| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 13 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
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Verse 1 (The Beast)
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,[b] and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
The sea as in the similar case of Daniel 7:2-3 refers to the sea of nations which is troubled like an
ocean with roaring and crashing waves as empires rise and fall. Animals represent empires. In
Daniel 7 & 8 various beasts, wild animals proved to be great empires often headed by certain
individuals. And the horns atop the beasts represented various notable kings of those empires.
In fact, both Daniel 7:24 and Rev. 17:12 tell us that the horns represent kings. John is seeing an
end-time empire rise up out of the political struggles amid the nations. It is the 4th beast of Daniel
(Dan. 7:7-8, 19-28). It is the revived Roman Empire. The constituents of the old Roman Empire
still linger in the cracked up divided continent of Europe. Revelation 17 shows us plainly that the
10 horns will form a coalition and together give their power to the beast. Could the present
European Common Market known as the European Union be the precursor for this Empire?
An 11th horn, the Antichrist will arise. He becomes the leader of the 10 nation Mediterranean -
European Confederation, asserting his will over the entire Beast empire. The 7 heads represent
world dominion. In Daniel 7:6 the beast representing the Greek Empire's period of domination
had 4 heads, one head for each of the four geographical sections of the post Alexander Greek
Empire. When Alexander had made his conquests and died (336-323 B.C.) his empire was
divided into 4 regions by his generals, and with slight adjustments this was the status quo until the
rise of Rome. If the heads of the beast of Revelation are interpreted similarly, then the 7 heads
must represent geographical regions.
It is an empire of blasphemy. The word blasphemy (anti-G-d speech) appears on each head of
the beast shows that this will be a world system based in wicked principles. The Antichrist will
blaspheme, curse G-d and persecute those who turn to Christ during the entire final 3 1/2 years of
the tribulation Period. This the Beast of verse 1 in its final form will be some sort of European
Confederation of 10 nations, a Revived Roman Empire. It's head is the Antichrist the 11th horn,
whose personality and mind will become synonymous with that of the empire which he rules. This
man and empire will grow until it has at least some degree of control over every region of the
world. It will ferociously persecute those who will confess Christ and during the final 3 1/2 years
of the Tribulation it will slaughter them amid the greatest persecution the world has ever seen.
Verse 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.
The beast has the fierce qualities of the Daniels. Seven previous beast nations. It has the
Babylonian mouth of a lion, lust to consume victims; great power. It has the precision feet of a
bear; great size, armies able to crush rebellions. It has the Greek body of a leopard, agility,
swiftness, a capacity for military mobility and speed of strike.
Verse 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.
The fatal wound of the head may be something that befalls the Antichrist as an individual as the
leader of the then dominant European head of the final Satanic government. This could be an
assassination of the Antichrist. Yet the deadly wound (Greek wound of death, fatal wound) was
healed. This causes all the world to wonder and marvel over. This seems to be the Antichrist's
counterfeit of the resurrection of Christ! How will it occur? No one knows. Perhaps it will be
accomplished by modern freezing techniques. When the world follows Antichrist they will be
following/worshiping Satan.
Verse 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?”
By this time the Beast apparently has become a strong military factor with his confederation of ten
kings behind him, and so the question will be asked who is able to make war with him. This is
especially fitting with his resurrection from death which shows him to be unable to be defeated.
There now comes a satanically inspired charismatic armor around the beast.
Verse 5
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority
to continue for forty-two months.
Dan. 9:27 shows that the abomination and its resultant breaking of the treaty with Israel happens
with the mid point of the seven years. Revelation 13:5 shows the Antichrist's death and
resurrection follows this event. Thus death, resurrection, abomination, defiling the Temple and
covenant breaking seem to occur as one integrated group of related events.
Verse 6
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle,
and those who dwell in heaven.
Now all can see the true nature of Antichrist; the mask of an angel of light has been torn off. He
now boldly curses G-d and all heavenly powers. Here the persecution of Israel and of all Gentiles
who turn to Christ begins.
Verse 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.
The beast during the final 3 1/2 year Great Tribulation is allowed by G-d's permissive will to
achieve some sort of universal dominion. Perhaps the Antichrist will be made the head of the
United Nations. He is permitted to persecute the saints.
Verse 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.
The mass of humanity shall follow the Antichrist and by so doing they shall worship the Antichrist
and the one behind him who is Satan. Those whose names are written in the book of Life, the
saved the elect, these shall not worship the Beast. G-d's Holy Spirit will keep them from doing it.
Verse 9
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Here is an admonition to us to head these things both those already said and those to follow.
Verse 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.
