1 AND I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

1And I stoode vpon the sand of the sea: and saw a beast rise vp out of the sea, hauing seuen heads, and tenne hornes, and vpon his hornes tenne crownes, and vpon his heads, the name of blasphemie.

2And the beast which I saw, was like vnto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion: and the dragon gaue him his power, and his seat, and great authoritie.

3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed: and al the world wondered after the beast.

4And they worshipped the dragon which gaue power vnto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like vnto the beast? Who is able to make warre with him?

5And there was giuen vnto him a mouth, speaking great things, and blasphemies, and power was giuen vnto him to continue fortie and two moneths.

6And he opened his mouth in blasphemie against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwelt in heauen.

7And it was giuen vnto him to make warre with the Saints, and to ouercome them: And power was giuen him ouer all kinreds, and tongues, and nations.

8And all that dwel vpon the earth, shall worship him, whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lambe, slaine from the foundation of the world.

9If any man haue an eare, let him heare:

10Hee that leadeth into captiuitie, shall goe into captiuitie: Hee that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints.

11And I beheld another beast comming vp out of the earth, and hee had two hornes like a lambe, and hee spake as a dragon.

12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein, to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13And hee doeth great wonders, so that hee maketh fire come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men,

14And deceiueth them that dwel on the earth, by the meanes of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an Image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and did liue.

15And he had power to giue life vnto the Image of the beast, that the Image of the beast should both speake, and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast, should be killed.

16And he causeth all, both smal and great rich and poore, free and bond, to receiue a marke in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17And that no man might buy or sell, saue he that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18Here is wisedome. Let him that hath vnderstanding, count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is, sixe hundred threescore and sixe.

 

1 Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name (s). 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear's, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority. 3 I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast and said, "Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?" 5 The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was given authority to act for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was also allowed to wage war against the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation. 8 All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all whose names were not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, which belongs to the Lamb who was slain. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear these words. 10 Anyone destined for captivity goes into captivity. Anyone destined to be slain by the sword shall be slain by the sword. Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones. 11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb's but spoke like a dragon. 12 It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of everyone. 14 It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and revived. 15 It was then permitted to breathe life into the beast's image, so that the beast's image could speak and (could) have anyone who did not worship it put to death. 16 It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads, 17 so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast's name or the number that stood for its name. 18 Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.

