Revelation 13:1 - 9

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

One thing we must understand is this book is not written in chronological order. This part of the vision which is seen by John precludes the part of the vision we have observed in the previous chapters. This part of the vision concerns the Roman empire which was during the days where the worship of idols was prevalent among the rulers of the empire.

The sea represents humanity, all earthly governments are a result of humans forming systems of rulership to govern their areas.

The beast coming up out of the sea represents the Roman Empire. The seven heads represent the seven hills of which the city of Rome sits. The only significance of the seven is to identify the city which is being prophesied of.

The ten horns signify how many kingdoms the empire consisted of. It is likely these ancient kingdoms were encompassed within the empire of Rome: England, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal and Spain.

At the head of these ten kings is a leader with a blasphemous name, the leader was blasphemous because this alliance or submission was against the authority of God, so it spoke evil of God and His authority.

The characteristics of the leopard, bear, and lion are all fiercely destructive in nature, this shows the attitude of Pagan Rome against Christianity.

The dragon, Satan, used the influence it had in the world, Remember, Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) Satan had the power to give Christ the rule over the nations of the earth if Christ would worship Satan. (Matthew 4:8 – 9) Satan favored and provided authority and influence to the Roman empire because he is always interested in supporting those institutions which are against God.

Some kind of mortal injury happened to the Roman empire, which when the empire survived most of the world was amazed that it recovered from it. It could have been to one of the prominent kingdoms, or prominent divisions of the government of Rome or even one of the prominent emperors.

The people of the world who did not worship God, were in effect worshipers of Satan, the dragon. The dragon provided the power and authority for the Roman empire, the beast, because they were idolators they gave their admiration to the beast and supported the one who provided for the beast. With the power of Satan behind this empire and as large as it was, their question was, “who can stand against this empire?”

The empire, beast, was given by the common consent of the people of the empire the ability to blaspheme God and his work, and his people. This kingdom was given the authority to suppress God's word and persecute Christians for “42 months”, we know this is the “Dark Ages” and the Roman-Catholic empire was the empire which suppressed Christians and tried to destroy the word of God. The pagan Roman empire is shown as having part of this because it is the empire which gave its power to the church by uniting with the church through the efforts of Constantine. The Roman empire was morally responsible for the Dark Ages even though it was no longer in existence but had morphed into a church-state. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

The leaders of Rome did not like God or the work of His church because he taught against the worship of idols. Therefore they spoke against God, and the church, and against God's angels.

God allowed the beast, Rome to persecute the faithful disciples, even killing some, and the ability to overcome some morally who were not as strong spiritually, the empire also controlled the lives of all the people of the kingdoms which the empire consisted of.

Everyone on earth who did not worship God and accept Christ who had died for them so they could have eternal life, the plan existed long before the empire of Rome existed. Everyone who was not following Christ followed the beast, Rome.

Everyone needs to take heed to the situation which is written here. It is of great importance to all of mankind.