Today we read Revelation 13:1-10 and look at “the beast” in detail.

As with everything else in this sophisticated book, some of what I’ll point out below only really makes sense when you read the whole thing through more than once.

Who Is The Beast?

13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

The beast comes from the sea, the source of chaos and evil in the Jewish imagination. [See my sermon on this theme from Sunday, October 11.]

Allow me to point out the obvious, but by seeing the beast’s origin from the sea, John knows that it is evil, despite its lies.

The strange description of the beast alludes to and is a combination of the four beasts described by the Old Testament prophet Daniel in his vision (Daniel 7).

The Mortal Wound of the Beast=The Year of 4 Emperors

We’ll see later in this chapter (the famous 666) that the beast represents the Roman Empire, specifically the Emperor Nero. This historical detail is behind the mention of the mortal wound in v. 3

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

This is a reference to what happened in AD 69, the so-called Year of the Four Emperors. After Nero committed suicide in AD 68, there was civil war in the empire and revolt on its borders. For many people, it seemed that the power of Rome was at its end. But, Vespasian (the 4th of the emperors in AD 69) became emperor, consolidated power, and started a new dynasty. Rome seemed stronger than ever.

It looked as if the empire had a “mortal wound” when Nero killed himself, but it actually kept going.

People always worship power, and here is no exception—Rome seemed invincible.

The Beast’s Persecution of the Church

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,
    to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Catch the breadcrumb John left for us?

Remember that whenever you see the time marker “42 months” or “1,260 days” or “a time, times, and half a time”, those are little bread crumbs that John has left for us to tell us he is talking about the same period each time, i.e., the period of the church’s opposition and persecution.

So, John sees how the beast is persecuting the church and demanding allegiance, and he tells the church—be courageous, and don’t give in.