The wicked who at this time are capturing and slaying will eventually under the sure judgement of
G-d themselves end up captive and slain. Thus the saints who must end up captive and slain.
Thus the saints who must endure with patience may take hop by knowing this.
Verse 11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and
spoke like a dragon.
The second wild-beast is in 19:20 called the False Prophet. He and his ministry prove to be a
counterfeit of the Holy Spirit and of his ministry. The two horns could represent two functions.
Perhaps he will be the head of the world church council and at the same time be the head of a
denominational or Regional church council. In any event, his lamb-like appearance shows us that
he will, as did the Antichrist, come at first as humanity 's friend; but his dragon voice shows that
his true inner nature is corrupt and satanic.
Verse 12
And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Like the true Holy Spirit, this imposter will not direct adoration to himself, but rather to the
Antichrist, the imposter Christ. This seems to come to past, as it is here described, with the death
- resurrection cycle of the first beast.
Verse 13
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the
sight of men.
Here the false prophet, the second beast, somehow does wondrous feasts.
Verse 14
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the
sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was
wounded by the sword and lived.
Here the false prophet by miracles - lying wonders deceives the earth and causes the people to
adore and give allegiance (worship) to the Antichrist. We don't know what the image of the beast
is. It may be a giant computer used by Antichrist's governmental coalition. It may be an obelisk or
an automated statue of the Antichrist.
Verse 15
He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
The false prophet has power to give spirit (Greek pneuma) not life (Greek Zoe) to the image of
the beast. This may be done through mechanical means or trickery, but it will give the impression
of the supernatural. Failure to honer the image as in the case of the early Christians' refusal to
offer incense to the Roman gods will bring upon the one refusing a martyr's death.
Verse 16
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their
right hand or on their foreheads,
There is instituted under the regime of the false prophet, who serves the Antichrist, some system
of overt labeling. Loyalty tot he Beast must no be outwardly affirmed. Since there will be a great
persecution of G-d's people during this time, the Antichrist and false prophet apparently have a
disloyalty problem. Here the false prophet imitates the Holy Spirit by stealing his followers.
Verse 17
and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or] the name of the beast, or the
number of his name.
This loyalty mark which by number signifies the name of the Antichrist now becomes the key to
survival in the Beast's Kingdom. You can neither buy nor sell unless you have the mark. In WW II
a man who lived in Bulgaria stated; "You cannot understand and you cannot know that the most
terrible instrument of persecution ever devised is an innocent ration card. You cannot buy and
you cannot sell except according to that little, innocent card. If they please, you can be starved to
death, and if they please, you can be dispossessed of everything you have." Numbering or
identifying systems are not new. In contacting someone by telephone you must know their
number. People are identified by a social security number. The town in which you live has a zip
code. Could the mark of the beast be a bar code? We currently see bar codes on items
purchased in stores. Will the citizens of the New World order by implanted with a biochip or
microchip transponder in order to enable those in control to keep track of them by satellite. The
greatest impact in the next decade is telematics. It means the information of economy. The
largest subscribers are the federal government and private business. There are five major federal
agencies Department of Health, Education and Welfare and commerce which handles the census,
Department of Defense, of Social Security and the IRS. In 1985 the National Security Directive
gave the National Security Agency exclusive control and use of all federal computers and data
banks with no provision for the right of privacy. In the private sector the largest data banks
belong to the credit bureaus.
Verse 18
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the
number of a man: His number is 666.
666 is the number of man. Hal Lindsey states that 666 may be the prefix to a larger number that
everyone will be required to receive. A human microchip identification system would work best
with a highly centralized computerized system. Our current Universal Product code is based on
the numbers 666. Everything in telecommunications, the new super data highway, electronic
computers and satellites are being made ready for the approaching man of sin. By means of fiber
obtics and digital computerization, national communications transcend borders, even entire
continents. Much of what the scientist envisioned 25 years ago has been accomplished. The
largest computer network today is called Internet. Could this internet become the long arm of the
Antichrist and the New World order? In separate projects, computer scientist in the U.S. and
Japan are investigating what many call the ultimate interface between man and machine: human
thought. Researchers are using several approaches to develop thought-controlled computers.
The key of these efforts is the fact that the human brain emits electrical signals in varying
voltages before an action is performed. Computer scientist attempt to perceive patterns and
match them with specific actions.
There are 38 Biblical prophecies that have happened in our generation that have never happened
in any other. We have seen the rebirth of Israel, the revival of the Hebrew language and the
Roman Empire in the form of the European Union. If ever there was a time when many run to and
fro and knowledge is increased, this is it. We are moving toward world government much more
rapidly than most people would believe.
