John first sees the beast rising out of the sea. From John’s perspective in the Roman Empire of the first century, this can only be the Mediterranean Sea. From the middle of a configuration of nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea arises one who somehow represents all the evil empires of all time, all those who have come against God and His people.

To assure us we are on the right track here, several animals are mentioned as part of his description. The animals are the same as the ones mentioned in Daniel 7! These were the representations of the four kingdoms that would appear in Daniel’s day and forward.

Seven heads are seven kings and their kingdoms, which we will see back in chapter 17. But before that, verse 8, is a serious key to unlock a mystery for us. This animal, the beast that many evangelical scholars see as the antichrist, lived once before. He is not alive on earth now. But he is going to arise from his holding place, do his dastardly deeds, then go to everlasting perdition.

Hear it again. The antichrist – if indeed we may assume that the beast is the antichrist – already lived on Planet Earth, was a historic figure, in John’s day. Also in John’s day, he was not alive on the Earth. But he was alive somewhere. How do we know? Because that same person is going to reappear on the Earth in the last days foretold here in Revelation 17.

A resurrected Emperor!