Rev 13:1-2 Part 2, Who is the Beast?
Rev 13:1-2 Part 2, Who is the Beast?
[Study Aired January 5, 2025]
Rev 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.
Rev 13:2 And 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.
In this study we will learn, among many other things, why Daniel was told to “seal up the book”, while John is told “seal not the book.”
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
The Lord’s message to John is the exact opposite:
Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Everything Daniel experienced happened to him as a type of us, and it “was written for our admonition.”
1Co 10:6 Now these things became types of us, for us not to be lusters after evil things, (CLV)
1Co 10:11 Now all this befalls them typically. Yet it was written for our admonition, to whom the consummations of the eons have attained. (CLV)
Daniel was not living in the time which the holy spirit calls “the fulness of time”, but we are. We are living in the ‘fullness of time’ when “God has sent forth His Son” who is now, for the first time ever, revealed to be “in you” with “the kingdom of God [which] is [also] within you.”
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Where is Christ, the king of God’s kingdom, to be found?
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The word ‘fulness’ in Galatians 4:4 is the Greek word ‘pleromah‘, and it means ‘completion’, as in ‘seven heads.’ Here is Strong’s definition of this Greek word.
G4138
πληρωμα
ple ro ma
play’- ro- mah
From G4137; repletion or completion, that is, (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period): – which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.
No, this verse does not bolster the false ‘fullness now’ doctrine, which teaches that since we are neither male nor female in Christ, therefore the resurrection is already past, and the “sealing of the holy spirit of promise” is already past, and therefore “the redemption of the purchased possession” is now ours.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest [Greek: down payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The ‘fullness now’ heretics fail to notice that the ‘sealing with the holy spirit’ is merely “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” at the “blessed and holy first resurrection.”
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
‘Fullness now’ is not the point of Galatians 4:4. “The fulness of time” of Galatians 4:4 refers to the predestined time that Christ was to be revealed to mankind. Like “the iniquities of the Amorites” which had to be fulfilled before Israel could replace them in the promised land, Christ was also appointed a time to come and replace our old “first man Adam” and take up His dwelling within us:
Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. [G378: ‘anapleroo’, from ‘ana’, the Greek word for ‘up’ and ‘pleroo’ the Greek word meaning “to fill”, ABP+].
What this verse is teaching us is that we are living in the times in which “the Christ” is being revealed to “His Christ”, and what this verse is telling us is that from the scriptural and Biblical perspective of the holy spirit, the first Adam was not yet revealed as the incomplete ‘image of God’. Only when we are given to see and understand that our father Adam, even in all of his carnal, dying, earthly glory, “cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1Co 15:50), only then will his replacement be revealed. “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law”, made to be “tempted of the devil” at the fullness of time, at the ‘pleroma’, the fullness of the appointed time.
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Here is this same statement concerning the revelation of “all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them” in spiritual terms which reveal those kingdoms and their glory to also be within our “first man Adam”:
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 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. [“all the glory of… the kingdoms of this world”]
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
“Then shall that wicked be revealed” is the revealing of “the son of perdition.” The revelation of “the son of perdition” is the revealing of “all the kingdoms of the world, and all the glory of them” within “the first man Adam” whom we all are before we, through Christ, become “the last Adam”:
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne [aorist tense] the image of the earthy, we shall also bear [future tense] the image of the heavenly.
This revealing of the son of perdition within us comes simultaneously with the revelation of Jesus Christ, who “shall consume the son of perdition, with the spirit [words] of His mouth, and shall destroy [him] with the brightness [knowledge] of His coming”. As is always the case, what sounds like an instantaneous event in scripture, is actually a process of “judgment” which requires that we all “endure to the end.”
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Why ten horns?
Both of these words, the word ‘ten’ and the word ‘horn’, have a spiritual meaning which is lost on the natural man. The number ten is always seen, when used negatively, in connection with the perfection of the flesh. Our perfection in the flesh is the sum of our sins and our debt to God. To what is that likened in scripture?
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [This is you and me and all of mankind]
You and I are that “one… which owed Him ten thousand talents”.
It was because of Egypt’s sins that ten plagues were poured out on Egypt, and the sum of a lawless man’s offenses against God are summed up in ten commandments for the lawless and disobedient.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
The word ‘ten’ also has a positive application in scripture, where it is used in reference to the rewards of the “overcomers.”
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
The fact that these ten horns are found upon a beast who, as we will see later in this chapter, is given power to cause ‘all men to receive’ his mark or his number or his name, tells us that this is the symbol of “all the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them” within us.
Rev 13:16 And 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:
Rev 13:17 And 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.
According to Daniel 7, horns can have “the eyes of a man” (Dan 7:8), and according to Revelation 17, these ten horns “are ten kings.” It is in the days of these “ten horns” that Christ will judge this beast within us all.
Dan 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 were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones [of these ten horns] were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
That these ‘ten horns’ are one and the same as the ‘ten toes’ of Daniel 2 is made clear from the fact that it is in the days of both that judgment comes and the kingdom of God is set up on this earth.
Dan 2:42 And as the [ten] toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of these [ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The number ‘ten’ tells us that the flesh has been brought to its full glory and perfection. The ten horns on this beast, tell us that this beast is no longer an immature beast, or a ‘nepios’, but he has become a fully grown child, or a ‘huios’ a ‘prince’ of disobedience.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children [Greek: uihos, a mature child] of disobedience]:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Here is the spiritual description of how the great harlot rules over these ten kings within us. She rules over them by telling them to ignore Christ’s Words and do what the beast within wants to do, “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…” and not “doing the things Christ says to do.”
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
These ten kings, ten toes or ten horns are simply the symbol of the power of the heart and mind of the beast which we all are by nature (Eph 2:3). Their judgment and destruction is even now taking place in the lives of God’s elect.
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Why are these ten kings called horns?
Whether it is “the horns of the altar” or the horns of an ox, ‘horns’ in scripture are always the symbol of strength and power. The strength and power of the “horns of the altar” is our salvation. In the Old Testament, if one’s life were at stake, he “took hold of the horns of the altar” and begged for God’s mercy.
1Ki 1:51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
1Ki 1:52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
1Ki 1:53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.1Ki 2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Both of these men eventually died at the hand of King Solomon because Solomon would not tolerate insubordination in his land and in his kingdom. When we “do not the things that Christ says” to do, we are as these insubordinate kings or horns within Christ’s kingdom, and we, too, must die so that Christ can live within us and replace the old insubordinate kings within us. These “ten horns” within us are the symbol of the strength of the innumerable false doctrines which carry us all away to our own destruction, just as Adonijah and Joab were destroyed for their insubordinate ways.
The strength of the altar is in its horns, so, too, is the strength of a bull in his horns.
Deu 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns [are like] the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
When we rely on our “own strength”, the scriptures call that “taking to us horns.”
Amo 6:13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
The symbolism of the ten horns on the beast that comes up out of the sea tells us that this is us in the full blown glory and perfection of our own strength in “the first man Adam”, and, according to Amos, it is all “a thing of naught.”
Summary
We have seen in this study that “standing upon the sand of the sea” is where we all are when we first see that “mankind himself is a beast” (Ecc 3:18), made on the sixth day as an incomplete image of God. It is only when we see ourselves as “standing on the sand of the sea” that we are able to see that the beast of Revelation 13 is within us. It is here, standing upon the sand of the sea, that we see the beast we are with all of his strength and with his seven heads and ten horns and all the blasphemous names that are upon him.
We saw the scriptures which explain why this beast within us is said to have seven heads and ten horns, and what we saw is that this beast is described in these terms because he is the offspring of “his father the devil”, also known as the “great red dragon” in chapter 12. That being so, he appears just as his father appears, with “seven heads and ten horns” here in chapter 13. We are even told that in worshiping this beast and in serving ourselves, with no regard for the instructions of our Lord, we are also guilty of worshiping the dragon who empowers this beast who we are.
We have seen that this beast is said to have seven heads because ‘seven’ is the number that signifies completion, and we saw that at this point in our walk we are called the uihos, or complete and mature children, or uihos of disobedience, under the complete sway and influence of “the prince of the power of the air… our father the devil” (Joh 8:44, Eph 2:2-3).
We have seen that while the number seven signifies completion, the number ten signifies the perfection of our flesh and all of its desires to turn away from the words of our Lord. Hence we are said to have ten horns.
We have also seen that throughout scripture, horns are the symbol of strength, whether for good, as in the mercy that is hoped for in grasping the horns of the altar, or the strength of sin in our lives when we refuse our Lord’s words and seek our own ways and call it the horns of our own strength.
We have seen that are these ten horns are called ten kings because they represent all that is in us which perfects the strength of our flesh, even as it rejects the words of our Lord.
Finally, we are reminded that this chapter concerning the beast that is mankind, along with the preceding chapter concerning the relationship of the woman who brings forth the manchild, with the great red dragon, along with the next two chapters, are all leading up to and introducing the great day of God’s wrath, referred to as “the Lord’s day” in Revelation 1.
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
We are reminded that John sees this whole vision in retrospect, “behind him”, and we are reminded that none of us become the image of our savior until we have come to see Him as He is and are changed into that same image from glory to glory.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Next week, if the Lord wills, we will learn how the beast within us is given a deadly wound, and how that wound is healed to bring him back to being in very good beastly health. We will see that it is the healing of our deadly wound which causes us to be most faithful to our worship of this beast, and we will see that our worship of our own ways, is in reality nothing more or less than the worship of our father the devil, also known as the dragon who gives our beast his power, and his throne, and his great authority over our flesh.
We will see once again that the time in which this all takes place is referred to and signified as a period of “forty and two months”.
Other related posts
- Rev 13:1-2 Part 2, Who is the Beast? (January 4, 2025)
- Numbers in Scripture - "Seven = Completion, Especially Of Judgment" (July 8, 2008)
- Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 37 (February 20, 2014)
- Christ Made Sin 2008 (July 25, 2008)