REVELATION 13:1-4
by Mako Kato
Read Revelation 13:1-4
The beast that rises up from the sea has ten horns and seven heads and ten crowns. The imagery used for the beast is similar to that used for Satan who was pictured as with ten horns and seven heads and seven crowns (Revelation 12:3). The similarity makes sense because we read in verses two and four that it was the dragon who gave authority to the beast.
The beast sets himself up, together with Satan to be worshiped as God. We see in verse two, with the likening of the beast to a leopard, bear and lion, an allusion to Daniel 7,* where Daniel uses these animals to represent Greece, Medo-Persia and Babylon. Combining the imagery of these three powerful empires points to the idea that the beast’s empire will be even more powerful.
In ages past humans have set themselves up as God, but nothing on the scale of this end-times picture. But from the ancient Roman Emperors to Communist North Korean rulers, political elitists who seek worship have one thing in common: They get their authority from the dragon. Satan loves it when there is anything in our lives worshiped other than God. When we worship anything other than God we are really worshipping Satan. Remember how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness?
“Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”
Matthew 4:8-10 ESV
Satan is giving all the kingdoms of the world to the beast and the world is worshipping Satan. We read the question in verse four, “Who is like the beast and who can fight against it?” Doesn’t that sound chillingly familiar? In Exodus 15:11 we read Moses’ words “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”
We know the answers to these questions. There is someone greater than the beast, but there is no one greater than our God. It is God who deserves all our worship and praise.
*Want something to chew on? Read Daniel chapter 7 and look at some of the similarities and differences in the visions of Daniel and John.
