Detailed explanation of this apocalyptic chapter and its meaning for our time! Revelation 13 could easily be called the image and the number of the Beast 666. Since Protestantism has forsaken its original I.D. of the Antichrist, innumerable false ideas about the "Mark of the Beast 666" have sprung up everywhere.

V 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.

When the aged apostle John received this vision of the two beasts, he was banned at the isle of Patmos for his faith in CHRIST, standing on the beach seeing this beast arise out of the water. Water is explained in Revelation 17:15 to mean a sea of people as in contrast to the second beast [v.11] he sees arising out of the earth. This can only mean, that while the first beast came into power by conquest, the second or lamblike beast grew on sparsely populated area, as seen below grew by itself.
The seven heads and ten horned beast was the second wonder John saw in the previous chapter, chapter 12. But what has changed, is that the crowns have moved from its seven heads to the ten crowns and in stead of the crowns on the seven heads are now the names of blasphemy.

V 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.

John recognizes this composite beast 666 as resembling parts from world empires depicted by the prophet Daniel in the old testament book by his name. The ten horned heads of Rome and the leopard body of Greece combined gives us the Greco-Roman civilisation but also features of previous world empires such as Babylon, the mouth of the lion and Media Persian feet of a bear [see Daniel 7:4-7] and Daniel also explains the horns to mean Kings or Kingdoms [Daniel 8:20]. All these parts are found no doubt in today's Papacy.

V 3. And I saw one of its heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed; and all the world wondered after the beast.

Which head of the beast 666 received a near deadly wound and survived? Which heads of all these empires has survived till now? No question, but the Roman Papacy alone has survived the deadly blow of the French Revolution. Napoleon's army with General Berthier entered Rome and took the pope prisoner in 1798 A.D. But when Generalissimo Benito Mussolini paid compensation in 1929 A. D. the world wondered and the wound started to heal again, even though nothing of its former power.
Note: In Revelation 17:9 we read that the seven heads are seven mountains. This must only apply to chapter 17 and not to chapter 13. It will not be difficult to show that the mountains and the city are used symbolically. The reader's attention is directed to the following: We are informed in Apocalypse 13 that one of the seven heads are wounded to death. This head therefore cannot be a literal mountain, for it would be folly to speak of wounding a mountain to death. Each of the seven heads has a crown upon it.  But who ever saw a literal mountain with a crown upon it? According to Daniel 7:6, heads denote governments and according to Daniel 2:35b,44 and Jeremiah 51:25, mountains denote kingdoms. Yet it speaks of the Vatican who is a now a tiny political/religious kingdom within Italy, a far cry to the former glory of the Roman Empire.

V 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?

No doubt, this refers to the time when the papal see was in power when seated on the throne of the Caesars which according to verse 2 was given him by the dragon [or Satan himself Rev.12:9]. But history will repeat itself when the governments of this earth once again give inquisition-like support [see also Revelation 19:19]. This will enforce the Beast 666 and its "Mark."

V 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.

During the 42 month or 1260 days of papal supremacy millions of Christians were tortured to death by this high blasphemous power also claiming to be Christian. They made a forgery called "The Donation of Constantine" by which is was claimed for centuries that Emperor Constantine the great gave the Roman church the powers of the state. The forgery was proved in 1440 A.D by humanist Lorenzo Valla as he examined the language of the document. Others before him also had expressed doubts.
In that document the pope's title "Vicarius Filii Dei" [Vicar of the Son of GOD] is seen on page 12 and in part reproduced here:
." Petrus in terris vicarius Filii Dei esse videtur constitutus, ita et Pontifices, qui ipsius principis apostolorum gerunt vices, principatus potestatem amplius quam terrena imperialis nostrae serenitatis mansuetudo habere videtur, concessam a nobis nostroque imperio obtineant, eligentes nobis ipsum principem apostolorum vel eius vicarios firmos apud Deum esse patronos. Et sicut nostram terrenam imperialem potentiam, sic eius sacrosanctam Romanam ecclesiam decrevimus veneranter honorari, et amplius quam nostrum imperium et terrenum thronum sedem sacratissimam B. Petri gloriose exaltari, tribuentes ei potestatem, et gloriae dignitatem atque vigorem, et honorificentiam imperialem."

Here is what it means in the English language: "Peter is seen to have been constituted vicar of the Son of God on the earth, so the Pontiffs who are the representatives of that same chief of the apostles, should obtain from us and our empire the power of a supremacy greater than the clemency of our earthly imperial serenity is seen to have conceded to it, choosing that same chief of the apostles and his vicars to be our constant intercessors with God. And to the extent of our earthly imperial power, we have decreed that his holy Roman church shall be honored with veneration, and that more than our empire and earthly throne the most sacred seat of the Blessed Peter shall be gloriously exalted, we giving to it power, and dignity of glory, and vigor, and honor imperial."---unquote

Note, no where in the Bible does it say that Peter was a pope and that any succession was to continue or be passed on. In 1.Corinthians 10 we can see that Christ was referring to Himself when He spoke to Peter about the rock and foundation stone of Christianity. The representative of CHRIST is the Holy Spirit and not the pope.

