets. 

The beast appears like a lamb but speaks lies like the dragon (v.11). It directs all peoples of the earth to worship the first beast (v.11-18). It is said to be able to perform great signs to deceive the world (v.13, 14). 

The second beast represents the false prophets. Our Lord warns the apostles about this beast in Matthew 24:24: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Paul said that the Wicked One will come with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9). John called it the “Antichrist” in his epistle (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7). He said it is already in the world, referring to his time.
 
The two beasts are in cohort with the dragon in opposition to God. They persecute the "saints" and those who do "not worship the image of the beast of the sea”. There was a persecution by the Roman authorities and a persecution by the false teachers, especially the Judaizer teachers (Paul was one of them before he was converted).


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