- Sea beast (seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns; like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion).
- Land beast (two horns like a lamb, and he speaks as a dragon).
Nobody has ever seen an animal with a leopard's body, a lion's mouth, bear feet, seven heads, and ten horns.
Daniel 7:23 - “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.”
• Past (Revelation 13:1-3): Description of the beast (John sees the beast)
• Future (Revelation 13:3, 4): The wound is healed and the whole world worships the beast
• Past (Revelation 13:5-7): Actions of the beast amplified (John hears the actions of the beast)
• Future (Revelation 13:8): The whole world will worship the beast when the wound is healed
• Past Revelation 13:9-10: Past: The deadly wound is given
• Future (Revelation 13:11-18): The whole world will worship (Revelation 13:15—worship is the issue) the first beast by command of the second beast.
• There is a close relationship between Revelations 13, 14, and 15. We know this because Revelation 13 (Revelation 13:11–18) mentions the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name.
• Revelation 14:9–11 mentions the beast, the image, the mark, and the number of his name as warnings against them.
• Revelation 15:2-4 mentions a group that has defeated the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name.
• Revelation 13 introduces the beast, his image, his mark, and his number; Revelation 14 warns the world against them; and Revelation 15 gives us hope that certain people will heed the warning and defeat them.
Therefore, Revelations 13, 14, and 15 should be studied together.
Satan has a crafty scheme to try to fool even the elect. Satan raises two beasts, who collaborate to mimic the actions of the Persons of the Godhead/Trinity, thereby counterfeiting the plan of salvation.
• Satan counterfeits the work of God the Father.
• The sea Beast (Rev 13:1) is counterfeiting the work of Jesus.
• The False Prophet (land Beast: Rev 13:11) counterfeits the work of the Holy Spirit.
Together, these three demonic forces will deceive everyone on the planet until the very end in order to prepare them for the Armageddon War, also known as the "great day of battle" (Revelation 16:13–14).
1. Satan counterfeits the work of God the Father.
- According to Isaiah 14:14, Satan desired to elevate himself above God and supplant Him.
- He is the supreme mastermind behind these powers, granting the Beast and the False Prophet his power and authority (Revelation 13:1).
2. The sea beast (Revelation 13:1) is counterfeiting the work of Jesus.
- The Father gave Jesus full authority, and the Father also gave the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18; John 15:26).
- The works of Jesus are imitated by the Beast. Similar to Jesus, it died and rose again (Revelation 13:3).
- It speaks both blasphemies and great things (Revelation 13:5). Jesus was accused of speaking blasphemies (Matthew 26:65).
- Its "ministry" lasts "forty and two months," or three and a half years (Rev 13:5). Jesus also spent three and a half years in ministry. According to Daniel 9:27, the Messiah will be severed in the midst of the final week of the 490 prophecy.
3. The false prophet (land Beast: Revelation 13:11) counterfeits the work of the Holy Spirit.
- People are led to worship the first beast by the false prophet (Revelation 13:12). According to John 15:26, the Holy Spirit will bear witness for Christ and draw our focus to Him as the Savior.
- The false prophet calls forth fire from heaven and performs amazing acts (Revelation 13:13). Acts 2:3–4 mentions the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a revival.
- (Revelation 13:14) The false prophet deceives. According to John 16:13, the Holy Spirit guides us in all truth.
- People's hands and foreheads are marked with the mark of the beast by the false prophet (Revelation 13:16). The Holy Spirit applies the genuine seal to the people's foreheads (Ephesian 1:13; 4:30; Revelation 7:3).
In the final days, Satan's purposeful tri-union deceit is evident.
The dragon was at war with the woman and her remaining seed.
Chapter 13 briefly describes the force persecuting God's people and further explains how he will reign once more in the final days to torment the remnant. Revelations 7 and 14:1–5 reveal the nature of God's people during this period, while Revelations 14:6–12 reveal the message to preach during this time.