# Revelation 13 đź“–: The Two Beasts
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Two Beasts
**Principle**:
[[#Verse 01.]] Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name.
[[#Verse 02.]] Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;Â
[[#Verse 04.]] they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”Â
[[#Verse 05.]] The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,Â
[[#Verse 08.]] and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.Â
[[#Verse 09.]]Â If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!
[[#Verse 10.]]Â If anyone is meant for captivity,
into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed by the sword,
then by the sword he must be killed.
This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.
[[#Verse 11.]] Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of peopleÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number.
[[#Verse 18.]] This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.
[[# Verse 18]] This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
**Verse 18**.
- Oldest copies say 616.
###### Verse 18.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The beast from the sea combines features of a leopard, a bear, and a lion (13:2), the same animals as the beasts in Daniel 7:4-6.
2. The beast's healed fatal wound (13:3) imitates the death and resurrection of the Lamb.
3. After Nero's death in AD 68, rumors spread that he would return. Many scholars see an echo of that legend in the healed wound.
4. Forty-two months (13:5) is the same three and a half year period found in chapters 11 and 12.
5. The phrase in 13:8 can be read either as names written "from the foundation of the world" or as the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world."
6. 13:10 echoes Jeremiah 15:2 about captivity and the sword.
7. The second beast looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon (13:11). It is later called the false prophet (16:13; 19:20).
8. The word for mark (*charagma*, 13:16) was used for official stamps and seals on documents and for brands.
9. In Hebrew and Greek, letters also served as numbers. The Greek form of "Nero Caesar" spelled in Hebrew letters adds up to 666.
10. Most manuscripts read 666 in 13:18, but a few early ones read 616. Irenaeus, writing around AD 180, knew of the 616 reading and defended 666.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lamb who was slain, whose book of life holds the names of His people (13:8). The beast imitates His death and resurrection, but only Jesus truly rose and reigns (Romans 6:9).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The beast receives worship because people are amazed by his power (13:3-4). What do people in our day tend to be amazed by and follow?
2. This chapter calls for the endurance and faith of the saints (13:10). What helps you stay faithful when pressure to conform is strong?
3. The second beast deceives through signs and controls buying and selling (13:13-17). How can believers stay discerning about what they follow?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 4: People worship the dragon and the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast?"
- đź“– verse 8: All whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life will worship the beast.
- đź“– verse 10: This calls for the endurance and faith of the saints.
- đź“– verse 18: This calls for wisdom: the number of the beast is 666.
## đź”— Related Passages
- 🔗 13:1-2 → Daniel 7:2-8 – Four beasts rise from the sea: leopard, bear, lion, and a ten-horned beast.
- 🔗 13:5-7 → Daniel 7:8, 21, 25 – A boastful horn that wars against the saints.
- 🔗 13:8 → 1 Peter 1:19-20 – Christ the Lamb chosen before the foundation of the world.
- 🔗 13:10 → Jeremiah 15:2 – Those destined for captivity, to captivity.
- 🔗 13:11 → Matthew 7:15 – False prophets in sheep's clothing.
- 🔗 13:13-14 → Matthew 24:24 – False christs and prophets performing great signs.
- 🔗 13:13-14 → 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 – The lawless one comes with counterfeit miracles.
- 🔗 13:15 → Daniel 3:1-6 – Worship the image or be killed.
- 🔗 13:16 → Deuteronomy 6:8 – God's word bound on the hand and forehead, the true mark of His people.
- đź”— [[Daniel 07#Verse 02.|Daniel 7:2-8]] - Four beasts rise from the sea.
- đź”— [[2 Thessalonians 02#Verse 08.|2 Thessalonians 2:8-10]] - The lawless one comes with false signs and wonders.
- đź”— [[Matthew 24#Verse 24.|Matthew 24:24]] - False messiahs will perform great signs.
- đź”— [[Exodus 15#Verse 11.|Exodus 15:11]] - Who is like You, O Lord?
- đź”— [[Daniel 03#Verse 04.|Daniel 3:4-6]] - Worship the image or face the furnace.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Revelation 13 - SOAP|Patiently Trusting]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes