In Revelation 13, John introduces us to the sea beast, which we identified earlier as Rome and her rulers. He also introduces us to the land beast, which represents the militia who set up images of Rome’s emperors and who enforced emperor worship.
We also see a sea beast. People who live near oceans have heard rumours about a ‘great beast’ that lives in the ocean. It can sink any ship, and no sailor could ever pierce it with a harpoon; that was a fearful image.
In this chapter, we learn not only who the dragon is, but also who ‘the sea beast’ and the ‘land beast’ are. These powerful figures represent someone or something during the time of the first century.
Let’s take a moment to identify from the Scriptures some characteristics that accompany the sea beast so that we can understand who or what this is.
In Revelation 13:1-10, we see some of the characteristics of the sea beast. John sees the dragon standing on the shore of the sea, and coming out of the sea, he sees a beast, Revelation 13:1. Who is this beast? It is none other than Rome; it’s a representation of Rome.
The language and symbolism used for ‘beast’ were used by Daniel to represent a ruler or his government, Daniel 7:2-8. Daniel used the same animal imagery to represent the four world empires, which were Babylon, Medo-Persian, Grecian and then the Roman Empire. The fact that the leopard, bear, and lion are used here probably demonstrates that the Roman empire was a composite of the other three, Revelation 13:1-2.
Many Jewish Christians, who knew their Old Testament well enough, would instantly see a parallel and draw the conclusion that the beast of Revelation 13 and the beast of Daniel 7:23 were one and the same.
Notice the beast has ten horns, Revelation 13:1 / Daniel 7:7. This is the way the dragon was described back in Revelation 12:3. The number ten carries with it the meaning of completeness.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The ten horns are the client kings of Rome. They are the kings who have submitted themselves to Rome and therefore have Rome’s approval to rule, Revelation 17:12-13.’
The beast has seven heads, Revelation 13:1. The seven heads stand for seven hills, which represent seven kings, Revelation 17:10 / Daniel 7:24. The seven hills are the seven hills on which Rome sits. Every October, there was a commemoration of the fact that Rome was founded on seven hills.
The seven hills of Rome, Cermalus, Cispius, Fagutal, Oppius, Palatium, Sucusa and Velia, figured prominently in Roman mythology, religion, and politics. The seven heads could also have represented the seven Roman emperors from Augustus Caesar to Flavius Domitianus, better known as Domitian.
The beast has ten crowns, Revelation 13:1. The number ten carries with it the meaning of completeness. As a rule, set by Augustus, there were always ten senatorial provinces in the Imperial government system.
These crowns are not the same as the crowns worn by the righteous, which is the ‘stephanos’ crown of the victor, Revelation 2:10 / Revelation 3:11 / Revelation 6:2. Satan or the beast never wins any permanent victories; they only wear diadems, but they are never pictured wearing the victory crown.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This beast has seven heads and ten horns. These stand for the rulers and the emperors of Rome. Since Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, there had been seven emperors: Tiberius, A.D. 14-37; Caligula, A.D. 37-41; Claudius, A.D. 41-54; Nero, A.D. 55-68; Vespasian, A.D. 69-79; Titus, A.D. 79-81; Domitian, A.D. 81-96. These seven emperors are the seven heads of the beast. But in addition, it is said that the beast had ten horns. The explanation of this second figure lies in this. After the death of Nero, there was a short period of almost complete chaos. In eighteen months, three different men briefly occupied the imperial power: Galba, Otho and Vitellius. They are not included in John’s list of the seven heads but are included in the list of the ten horns.’
Notice on each head there is a blasphemous name, Revelation 13:1 / Daniel 7:8 / Daniel 7:25.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These are the titles which the emperors took to themselves. Every emperor was called divus or sebastos, which means divine.’
These emperors reigned with such power and distinction that Roman temples were erected to each one of them. These emperors were worshipped in these temples as Gods and Lords. Under Domitian, those who refused to worship him as a God were subjected to various punishments from exile to death, Revelation 17:3 / Revelation 17:10.
The texts tell us that the sea beast has been given its power by the dragon, Revelation 13:2, who we now know is the devil, Revelation 12:9. So, the sea beast is a tool or a pawn in the hand of Satan. It’s under Satan’s control, and as such is a wicked and ungodly figure. Whoever or whatever this beast is, it’s being ruled by ‘the god of this world’, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan himself.
John mentions that one of the beast’s heads had a fatal blow to it, but healed, Revelation 13:3. This is speaking about the death and resurrection of Rome. The Roman Empire was destroyed and resurrected again. This event happened during the reign of Nero and would be something that definitely would be on the minds of the people of that day.
The association in their minds between the burning of Rome and the wounded head of the Roman Empire would be easily recognised. There was plenty of time for this death blow to one of the heads to be healed. History tells us that Rome was built back bigger and better than ever.
Notice that people worship the beast, Revelation 13:4. Whatever this beast was, during the first century, people were worshipping it. History tells us that the rulers or Caesars of Rome often were viewed as gods; that’s how they viewed themselves.
And the annals of history clearly show that the people worshipped Roman emperors as gods. Thus, we see that the sea beast receives its power from Satan and that people worshipped the beast, Revelation 13:5.
The people perceive the Roman Empire as invincible and unable to collapse. Because the beast was so powerful, because the beast had risen again from the dead, it’s not surprising the people thought that the beast was God and shouted, ‘Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it? Revelation 13:5.
Swete, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The beast’s claim to pre-eminence lies not in any moral greatness but in sheer brute force. Any empire founded on brute force and not on moral greatness is anti-God. The description of the beast as speaking haughty things, Revelation 13:5, comes from the description in Daniel of the little horn, Daniel 7:8 / Daniel 7:20.’
The beast was now given a mouth which is full of pride and ignorance; it is also a mouth which is full of blasphemy, Revelation 13:5. History tells us that Domitian was full of himself and claimed to be a deity, Daniel 11:36–37. He was given authority to exercise his authority for forty-two months, Revelation 13:5. The 42 months represent a period of time for persecution, Daniel 7:25 / Revelation 11:1-3.
When the beast opened its mouth, the first thing it did was blaspheme the Name of God, slander His Name, His dwelling place and those who live in heaven, Revelation 13:6.
Beale, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Blaspheming implies speaking out against God through self-deification.’
This is all-out disrespect for God and His people. Remember God’s dwelling place is within His people, Revelation 1:2-3 / Revelation 2:24 / Revelation 2:27 / Revelation 3:6 / Revelation 3:24 / Ephesians 2:20 / 1 Corinthians 3:16 / 1 Corinthians 6:19.
All this power and authority may well have come from the dragon or from God, but God is the One who ultimately gives the authority. The sea beast is identified as a persecutor of the saints and as a dominant world power, Revelation 13:7 / Daniel 7:21-22. Who persecuted Christians? Rome did. Who was the dominant world power during the first century? Rome and her rulers, the Caesars.
Revelation 13:8 tells us something interesting about those who don’t worship the beast. Only those whose names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life didn’t worship the beast, Revelation 3:5 / Revelation 20:15. It was the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In the ancient world, rulers kept registers of those who were citizens of their realms; only when a man died or lost his rights as a citizen was his name removed. The Book of Life is the register of those who belong to God.’
So, who is it who isn’t worshipping the beast? It’s the Christians because those whose names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life were the ones who weren’t worshipping the beast. What is the sea beast? It’s none other than Rome and her rulers.
The sea beast wasn’t a figure that would show up two thousand years down the road. It wasn’t something about which God was prophesying that had to do with us today. Christians would have understood this; the sea beast was under the control of Satan and was none other than Rome and her rulers.
These verses give us adequate information to know that the sea beast is representative of Rome. When we see the sea beast under the control of the dragon, we can know that it’s speaking of Rome and her rulers, all of which would have been easily recognised by first-century Christians.
The words, ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear’ were one of Jesus’ favourite phrases, Matthew 13:43 / Mark 4:9 / Revelation 2:7 / Revelation 2:11, and it means we must not listen but pay close attention to what is being said.
This war that the beast will make against God’s people is going to be bad; some Christians will be taken captive while others will be killed, Jeremiah 15:2. Because of this, the Christians need to be patient, Matthew 26:52.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Brace yourselves for the impact of the persecution and suffering that will come from the Roman Empire. The world is standing for the beast, worshipping the beast, and honouring the beast. The Christians will not do this, and suffering will come from this.’
Who is the land beast? The land beast represents the people under the power of the Roman government. The earth beast has two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon, Revelation 13:11.
The horns are symbolic of power and authority; it only has two horns, which implies it’s inferior to the sea beast, which has ten horns befitting the awesome power of a dragon, Revelation 13:1. The horns of the sea beast represent the emperors of Rome. Note that the land beast is like a lamb, but it is not the Lamb of God.
The land beast exercises the authority of the first beast, Revelation 13:12. It’s as if the land beast works under the sea beast, which has given the land beast its authority.
We also see that the land beast causes the people to make an image of, and worship, the sea beast. The land beast has authority and goes around enforcing the worship of the sea beast, who, if you remember, was fatally wounded but healed, Revelation 13:3.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The land beast is a religious-slanted beast both by its work and its name. It is twice called the ‘False Prophet’, Revelation 16:13 / Revelation 19:20.’
Notice the false miracle it does, it causes fire to come down from heaven as Elijah did, 2 Kings 1:12. I say they are false miracles because we see that the land beast, through trickery and other things that were not real, Exodus 7:10-12. The signs were counterfeit, these wonders were lies, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 / 2 Timothy 3:13.
The signs and wonders were designed to make people think that the sea beast is a god. Remember that people viewed Roman emperors as gods, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
It was the land beast’s job to make sure that people looked up to the emperors as gods. In Revelation 13:14, we learn that the land beast causes people to make images of the sea beast.
Archaeology has shown us that the Romans made busts or images of their gods, which were placed on pedestals so that people could worship them on a regular basis. It was the land beast’s job to see to it that people made such images and worshipped the sea beast.
Who is this land beast? The sea beast is Rome and her rulers, and if it’s the job of the second beast to go around and force people to worship the sea beast and to set up images of the sea beast, then the second beast is representative of a type of militia, government officials, or army that went around and caused people to worship the sea beast.
The dragon is Satan, and in the hand of the dragon is the sea beast. Rome and her rulers are causing Christians to suffer. The land beast represents people under the power of the Roman government who were going around and trying to force Christians to give their allegiance to Satan by worshipping the sea beast. Understanding this helps us understand much of what the Book of Revelation is about.
Here we read the second beast, the land beast, was given power to even put people to death if they did not worship the sea beast, Revelation 13:15. The land beast could give breath to the idols of Domitian and cause them to speak, Revelation 13:15.
Thus, the land beast is representative of some type of militia, a group of people who went around forcing people to worship the sea beast and punishing them if they refused to do so, either worship Domitian and live, or refuse and die.
Osborne, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Emperor Domitian especially encouraged this, calling himself, ‘our Lord and God.’
Some people who worshipped the sea beast, and who were known by marks on their hands and foreheads, Revelation 13:16. This mark signified that a person’s allegiance was to the sea beast.
It was the land beast’s job to be sure that the mark was clearly seen and known, Revelation 11:17. Remember, the land beast is identified as a false prophet, Revelation 13:13 / Revelation 19:20.
We now come to a number that has become so popular in our day and age that it deserves to be discussed here: 666, Revelation 13:18. If the number seven represents that which is complete, perfect, and whole, the number six falls one short of seven.
Does 666 represent some type of ‘hidden meaning’ that requires us to use algebra and trigonometry to uncover some kind of ‘magical calculation’? No. That isn’t what God is saying.
The number six is one less than seven. If seven is perfection, then since six is one less than seven, it represents imperfection. And look at how it is multiplied in 666, imperfection, imperfection, imperfection! That’s the idea.
The Roman Empire was the embodiment of human imperfection and human sinfulness. The number 666 isn’t some literal number on some literal human’s head. Nor is it a Social Security number, as some have suggested in the past.
It simply represents the imperfection and sinfulness of man, especially those who were enforcing emperor worship. Without God in our lives, we cannot have salvation, and if we look to men for our salvation, our salvation will be imperfect.
Thus, 666 is a sign of the utter and complete imperfection of man and his sinfulness outside of Jesus, especially in light of the identity of the sea beast and the land beast, which was enforcing emperor worship.
When it comes to the subject of the ‘mark of the beast’ in Revelation 13, it never ceases to amaze me the many different theories there are on what this mark actually is.