v 1. Anti  Christ  I disagree with those, who consider the correct rendering is “he’, not “I”, with Satan standing by the sea. The context shows this scene to be symbolic, as John stands on the shore and sees the beast rise out of the sea, or mass of Gentile humanity. This chapter is not meant to give chronological order, but to introduce and describe the other two members of the Satanic trinity. The dragon is Satan, Rev. 12:9, imitating God the Father.
The beast, or man, to come out of this mass, 13:6, is the Antichrist, imitating Christ. The strange land animal coming from the Mediterranean Sea symbolizes a man with characteristics from that area. Similarity to Daniel’s vision confirms it is a people from the lands  around the sea, Dan. 7:3, 7:17. The last animal, Dan. 7:7, seems to be the same as the beast in Rev. 13:1, having 10 horns. The name on the horns exalts a man as God, thus blaspheming the Lord.
The Antichrist is identified as coming out of Rome in Dan. 9:26, “the people of the prince that shall come and destroy Jerusalem and the sanctuary”, which the Roman’s did in AD 70. The Antichrist has been here from the start of the Tribulation, a man of peace and flatteries. But after three and one half years, when he breaks his covenant with Israel, this chapter tells of his violence in the last half.
In the past I believed with others that seven heads meant the seven hills on which Rome is built. At least they represent the seven dynasties of the Roman Empire. The ten horns represent the ten nation confederacy out growth of the Roman Empire. They will not have the same boundary as previously and it is too early to tell which nations (of the European Common Market?) will be the final ten. Rev. 17:12 and Daniel 7:24 state precisely that these are 10 kings. In Daniel 7 he saw an additional little horn come up which I will not comment on here. The Antichrist and his kingdom blaspheme God by (1)Exalting himself above God, 2 Thess. 2:4, and (2)Exalting himself above God and slandering God, Dan. 11:36.
The second beast Rev, 13:11-18, is also a man, the False Prophet imitating the Holy Spirit. It is not clear when the False Prophet enters the picture, but it is possible he is an influential member of the apostate church the first half of the Tribulation, then exercises his power in the last half to cause all unbelievers to worship the Antichrist. This is in imitation of how the Holy Spirit directs all worship to Christ.
v 2. This strange appearing beast, a composite of several beasts, is similarly described in Daniel 7. Daniel saw it as something different from all others. The dragon, Satan, gives this beast his power and authority, and actually, the Antichrist will be Satan incarnate. The four beasts are usually thought of as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
However according to Morris, the beasts of Daniel 7 coexisted and were future. Dan. 7:3 has four winds indicating the directions of the four beasts. The lion with eagle wings may represent the western alliance; The bear, Russia; the four winged leopard a future eastern alliance, and the fourth, unidentified, the early Roman empire both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The beast of 12;3. had seven crowns upon his seven heads, but the one in 13:1 had ten crowns upon his seven heads.  The seven kings were past, but the kings represented by the ten horns were future. Be that as it may, we end up at the same place with the Antichrist in Rev. 13:1. The seven foremost past kings  Morris says were probably:
1 Sumeria - Under Nimrod, Babel the center of human rebellion.
2 Egypt - Israel’s first oppressor and deliverance by Moses.
3 Assyria - armies of Sennacherib etc. who carried northern kingdom captive.
4 Babalonia - Nebuchadnezzar destroyed temple, carried Judah captive.
5 Medo-Persia - Destroyer Haman.  Queen Esther. Jews returned from captivity.
6. Greece - Alexander the Great. Influence of Greek language and philosophy.
7 Rome - Destroyed the temple. Dispersed Jews. Persecuted Christians.
v 3. This has a dual meaning. First, The Antichrist, appears to die and and come to life by the power of Satan in imitation of the death and resurrection of Christ.  Satan had already faked the incarnation of Christ. The Bible speaks of the wickedness of Nimrod and secular history says that after his death, his wife, Semaramis, had an illegitimate son, Tammuz. She claimed he was the reincarnation of Nimrod. This was the beginning of the mother and child son religions in imitation of the birth of Christ. (Ezek. 8:14 speaks of women weeping for Tammuz in the corrupted Jews religion.) Years later he was supposedly killed by a wild boar and restored back to life in Satan’s imitation of the resurrection of Christ. Semaramis was the source of Babylon becoming the spawning ground of mysteries, idolatry, and temple prostitutes. (These things became a part of Baal worship and Semaramis as the Queen of Heaven worshiped in Egypt. Later Catholics incorporated many pagan practices including the ritual of crossing a T for Tammuz identified with making the sign of the cross.) As a result of the deception we see in v 4 that people worship Satan and the beast. But notice, he was not dead,  but as though he was dead, then healed. Satan is the destroyer and has never been given the power of resurrection so this is a fake, how he does this is open to speculation. This will be what is described in 2 Thess. 2:11 as the strong delusion that causes people to believe the lie.
. Second in John’s day five dynasties had fallen, the sixth was current, the seventh future, and the eighth would come out of the seventh (covered in more detail in chapter 17:11 and context). Some feel the Roman Empire has never ceased to exist as separate kingdoms, but now it will be restored as a ten nation confederacy with an emperor, the Antichrist. Probably  it is  better to consider these as seven great world powers, as we will discuss in Rev. 17. In either event, the eighth is the Antichrist who rises out of the seventh. Larkin and others believe the Antichrist, the son of perdition,  to be Judas, the son of perdition resurrected. Among the reasons this can be rejected is the fact that Judas will not be resurrected until the Great White Throne Judgment.
v 3. Morris says that many think the healed wound is the revived Roman empire, but Rome does not need reviving. The Pope is there along with great world commerce.
However, the middle head of the seven above is Babylon, positioned as the chief head of the beast. Babylon was practically non existent, but is becoming prominent. In today’s technology. Perhaps under United Nations leadership, Babylon could become the  commercial and  political center of the world. It would not be simply a revival of a Roman empire, but of all the empires of the world, the center of paganism and Satanism.
