Rev 13:1-10 The Beast part 2

In this episode, Rob and Vinnie take a deep dive into Rev 13:1-10 in order to discern who or what is the Beast. They examine the context of the book of Revelation and remind us of the importance of Daniel 7--see last week's episode--for discerning the nature of the Beast. They they ask: "What does this mean for us today?" If, after all, the Beast represents all empires/nations in history, does this mean that the US is a beast? Furthermore, they discuss what this means for the people of God (the church) today. After all, contrary to popular opinion, the Beast does not represent the nations of the world waging war against Israel but the people of God (Rev 13:7). 

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Show notes: 

Since John combines all 4 of Daniel’s beasts into 1, then John’s 1 beast represents all empires

The Sea and the Abyss (13:1; 11:7)

Horns are a common symbol of power, 

The Beast’s ten horns correlate with the “ten horns” of Daniel’s fourth beast (Dan 7:7)

In Daniel the 10 horns are 10 kings (7:24)

Beast wears his 10 diadems on his horns

The Dragon who has “seven diadems” (12:3)

The only other use of diadem in the book of Revelation is of Christ (19:12)

• Christ’s diadems are not numbered—they are simply “many” (19:12)

The means by which Satan wages his “war” against the people of God is by empowering the Beast to do his work for him

The Beast was like a leopard, a bear, and a lion: 

• This also connects John’s beast to Daniel’s 4 beasts 
• The Beast combines attributes from the first three beasts of Daniel 7

“These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth” (Dan 7:17) 

“One of his heads was as if it had been slain to death” (13:3)

• The next clause in 13:3, in fact, mentions, “the plague of his death” (13:3, 12)
• The Beast is said to be the one who had the wound of the sword and “came to life” (13:14)

The language that one of the heads of the Beast was, “as if it had been slain” (13:3) is intended as a parody of the Lamb (5:6)

• Slain; Beast’s death is similar to Christ’s (13:3, 14; 5:6; 13:8)
• Both rise to new life
• Followers names written on foreheads; People follow the beast ‘who was slain’ (13:3) but they reject Christ ‘who was slain’ (13:8)
• The Beast has horns (13:1) provides is a blasphemous imitation of Jesus who has seven horns (5:6) 2nd Beast has 2 horns like a lamb (13:11; 5:6)

“‘Who is like the Beast and who is able to wage war with him?’” (13:4; Isa 40:18)

Beast blasphemes, “His [God’s] name and His dwelling place” (13:6)

• “that is, those who are dwelling in heaven” (13:6) 

Who are “those who dwell in heaven”?

• Heaven dwellers contrasts with earth dwellers 

This relates to the promise in Gen 12:1-3 that God will bless those who bless Abraham and his seed and curse those who curse them

The focus of his deceptive aims is the people of God 

The Beast wages “war” against them (13:7)

The Beast not only wages war against the people of God but is able to “overcome” them This statement would be truly shocking if it were not for the fact that John already made virtually the same statement in 11:7 

• both 11:7 and 13:7, John refers to a “Beast” who “makes war” and “conquers” the people of God