Revelation 13:1; A Beast Rise Up

Revelation 13:1 And 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. 

With the dragon in position, (Revelation 12:18), v1 introduces a new scene which tells the way the dragon moves in his effort to wage war with the seed of the woman. [Alan F. Johnson, “Revelation” in EBC, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (GrandRapids: Zondervan, 1981), 12:520]

This is a continuation of John’s vision of the woman clothed in the sun and moon, but at this point a new phrase in a description of the resultant warfare between the beast of the sea and the seed of the woman whom this section calls “the saint”. [Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22, An Exegetical Commentary, Moody Press, 1995, 150]

The whole of Revelation 13 is devoted to a description of the nature and activities of two fearsome and awe-inspiring beasts. The earth is now the scene of satanic operations, and God-fearing Jews and Gentiles become the objects of the devil’s murderous intentions. His ministers of deceit and cruelty are two beasts, actual men who use their delegated power efficiently on behalf of their hellish master. The first beast – the sea beast and the second beast – the earth beast. [Herbert Lockyer, All About the Second Coming, Hendrickson, 2007, 106-107]

As John’s vision unfolded, the dragon summoned the Antichrist, described as a beast coming up out of the sea. Thērion (beast) is also used to describe Antichrist in 11:7. It does not refer to a domesticated animal, but to a wild, savage, vicious monster, thus describing Antichrist as a ferocious and rapacious personality. The beast must be understood as representing both a kingdom and a person. The beast must represent a kingdom, because of the complex description of him in the latter half of verse 1. Yet the beast must also represent a person, since he is always described with personal pronouns (e.g., “his,” “him,” “he”; cf. vv. 1–8; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2, 10). Daniel (Dan. 7:25; 8:24–25; 11:36–45) and Paul (2 Thess. 2:4) also describe the Antichrist as a person. In this manner, Scripture views the final world empire as inseparable from its ruler, much as Hitler is inseparably linked to the Third Reich.

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak greatwords against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 

Daniel 8:24-25 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himselfin his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 

Daniel 11:36-45 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge andincrease with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countriesshall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, evenEdom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall beat his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2000). Revelation 12–22 (pp. 41–42). Chicago: Moody Press.