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,[b] and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
The sea as in the similar case of Daniel 7:2-3 refers to the sea of nations which is troubled like an
ocean with roaring and crashing waves as empires rise and fall. Animals represent empires. In
Daniel 7 & 8 various beasts, wild animals proved to be great empires often headed by certain
individuals. And the horns atop the beasts represented various notable kings of those empires.
In fact, both Daniel 7:24 and Rev. 17:12 tell us that the horns represent kings. John is seeing an
end-time empire rise up out of the political struggles amid the nations. It is the 4th beast of Daniel
(Dan. 7:7-8, 19-28). It is the revived Roman Empire. The constituents of the old Roman Empire
still linger in the cracked up divided continent of Europe. Revelation 17 shows us plainly that the
10 horns will form a coalition and together give their power to the beast. Could the present
European Common Market known as the European Union be the precursor for this Empire?
An 11th horn, the Antichrist will arise. He becomes the leader of the 10 nation Mediterranean -
European Confederation, asserting his will over the entire Beast empire. The 7 heads represent
world dominion. In Daniel 7:6 the beast representing the Greek Empire's period of domination
had 4 heads, one head for each of the four geographical sections of the post Alexander Greek
Empire. When Alexander had made his conquests and died (336-323 B.C.) his empire was
divided into 4 regions by his generals, and with slight adjustments this was the status quo until the
rise of Rome. If the heads of the beast of Revelation are interpreted similarly, then the 7 heads
must represent geographical regions.
It is an empire of blasphemy. The word blasphemy (anti-G-d speech) appears on each head of
the beast shows that this will be a world system based in wicked principles. The Antichrist will
blaspheme, curse G-d and persecute those who turn to Christ during the entire final 3 1/2 years of
the tribulation Period. This the Beast of verse 1 in its final form will be some sort of European
Confederation of 10 nations, a Revived Roman Empire. It's head is the Antichrist the 11th horn,
whose personality and mind will become synonymous with that of the empire which he rules. This
man and empire will grow until it has at least some degree of control over every region of the
world. It will ferociously persecute those who will confess Christ and during the final 3 1/2 years
of the Tribulation it will slaughter them amid the greatest persecution the world has ever seen.
Verse 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.
The beast has the fierce qualities of the Daniels. Seven previous beast nations. It has the
Babylonian mouth of a lion, lust to consume victims; great power. It has the precision feet of a
bear; great size, armies able to crush rebellions. It has the Greek body of a leopard, agility,
swiftness, a capacity for military mobility and speed of strike.
Verse 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.
The fatal wound of the head may be something that befalls the Antichrist as an individual as the
leader of the then dominant European head of the final Satanic government. This could be an
assassination of the Antichrist. Yet the deadly wound (Greek wound of death, fatal wound) was
healed. This causes all the world to wonder and marvel over. This seems to be the Antichrist's
counterfeit of the resurrection of Christ! How will it occur? No one knows. Perhaps it will be
accomplished by modern freezing techniques. When the world follows Antichrist they will be
following/worshiping Satan.
Verse 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?”
By this time the Beast apparently has become a strong military factor with his confederation of ten
kings behind him, and so the question will be asked who is able to make war with him. This is
especially fitting with his resurrection from death which shows him to be unable to be defeated.
There now comes a satanically inspired charismatic armor around the beast.
Verse 5
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority
to continue for forty-two months.
Dan. 9:27 shows that the abomination and its resultant breaking of the treaty with Israel happens
with the mid point of the seven years. Revelation 13:5 shows the Antichrist's death and
resurrection follows this event. Thus death, resurrection, abomination, defiling the Temple and
covenant breaking seem to occur as one integrated group of related events.
Verse 6
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle,
and those who dwell in heaven.
Now all can see the true nature of Antichrist; the mask of an angel of light has been torn off. He
now boldly curses G-d and all heavenly powers. Here the persecution of Israel and of all Gentiles
who turn to Christ begins.
Verse 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.
The beast during the final 3 1/2 year Great Tribulation is allowed by G-d's permissive will to
achieve some sort of universal dominion. Perhaps the Antichrist will be made the head of the
United Nations. He is permitted to persecute the saints.
Verse 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.
The mass of humanity shall follow the Antichrist and by so doing they shall worship the Antichrist
and the one behind him who is Satan. Those whose names are written in the book of Life, the
saved the elect, these shall not worship the Beast. G-d's Holy Spirit will keep them from doing it.
Verse 9
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Here is an admonition to us to head these things both those already said and those to follow.
Verse 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.
