The beast from the sea
Revelation · Draft · BSB
Content revision: 625891dd3069bb84 · No editorial review date recorded
Date: Revelation 13 · reading sequence. This is the order of the book. It does not assign a calendar date to a vision or choose one scheme of fulfillment.
A beast receives the dragon’s authority, demands worship and wages war on the saints. Its apparent recovery from a fatal wound amazes the world, while the passage calls believers to perseverance and faith.
The beast combines features of Daniel’s kingdoms and exercises power for a limited period. Many historical readings connect the imagery with Roman imperial power; other Christian readings also anticipate a future culmination or recurring patterns of oppressive rule. The passage does not name a modern ruler. Its contrast with the Lamb concerns allegiance as well as suffering: apparent military success does not make the beast worthy of worship. The warning at the end should be read with its explicit call for endurance.
Primary Scripture
13:1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
13:2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
13:3 One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
13:4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”
13:5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
13:6 And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.
13:7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
13:9 He who has an ear, let him hear:
13:10 “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.
Related Scripture
These readings illuminate biblical language and themes. Connections do not by themselves settle the timing or every interpretation of the vision.
Daniel’s sea beasts, animal features and arrogant horn are combined and reworked in Revelation’s beast.
Location evidence
Visionary setting; no geographic pin or route. The background map shows the historical recipients in western Asia Minor, not the location of this vision.
No event map marker is assigned. Do not infer an exact venue from related places.
For the class
How does the vision expose the danger of confusing impressive power with a rightful claim to worship?
Interpretation and reuse
Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.
Record source: editorial (content/authored/revelation.json)
Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.
Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm