A beast symbolizes a kingdom. The first beast that we have identified is the papal Roman church-state, which came to power from the sea, or from a crowded region of the earth that was home to a great number of nationalities and languages.
John saw the second beast arise “out of the earth.” If a “sea” represents a populated area, the earth must represent a relatively unpopulated area of the world, which gives us our first clue as to the identity of the second beast. It comes into power in an area without established nations.
The second piece of evidence that we have is that this kingdom was established about the same time that the 1260-year reign of the Pope was coming to an end, which would be around the year 1798. In the book of Revelation 13:12, John states that the "first beast" that he saw in a vision was before the second beast.
The final piece of information that we have is that the second beast initially looks like "a lamb," but it eventually has the ability to talk like a dragon and uses all of the power that the first beast possesses (verse 11). Lamb-like characteristics, such as being gentle, embracing freedom, and Christian, contribute to its rise to power.
Which kingdom, which had the appearance of a lamb, emerged in a region of the world that was not yet colonized around the year 1798? This symbolic depiction is only applicable to one nation, namely the United States of America. In the midst of a wilderness region's darkness, the United States of America was born with the hope of achieving liberty and justice for all.
America will change
The prophecy says more than just that this mighty country will rise. The prophecy indicates that the country will undergo a significant transformation that will lead to severe issues with liberty worldwide. John saw that the United States of America, which is known for protecting religious freedom, will one day speak "like a dragon" instead of "like a lamb."
The animal that once resembled a lamb and shielded people from papal persecution will one day wield the same power to persecute those it once criticized. She will use her power, as well as the fact that her country is the biggest in the world, to get everyone to support Rome again. She will "make the earth and all the people who live on it worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" (verse 12).
The book of Revelation also says that America will one day use its power to establish "the mark" of papal supremacy, which is a promise of loyalty to Rome. Everyone will have to get "the mark of the beast" in their right hand or on their forehead, or they will be forced to go without food, money, or loose their lives. People who do not want to give up their religious freedom will not be able to buy or sell anything and will be eventually killed.
Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 11 to 18
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The land beast (Revelation 13:11) rises out of the earth, which is the opposite of the sea beast. We saw in Revelation 12:16 that the “earth helped the woman” escape the “flood” of persecution from the Papacy. Many victims of persecution found refuge in other nations, including America. But do America's characteristics and time frame fit this new beast? Here are a few questions to ponder from the passage:
1. Did America arise in a land that is uninhabited (earth vs sea)? (Revelation 13:11)
2. Did America become a power after the Papacy received a fatal wound in 1798? (Revelation 13:12)
3. Did America start as a Christian nation (Revelation 13:11), with its governing principle fundamentally Bible based (horns like a lamb)?
This description only fits one country. The Papacy emerged from European nations, whereas America originated from a region devoid of any people or nations. America got its freedom on July 4, 1776. The French Revolution occurred during this period, followed by the capture of the Pope, which dealt a decisive blow to the power of the Papacy.
Since 1798, when the wound was still healing, America has begun to gain recognition. When communism fell in 1989, the United States was the only superpower left. We all know that the United States has a strong voice among the world's countries. "The earth and its people shall worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed," says the Bible in Revelation 13:12. This land, Beast, is America. However, the writing states that there will be a small change. America will give up its Christian values and "speak like a dragon" at some point (Revelation 13:11). Its core beliefs about religious freedom will change when we see this beast forcing people to violate their right to freedom of conscience. It helps the beast of the sea do this (Revelation 13:12).
1. The Pilgrim Fathers, fleeing persecution, came to North America, a place where the Papacy's tentacles had not yet reached.
— America was a sparsely populated area obviously outside the dense population of Europe.
— It was also known as the New World.
2. America was arising to power as the Papacy was loosing its power.
— Declaration of independence – 1776.
— War of independence – 1777 to 1783.
— Constitution voted – 1787.
— Constitution ratified – 1788.
— First president elected – 1789.
— Bill of rights adopted – 1791.
— First international recognition as a nation – 1798.
3. America did not rise to power due to her overthrowing/conquering another empire, but by quietly growing up.
4. America was established on anti-Catholic principles, separation of church and state, religious liberty, etc. The United States is a Protestant nation, the complete opposite of Catholicism.
5. It was easy for those fleeing the persecution to see the result of the Papal form of government. Therefore, we see that America was to be a democratic/republican form of government, by and for the people.
7. It is not hard to see that America is the world super power, watchdog for the world.
— e.g. In the war with Iraq, the United Nations expressed their reluctance to participate, to which the United States responded, "We're going anyway."
Further reading:
Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America? - Link
A New Government: 1789–93 - Link
Recommended Video from Third Party (View Terms of Use Page) - FROM BABYLON TO AMERICA