A Beast Rising Out of the Sea Revelation 13:1

John the apostle wrote, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time, and when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth,

and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”, and in chapter thirteen and verse one of Revelation John shared how John saw “a beast rise up out of the sea” where we read:

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 verse reads, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, ...” John began with the words, “and I stood” which means “and John was established, put and set” “upon the sand” or “on the sandy ground or beach” “of the sea” which refers to “along the great body of water”, “and saw” or “perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned” “a beast” which refers to “a wild, savage, brutal and ferocious animal” “rise up out of” or “ascend and spring up from” “the sea” which refers to the “great body of water”. John was made to “stand” upon the “beach” of a great body of water where he saw a “ferocious animal” ascend from it.

The verse continues, “... having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” John added the words, “having seven heads” which means “the ferocious animal had seven dominant, chief, supreme and prominent heads” “and ten horns” or “and ten pointed apexes”, “and upon his horns” which means “and on the beast's ten apexes” “ten crowns” or “ten diadems or kingly ornaments for the head”, “and upon” which means “and on top of” “his heads” which means “the beast's heads” “the name” or “the word employed for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering” “of blasphemy” which means “pertaining to slander, detraction, impiousness and reproachful speech which is injurious to divine majesty”. John described this “beast” as having “seven heads” upon which were written “blasphemy” and “ten horns” which bore “ten diadems”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we might think how frightened he must have been when this “ferocious animal” appeared. We must keep in mind that God rules over all these things, and many have speculated as to what the appearance of this “beast” ascending from the sea might be. Here are some suggestions: The “sea” represents mankind, and there will be a “vicious man” who shall arise upon the scene of humanity. He shall arise from and governed with “seven complete powers” which shall have “ten heads or rulers” which shall be “ten countries” which shall have “ten rulers” who wear “diadems” upon their heads. This “beast”, which we shall come to know as the “anti-christ”, shall rule over the ten nations, and all the authorities within them shall be subject to him. God, however, shall rule over all these things, and those who are wise shall align themselves with Him and His Son Jesus before these things come to pass.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see John share how he, “the beast” which was “like unto a leopard, a bear and a lion”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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