Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

The Revelation to John - Chapter 13

Revised 2013

Behind all rulers it was believed stood demonic powers. Rome caused much suffering to Christians and was seen as idolatrous. Therefore if Rome was to be overthrown, the demonic powers behind/controlling Rome must be overthrown. And Rome would be involved in the evil’s ultimate defeat. The red dragon’s authority is given to 2 beasts, one from sea & one from earth. They symbolise antichrist & false prophets of end time in Jewish apocalyptic literature, as well as the final embodiment of imperial power opposed to rule of God, the final beast of Daniel (Dan 7:3).
1 Now a beast from the sea (Dan 7:1-7; 7:17-23), the watery chaos, the source of all evil, as Rome came across the sea to Asia minor. It is adorned same as the red dragon (12:3). Symbolises Roman empire (17:9). In Dan 4 beasts signified 4 empires to rise & die: lion - Babylon, leopard - Persia, bear - Medes; 4th is Macedonia (Philip) - Greek; here only one is significant - Rome. 7 heads allude to 7 emperors (17:10-14) & 7 hills of Rome. Blasphemous names: divine titles assumed by the emperors. 10 horns signify 10 vassal kings (17:12-13). Beasts from sea & earth suggest Leviathon & Behemoth (Job 40-41). Sea opposes Baal in Canaanite myths, and opposes God in OT (Ps 74:13). association of beast with sea indicates it symbolises chaos & rebellion.
2 The red dragon, ie Satan (12:9), commissioned this beast to persecute the church (Jn 12:31).
3 Legend that Nero would come back after his suicide (AD 68), having hidden among the Parthians (9:7-10), and rule again. Jewish Sibylline Oracles picture Nero leading victory of Asian forces over Rome. But here, earlier than Sibyllines, Nero seen as Satan, embodying final outbreak of evil against God & his people. Domitian (AD 81-96) embodied all Nero’s cruelty & impiety. Civil war after Nero almost brought down empire - break in succession of ‘heads’ like a scar, appearing like death-blow on beast’s head. Wound which heals also parodies ‘Lamb that seemed to have been slain (5:6), and true healing of mortality by Christ’s resurrection, Christ who died and indeed now lives. But beast recovered: Vespasian took over, apparent invincibility of the beast celebrated.
4 Emperor worship, rigorously enforced by Domitian. “Who can compare with God” = Michael in Hebrew. Parody of Heavenly worship & celebration of God’s triumph over his enemies (Exod 15:11). Readers already know the answer to the question.
5 Domitian demanded to be called by divine titles eg “our lord & god”, “jupiter”. Again the 42 months, 3.5 years, as for the persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Dan 7:25; 12:7); profanation of holy city (11:2); mission of 2 witnesses (11:3); & retreat of woman into desert (12:6,14). 6
6 Rome allowed to continue to rule - with its blasphemous deifications of the emperors, so offensive to Jewish & Christian beliefs. Domitian called “lord and god”. Jews permitted to worship in their own way, not compelled to worship emperor, as were the Christians.
7 Beast even allowed to persecute and kill the faithful. But no known persecution of Christians by Nero outside Rome. So reference more likely to be to Domitian, under whom investigations of behaviour against state religion more widespread. Christians were not sought out, but those that were denounced would have been punished.
8 All worship the beast, and those not written in Book of the Lamb would be killed. Hint of pre-destination? Faithfulness in face of these threats marked those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book. Rest would have compromised, consenting to worship the beast, and so be excluded from book of life. Resistance not an easy option. World divided in 2: followers of beast or of Lamb. Only those belonging to the Lamb will hold out against the beast’s dominion.
9 Followers of Lamb urged to hear. Not a woe against followers of the beast.
10 (Jer 15:2) Warns followers of Lamb they will be subject to a period of suffering. Perhaps also warns that human revolts will not succeed vs beast - the church should not get political. Might also have had unsuccessful Jewish revolt of AD 70 in mind. Whatever happens response by Christians must be faithful endurance, not violent resistance. (Liberation theology?)
11 2nd beast, now arising from the earth, so locally generated emperor worship. League of cities in Asia elected “Asiarchs” from most powerful families each year whose main duties were to promote cult of emperor and goddess Roma locally. 2 horns like evil parody of a lamb: ie false prophets from those following the dragon = false messiah. But both beasts clearly represent the Roman empire. This beast is related to the first - speaks like him. It is also a deceiver - horns like lamb.
12 Ultimate authority was in Rome, but delegated to provincial & regional governors, who organised emperor worship locally, & who were in practice to be feared, represented by the 2nd beast. So this beast may stand for enemies both inside & outside the church. All must worship the beast (emperor) of suffer martyrdom. Again refers to legend of Nero coming back to life, or being reincarnated in Domitian. Or first beast could be the empire, 2nd the emperor.
13 Even imitating Elijah (1 Kgs 18:38). He is a false prophet trying to deceive the whole world. Sometimes called antichrist because appears to be anointed but is not.
14 False prophets often make signs to mislead. Image of emperor on coins seen as blasphemous by Jews. Or images of god-emperor erected. No real evidence of enforcing worship of such statues, but perhaps warning of possibility. Offering incense to such statues was however required. Hence many soldiers martyred. Again God allows this beast to perform miracles and give life to statue of beast (13:15), probably using ventriloquism. John is saying that the deceptive activity of this beast is somehow part of God’s plan. But God is not source of evil, and remains sovereign over all things.
15 Every transaction means handling this image. “Augustus” particularly objectionable to Jews, meaning “worshipful” - only God was to be worshipped.
16 Emperor’s power extends beyond religion into politics & economics (banking greed?). Holding such coins was to be marked on the right hand - or even on the forehead, parodying the seals on foreheads received by God’s people (7:3). No evidence of marking on foreheads, except branding of slaves. May refer to emperor’s seal to indicate ownership. But either marked to show belong to beast or to Lamb - no grey area in between. But if marked for Lamb you are protected from end-time catastrophes. But if belong to beast you will suffer his fate too. Also Jews wore phylacteries on foreheads.
17 Hence Christians unwilling to engage in commerce - excluded or at disadvantage. Christians in Laodicia appear to be engaged in commerce. Christians might also be unwilling to swear oaths to seal contract, if such oaths mention emperor as divine. Difficult to make commercial agreements with non-Christians if involves customs appearing to acknowledge emperor’s divinity.
18 Since John’s hearers knew what he meant by the 2 beasts, he shares a little mischief with them, talking about him behind his back, as it were! Hebrew, Latin & Greek had no symbols for numbers, so each letter had a numerical value. Code would have been well known to Jews & Christians of C1. If know the name, solving code is easy. But not otherwise. Many suggestions. Greek form in Hebrew letters of “Caesar Nero”, NRWNQSR, gives 666 (N=50, R=200, W=6, Q=100, S=60). Latin form gives 616, which is in some mss. Nero personifies the Roman emperors who persecuted the church. 6 represents imperfection, falling short of perfect 7. So 666 is repeatedly short of perfection. Need not only to recognise a name from its numbers but to have the wisdom to see its meaning. John is saying we know the beast who deceives the world is really evil.