Revelation 13:1; I Saw A Beast Rise Up Out of the Sea
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.
The Bible predicts the rise of a world dictator in Revelation 13:1. The Bible tells us that there will arise in the latter days a world dictator that will unite all the governments of the world to form a world government. We saw how Satan and its forces persecuting Israel in Revelation 12. Here in Revelation 13, we see the rise of the evilest, world dictator of unprecedented global influence ever seen in human history.
The time for the rise of this world dictator seemed to be at our doors in this generation of Christians living in the 21stcentury.
This beast refers to the rise of this world dictator and his kingdom among the multitudes of men and nations on earth at that time from the “sea” or waters described in Rev. 17:15. The present tense and the participle of the verb “rise” tells us that it is gradual and progressive.
Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
This beast we are also told in Revelation 11:7 arose from the bottomless pit alluding to its demonic, evil, satanic origin.
Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
The beast has 7 heads and two horns with ten crowns alluding to the fullness of authority and power vested upon him. His rise to power is well documented by Daniel in Daniel 7:23-25 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom areten kings thatshall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 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.
The 4thbeast describes the Roman Empire identified by iron that extends to the ten toes which is part iron and part clay. It is described as “dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly” (v7) – The form or nature of the beast is not given as in the preceding cases – the lion, the bear, and the leopard – but it is left for the imagination to fill up. It was a beast more terrific in its appearance than either of the others, and was evidently a monster such as could not be designated by a single name. The terms which are used here in describing the beast – “dreadful, terrible, exceedingly strong,” are nearly synonymous, and are heaped together in order to give an impressive view of the terror inspired by the beast. There can be no doubt as to the general meaning of this, for it is explained Daniel 7:23 as denoting a kingdom that “should devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces.” As a symbol, it would denote some power much more fearful and much more to be dreaded; having a wider dominion; and more stern, more oppressive in its character, more severe in its exactions, and more entirely destroying the liberty of others; advancing more by power and terror, and less by art and cunning, than either. This characteristic is manifest throughout the symbol. [Barnes]
Ten horns – “horn” represents power, political or military. The horn gives an animal a regal look and provides such an impressive mechanism that their imagery was widely employed to represent power. [Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, 400] Understood in the light of Daniel 2, we see a corresponding description between the ten toes and the ten horns – in that they are ten kings – 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom areten kings thatshall arise…
There have been suggestions on the regional groupings that we can observe as nations gravitate together as we study the world today in the light of Scripture – this 4th kingdom is diverse and will devour the whole earth (v23).
10 Regions
Region 1-NAU – Canada, United States of America, Mexico
Region 2-EU – Western Europe, British Isles, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Turkey
Region 3 – Japan, Pacific Islands
Region 4 – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa
Region 5 – Eastern Europe, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Korea
Region 6 – Central America (including Mexico), South America, Carribean Islands
Region 7 – Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Algeria, Morrocco, Saudi Penisula, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Region 8-AU – Africa (without the above North African countries and South Africa), Madagascar
Region 9 – India, S. E. Asia
Region 10 – China
Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn wereeyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
The Anti-Christ (little horn) will arise after the 10 kings (Daniel 7:24) after he vanquishes 3 kings. The bible describes him as very intelligent (“eyes”), arrogant and boastful (Daniel 7:11), will persecute the saints (Daniel 7:25 cf. Matthew 24:8), subjugate and control Israel and will be judged by God (Revelation 19:19-20).