Prophecy · Chapter 13 of 22

Revelation 13

John sees a beast rise from the sea, given power by the dragon, blaspheming God and warring against the saints for forty and two months. A second beast rises from the earth, speaking like a dragon, working wonders, and forcing all people to receive a mark to buy or sell. The chapter ends with a call for wisdom and the number of the beast.

What happens in Revelation 13

Standing on the sand of the sea, John watches a beast rise with seven heads and ten horns, marked with blasphemy and resembling a leopard, bear, and lion combined. The dragon gives it power and a throne. One head appears mortally wounded yet healed, and the whole world wonders and worships. The beast blasphemes God and makes war on the saints, overcoming them, given authority over every nation for a limited time. Only those whose names are in the Lamb's book of life refuse it.

Then a second beast rises from the earth with two lamblike horns but a dragon's voice. It exercises the first beast's power, deceives with fire from heaven and miracles, and orders an image made that speaks and kills. It compels all, small and great, to take a mark in hand or forehead, without which none may buy or sell. Wisdom is called for to count the number, six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 13 in context

Revelation was written to churches under Roman pressure to worship the emperor. Chapter 13 follows the dragon's expulsion in chapter 12 and shows how that ancient enemy works through political power (the first beast) and false religion (the second beast) to demand the worship due to God alone.

The imagery draws on Daniel 7, where fierce beasts rising from the sea represent violent, oppressive empires opposed to the people of God.

Main themes of Revelation 13

Revelation 13 (KJV)

1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And 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 seat, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Verses to carry from Revelation 13

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”Revelation 13:8

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”Revelation 13:10

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”Revelation 13:18

Reflection

The beast still asks for allegiance through fear, pressure, and the threat of loss. Where do you feel forced to bow to something less than God to keep your place, your income, or your safety? The saints endured by faith, not force. Consider one place where quiet faithfulness is your calling today.

A prayer from Revelation 13