v 4. As mentioned, people will think Satan actually resurrected the Antichrist and will worship them, yet they would not believe Christ after His resurrection, compare John 5:40,43. Read v 8,16,17 to see that all who are not believers will not only worship him but pledge their allegiance by receiving his mark. The world has been turning to and will increase Satan worship, the occult etc. The two witnesses and events will prove to the world the reality of God and Satan, but they choose Satan. At that time Satan will finally gain the recognition that caused his fall. 
v 5.  After being peaceful to the Jews in the first half, now they can not enter the temple because Antichrist has set up his image there to be worshipped, and Gentiles are defiling Jerusalem. This is the abomination of desolation of Dan. 9:27; 12:11 and Matt. 24:15 that continues 42 months. During this time God is protecting His people in the wilderness, and Satan, knowing he has a limited time to come out on top, is deceiving wicked multitudes by power, signs and lying wonders, 2 Thess. 2:9-12. The great things Antichrist speaks will probably include religion, science, philosophy etc., but Ezek. 28:17 tells how he has corrupted his wisdom.
v 6. Unable to accuse people in heaven, Satan unleashes unprecedented blasphemy against God and everything having to do with God. His name (attributes), His tabernacle (Law etc.), and all holy angels and saints dwelling in heaven. His slanders intimidate and deter any defectors.
v 7. Satan does not have this power but it is given to him by God temporarily. It will do no good for believers throughout the entire world to resist, because he has for a while been granted permission to overcome them. Today we see Muslims wanting to decapitate anyone who is Christian or Jew. This will be multiplied under the beast, as he tries world wide to wipe out all moral resistance, Dan. 7:21. Most will be martyred, but even then they are not defeated, because their souls will go to heaven, which is far better, and they will receive a crown of life, Rev. 2:10. Of course those who escape will go live right into the Millennial Kingdom.
v 8. Satan will have universal worship from all except those who are saved, who have their names in the book of life. They must worship him or die. In God’s infinite knowledge of how Satan and man would fall, Christ’s death for us was determined from the foundation of the world. The saints are reminded that many must die, but they can have faith realizing there is ultimate victory. 
9. This message is not to a church, believers have been raptured. This urgent plea is to mankind at large. If men worship the beast, they can never be saved.
10. A word of encouragement to believers. Those who persecute them will soon fall under a condemnation just as severe. This is the greatest test of patience and faith ever.  
11. Another beast comes up out of the earth instead of the sea. Both are men, but with different backgrounds. With horns like a lamb and speech like a dragon, this would be the False Prophet, and he will come from the great land masses outside the Mediterranean area. He will be a miracle working, supernaturally inspired speaker, but will be speaking false prophesies. Anyone who denies the coming of Christ in the flesh is an antichrist, but he is the chief Antichrist. First deceptive, then deadly tyrannical.
v 12. Anti Spirit  This is the False Prophet or religious leader imitating the Holy Spirit. Coming out of the earth he is probably, but not necessarily, a Jew. He may have been a part of the apostate church. With his world wide reputation as a miracle worker, he stresses the healing of the other beast. In the greatest union of church and state ever known, he persuades people to worship the first beast, the Antichrist. His mild appearance is like a lamb, but the voice betrays his corrupt nature.
v 13. God permits Satan to enable the False Prophet to perform many miracles and apparent miracles, including bringing fire down from heaven, as the two witnesses did in chapter 11. Remember the magicians of Egypt were able to imitate some of the miracles of Moses. This will be televised to indicate to the world he has power similar to the two witnesses.
v 14. Satanic beings can not create things, but they are able to manipulate natural phenomena to produce unexplainable results. They will be so spectacular that they almost deceive the elect, Mt. 24:24. The many who are deceived will readily agree to make and worship an idolatrous image. It is an image, to, not of the beast, Antichrist.
v 15. As Satan does not have power to give life, this is the appearance of giving life. Keep in mind the great wisdom Satan will have.  With the use of computers and other electronic devices we can understand possibilities that were unimaginable a generation ago. Probably an evil spirit will inhabit the image giving the appearance of life and speech. Most believers who don’t worship the beast will be killed outright or starved because  they can not buy or sell. This will be the time Jesus foretold, “flee to mountains” Mt. 24:15-21. 
v 16. The 144,000,  will have some seal bearing the name of the Father on their forehead. The mark of the beast is an imitation of this and is universally required. It will be obvious, and in the  technological ways today it could  even be used as tracking systems.
v 17. It will be known instantly if any transactions are done without this identifying mark. This will be a worldwide system of rationing in which those without the mark must have food stockpiled or rely on the compassion of a few unsaved who are willing to risk helping them. That type of compassion will be a rare commodity in that day. This may be involved in the judgment of Gentiles for providing for them, Mt. 25:37-44.
Those who take the mark will be blaspheming the Holy Spirit by honoring the Anti Spirit, an irrevocable unpardonable sin. The mark may be obvious on the hand or forehead, but modern technology opens up untold possibilities. Visible and invisible marks on and under the skin can be picked up by  scanners similar to those used at check out counters. New micro chips etc. can give age, residence, religion, credit standing, social security and other numbers and even DNA records if desired. Under such scrutiny most unsaved will feel that it is futile as well as stupid not to take the mark and live.
v  18. Many have uselessly speculated who this number is, but it won’t be found by computerized analysis of Bible number - letter comparisons.  The beast is a man and his name has a number, 666. People living when  the beast is in power will know who he is, so this identification is for the benefit of people living before then. John was writing in Greek, and Greek letters have a numerical equivalent. About one in 10,000 names in this manner add up to 666, so we can not tell in advance. When a prominent world figure appears with suspicious traits, then those living can start adding the numbers.
God’s complete number is 7, and 6 is man’s number which falls short of completeness. So 666 may possibly, but not likely, mean that Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet all come short of God’s completeness.

Chapter 13 Hell’s Holiday
Antichrist of chap. 13 is given power by, Satan, v 4. both are worshipped.
v 5,6 . Antichrist beast blasphemes 42 months.
v 8 Makes war with saints and all unsaved worship him
v 12 Horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon identifies the False Prophet
v 13 He brings fire from heaven, deceives by his miracles, Had power to apparently give life and speach to image of beast, and any not worshipping it will be killed. He exhaults the beast like Holy Spirit exhaults Christ.
v 16-18 Causes them to receive mark of beast, 666, Pope? or not buy or sell. Micro chip recording, tracking?
Chapter 14 Christ Victorious
The first angel of 14:6 is a procuct of the seventh angel that sounded in 11:15, and begins a series of six angels.

A 1, Rev. 14:6,7
A 2, Rev. 14:8
A 3, Rev. 14:9-14
A 4, Rev. 14:15,16
A 5, Rev. 14:17
A 6, Rev. 14:18-20
Chapter 15 Last Call  For Unsaved
v 1 Is a preview of scene to unfold with the seven angels.
v 2-5 Is a victory song and haeaven is open as a last call for anyone to be saved. Going, going, gone.
v 6 Too late.  The seven angels of 15:1 step forth
v 7,8. One of the four beasts gave each a gold vial filled with the wrath of God.  Shekinah Glory fills temple of God.
Chapter 16 Seven Bowl Judgments
v 1 Only God is in the temple and commands all seven to pour out His wrath, one after another.
v 2. First Bowl - Unprecedented putrid sores can’t  heal
v 3. Second Bowl - Congealed blood. All marine life die
v 4. Third Bowl - Water supplies turned to non toxic blood 
v 5-7 The angel and a martyr report this was fair
v 8,9 Fourth Bowl - Scorching Sun. Moon,stars 7X brightef
v 10,11. Fifth Bowl - Darkness on kingdom of beast, not world wide, but no repentence.
v 12.. Sixth Bowl - Euphrates (Probably others) dry. No water,, sewage or power. Evil antagonized against Christ.

v 17-21 Seventh Bowl - Voice, thunder, lighting 100# hail stones, earthquakes, islands disappear, Babylon divided. Notice six greats.