It should come as no surprise to careful readers that the Bible describes the evil enemies of God as monstrous beasts. Daniel 7:1-14 presents four world empires as four ferocious beasts coming out of the sea. Revelation 11:7 states that a beast coming out of the Abyss, likely a reference to Satan, will attack and kill God’s two special witnesses. Revelation 13:1 introduces a beast coming out of the sea and Revelation 13:11 introduces a beast coming out of the earth. In both cases these beasts possess a frightening countenance and symbolize future actors on the human stage. The first of these two beasts can be designated as the Antichrist, while the second the False Prophet. Although John never uses the word “antichrist” in the book of Revelation he does use it in his epistles (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7). The term can apply to anyone who rejects Jesus Christ, but more specifically applies to a future individual who embodies deep hatred for the Messiah. The word itself means one who is opposed to Christ or even tries to take the place of Christ. The beast that rises out of the sea certainly fits this description. While this beast’s description presents some challenges of interpretation, there are a number of facts that become clear when compared with others passages of God’s Word. Like many of the interludes in Revelation this passage reminds us that while evil seems overwhelming, God’s people will triumph in the end.
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