5. THE BEAST FROM THE SEA Revelation 13:1-10 1 and he stood upon the sand of the sea.--This means that the dragon (Satan) stood upon the seashore ready to call the beast up from the sea. The King James Version says, "I stood," which would mean that John's position was or appeared to be by the sea when he saw the beast arise. Either view might be the correct one; hence, an immaterial matter. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.--Chapter 12 presents the warfare which the dragon waged against the woman--that is, Satan's efforts to destroy the church; for verse 9 definitely declares the dragon to be the "Devil and Satan." In the two "beasts" of chapter 13 we have an explanation of how Satan waged his war against the church, they being the agencies through which the work was done. That the word "beast" means a wild or ferocious animal is clear both from the description and the things it was to do. This, it must be remembered, is only what John saw in the vision; it represents some institution whose destructive and deadly power would be used against the church. This beast rose up out of the sea. Daniel saw four winds break upon the sea. (Daniel 7:3-4.) This means that the sea was lashed by stormwinds at the time. Revelation 17:15 says "The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." The sea, as John saw it, denotes troublous times when people were greatly disturbed. This is always the case when a nation rises on the ruins of others. So this beast is a symbol of a kingdom that would arise when peoples would be disturbed like the waves of the sea. In the symbol (Revelation 12:3) Satan himself is represented as a dragon with seven heads and ten horns; here the agency through which Satan operates appears as a terrible beast with seven heads and ten horns; the same beast is mentioned in Revelation 17:3 with a like description. In Revelation 17:9 we are told that "the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." If the word "mountains" here is taken literally, it would be plausible to say it refers to the seven hills upon which Rome was built. But the statement (verse 3) that one of the heads "had been smitten unto death" and the "death-stroke was healed" can hardly apply to literal mountains. Verse 9 also says, "Here is the mind that bath wisdom." It required no special wisdom to know that Rome was built upon seven hills. Isaiah 2:2 speaks of "the mountain of Jehovah's house" and of nations flowing into it. Daniel 2:35 says the "stone" that smote the image became "a great mountain." In these texts the word, "mountain" means God's kingdom ; in Revelation 17:9 it means forms of government in the Roman world. Verse 10 says, "and they are seven kings." Since kings and kingdoms are used synonymously by Daniel (8 :17, 23), this might mean that the heads represented seven kinds of rulers, or seven forms of government. This would he another reason why the seven heads could not he seven literal mountains. The beast John saw had ten horns; so did the fourth beast of Daniel's vision. (Daniel 7:20.) If the fourth beast of Daniel's vision means Rome (the common view), then we have in the ten horns of both beasts another proof that the one John saw also symbolizes Rome. In describing the beast in Revelation 17:12 the ten horns are said to be "ten kings." This probably refers to subdivisions in the Roman Empire after its pagan form had been overthrown. As a symbolic number "tell," doubtless, indicates completeness, and may be used here to denote that Rome's rule was general rather than limited to exactly ten minor kingdoms. A fuller discussion of the seven heads and ten horns is reserved till we reach the seventeenth chapter where the same beast again comes into the record. Then also we will examine the diadem (crowns) upon the horns and the names of blasphemy upon the heads. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.--Since the first three beasts that Daniel saw (Daniel 7:4-7) were like a lion, a bear, and a leopard, and the fourth was an undescribed but "terrible" beast, then the first one that John saw must have been the same as Daniel's fourth. Being a composite emblem, it had parts to represent all three animals named by Daniel. As already mentioned, the beasts in Daniel's vision arose in succession. The fourth, therefore, resulted directly from those preceding and contained in its peculiar form the vital elements of all of them. Containing all the power represented by the three wild beasts made the Roman Empire the most "terrible" kingdom that had ever existed. As the church was established within its bounds, and was affected more by its power than any other world nation, it unquestionably must have been included in any symbolic history of the church. The symbols of Revelation must be interpreted in harmony with well-known historical facts. The fact that the first beast represents the Roman Empire will be further evident when we study the second beast described in verses 11-18. It should be noted that the text says that the dragon gave him his power, throne, and authority. The dragon is plainly declared to be the devil (12:9); hence, he is the real source of opposition to the church. Therefore, whatever the Roman Empire did against the kingdom of Christ, it did as an agent, medium, or instrumentality of the devil. Any opposition to Christ or his church must come in some way from Satan; those persecuting the church are his servants. 