THE MEANING OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST BEAST OF REVELATION 13

DANIEL A. MUOZ TREJO Crdoba, Argentina

Introduction It is said that the sea beast of Rev 13 was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion (Rev 13:2). John is being very specific about the beasts appearance, which resembles the beasts of Daniel 7. But what does this appearance exactly means? Similarities between the sea beast of Rev 13 and the beast of Rev 12 The beast of Rev 12 has seven heads and ten horns while the sea beast of Rev 13 has ten horns and seven heads (Rev 13:1, NIV). It would be the same, but in reverse order. And it seems that this is exactly what this contrast means: the beasts appearance is being seen reversed in time, in a sort of retrospect view. It may be seen that the beast of Rev 12 is suspiciously similar to the sea beast of Rev 13. There is a difference in their appearance, but both have 7 heads and 10 horns. Furthermore, both beasts are active during the same period of time, the one called: the 1260 days (Rev 12:6), the 42 months (Rev 13:5), or the 3 times (Rev 12:14). Historicists have identified that period as the one lasting from 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D. They have also seen the beast of Rev 12 as being Satan acting throughout Rome, and the sea 1

beast of Rev 13 as representing the Papacy. I would propose to consider the sea beast of Rev 13 as being also primarily Satan: Satan acting throughout the Papacy. This consideration would explain the similarity. The 7 heads and 10 horns would therefore belong to Satan himself, and not to Rome nor to the Papacy. The Papacy (or perhaps the entire Rome) would only be one of Satan's heads. That would explain why only one head of the sea beast of Rev 13 was wounded: the Papacy is only one of Satans heads. Differences between the sea beast of Rev 13 and the beast of Rev 12 As said above, the beast of Rev 12 has seven heads and ten horns while the sea beast of Rev 13 has ten horns and seven heads (Rev 13:1, NIV). It would seem that John is staring at the same beast, but from a different angle. He said that he saw a beast (v. 1), and he emphasizes once more the appearance saying: the beast which I saw, (v. 2) as if he was calling our attention to the beasts appearance. It would seem that in Rev 12 John was staring at the beast from an angle from where he saw first the heads and then the horns, but in Rev 13 he is staring at the beast from an angle from where he saw first the horns and then the heads. It also seems that this last angle the one of Rev 13 shows the beast from his end towards his beginning, from the future to the past, in retrospect. This may be inferred because of the order in which John describes his appearance: was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion (Rev 13:2). This is exactly the inverse order in which the beasts of Daniel 7 appeared in history. The appearance

It can then be inferred that the appearance of the beast changes according to where in time he is being seen from. Therefore if in Rev 13 John is staring at the beast from his end towards his beginning, in retrospect, it would seem that the appearance of the beast in Rev 13 is the appearance that the beast would have in his final attack. Rev 12's attack seen from the beginning of that attack looks like a pagan attack (a dragon-like attack) which kills the people of God the red color of the dragon could mean blood. That would be because Satan was using a pagan power at that time. But Rev 13's attack the final attack doesn't look pagan anymore (not dragon-like), as if Satan would be acting throughout a Christian power in this final attack. It also seems that the people of God will not be killed on that attack, but will be delivered from it, because the beast is not red anymore. Daniel 12:1 says of that attack: at that time your people shall be delivered, and Rev 17:14 says that the Lamb will overcome them. Ellen G. White says the same about that final attack:
So I saw that the people of God, who had faithfully warned the world of His coming wrath, would be delivered. God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and his entire evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. And oh, what a triumph it would be for his satanic majesty to have power, in the last closing struggle, over those who had so long waited to behold Him whom they loved! Those who

have mocked at the idea of the saints' going up will witness the care of God for His people and behold their glorious deliverance1.

