Three pivotal figures will serve as the focus of our narrative here in Revelation chapter thirteen. We encountered the first of those figures earlier in Revelation chapter twelve when we were introduced to “the dragon,” a being who is clearly identified as Satan in Revelation 12:9. The second figure is identified in verse one as the “beast rising from the sea.” The final character appears in verse eleven where he is referred to as “beast coming up out of the earth.” Over time, these latter two figures have come to be known as “the antichrist” and “the false prophet.”
We can also separate our text from Revelation chapter thirteen into three primary sections. The first section outlines the blasphemous political system that will characterize that era. Section two describes the unholy religious structure of that period. The concluding section delves into the godless economic system that will dominate that age. That final section is also where we will encounter the ominous number 666.
“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Now 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. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?'” (Revelation 13:1-4).
In Revelation chapter twelve, we learned that Satan was permanently ousted from heaven prior to the events that take place in the passage quoted above. As a result, Revelation 12:12 tells us that he was “…filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short” (NIV). Here now in the following chapter, he expresses that deep emotional anger by calling forth a being from the sea that verse one identifies as a “beast.”
This word refers to a dangerous animal in the original language of these verses. However, this being has also acquired another name: the antichrist. The prefix “anti” means “against,” and appears in commonly used words such as “antifreeze” (an agent that protects against freezing), and “antibiotic” (or a medication that protects against bacteria).
However, the prefix “anti” can also mean “instead of,” or “in place of.” So the term “antichrist” can describe a person or belief that attempts to substitute Christ for someone or something else. Thus, any person or teaching that attempts to take the place of Jesus in someone’s life might be characterized by the term “antichrist.”
One way to answer those questions is hiding in plain sight at the beginning of our text: “Now a great sign appeared…” A “sign” is something that indicates, designates, or points to something else. Much like a road sign that points us to another destination, the same is true of these characters from Revelation 12:1-5.
Much like a signpost that points the way to a destination that lay in the distance, our text from Revelation 11:15 points us to the ultimate conclusion of this book: “…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever'” (ESV). While the world has always been the Lord’s kingdom in a sense, there have been relatively few who have recognized His sovereign rulership. That will begin to change as we transition into the second half of Revelation.
Sackcloth was a coarse, rough, bag-like material with a texture and appearance that lived up to its name. Sackcloth was typically constructed from camel or goat hair in the Biblical era. Thus, a burlap bag or coarse brown sack would probably form the closest modern equivalent to this type of clothing material. The act of wearing sackcloth symbolized deep emotional distress and indifference to worldly comforts, especially during a time of emotional sorrow.
When we speak of idolatry, we are essentially referring to a question of misplaced priorities. For instance, let’s take the case of an individual who prioritizes the acquisition of financial wealth above all else. A person who prioritizes money in that manner is just as guilty of idolatry as those who worshipped “idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.” The same is true of anything that takes God’s place within our lives.
The Euphrates River is a lengthy waterway that traverses a significant portion of the Middle East. This body of water flows from the mountains of Turkey through the nations of Syria and Iraq and later joins the Tigris River before it reaches the Persian Gulf on the Iranian border. The Euphrates River once formed the eastern boundary of the ancient Roman Empire for several centuries, as well as the land God promised to Abraham’s descendants, the Jewish people (see 
These verses present us with the imagery of a key that opens the door to malevolent spiritual forces. This should prompt us to consider other doors that should remain closed as we travel the corridor of life. For instance, some of those doors may open the way to an inappropriate relationship, financial devastation, or involvement with various forms of the occult, among others.
In addition to the losses described in the previous verses of Revelation chapter eight, this passage tells us that there will be a thirty-three percent reduction in natural light. Whatever the cause, this will undoubtedly lead to negative changes in the areas of global meteorology, temperature, and agriculture, among others.
Verse eleven also adds some additional detail: “The name of the star is Wormwood.” Wormwood is a type of plant that is described by one commentator in the following manner…
Revelation 8:3 draws upon the imagery of an Old Testament-era priest and the 
As we’re reminded in the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT).
But now, they stood before His throne. This group raised a poignant question in the previous chapter: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). But now, they held palm branches, a symbol of victory and triumph.
Revelation 7:1 begins by saying, “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth…” This reference to the “four corners of the earth” represents each of the four compass points of the globe. Those angels were responsible for “…holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree” (NET). The “winds” referenced in this passage convey the idea of a violent agitation, a stream of air, or a strong tempestuous wind. (1)