Analyzing the Beast in the Book of Revelation - Essay Example

The people on seeing this were amazed that it followed the beast. The beast was given the ability to use his power for 42 months and given the power to make war with the righteous and to overcome them (verse 7) ( Merrill pg 258).       

                 John saw blasphemous names on the head of the beast rising from the sea. The beast symbolizes the Roman Empire. The Roman emperors were named Sebastes, which referred to them as spiritual, also, the savior of the world and the Lord. Such titles were meant for only God for he was the only holy and spiritual and holy Jesus is the savior of the world, and that is how blasphemous the names were. Thus, the blasphemous names on the head of the beast clearly show his trial to claim for him the power and glory that belong to God alone. The Roman Empire took itself as the savior. Meanwhile, it was unjust in its ruling and it persecuted Christians and the church. In these ways, it indicated itself as the beast of the book of revelation 13 (Merrill C. Tenney pg 347).

            However, the power that was pushing the throne of the Roman Empire was the devil also the dragon (revelation 12:8-9). The image of the dragon was the beast, and they have close similarities for they have seven heads and ten horns (13;1).In addition, the beast duplicates the devil by nature. His origin and appearance are further indications of the evil that is controversial against God and man. Satan is the mentor of the beast, which gives power, authority, and might to him. The dragon is behind the monster from the sea and is accountable for leading the world to sin. Therefore, the beast from the sea is clearly seen as the dragon’s agent on earth. Furthermore, the beast is seen as a military, political, economic, and social dominator of the world (revelation 13:5-8).In the book of revelation, the waters symbolize people under the rule of the sea beast, so the beast rose from the human population.

            One of the beast’s heads was deeply wounded. The wound was mortal and it kills the beast (13:3). Then, to the surprise of the people, the injury on the head is healed miraculously. Thus, the beast rose from the dead, this meant that the emperor in leadership then was not dead, and people claimed he had fled away and would return to rule again. The writing of revelation served as a warning to Christians not to indulge in idol worship that is rampant. Thus, this shows the fulfillment of eschatology where many political crises will take place. The beast is added more powers to rule, and the whole world is after him and this is how the idolatry came. Therefore, only Christian’s faithfulness in Christ can they defeat and resist its power. The beast makes war, it profanes the name of God and violates his might. He places himself in the place of God. The people feared the Roman Empire for its political, economic, and social power. The beast hunted the hearts of every inhabitant of the earth (Goodrick pg 428).

        The beast from the earth was another beast described in Revelation 13. There are two agents of Satan, who are waging war against God’s people. The beast rising from the sea had seven heads and ten horns. It was like a leopard, lion, and bear. The second from the earth is not as terrifying as the latter. Though it had powers, he has two horns like a lamb (13:11). It is revealed as a false prophet, Christ’s warning about false prophets was that they will come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are poisonous ( Mathew 7:15). The beast is, therefore, the wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. He pretends to be morally and spiritually upright but in reality, the sense is not. The beast performs miracles (13:13). God would allow the world to be confused with the miracles so that they may be made to believe what is not true. The role of this beast is to make the world worship the first beast. It establishes the ground for empire against God. In summary, the book of revelation is to show the Christians not to be swayed. They should not compromise between God and the great empire. Christians are to stand firm in faith even if it leads them to death, for in the last the church would win and saints would reign with Christ as high priests and kings (Goodrick pg 543).