The Description of the Beast

Perhaps no one draws more interest and study in book of Revelation than the individual of whom we are about to examine

Revelation 13:1-2

Revelation 13:1–2 (NKJV)

Revelation 13:1–2 NKJV

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

We will do a close-up of this individual who will one day rule the world

1. Comes out of the sea

V.1

Sea of humanity

Typically would refer to

Mediterranean descent

Gentile

2. Seven heads

V.1

Parallels Revelation 17:9-12

Revelation 17:9–12 NKJV

9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Explanation provided

Seven mountains

Seven kingdoms

Seven heads

Seven kings of the seven kingdoms

Seven kings

Five have fallen

Egypt

Assyria

Babylon

Persia

Greece

One is

Rome

One is yet to come

Reign for a short time

Points to a government system that controls the world

Beast is the eighth

17:11

Is of the seventh

Is headed for destruction

3. Ten horns

V.1

Ten diadem crowns on the ten horns

Parallels Da 7:7-8 and Re 17:12

Represent ten kings

Re 17:12

Revelation 17:12 NKJV

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Who as of yet have not received their authority

But will rule with the antichrist for “one hour”

Then Re 17:13

Revelation 17:13 NKJV

13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

Will voluntarily give their power and authority to the beast

4. A unique individual

Possessing traits of empires of the past

V.2

Like a leopard

Parallels leopard in Da 7:6

Daniel 7:6 NKJV

6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Referring to Greece

Swift, effective

Thanks to Alexander

334-330 BC

Feet like a bear

Parallels bear in Da 7:5

Daniel 7:5 NKJV

5 “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

Medo-Persian/Persian empire

Strong, tenacious

Conquered Babylonian empire

Approx 527 BC

Mouth like a mouth of a lion

Parallels lion in Da 7:4

Daniel 7:4 NKJV

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

Babylonian empire

Judah taken into captivity 597 BC

Majesty and power in the roar

5. A world conqueror

Revelation 6:2

Revelation 6:2 NKJV

2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Rider of the white horse

Bow with no arrows

Conquers the world via peaceful means

Given a victor’s crown

Did not have to take it

6. Recognized as royalty

Da 9:26

Daniel 9:26 NKJV

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

The “prince who is to come”

7. Man of lawlessness

Seen in 2 Th 2:7-8

2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 NKJV

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Shows complete disregard for the laws and morals of the day

Will establish a new set of laws and morals

Putting it all together

This is the possible scenario

After the rapture

This man arises out of the Gentile world population remaining

He will be a charismatic, persuasive personality

Speaking like a world leader

Instrumental in forming a worldwide governing alliance of ten leaders

More compelling, more persuasive than any other mortal man in human history

He will arise to be one of the leaders of the world stage

He will be virtually begged to be the one world leader

Based on his rhetoric

All other world leaders will yield to him

Then he will move swiftly

Consolidating his power

Bringing all nations under his control

Where every other world empire fell short

He will succeed

Blending the strong points of each of those empires

Becoming the most formidable person not named Jesus Christ to walk the face of the earth

Now What?

What does it mean to you?

We do not know how much time is left before this all starts to break loose

Everything is in place

Means the Rapture can occur at any moment

Are you ready?

Are you 100% certain that you have everlasting life?

Text LIFE to 858.210.0291

Who do you know that needs to put faith in Jesus?

Are you willing to pray today for that person?

Text PRAY to 858.210.0291

Are you willing to go tell that person what the Lord has done for you?

Are you willing to tell someone else about Jesus who today would miss the Rapture?