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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 12:17 - 13:6
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_12:17 to Rev_13:6
Rev_12:17 bAnd the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Rev_13:1 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" 5There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev_13:1 "the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore" NASB, NKJV and NJB begin Revelation 13 with this phrase (i.e., Rev_12:17 b), while TEV concludes Revelation 12 with it.
There is a manuscript variant related to the verb in Rev. 12:18 and Rev_13:1, "stood"
1. "he stood," referring to the beast/dragon which relates to Revelation 12 – MSS P47, à , A, C, (NASB, NRSV, TEV, REB, NET, NIV)
2. "I stood," referring to John which relates forward to Revelation 13 – MSS P, 046, 051 (NKJV, NJB)
The UBS4 gives option #1 a "B" rating (almost certain).
The "sea" may be an allusion to Dan_7:2-3. It was a symbol of
1. the whole of humanity (cf. Isa_17:12-13; Isa_57:20; Rev_17:15)
2. the forces of chaos (cf. Genesis 1; Isa_51:9-10)
▣ "Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea" The wild beast (cf. Rev_13:14-15; Rev_15:2; Rev_16:13; Rev_15:8) is first mentioned without fanfare in Rev_11:7 as coming out of the abyss (cf. Rev_17:8). It seems to refer to "the Antichrist" of 1Jn_2:18 a,22; Rev_4:3; 2Jn_1:7, also known as "the man of lawlessness" in 2Th_2:3. The same description of this beast is found in Rev_12:3; Rev_17:3; Rev_17:8.
The phrase "coming out of the sea" has been interpreted in several ways.
1. literally, as in intertestamental Jewish apocalyptic literature as Leviathan and in Rev_12:11 as Behemoth
2. an allusion to Daniel 7, where the beast comes up out of the sea in Rev_13:3 and out of the earth in Rev_13:17, which in Daniel 7 are synonymous, but John has separated the last beasts into two separate end-time evil personalities: the sea beast, Rev_13:1 and the land beast, Rev_13:11
3. a symbol of fallen humanity (cf. particularly Rev_17:15, but also Dan_7:2-3; Isa_17:12-13; Isa_57:20)
The reason that the two beasts of chapter 13 are mentioned as coming out of the sea and the land is (1) because this chapter follows Daniel 7 so closely or (2) because they combine to represent the whole earth. It is also possible that these two beasts plus Satan form an evil parody of the Trinity.
▣ "Ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems" This is not exactly like the dragon (cf. Rev_12:3) but it is very similar (cf. Rev_17:3; Rev_17:7-12). The ten horns speak of complete power; the seven heads represent a perfect manifestation of evil, and the ten diadems are a claim to royalty. Evil is often a counterfeit of good. This is the first of several parodies of Christ.
▣ "blasphemous names" The Greek manuscripts are equally divided between the plural (MS A) "names" (NRSV, NJB) and singular (MSS P47, à , C, P) "name" (NKJV, TEV). UBS4 cannot decide which is original. Whichever is true, this is obviously an allusion to Dan_7:8; Dan_7:11; Dan_7:20; Dan_7:25 or Dan_11:36. These blasphemous titles are connected with the (1) claim of deity or (2) evil titles (cf. Rev_17:3).
Rev_13:2 "the beast which I saw was like a leopard. . .a bear. . .a lion" This combination of several beasts is another allusion to Dan_7:4-6, where it refers to a series of kings, but here the symbolism has been changed into a composite of all the anti-God world systems personified in one leader (cf. Dan_7:24).
▣ "And the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority" This is parallel to 2Th_2:9, which speaks of a Satanically-inspired power. The beast is not Satan, but a supernaturally empowered human manifestation or incarnation of him (cf. Rev_13:4; Rev_13:12). This is another parody of Christ (cf. Rev_5:6).
Rev_13:3 "I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain" This is a perfect passive participle, which is syntactically parallel to the Lamb of Rev_5:6. This is another parody of Jesus' death and resurrection.
▣ "and his fatal wound was healed" Does Satan have the ability to resurrect this person, or is this trickery, deception, and mimicking (cf. Rev_13:15)? Satan is parodying the power of God in raising Christ.
This may be a historical allusion to the "Nero redivivus" myth, which asserted that Nero would come back to life, and return with a large eastern army (Parthians), and attack Rome (cf. Sibylline Oracles, books III-V).
▣ "And the whole world was amazed and followed after the beast" Satan will use miracles to convince the unbelieving world to follow him (cf. Mat_24:24; Mar_13:22; 2Th_2:9; Rev_13:5; Rev_17:8), which is another parody of Christ. The world was impressed by the power of the two witnesses in Rev_11:13; now their fickleness is seen in their worshiping the beast.
Rev_13:4 "they worshiped the dragon. . .and they worshiped the beast" Evil desires not only political power, but religious worship (cf. Rev_13:8). Satan wants worship (cf. Rev_13:12; Rev_14:9; Rev_14:11; Rev_16:2; Rev_19:20; Mat_4:8-9). He wants to be like God (cf. possibly Isa_14:12-15). Implicitly, this is related to the Serpent's lie in Gen_3:5 and in Mat_4:9; Luk_4:5-7.
▣ "Who is like the beast" There have been three suggested origins for this phrase. Some see it as
1. a parody for the title of YHWH found in Exo_15:11; Psa_35:10; Psa_113:4
2. a parody of YHWH in Isa_40:18-22; Isa_43:11; Isa_44:6; Isa_44:8; Isa_44:9-20; Isa_45:6
3. a reference to Leviathan and Behemoth in Jewish apocalyptic literature (one example in the OT is Job 41, especially Job_41:33-34)
Rev_13:5 In Rev_13:5-7 and Rev_13:14-15 there are several passive verbs which imply that permission was given by Satan and ultimately by God (cf. Job). God is using Satan for His own purposes! Evil reveals its own motives by its words and actions.
▣ "a mouth speaking arrogant words" This is an allusion to:
1. "the beast" in Dan_7:8; Dan_7:11; Dan_7:20; Dan_7:25; Dan_11:36
2. Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Daniel 8; 1Ma_1:24
3. "the man of sin" in 2Th_2:4
4. the abomination of desolation of Mat_24:15, which refers to the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem under the Roman general, and later Emperor, Titus, in A.D. 70
This is a good example of how the historical focus of these symbols changes. In Daniel 8 it refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the interbiblical period; in Matthew 24 it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70 and in Daniel 7 (and possibly Dan_11:36-39) it refers to the activity of the end-time Antichrist.
▣ "to act for forty-two months" This is a direct allusion to Dan_7:25. It was first mentioned in Rev_11:2-3. It is a metaphor which denotes a period of persecution. See Special Topic at Rev_11:2 and notes at Rev_12:6.
Rev_13:6 "he opened his mouth in blasphemies" There is either a two or three-fold blasphemy in this verse against God's name, God's tabernacle, and God's people. It depends on how one translates this Greek phrase.