1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.
“And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea” The beast is the Antichrist who will emerge from the earth or from a nation. The 10 horns are 10 kings, see Daniel 7:24.
“He had 10 horns and seven heads” The seven heads have two meanings, seven hills and seven kings, see Revelation 7:9.
The phrase “his heads were blasphemous names” is what the Antichrist will serve here on earth which he will team up with the Catholic Church to blaspheme Jesus Christ, see Revelation 17:1-6.
2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear’s, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
In the Book of Daniel chapter 7, he had a vision of four beasts which were four kings who had great power. The fourth beast was different from the three which pointed to the Antichrist as stated in Daniel 7:19-22 which says, 19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
The Ancient of Days is the Son of Man or Jesus Christ who will come riding on a white horse to defeat the Antichrist with his army at the Lord’s 2nd coming.
Daniel chapter 7 verses 23-25 continues with the description of the fourth beast/Antichrist who will come in with the fourth kingdom mentioned in the Book of Daniel which that kingdom will come during the end times which says, 23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
As you can see, the holy people/Christians or followers of Jesus Christ will be handed over to the fourth beast/Antichrist for 3 1/2 years (time, times, and half a time).
The Antichrist seems to possess the power of a leopard, bear, and lion as described in Daniel 7, meaning that the Antichrist will be very powerful with the combined powers of the nations mentioned in Daniel.
3 One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.
Either someone will try to kill the Antichrist or it will be staged by him to seem like he was killed and resurrected. The whole world will witness this so-called miracle which will encourage them to follow the beast.
4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?”
The world gave its allegiance to Satan through the Antichrist’s government, known as the one world order. The people worshipped Satan and the beast by receiving their mark (666) or their name on their bodies (forehead or right hand).
5 A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months.
Everything that came out of the beast’s mouth is to blaspheme God and those who dwell in heaven with Him. He will be allowed to reign with an iron fist on earth for 3 1/2 years or the 2nd part of the great tribulation.
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