"VICARIUS FILII DEI"  one of the popes many titles which is now being vigorously denied, in Latin, fits the descriptive number of the beast 666 in Revelation 13:18 as the biblical antichrist:

 
The haughty papacy also has a tripple crown by which it claimed that the pope is ruler of heaven, earth and the lower region [hell]. The latter we believe with all our hearts. Satan works through the self-exalting antichrist!

V.6. "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Isn't it a mockery when someone on earth claims to be the only dispenser of salvation? Doesn't this effectively bypass our dear Lord JESUS and the whole plan of salvation, His intercessory work in the heavenly tabernacle and all heaven?

V 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."

How cruelly have satanic forces tortured the real born again Christians, torn them on the rack and burned them on the stake for not agreeing to catholic idolatry. The offence was a little as being found in possession of a Bible or not bringing your new born to the church for the heretical sprinkling of babies, falsely termed baptism.

V 8. "And all that dwell on 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."

 True Christians do not bow to idols, statues and images because they read the Bible for themselves and accepted the blood of JESUS for their sins. Therefore they do not need an earthly intercessor as they go directly to the throne of grace.

V 9. "If any man have an ear, let him hear". V 10. "He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."

The last sentence of this verse is repeated in Revelation 14:12 with the addition of keeping the commandments of GOD.

V 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."

No doubt, the first beast came out of the sea of people, the second out of the earth or sparsely populated area. The American Indians were roving tribes and had no fixed dwellings. The Lamb no doubt points to Christ likeness with the two horns of leading a nation via a constitution which was opposed to the papacy. But it changes and speaks deceptively like the dragon or devil. A Unique Symbol.--Here is a striking figure of the rise and growth of America. And the lamblike horns, emblems of innocence and gentleness, well represent the character of our government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, republicanism and Protestantism. A lamb represents youth, a young and new nation. 

V 12. "And he exercises 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."

President Bush has told Americans to listen to the pope what he has to say. Bush signed the Military Comission Act 2006 on the 18th of October 2006 which gives him unlimited powers and we are waiting with bated breath to see how he will enforce what he said about the papacy. One of the heads that was wounded to death belongs to the first beast.  The "USA" exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf. What does this mean? It is acting as the head, doing the talking and actions in behalf of the papal Rome with all the authority formerly invested in the first beast that was wounded and is healing.

V 13."And he does great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."

Pentecostal fire like cloven tongues is the glue that combines Protestant America to Catholic Rome and is being proclaimed the third force of Christendom in this apostate hour. This threefold union is seen in Revelation 16:13 as unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon [devil]. How does the frog catch his prey? With the tongue. See also our page on tongues [opens in new window].

V 14. "And decieveth 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 of a sword, and did live."

Deception by miracles are already being practiced even though most of them are exposed as being fakes, but real miracle by Demons and Christians GOD may allow as time progresses. After having deceived the world with its wonders, the USA will exhibit all the tyranny of the first beast and so with will form an image to Rome. 

V 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."

Seeing that the kings of this earth will rather be crushed by rocks than meet CHRIST whom they have falsely represented [Revelation 6:15] they feel guilty of having forced the people of this earth into false worship.

V 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." V 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."

As we have shown before, "the mark" is the power claimed by the Catholic church for having changed the Ten Commandments, removing the second to establish idolatry but specifically the the fourth or third relating to the day worship, so that the coming Sunday law is the enforcement of the beasts.

At the end of the 42 month [verse 5] when Napoleon gave the papacy its mortal wound in 1798 A.D. during the French Revolution, the second beast started to raise into prominence. Napoleon sold land to the USA. Fast territories of Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California and Oregon after its acquisition grew peacefully like a lamb into a world power. The two-horned beast has no crowns and is therefore Republicanism and Protestantism combined.

V 17."Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666.

We already referred you to that number of a man above. There has been a great lot of speculation in the past including a giant computer in Brussels as well as a modern micro chip implant, but the Seventh Day Adventist Church has consistently since the 1800's promoted this same doctrine here explained to you. The right hand points to the extending of fellowship and the helping hand, but the forehead or frontal lobes is where the decisions are made for the true or false worship using deceptions for the latter.

The Papacy also stands in the way of Christian unification. The Greek and Russian Orthodoxy with much bigger territory  and membership, as well as the Ecumenical World Council of Churches may yet decide to get rid of the Papacy altogether because Revelation 17:6 says that the 10 horns hate the whore and will burn her with fire. The number ten stands for completeness and horns are secular rulers, so complete leadership is here indicated. When John Paul II visited Greece, the front pages of the Newspapers said: "Antichrist go home." [Note, this is so because the catholic Church claims that the Pope is another Christ here on earth and it is also blasphemy to claim the place of the Holy Spirit as representative].
If you are looking for the number 666 on the Pope's triple crown, it is not there anymore. Napoleon confiscated it and removed all the Jewels including any badges.

