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Revelation 13
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. 2 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. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
This chapter describes surrogate powers that operate as agents on behalf of the dragon who remains largely invisible/behind the scenes as we saw foretold in 12:17. These operate according to Satan's version of God and rely on emotional and physical coercion to maintain power over others.
Verses 1-4 parallel verses 5-10.
Verses 1-10 are written in past tense and parallel verses 11-18 which are written in present or future tense.
I/he stood on the sand of the sea
In the Greek there is no entity named here as standing on the sand of the sea. However, since there is no chapter break or punctuation in the original, this could be a strategic transitioning of the dragon's activity from the previous verse. Positioned between the land and sea means viewing events in the middle between the origins of the following two beasts. The first from from the sea closely resembles the dragon's description in 12:3, and the second comes from the land. They are surrogates of the dragon as they reflect and carry out his objectives, methods, disposition and kind of power. They conspire with the dragon to compel worship that ultimately is to the dragon. Yet people think they are worshiping God because they imagine God to be like the dragon portrays Him to be.
Other translations make this idea more clear, keeping the dragon as the focal point.
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the seashore. And 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. (Revelation 12:17 - 13:1 NASB)
Additionally, the seashore of sand indicates the boundary between the two kinds of surface seen on this planet. This strategically positions the dragon to access and seek to control everyone on earth regardless of their location or occupation. In Job, God's metaphorical depictions of Satan are found located on both land (Behemoth) and as a sea beast (Leviathan). Here the dragon/Satan maintains a strategic position so as to manipulate his surrogate agents to carry out his own agenda.
The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, and said, "I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:15-18)
He [Jacob] dreamed. Behold, a stairway set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Behold, Yahweh stood above it, and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed. Your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you." (Genesis 28:12-15)
Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,' I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children. You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many.'" (Genesis 32:9-12)
We tend to think of this metaphor as God's promises to Abraham and his descendants. Yet there is more than one version of these promises, and the sands of humanity all have free choice as to how they relate to the One who gave the promises.
The angel of Yahweh said to her [Hagar], "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude." The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction. He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers." (Genesis 16:10-12)
It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. They went out, they and all their armies with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel. (Joshua 11:1-5)
The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude. (Judges 7:12)
The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven. (1 Samuel 13:5)
Then Job answered, "Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. (Job 6:1-4)
You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; and tell Tyre, you who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: You, Tyre, have said, I am perfect in beauty. Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty. (Ezekiel 27:2-4)
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go. Oh that you had listened to my commandments! then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea: your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your body like the grains of it: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me. (Isaiah 48:17-19)
Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. (Matthew 7:26)
Hear now this, foolish people, and without understanding; who have eyes, and don't see; who have ears, and don't hear: Don't you fear me? says Yahweh: won't you tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it can't pass it? and though the waves of it toss themselves, yet they can't prevail; though they roar, yet they can't pass over it.
But this people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Yahweh our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; who preserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and grew rich. They are grew fat, they shine: yes, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they don't plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy they don't judge. Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is happen in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will you do in the end of it? (Jeremiah 5:21-31)
Notice what seems to be strongly implied here between the first part of this passage and what comes after the word but a few sentences down. God points out how the natural seas, no matter how wild they may become or hard hard the waves pound the shoreline, cannot pass over and ignore the perpetual bounds put in place to distinguish between the land and the sea.
What God describes in the rest of this passage is His description of how the people called by His name do what even the great oceans cannot do. They have revolted with a rebellious heart and are gone. They no longer fear Yahweh in their heart. In other words, they ignore completely the natural boundaries put in place by God that defines the borders outlining what it looks like to reflect God's image as faithful human beings.
For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22)
"It will be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' There they will be called 'children of the living God.'" Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved; for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth." (Romans 9:26-28)
a beast coming up out of the sea
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)
The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:7-8)
I used to assume that the sea and the abyss were unrelated. But these passages clearly link these closely, meaning that they in fact may be one and the same thing. In researching the root words behind these, it starts to emerge what the connection is between the two words. The word translated here as sea comes from the meaning of salt water, while the word translated abyss refers to something perceived as bottomless. But that word also has compelling roots meaning both sea as well as mystery. Thus this beast is not merely coming up out of metaphorical salt water (think James 3:8-12) but is shrouded in mystery – exactly what the dragon relies on to achieve power over the minds of billions of people, all who dwell on the earth.
But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? (James 3:8-11)
The analogy James uses here links salt water with cursing. That is how this whole war came about and continues. This is the continual accusing of the reflectors of God on earth being done by the dragon we just studied recently. Cursing means to bad-mouth, discredit, gossip, slander, defame. By accusing the reflectors of God (our brethren) Satan casts shadows over God's reputation as the origin of those reflections. This is how he maintains such effective control over nearly all of the world, by keeping everyone in the dark about God's true goodness and reinforcing the doubts that keep us unable to trust God fully.
