Revelation 13:1-5

The beast out of the sea Revelation 13:1-5: John pictures a beast coming up out of the sea. "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." (Revelation 13:1) This sea beast represents the civil persecuting power of Rome.

In Isaiah 17:12 nations are pictured as rising from the sea. "Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!" The beast from the sea is pictured as a dangerous animal, a venomous and wild beast.

The sea beast had ten horns. Horn represents powers and ten horns represent complete power. "And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them." (1 Kings 22:11) The seven heads represent perfect authority. This one has power and authority only as had been given unto him. The sea beast had ten crowns or diadems. These symbolize rule or power. The power of rule of the wicked Roman Empire was to blaspheme God and His children. This terrible beast was much like that described in Daniel 7:1-8. The fourth beast of Daniel 7:1-28 was exact in description to the sea beast. The message in Daniel was that the saints of God would be victorious. God wanted his people to know that Rome will be destroyed. "In this beast the persecuting power of Satan becomes visible." Many evils, worldly governments have directed this poisonous venom against God's people, but the saints of God always win.