The beast of the sea (vs. 1-10, 18)—The dragon of chapter 12 was not without helpers when he attacked the people of God. Indeed, such helpers would be his main tools. We are introduced to two of them in this chapter, the “beast of the sea” and the “beast of the land.” These two beasts have engendered countless attempts to identify them, but if we hold true to our foundation point—how would John’s readers understand them?—then I think we can come up with a pretty good idea on both. This first beast had “seven heads” (all wisdom) and “ten horns” (all power). The dragon “gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (v. 2). This wisdom, power, and authority is from a worldly perspective, of course; this beast is certainly not in God’s camp. Even if you cut off one of his heads (and this doesn’t represent any major historical event), he still lives—he seems invincible. So “all the world marveled and followed the beast” (v. 3). He blasphemed God and everything related to Him (v. 6), and persecuted His people (v. 7), but only for a limited, but indefinite, period of time (v. 5). “And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (v. 7). Everybody, except the saints, submitted to him (v. 9). He will eventually be destroyed by his own weapons, but until then, God’s people must be patient and faithful through this period of trial and persecution (v. 10).
Now, you’re one of John’s readers. Who would you identify the above with? It’s not hard to figure out. This is a pretty good description of the Roman emperor. His number (v. 18) is “666.” The symbolic number “6” falls short of the divine number “7,” and was a number of evil to the ancients (much like the number 13 is to many today). So take “6,” stretch it out three times—“666”—and you have evil, evil, evil. Read again my article on “Numerical Symbolism” elsewhere on this blog (check the March archives) for a full explanation of this exceedingly important part of apocalyptic literature. There can be little doubt, if we put ourselves into the minds of those to whom John wrote, that they would identify this creature with their greatest enemy, the Roman emperor, who demanded they worship him, and often persecuted them severely if they did not. This is further confirmed by John’s statement in verse 18 that the 666 “is the number of a man.”
There is no reason to make this any harder than it is, which is what some people have done. If it’s too hard, then John’s readers wouldn’t have been able to understand it, either. If so, then what good would it have done them?
The second beast (vs. 11-17)—This beast is a little more difficult to identify. His main characteristic is that he “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast” (v. 12). He performed great signs, and deceived the world (vs. 13-14). Part of his authority was “to give breath to the image of the [first] beast” (v. 15), that is enforce his laws, and “cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (v. 15), which was pretty literal. Just as God’s people were “sealed” on their “foreheads” (7:3), even so, those who submit to the [first] beast were “to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” (v. 16). This was significant, because “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (v. 17). There is some literalness to this, but mainly the idea is that those who did not serve and worship the Roman emperor and religion were going to be in dire straits—perhaps lose their lives, but at best, not be able to buy, sell, or get gain.
Who is this second beast? Again, he’s a little more difficult to pinpoint exactly, but given his description, he certainly represents the false religion of the Roman empire. Summers believes that the beast would be understood by John’s readers as the Roman “concilia” (committee) to enforce emperor worship—that legal arm that put the emperor’s religious demands into practice. This is the best explanation I have seen. Or, John’s readers might simply see this beast at the whole bureaucratic structure that implemented the emperor’s laws.
These two beasts, added to the dragon of chapter 12, provide strong forces of evil engaged in battle with the forces of righteousness. And the devil isn’t through unsheathing swords yet.
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