John says that the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion (Rev 13:2). In the same way that the beast's appearance resembles the beasts of Daniel 7, this final attack will also resemble those beasts' attacks. It will be a repetition of the persecutions of the past2. The Holy Spirit represents those worldly kingdoms under the symbol of fierce beasts of prey3. The weapons that the beasts of prey use to attack are their speed, their teeth and their claws. It can be noted that John describes all those weapons in the beast of Rev 13. His appearance (speed weapon) is the appearance of a leopard. His mouth (teeth weapon) is the mouth of a lion. And his feet (claws weapons) are the feet of a Bear. The Leopard The Greek leopard was very fast. A leopard by himself is fast, but he was a leopard with four wings, which makes him still faster. Also the he goat of Daniel 8 that matches the Greek leopard of Daniel 7 was so fast that he didn't touch the ground. Alexander is known in history for the speed of his conquers. So will be the last attack of the beast of Rev 13, the final movements will be rapid ones4. The Lion

Ellen G. White, The Story of Redemption, 408. Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p 266. Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, 77. Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p 11.

To find how will be the lion's mouth attack it is necessary to find a Babylonian attack from the past from which the people of God was delivered, because the holy people is going to be delivered from this last attack, and this final attack is going to resemble that past attack. There is only one attack like that in history, and it is found in Daniel 3: The image of Nebuchadnezzar in Dura. The attack was the setting of a false cult under death penalty. The people of God were faithful and were delivered from that attack. The final attack will then begin with the setting of a false cult whose disobedience will be punished with death. Seventh-day Adventists have identified that attack as being related to a controversy about Gods law. More specifically: a controversy on the day of worship. Following this interpretation, this part of the attack would then represent the setting of a false day of worship: Sunday.
As Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon issued a decree that all who would not bow down and worship this image should be killed, so a proclamation will be made that all who will not reverence the Sunday institution will be punished with imprisonment and death... Let all read carefully the thirteenth chapter of Revelation, for it concerns every human agent, great and small5.

The bear The bear had two feet, one for Media and one for Persia. It seems that one foot represented Media and the other Persia because that bear was raised up on one side, (Dan 7:5) as if one foot (kingdom) was stronger than the other.

Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, 257.

Looking into the biblical record, we find exactly one Median attack from which the people of God were delivered, and one Persian attack from which the people of God were delivered. The Median foot The Median attack is the one found in Daniel 6: Daniel in the lion's den. It was not only the setting of a false cult, but also the prohibition of the true cult. Following the Seventh-day Adventist interpretation, this would mean that the final attack will not only set Sunday as a mandatory day of worship but will also forbid the seventh-day Sabbath as a day of worship. Especially will the wrath of man be aroused against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and at last a universal decree will denounce these as deserving of death6. The Persian foot The Persian attack is the one found in the book of Esther. It was about a decree to destroy the people of God that was scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom because their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws (Est 3:8). Therefore the decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews7. But the biblical record says that when the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. (Est

Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p 258. Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p 258.

9:1). So will be delivered the people of God from that final decree: at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book (Dan 12:1).
As the time appointed in the decree draws near, the people will conspire to root out the hated sect. It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof... It is now, in the hour of utmost extremity, that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His chosen8.

The fourth beast The appearance of the fourth beast of Daniel 7 is not resembled by Johns description. But it happens that its appearance couldnt be resembled because that beast wasnt like any known beast. But instead of his appearance, his methodology of attack was resembled: it was devouring (mouth) and trampling the residue with its feet (Dan 7:7). John described both the mouth and the feet of the sea beast of Rev 13. Therefore the order of his attack first with the mouth then with de feet will probably be followed by the sea beast of Rev 13. This would mean that first will be set the Sunday as the day of worship, and, after that, the seventh day will be forbidden as so, under death penalty. Conclusion The last attack will be a rapid one (like a leopard) that will combine, in the order used by the fourth beast of Daniel 7, the following: 1. The setting of a false worship that will be Sunday worship (Lion's mouth).

Ellen G. White, Great Controversy, 635.

2. The prohibition of the true worship that will be the prohibition of the seventh-day Sabbath (Median foot). Followed by, or, better, attached to, a death decree against the transgressors of human laws which will allow the wicked to kill the people of God like did the Ahasuerus decree against Jews (Persian foot). But the day of the decrees execution, Gods people shall be delivered from it (Dan 12:1). The Lamb will overcome the wicked (Rev 17:14).