The ocean could certainly be perceived as a bottomless abyss by many. The mysterious nature of it affects anyone who tries to understand it, even those expert in this study. Mystery is one of the main methods Satan uses to entice as well as deceive, and it involved great numbers of people, and even more so as the world becomes chaotic in approach to the final showdown. Thus all of these elements can be found as the origins out of which the beasts arise who rely on these attributes to gain increased power over all who dwell on the earth.
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:18-21)
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Don't harm the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads!" (Revelation 7:1-3)
The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:8-11)
The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (Revelation 10:5-6)
Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)
He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)
The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. (Revelation 16:3)
He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. (Revelation 17:15)
They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate. "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her." A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:19-21)
Chapter 18 is the counterpart of a passage in Ezekiel that symbolically outlines the rise of the reign of Satan, labeled there as the king of Tyre. Chapter 37 extensively describes his activity of widespread trading on the seas, the very first invention of Lucifer's brilliant mind as he sought to make improvements on God's design of government. The dragon is very familiar with the sea, so it is no surprise that the first surrogate to show up on the scene here emerges out of that sea.
Here is a sampling of this amazing prophecy that is little known or appreciated about the operations invented and carried out by Lucifer turned Satan.
You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; and tell Tyre, you who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, thus says the Lord Yahweh: You, Tyre, have said, I am perfect in beauty. Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty. (Ezekiel 27:2-4)
Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for your wares. Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your traffickers; they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass for your merchandise. (Ezekiel 27:12-13)
The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas. Your rowers have brought you into great waters: the east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, and your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, and your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, and the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is in the midst of you, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin. (Ezekiel 27:25-27)
When your wares went forth out of the seas, you filled many peoples; you did enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise. In the time that you were broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company did fall in the midst of you. (Ezekiel 27:33-34)
Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God-- behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches... (Ezekiel 28:2-5)
Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another. (Daniel 7:3)
The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. (Revelation 20:13)
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. (Revelation 21:1)
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! (Isaiah 17:12)
In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)
ten horns and seven heads
Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:3)
On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names
We discussed this some time ago when we studied verse 3. Again we note the distinction between the location of the crowns. Previously they were on the heads while here they are on the horns. This is likely very significant. Instead of crowns on his heads as previously, now there are blasphemous names on them. This reveals progression and change for the worse.
Additionally the previous reference only had seven crowns while here there are ten crowns.
Ten is generally associated in prophecy with secular power different than the number seven.
Seven generally is associated in prophecy with spiritual power.
Some suggest this may be referring to individual countries vs. empires as the seats of power, while the smaller entities lend their power collectively to provide strength to larger entities. What does seem clear is that there are three distinct symbols here: heads, horns and crowns. Much has been taught about the meaning of these symbols, and I am open to more evidence clarifying what they might mean.
Blasphemy generally means to intentionally misrepresent or slander the reputation of God. Thus slandering His reputation while claiming to exalt it would be very much like how the dragon got his reputation.
A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)
He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)
Is it the woman or the 7-headed beast that has the blasphemous names?
Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God-- behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches-- (Ezekiel 28:2-5)
I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)
He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)
Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
From a different perspective on this chapter, the dragon might be seen as a counterfeit of the Father God in a substitute trinity; the beast from the sea could be a counterfeit Son and the next beast found in verse 11 could counterfeit the Holy Spirit. Whatever is going on here, it appears to be a regrouping with new strategies as the dragon relies on surrogates to counteract the new reality brought about by the appearance of the Male Child.
This could well be because of what happened at the ascension of Christ. It was at this point in the narrative that Satan was displaced by the Son as representative of this world, leaving the dragon exposed as a fraud and without official permission to enter the courts of heaven. Yet he never gives up his claim as representative over humanity, especially since the vast majority of those who dwell on the earth still continue to get their identity and directions from him and follow his ways of governing. Yet because he lost his official credentials to govern, he shifts tactics and assembles a consortium of allies who are all too eager to further his agenda on earth, which in effect still allows him to receive worship of the masses.
Many have correctly noted that this war is primarily over worship, and this seems clear throughout this book. When we come to appreciate the true nature of worship, that is involves where we get our sense of worth and who we allow to define our identity and how to act like ourselves, it is far easier to see how this is true. This chapter highlights how the majority of the world wonder after the beast who reflects the attributes of the dragon and receives its power from the dragon. People are addicted to power, meaning they worship the kind of power that Satan promotes over the power of love that the Lamb represents. This is the perspective we need to maintain in order to make sense out of the intensifying strength of the opposition as the dragon pulls out all the stops to legitimize his claim of sovereignty over this world. Indeed, he opposes all that is like the true God and exalts himself in place of the original God as he takes his seat in the temple of God – the hearts, minds and allegiance of people who dwell on the earth – and sets himself up on earth in place of God. He does this not just as a individual entity but now through a surrogate triune god designed to gain full control of every aspect of thought and activity on planet earth.