3 And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his deathstroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; --In Revelation 17:10 it is said "and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come." Whatever we may learn about this statement when we reach it, it is sufficient here to note that Rome was ruled by emperors in John's time. It was then a pagan empire. If this be what is meant by one of the heads (at least a plausible explanation), then that head receiving a death stroke means that that particular form of pagan Rome was killed. The most probable view here is that this part of the symbol was fulfilled when barbarian hordes from the north swept down upon the country and city and the empire came to an end in A.D. 476. This was begun by Alaric, king of the Goths, in A.D. 409 and finished by Odoacer at the date given. Thus ended the western part of pagan imperial Rome. The imperial form of government had received its deadly blow. When the church later became a fullfledged apostasy, there was a practical union of church and state, with the church exercising the supreme power. At this time political Rome revived as a persecuting power of the true church; but its power was exercised in a different way--it became the agent through which papal Rome (the apostate church) continued the persecutions. Rome as a secular power, doubtless, would have been consumed; permanently blotted out, like Babylon and Nineveh, had not the papacy healed her wounds by using her as the medium through which the true church was to be continually persecuted. It is an amazing thing that a persecuting power could receive such a blow and still survive in another form with its persecuting power unabated. It is no surprise that the whole world wondered after the beast. 4 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; --This is the language of John, and he means that when the people were astonished by what the beast did and worshiped him, they were worshiping the dragon--that is, they worshiped the devil whether they knew it or not. This was necessarily the case, for Satan gave the beast its power through pagan Rome as his agent; or, pagan Rome gave papal Rome its power. and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?--The power of Rome under the papacy was such that the people ascribed to it supreme authority. This they did by asking questions which meant that there was none like the beast or able to make war against him. This was nothing less than ascribing divine power to him. This is the way secular rulers of that time considered themselves, and such adulation was pleasing to them. Doubtless they made every effort to cultivate such sentiments in the hearts of the people. The power of political rulers under the domination of papal authority made their influence irresistible. Under such a system there could he neither political nor religious freedom. A power so unlimited had just the effect here indicated; ignorant people were ready to ascribe it to a supreme being. 5 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; --Nothing is said about who gave the beast such a mouth, but the natural presumption is that it was the dragon, the symbol of the devil, for in verse 2 we are told that he gave the beast his power and authority. Such secular rulers as the symbols here describe would naturally be proud, boastful, and ready to claim divine powers. This, of course, was blasphemous. This is also characteristic of the second beast which, it is here assumed for the time, represents papal Rome. But that both beasts should have this same characteristic is not surprising. Their close relationship and interlocking interests would naturally lead them to manifest the same traits. Each operated through the other so that what was true of one was also true of the other in some measure. and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.--Forty and two months are three and one-half years or 1,260 days. Reasons why this period should be considered symbolically and indicate 1,260 years have already been given. See notes on 11:3, 4 and 12:14. This time was the same that the two witnesses (God's word) would testify "in sackcloth" and the woman (true church) would remain in obscurity in the wilderness. This coincides exactly with the time that the papal power (Roman Catholicism) was to exercise supreme sway. Since this text is describing the relationship of secular and papal Rome, each operating through the other, it is natural that the former should be represented as being given authority to continue forty-two months. In the combination of church and state each would continue the same length of time. 6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.--This repeats substantially what was said in verse 5, adding that the beast was actually doing what he was given a mouth to do. By the arrogant claims of authority the name of God was blasphemed, for only God has such power as the beast presumed to exercise. By "tabernacle," which was the ancient place of God's worship, the symbol indicates that such arrogance as the beast manifested blasphemed the worship of God. "Them that dwell in the heaven" probably refers to those in the church or the true worshipers of God. The beast then blasphemed Cod's name, the church, and the worship. Nothing of a divine nature was free from corruption and perversion by a church-state combination. