Someone once said that the problem with the Bible isn’t really about understanding it all; it’s about doing what we know it says. It’s true that there is much in the Bible we don’t really understand or can’t fathom properly. Our studies in Revelation leave us with more questions than answers, it often seems. But I know that I myself have more problems with doing the things I do understand than with understanding everything.

I may not have clear answers on the identity of the beasts, the mark of the beast or what 666 really stands for (questions which can be found in Revelation 13), but I know what the Bible teaches about love and forgiveness, and I find it hard to love my enemy and forgive those who wrong me. There is much in Revelation 13 that leaves me baffled, but the call to patient endurance, faithfulness, wisdom and spiritual insight which are found there is something I can readily identify with. So perhaps I need to leave the things I don’t understand at the feet of Jesus (I’m sure He will enlighten me to the measure I need to live for Him) and work on the things I do understand.

Rev 13:16-18 describes a terrible time to come when the beast will force all people (great and small, rich and poor, free or slave) to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark associated with the name or number of the beast (666).

Much ink has been spilled debating what this mark will look like or what the number 666 represents. Some have considered the number to represent one of the Roman Emperors like Nero or Caligula or Titus. Thus, antichrist would be Nero brought back to life. Others have claimed the Antichrist as some current historical figure of their day like Hitler, Mussolini or even Napoleon. Some have thought it stood for the word “Latin” telling us he would be a Roman. All of these simply show the endless speculations which have occupied the minds of students but have not really answered this impossible question.

It is probably wisest to understand the number in symbolic terms, seven being the number of perfection and six, therefore, being a number associated with imperfection. Though the beast claims to be God, he is not. He is only a man, an evil and demonically controlled man, or a state system representing evil (Rev 13:4, 2 Thess 2:4). The three sixes may allude to a Satanic trinity (Satan or the dragon, seeking to replace the Father, the beast seeking to replace the Lord Jesus Christ, and the false prophet, seeking to replace the Holy Spirit). What is clear is that all that comes from Satan can never reach perfection (symbolised by the number seven.) Man promises peace but brings war; life, but brings death; liberty, but brings slavery. There is nothing the world offers which can match the goodness and grace of God, and we need much wisdom to avoid deception in all ages.

It is impossible to read Revelation 13 intelligibly without a Biblical knowledge of the book of Daniel. Both books are apocalyptic in style and there are many parallel passages in the two books. Here, we must read John’s account of two beasts (one from the sea and one from the earth) alongside Daniel 7, which describes four beasts. Both descriptions use allegorical language. Daniel’s first beast looks like a lion with the wings of an eagle; his second beast like a bear; the third like a leopard and the fourth is terrifying, frightening and very powerful with iron teeth. (Dan 7:2-7) John’s first beast has seven heads and ten horns and looks like a leopard with the feet of a bear and a mouth like a lion. (Rev 13:1-2) The beast from the earth has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. (Rev 13:11) Both these passages speak of evil rule. The seven heads and ten horns indicate that the beast will be a coalition of nations that rises to power to subdue the earth under Satan’s control. Later references to “the beast” in Revelation picture an individual—the man who is the political leader and head of the beastly empire, an Antichrist or man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:3-4).

Satan is described as being the prince of this world (John 16:11) It is worth remembering that he is a liar, a thief and one who destroys. He is not at all creative; only God can create – all Satan can do is mimic God or pervert what God has made. Despite the wonders that the beasts seem able to do, we should remember that their aims are to control, subjugate and receive worship that is due only to God and therefore we should not be deceived. The world has nothing to offer us which has eternal value. Jesus taught His disciples not to rejoice that demons submitted to them in His name but to rejoice that their names were written in the book of life. Only those people will be able to resist the power of the beasts. (Luke 10:20, Rev 13:8)

Revelation 13 is one of the most baffling chapters in the whole Bible, describing two beasts (one from the sea and one from the earth) which are described in fantastical detail. The beast from the sea has seven heads and ten horns and looks like a leopard with the feet of a bear and a mouth like a lion. (Rev 13:1-2) The beast from the earth has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. (Rev 13:11) Commentators throughout the years have sought to identify these two beasts, but it is impossible to be dogmatic about individuals who might fulfil these characteristics. What is important to understand is the source of authority of these beasts and their function.

This chapter makes it plain that the beasts are under Satanic authority, and this reminds us that what God is looking for in His people is whole-hearted devotion and allegiance to Him. The beast from the sea may be seen to represent the state, which is instituted by God to rule wisely (see Romans 13:1) but which can be corrupted and perverted by Satan to bring bad law and tyrannical order. The tension between submission to the authorities and resistance to that which is contrary to God’s law is one which has dominated history. Christians are not called to bow down and worship anyone but God, and this will at times lead to conflict with those over us. The beast from the earth may be seen to represent man-made religion, where supernatural means and a persuasive message seek to divert people from their allegiance to God; again, we must be vigilant in honouring God above all others. Michael Wilcock says of these two beasts, ‘The beast from the sea is Satan’s perversion of society; the beast from the earth is his perversion of Christianity.’ (The Message of Revelation, P 124)

Whilst we may debate the identity of evil empires and their leaders and ponder the significance of the mark of the beast and his number (666) (often coming up with elaborate ideas as we do so!), it is worth pausing to reflect on the pervasive nature of ideologies and political and philosophical systems which influence us almost without our realising it. The Bible tells us that we should not be unaware of Satan’s schemes. The Message version of 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, ‘We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.‘  We must be wholehearted in our devotion to God and aware of the destructive nature of every philosophy that sets itself up as worthy of worship. Only God is worthy of our worship.