The wicked who at this time are capturing and slaying will eventually under the sure judgement of
G-d themselves end up captive and slain. Thus the saints who must end up captive and slain.
Thus the saints who must endure with patience may take hop by knowing this.
Verse 11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and
spoke like a dragon.
The second wild-beast is in 19:20 called the False Prophet. He and his ministry prove to be a
counterfeit of the Holy Spirit and of his ministry. The two horns could represent two functions.
Perhaps he will be the head of the world church council and at the same time be the head of a
denominational or Regional church council. In any event, his lamb-like appearance shows us that
he will, as did the Antichrist, come at first as humanity 's friend; but his dragon voice shows that
his true inner nature is corrupt and satanic.
Verse 12
And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Like the true Holy Spirit, this imposter will not direct adoration to himself, but rather to the
Antichrist, the imposter Christ. This seems to come to past, as it is here described, with the death
- resurrection cycle of the first beast.
Verse 13
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the
sight of men.
Here the false prophet, the second beast, somehow does wondrous feasts.
Verse 14
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the
sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was
wounded by the sword and lived.
Here the false prophet by miracles - lying wonders deceives the earth and causes the people to
adore and give allegiance (worship) to the Antichrist. We don't know what the image of the beast
is. It may be a giant computer used by Antichrist's governmental coalition. It may be an obelisk or
an automated statue of the Antichrist.
Verse 15
He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
The false prophet has power to give spirit (Greek pneuma) not life (Greek Zoe) to the image of
the beast. This may be done through mechanical means or trickery, but it will give the impression
of the supernatural. Failure to honer the image as in the case of the early Christians' refusal to
offer incense to the Roman gods will bring upon the one refusing a martyr's death.
Verse 16
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their
right hand or on their foreheads,
There is instituted under the regime of the false prophet, who serves the Antichrist, some system
of overt labeling. Loyalty tot he Beast must no be outwardly affirmed. Since there will be a great
persecution of G-d's people during this time, the Antichrist and false prophet apparently have a
disloyalty problem. Here the false prophet imitates the Holy Spirit by stealing his followers.
Verse 17
and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or] the name of the beast, or the
number of his name.
This loyalty mark which by number signifies the name of the Antichrist now becomes the key to
survival in the Beast's Kingdom. You can neither buy nor sell unless you have the mark. In WW II
a man who lived in Bulgaria stated; "You cannot understand and you cannot know that the most
terrible instrument of persecution ever devised is an innocent ration card. You cannot buy and
you cannot sell except according to that little, innocent card. If they please, you can be starved to
death, and if they please, you can be dispossessed of everything you have." Numbering or
identifying systems are not new. In contacting someone by telephone you must know their
number. People are identified by a social security number. The town in which you live has a zip
code. Could the mark of the beast be a bar code? We currently see bar codes on items
purchased in stores. Will the citizens of the New World order by implanted with a biochip or
microchip transponder in order to enable those in control to keep track of them by satellite. The
greatest impact in the next decade is telematics. It means the information of economy. The
largest subscribers are the federal government and private business. There are five major federal
agencies Department of Health, Education and Welfare and commerce which handles the census,
Department of Defense, of Social Security and the IRS. In 1985 the National Security Directive
gave the National Security Agency exclusive control and use of all federal computers and data
banks with no provision for the right of privacy. In the private sector the largest data banks
belong to the credit bureaus.
Verse 18
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the
number of a man: His number is 666.
666 is the number of man. Hal Lindsey states that 666 may be the prefix to a larger number that
everyone will be required to receive. A human microchip identification system would work best
with a highly centralized computerized system. Our current Universal Product code is based on
the numbers 666. Everything in telecommunications, the new super data highway, electronic
computers and satellites are being made ready for the approaching man of sin. By means of fiber
obtics and digital computerization, national communications transcend borders, even entire
continents. Much of what the scientist envisioned 25 years ago has been accomplished. The
largest computer network today is called Internet. Could this internet become the long arm of the
Antichrist and the New World order? In separate projects, computer scientist in the U.S. and
Japan are investigating what many call the ultimate interface between man and machine: human
thought. Researchers are using several approaches to develop thought-controlled computers.
The key of these efforts is the fact that the human brain emits electrical signals in varying
voltages before an action is performed. Computer scientist attempt to perceive patterns and
match them with specific actions.
There are 38 Biblical prophecies that have happened in our generation that have never happened
in any other. We have seen the rebirth of Israel, the revival of the Hebrew language and the
Roman Empire in the form of the European Union. If ever there was a time when many run to and
fro and knowledge is increased, this is it. We are moving toward world government much more
rapidly than most people would believe.
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