What does Revelation 13:2 mean?
John further described the beast from the sea as resembling a leopard with feet like a bear's feet and a mouth like a lion's mouth. It's important to remember that these descriptions are meant to be symbolic—the reader is meant to understand them that way, not as a literal depiction of a mythical animal.Daniel 7:3–7 mentions three beasts, representative of certain empires, as rising from the sea. Daniel also mentions a fourth beast, a more powerful empire, meaning the Revived Roman Empire. The three empires represented by the lion, the bear, and the leopard are in order: Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. These three empires followed each other in history. The Medes and the Persians conquered the Babylonian Empire, and the Greeks conquered the Persian Empire.
The revived Roman empire will likely include the conquered territories once held by Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The beast from the sea, described in these verses, is therefore head of the Revived Roman Empire, and he receives his power from the dragon, the Devil. Also, the dragon gives him the authority to reign as a king from his throne. This political and social leader is the end-times figure most commonly called the Antichrist.
Revelation 13:1–4 focuses on the rise of the first ''beast'' seen in this chapter. This one rises from the sea. Biblical geography suggests this refers to the Mediterranean Sea. This ''beast'' represents a powerful ruler in the Mediterranean region. The description of the beast here shares elements used in Daniel 7:23–24, which there belonged to the four beasts that appeared in Daniel's dream. The beast from the sea receives his power from the dragon, who is shown in Revelation 12 to persecute Israel and the righteous remnant. This first beast is the figure more popularly known as Antichrist.
This chapter exposes two evil men, ''beasts'' who serve the Devil. The first beast arises from the sea, presumably the Mediterranean. The second beast arises from the land, possibly Israel. The first beast dominates the final form of the Roman Empire and sets himself up as a god to be worshiped. This first figure is the one most often labelled as ''Antichrist.'' The second beast acts as prophet, priest, and king in Israel. As such, he imitates Christ, but he is a False Prophet. This corrupted religious leader sets up an image of the first beast in the temple and commands everyone to worship it. The false prophet executes those who refuse to worship the image. Further, he causes everyone to receive the name or the number of the first beast on the right hand or on the forehead. Without this identifying mark, no one can buy or sell. The number of the beast is 666.