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:--It was given to the beast to overcome the saints by the same one that taught him to blaspheme. That was the dragon or Satan. See notes on verse 2. This is the same thing Daniel saw in his vision. (Daniel 7:19-21.) However, Daniel represents this victorious power as being the little horn that came up among the ten horns in the fourth or Roman kingdom. Clearly this refers to the papacy, described as the second beast in Revelation 13. But we have already noted that secular Rome was largely the medium through which the apostate church operated; hence, what is ascribed to one may generally be ascribed to the other. Moreover, it may be true that, though two beasts appeared in John's visions, the main purpose was to reveal the war that the corrupt church would wage against the truth. This would justify applying to the means used anything the papacy did itself. That the saints were overcome to the extent that for the 1,260 years the church was unseen as an operative institution is a well-known historical fact. Specific instances of persecution against saints it is unnecessary to mention. and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.--This language was substantially fulfilled if the beast here means political Rome; for the empire exercised a general, if not a universal, sway over men. But if the reference is also indirectly to papal Rome, it is also fulfilled for the Catholic Church not only believed that it had the right to rule the world, but still believes it. Not only so, but during the 1.260-year period it practically exercised that authority. This text has to do with the beast's conduct during this period. 8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.--We are here told that all on the earth whose names are not in the book of life would worship the beast. This would be true indirectly, if the worship was rendered directly to the apostate church which is represented by the second beast. Of course, true saints did not worship the beast then and do not now. If only those whose names are not in the book of life worshiped him then those whose names are in that book did not worship him. The expression "written" in the book of life is figurative and means those who are saved and remembered as such by our divine Father. The words "from the foundation of the world," in the King James Version, modify the verb "slain"; in the Revised they modify "written." It is immaterial which, is the correct reading. If the latter, the terms upon which men are saved was predetermined; if the former, then Christ's death was predetermined. In either case God's purpose was so certain to take place that it was spoken of as if already done, on the principle that God calls "things that are not, as though they were." (Romans 4:17.) The Greek word for world--kosmos--means an "harmonious arrangement" of things, but in its use has a great variety of applications. The expression "from the foundation of the world" may be understood simply as "from the beginning." All the demands will be met by saying that after man sinned God purposed to save him through the death of his Son. Trying to make the words go further back involves the text in a difficulty for which man can offer no solution. The most natural explanations are probably the true ones. 9 If any man bath an ear, let him hear.--This means that those who are willing to be instructed should give heed to what had been said about the beast and the exhortation in the next verse. It was intended to encourage the saints in view of the dire misfortunes which the symbols had indicated would come upon them. 10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed.--This is in perfect agreement with the words of Jesus: "For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." (Matthew 26:52.) This is a general statement that the history of the world has verified abundantly. It harmonizes with another general statement that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7.) Nations recognize the law that "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." (Genesis 9:6.) Here John evidently intended to encourage the saints by assurance that the nation that would inflict all these calamities would in turn be led into captivity--rewarded as her acts deserved. That political Rome led nations into captivity and papal Rome persecuted Christians are facts fully sustained. In both the spirit of this verse has been completely fulfilled. That both must pay for their crimes is as certain as that God's word is true. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.--In the things here pictured is the world's greatest test of Christian faith. No one has ever been called to suffer more than fell to the lot of the saints under the persecutions that came to the true church during the period when papal Rome exercised supreme power in connection with the Roman Empire. Nothing but the strongest faith can meet such tests.