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Verse 1 – Ten horns, seven heads
We’re told in Revelation 17 that the seven heads represent seven mountains and seven kings. We’re also told that the ten horns represent ten kings.
So, are there 17 kings? It’s a bit tricky. However, they do clearly represent kings or kingdoms of some sort.
Verse 2 – Leopard, bear, lion:
See Daniel 7:4–6 – “The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind. Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’ After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopardwith four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads, and it was given dominion.”
Though we’re not explicitly told what these animals represent, many believe that they represent three empires: Babylon, Persia, and Greece; which were the empires in power from the time of Daniel until near the end of the Old Testament.
Verse 3 – Fatally Wounded
Revelation 13:3 – “One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.”
We’re not exactly sure what this fatal wound is, but likely it is intended to mimic Jesus in some way, minimally, His miraculous resurrection power.
Verse 5 – Forty-two months
Notice again the forty-two months; 1,260 days; time, times, and half a time; or 3.5 years.
Verse 7 – The saints are conquered
“Saints” here likely refers to God’s people during the tribulation time. This would either be all Christians who are alive before and during the tribulation (before the rapture), or those who come to Christ during the tribulation and after the rapture.
Matthew 10:28 – “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
This is a temporary conquering, not permanent. Jesus offers the ultimate spiritual victory.
Who is the antichrist?
The word “antichrist” is not used in Revelation.
John does use the word in his letters:
1 John 2:18 – “Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.”
1 John 4:3 – “ . . . but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.”
What does the antichrist do?
- He opposes God
- He deceives
- He is blasphemous
- He harms Christians
- He exercises authority over the earth
- He gains his power from Satan
- He will be destroyed
Verse 11 – Two horns; looks like a lamb
May seem harmless (like a lamb), but speaks harmfully (like a dragon).
May look like Jesus (like a lamb), but speaks like Satan (like a dragon).
When Jesus is presented as the Lamb in Revelation 5, He has seven horns. This second beast does not compare to the real Lamb.
Verses 13-14 – Signs
This second beast has genuine power, though it is demonic.
He deceives people using some of the same signs that God’s prophets used. He’s a copycat.
Verses 14-15 – Image of the beast
Here’s what we know about the image:
- The second beast makes it.
- It’s an image of the first beast.
- The image is said to be given breath (life).
- The image could speak.
- The image could cause people to be killed.
- The image makes people receive the mark of the beast.
- The image could be an idol or some sort of supernatural image of which we’re not familiar.
- Verses 16-18 – Mark of the Beast
The Mark of the Beast:
- Everyone will be required to have it.
- No one can buy or sell without it.
- The beast’s name is somehow tied to it.
- Its number is 666.
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