“the beast out of the sea”
Apostle John saw in a vision, ‘a strange beast,’
that looked like a leopard, with feet like those of a bear, and mouth like that
of a lion. That’s “the beast out of the sea”—a multinational and conglomerate
empire rising out of a multitude of people of diverse languages, races and
culture in Europe.
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads,
with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I
saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like
that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Rev 13:1-2 NIV
In John’s vision, this beast came out of the
sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a
land-monster; but the more monstrous thing about it is that it will set forth
“the mystery of iniquity” and tyranny.
This world ruling empire will operate with a
mixture of the styles of the ancient Greek Empire [leopard] Dan. 7:6,
Medo-Persia Empire [bear] Dan.7:5, and Babylonian Empire [lion] Dan.7:4.
Ancient Babylon was known for fierceness like
the lion; the Medes and Persia for strength like the bear, and Greece for swiftness
like the leopard. “The beast out of the sea” has a constitution of all of them,
just as presented in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
This beast which is a sort of composition of
those three is a horrid and hideous monster with an allusion to Daniel's vision
of four beasts, which represented the four historical world ruling monarchies
(Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome).
This beast had ten horns and seven heads, with
ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. And written on each
head were names that blasphemed God.