Does it really speak about people being ‘microchipped’ in the future? Does it really speak about ‘bar codes’ being tattooed on people’s heads and hands in the future?
I don’t have to remind you that the Book of Revelation is highly figurative, and we must also keep in mind, it was written to the seven churches of Asia Minor, Revelation 2-3, to prepare the saints in Asia for the enormous persecutions they would soon have to face, not thousands of years later, Revelation 1:1 / Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:6 / Revelation 22:10.
It was written at a time when the faith of Christians was put to the ultimate test, as they were forced to deny their faith in the Lord and worship Caesar or face torture and death.
To understand what this ‘mark’ is, we need to go back into the history of Rome. Rome had ordered that all citizens give both political and religious allegiance to Rome and her government. All citizens had to submit to the Roman laws along with the Roman religious laws; this was a demonstration of loyalty to Rome.
The ‘mark’ refers to those who would direct worship toward Rome, Revelation 14:9 / Revelation 20:4. The mark, or identification, was both psychological, that is, what the mark is on their ‘foreheads’ refers to, and the mark was also physical, that is, what the mark on their ‘hands’ refers to.
Make no mistake about it, Domitian wanted total allegiance given to him, and he wanted the very minds of people, the ‘forehead mark’, along with an outward recognition, the ‘hand mark’, that people were loyal to him.
Remember, if people weren’t willing to openly declare that Caesar is lord, then they would be put to death! Those who gave in to Rome were given this identifying mark, either on their right hand or on their forehead, because with this mark came privileges.
Those who had the mark could buy and sell goods; in other words, they could prosper, Revelation 13:17. On the other hand, those who didn’t give into Rome and her laws and religious laws weren’t able to buy or sell any goods; this is the reason why they would suffer.
They could not buy or sell clothes, they couldn’t buy or sell food, and everything they needed to live was going to be refused to them because they didn’t have this mark.
When Domitian was ruler, anyone who worshipped the emperor needed to ask for a certificate, but it was only after receiving this certificate that they were allowed to buy and sell and take part in any Roman activity. This was a way of becoming a Roman citizen.
Many believe that the ‘mark’ is a literal, physical mark on the bodies of unbelievers, but when we contrast this ‘mark’ with the ‘seal’ which is on the forehead of believers, we soon discover it isn’t literal, Revelation 7:3 / Revelation 9:4 / Revelation 14:1 / Revelation 22:4. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a Christian with a literal, physical seal, with the names of Jesus and the Father tattooed on their foreheads.
Remember, this is figurative language, and here John is describing those who have been born again and redeemed by Christ’s blood. In other words, the seal is describing ownership, those who belong to Christ and the Father, those who are faithful to Him.
By way of contrast, the false prophet who causes everyone who isn’t a Christian to have the ‘mark of the beast’ written on their forehead simply means that this ‘mark’ was a sign that they belong to the beast and are loyal to him.
The devil always tried to do what God does, and so, this ‘mark’ on their foreheads or their right hand is simply the devil’s way of imitating the seal of God on God’s people.
If you have the name of Jesus and God the Father written on your forehead, it simply means that they own you, that you belong to them, that you are loyal to the Lord God Almighty. But if you have ‘the mark of the beast’, Revelation 13:17, written on your forehead, it signifies that he owns you, that you belong to him, that you are loyal to the devil.
Since the seal or name on the believer is obviously invisible, symbolising the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, ‘Acts 2:38-39 / Ephesians 1:13, it seems certain that the mark of the beast is likewise a symbolic way of describing the loyalty of his followers and his ownership of them.
We must always be careful when we’re trying to understand any text of the Bible, especially those texts which are very figurative in nature. If we’re not careful, we can come to all kinds of conclusions, and sadly, many people do.
When we remember that the things John wrote about in Revelation were ‘soon to take place’, Revelation 1:1 / Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:6 / Revelation 22:10, we can know for sure that John when he speaks of this ‘mark’, isn’t speaking about ‘microchip implants, tattoos or bar codes’, something which going to happen in the future. He was writing to Christians about things that were going to happen to them.
The important point in all of this is simply to ask ourselves this question: Do you have a ‘mark’ that identifies and signifies your loyalty to the devil? Or do you have a ‘seal’ that identifies your loyalty to Christ? Ephesians 1:13 / Ephesians 4:30.