From the Book of Revelation    171 

The Beast (Rev 13:1 4) 

     And I saw a beast rising out of the sea....  One of its heads seemed to 

have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth 

followed the beast with wonder.  (Rev 13:1.3). 

    The beast is the same kingdom described in chapter 12 as the dragon. The 

dragon also represents the devil, who will support, empower, and lead the 

kingdom of Antichrist. The sea represents the many peoples and nations and 

languages of the world from which this kingdom will arise. It will be a 

worldwide kingdom, yet in a few places, its power will be lacking. 

    This kingdom has ten horns with ten diadems representing the ten 

kingships into which the world will be divided. But there are only seven 

heads meaning that seven leaders will rule over those ten kingships. The 

head with a mortal wound is one of the seven leaders of this kingdom, the 

Antichrist. He will receive a fatal wound, but will not die. In this way, his 

fame and power before men will be increased. 

    The mouth of the beast is Antichrist; he will both rule and speak for the 

kingdom (Rev 13:2). That is why the term  the beast  is also used to refer to 

Antichrist, as well as to his kingdom. He will exalt himself and blaspheme 

against God (Rev 13:4 6). 

    People will worship the dragon and the beast (Rev 13:4). The beast will 

have a blasphemous name upon its heads (Rev 13:1). The kingdom will give 

a blasphemous title to each of the leaders, perhaps claiming that those 

leaders are in some way divine. This kingdom will not merely be a 

dictatorship. Its leaders will try to destroy the true worship of God in order 

to make the people worship the kingdom, its leaders, and the Antichrist. 

The Forty two Months (Rev 13:5 10) 

     Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.... If 

any one has an ear, let him hear: If any one is to be taken captive, to 

captivity he goes; if any one slays with the sword, with the sword must he be 

slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.   

(Rev 13:7, 9 10). 

    This time is the 3  years (forty two months) of the Church's Crucifixion. 

God's holy and faithful servants on earth will suffer much. Worldly power 

will be given into the hands of Antichrist and his kingdom. Christians must 

suffer much, as Jesus suffered, and be condemned by the world, as Jesus was 

condemned. 

    In these days, Christians must succumb to God's will, and it is God's will 

for them to suffer. When it is God's will for some Christians to go into