It is not the reconstituted papacy that will be the problem, it is Protestantism that takes on the traits of the papacy:
At the time when the Papacy, robbed of its strength, was forced to desist from persecution, John beheld a new power coming up to echo the dragon's voice, and carry forward the same cruel and blasphemous work. This power, the last that is to wage war against the church and the law of God, is represented by a beast with lamblike horns. The beasts preceding it had risen from the sea; but this came up out of the earth, representing the peaceful rise of the nation which it symbolized--the United States. {ST, February 8, 1910 par. 5} 
The "two horns like a lamb" well represent the character of our US Government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles,--Republicanism and Protestantism. These principles are the secret of our power and prosperity as a nation. Those who first found an asylum on the shores of America, rejoiced that they had reached a country free from the arrogant claims of popery and the tyranny of kingly rule. They determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. {ST, February 8, 1910 par. 6} 
But the stern tracings of the prophetic pencil reveal a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth, "that they should make an image to the beast," and that it will cause "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 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." Thus Protestantism is to follow in the steps of the Papacy. {ST, February 8, 1910 par. 7}

"And he had two horns like a lamb." The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as 'coming up' in 1798. Among the Christian exiles who first fled to America and sought an asylum from royal oppression and priestly intolerance were many who determined to establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious liberty. Their views found place in the Declaration of Independence, which sets forth the great truth that "all men are created equal" and endowed with the inalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity. The oppressed and downtrodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth."

"But the beast with lamblike horns 'spake as a dragon. 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; . . . 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." Revelation 13:11-14.

The lamblike horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The "speaking" of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak 'as a dragon" and exercise "all the power of the first beast' plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the nations represented by the dragon and the leopardlike beast. And the statement that the beast with two horns 'causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast' indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy. 

Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government, to the genius of its free institutions, to the direct and solemn avowals of the Declaration of Independence, and to the Constitution. The founders of the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on the part of the church, with its inevitable result--intolerance and persecution. The Constitution provides that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' and that 'no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States.' Only in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation's liberty, can any religious observance be enforced by civil authority. But the inconsistency of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol. It is the beast with lamblike horns--in profession pure, gentle, and harmless--that speaks as a dragon. 
"Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast." Here is clearly presented a form of government in which the legislative power rests with the people, a most striking evidence that the United States is the nation denoted in the prophecy.

But what is the "image to the beast"? and how is it to be formed? The image is made by the two-horned beast, and is an image to the beast. It is also called an image of the beast. Then to learn what the image is like and how it is to be formed we must study the characteristics of the beast itself--the papacy. 
When the early church became corrupted by departing from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs, she lost the Spirit and power of God; and in order to control the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the papacy, a church that controlled the power of the state and employed it to further her own ends, especially for the punishment of "heresy." In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends. 

Whenever the church has obtained secular power, she has employed it to punish dissent from her doctrines. Protestant churches that have followed in the steps of Rome by forming alliance with worldly powers have manifested a similar desire to restrict liberty of conscience. An example of this is given in the long-continued persecution of dissenters by the Church of England. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of nonconformist ministers were forced to flee from their churches, and many, both of pastors and people, were subjected to fine, imprisonment, torture, and martyrdom. 

It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy--the beast. Said Paul: "There" shall "come a falling away, . . . and that man of sin be revealed." 2 Thessalonians 2:3. So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast."

How does the second beast speak like a dragon?
The Dragon is a symbol of Satan [Rev12] and Satan speaks deceptively. We identified the second beast as being the USA and we have already seen some of its deception. The United Nations atomic energy commission returned from Iraq saying that they found no weapon's of mass destructions. The US was not after bananas, but crude oil and went ahead invading Iraq under the false pretence seeking for weapons of mass destructions. The national and international Sunday law, not allowing to buy and sell, will also be a deception of the highest order. Under the pretence of stopping all the natural disasters and the wrath of God, the US will enforce the papal Sunday opposing the 4th of the Ten Commandments and therefore invoking the displeasures of God. Sunday observance being a counterfeit and idol false Sabbath will bring the seven last plagues down on them.

How The Image To The Beast Evolves
"He exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed."---Revelation 13:12.
The American president Bush told his people that Protestant America should take note of the Roman Catholic Pope. 
In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own ends.
          The "Image of the Beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.
          When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome- "The Mark of the Beast."
And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive "the mark of the beast.

In the issue of the contest all Christendom will be divided into two great classes - those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive the mark. Although church and state will unite their power to compell "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond" Revelation 13:16, to receive the mark of the beast," yet the people of God will not receive it. The prophet of Patmos beholds "them that had gotten the victory over the beast, his image, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God" and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Revelation 15:2,3.

Not yet, however, can it be said that "Babylon is fallen, because she made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication." She has not yet made all nations do this.