Three Beasts
The First Beast:
Rev 13:1 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.
In nature, you will notice that GOD does not create multiheaded creatures. GOD does everything in a natural way. If you do see a multiheaded creature, it is usually a mutation of some kind. This beast in Rev 13:1 is a governmenal system. Also, this beast rises up out of the sea. The sea is a sea of people.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
So this beast rises up out of the people. It is the governmental system of the end time. The One World System.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Notice that it says: 'they that dwell on the earth shall wonder'?
Well, that word 'wonder' means admire. That means they will worship this beast.
Rev_13:4 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?
Remember it said in Rev 17:8 that 'they that dwell on the earth shall wonder after the beast? Well, in Rev 13:4 it says 'who is able to make war with him?'.
The beast rises up out of the people and they that dwell on the earth wonder (or admire) the beast. It's the One World System beast. If it's the One World System, then there is no one to go against it. That is why they are unable to make war with him.
Now notice that this beast has seven heads and ten horns. Horns means power. The interesting thing is that the crowns are on the horns, not on the heads.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Notice the power of the horns are given unto the beast? These ten horns are ten kings without kingdoms, but they receive power 'as kings' for one hour with the beast.
The hour that is talked about here is the hour of temptation. The time of anti CHRIST and his One World System.
Also notice that the crowns are not on the heads. If the crowns were on the heads it would mean that these are actual kings with kingdoms. These are not actual kingdoms though because the crowns are on the horns (meaning it's a political power situation). A kingdom means a king and his dominion. These kings are given power as kings, but since the crowns are on the horns, they didn't have their own 'home grown' kingdoms, but given power as kings.
The Second Beast:
Rev 13:11 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.
Rev 13:12 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.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 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.
Rev 13:15 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.
Rev 13:16 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:
Rev 13:17 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.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding countG5585 the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Notice that this beast comes out of the earth. This is the church, but this beast is actually coming out of the pit. It's the religious beast. It looks like the Lamb, but it speaks as a dragon. The dragon is the devil. The devil is going to disguise himself as the Lamb. Most will think he is JESUS, but in reality he is anti CHRIST ('anti' in the Greek isn't the same as 'anti' as we are used to it. It doesn't mean against, it means 'instead of'). So, this beast is the devil and satan. This beast gives that first beast it's power. The reason it's 'instead of' CHRIST is that most people are looking for JESUS to return, but instead they get satan who is pretending to be JESUS and he deceives them into thinking he is JESUS by his miracles. Boy are they going to wish for the rocks to fall on them when the True CHRIST returns and they realize they have been worshiping satan. You know of course that JESUS is going to tell them: Mat_7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Now, what is this wisdom that is talked about in Rev 13:18?
Well, it says to 'count' the number of the beast. That word 'count' is the Greek word:
G5585
ψηφίζω
psēphizō
psay-fid'-zo
From G5586; to use pebbles in enumeration, that is, (genitive case) to compute: - count.
and it's root word is:
G5586
ψῆφος
psēphos
psay'-fos
From the same as G5584; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), that is, (by implication of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote: - stone, voice.
It's meaning comes from it's use. Back in those days, people would use stones to keep track of or count things. After using those stones for a very long time, the stones would begin to be smooth or worn down. The usage of the word here means knowledge gained by wisdom or study. So, if you have studied GOD'S WORD for a long time, you may obtain this wisdom.
And what is this wisdom?
It's that the man of sin, the son of perdition, the devil that sits in the temple claiming to be GOD is anti CHRIST,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
and what does his number is six hundred three score and six mean?
It means that anti CHRIST comes at the 6th trump, the 6th seal, and the 6th vial.
JESUS returns at the 7th Trump, so the first supernatural being that arives here claiming to be JESUS and deceiving people with his miracles is actually satan.
The First Beast:
Rev 13:1 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.
In nature, you will notice that GOD does not create multiheaded creatures. GOD does everything in a natural way. If you do see a multiheaded creature, it is usually a mutation of some kind. This beast in Rev 13:1 is a governmenal system. Also, this beast rises up out of the sea. The sea is a sea of people.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
So this beast rises up out of the people. It is the governmental system of the end time. The One World System.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Notice that it says: 'they that dwell on the earth shall wonder'?
Well, that word 'wonder' means admire. That means they will worship this beast.
Rev_13:4 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?
Remember it said in Rev 17:8 that 'they that dwell on the earth shall wonder after the beast? Well, in Rev 13:4 it says 'who is able to make war with him?'.
The beast rises up out of the people and they that dwell on the earth wonder (or admire) the beast. It's the One World System beast. If it's the One World System, then there is no one to go against it. That is why they are unable to make war with him.
Now notice that this beast has seven heads and ten horns. Horns means power. The interesting thing is that the crowns are on the horns, not on the heads.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Notice the power of the horns are given unto the beast? These ten horns are ten kings without kingdoms, but they receive power 'as kings' for one hour with the beast.
The hour that is talked about here is the hour of temptation. The time of anti CHRIST and his One World System.
Also notice that the crowns are not on the heads. If the crowns were on the heads it would mean that these are actual kings with kingdoms. These are not actual kingdoms though because the crowns are on the horns (meaning it's a political power situation). A kingdom means a king and his dominion. These kings are given power as kings, but since the crowns are on the horns, they didn't have their own 'home grown' kingdoms, but given power as kings.
The Second Beast:
Rev 13:11 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.
Rev 13:12 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.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 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.
Rev 13:15 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.
Rev 13:16 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:
Rev 13:17 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.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding countG5585 the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Notice that this beast comes out of the earth. This is the church, but this beast is actually coming out of the pit. It's the religious beast. It looks like the Lamb, but it speaks as a dragon. The dragon is the devil. The devil is going to disguise himself as the Lamb. Most will think he is JESUS, but in reality he is anti CHRIST ('anti' in the Greek isn't the same as 'anti' as we are used to it. It doesn't mean against, it means 'instead of'). So, this beast is the devil and satan. This beast gives that first beast it's power. The reason it's 'instead of' CHRIST is that most people are looking for JESUS to return, but instead they get satan who is pretending to be JESUS and he deceives them into thinking he is JESUS by his miracles. Boy are they going to wish for the rocks to fall on them when the True CHRIST returns and they realize they have been worshiping satan. You know of course that JESUS is going to tell them: Mat_7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Now, what is this wisdom that is talked about in Rev 13:18?
Well, it says to 'count' the number of the beast. That word 'count' is the Greek word:
G5585
ψηφίζω
psēphizō
psay-fid'-zo
From G5586; to use pebbles in enumeration, that is, (genitive case) to compute: - count.
and it's root word is:
G5586
ψῆφος
psēphos
psay'-fos
From the same as G5584; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), that is, (by implication of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote: - stone, voice.
It's meaning comes from it's use. Back in those days, people would use stones to keep track of or count things. After using those stones for a very long time, the stones would begin to be smooth or worn down. The usage of the word here means knowledge gained by wisdom or study. So, if you have studied GOD'S WORD for a long time, you may obtain this wisdom.
And what is this wisdom?
It's that the man of sin, the son of perdition, the devil that sits in the temple claiming to be GOD is anti CHRIST,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
and what does his number is six hundred three score and six mean?
It means that anti CHRIST comes at the 6th trump, the 6th seal, and the 6th vial.
JESUS returns at the 7th Trump, so the first supernatural being that arives here claiming to be JESUS and deceiving people with his miracles is actually satan.