Season 5 Podcast 135 Book of Revelation Chapter 13 “Opening of the Seven Seals, J, The Mark of the Beast, Beast 1.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 135 Book of Revelation Chapter 13 “Opening of the Seven Seals, J, The Mark of the Beast, Beast 1.”

Revelation 13 introduces the world to two of the evilest beasts in history. Each beast has its own special mark and symbolizes two distinct evils that will befall mankind before the Savior comes again. Each beast represents kingdoms of this world led by evil rulers under the power of Satan. Their power is worldwide.

In Revelation 4 we were introduced to four different kinds of beasts who dwelt in the presence of God.

Revelation 4:6-9

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,”

There is a stark contrast between the four beasts described above who dwell in heaven around the throne of God and the two beasts described in Revelation 13. In this podcast, I shall focus on beast 1.

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.”

Notice in Revelation 4, “before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal.” The sea of glass represents knowledge and power. The four beasts are “full of eyes before and behind.” That suggests they see the past, present, and future. In Revelation 13 the seer John stands upon the sea shore. He “saw a beast rise up out of the sea.” That is a sharp contrast to the sea of glass. The first four beasts were in heaven. The two beasts John is describing now are on earth. The sea in modern-day warfare suggests vast power for the sea connects continents. It suggests ships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and domination. The first four beasts were full of eyes before and behind, suggesting knowledge, power, and wisdom. The first beast described in Revelation 13 is wearing “seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” The ‘seven heads’ suggests leaders of nations united to take over the world. Remember that seven is the perfect number and symbolizes completeness. The enemies of Christ have organized, and their goal is to take over the world. To do that they must destroy the kingdom of God, and that is their goal. They have ten horns, which is also a symbol of power, and upon each horn is a crown. Crown suggest kings who have absolute power. These are totalitarian states who do what their leaders tell them to do. It appears to suggest that the seven heads are using the kingdoms of the world to do their bidding. Notice that upon the heads of the seven rulers is ‘the name of blasphemy.’ The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines blasphemy as “the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.” The enemy of the seven heads is Christ, his followers, and the kingdom of God on earth. That means that the earth is divided into two camps. Those who belong to the kingdom of God and those who want to destroy the kingdom of God.

Revelation 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.”