Revelation 13:1-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:1-10

We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. 2. Whence 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:11-18

Those who think the first beast signifies Rome pagan by this second beast would understand Rome papal, which promotes idolatry and tyranny, but in a more soft and lamb-like manner: those that understand the first beast of the secular power of the papacy take the second to intend its spiritual and ecclesiastical powers, which act under the disguise of religion and charity to the souls of men. Here observe, I. The form and shape of this second beast: He had two horns like a lamb, but a mouth... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 13:1-18

13:1-18 I saw a beast coming up from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads; and it had ten royal crowns on its horns; and on its heads I saw blasphemous names. The beast which I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's feet; its mouth was like a lion's mouth; and to it the dragon delegated its power and its throne and its great authority. I saw that one of its heads looked as if it had been wounded to death; and its deadly wound had been healed. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:1

And I stood upon the sand of the sea ,.... The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read, "and he stood", &c.; and so the Alexandrian copy; meaning the dragon, said to be wroth with the woman, and to go forth to make war with her seed, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, where some versions place this clause; and the Arabic version reads expressly, "and the serpent stood", &c.; And this is thought by some to be the better reading, because of the connection with what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:2

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard ,.... To which the Grecian kingdom is compared in Daniel 7:6 ; because of that rapidity and swiftness with which Alexander overran the world, and set up this monarchy; and to which the Roman Papal monarchy bears some resemblance; for as the Grecian monarchy was divided into several parts, which the leopard's spots may also point out, so the Roman empire was divided into ten parts, and united under the pope, as the head of them; and may be,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:3

And I saw one of his heads ,.... Not the Capitoline mountain, or the Capitol, the temple of Jupiter, built on that hill, which was burnt by lightning in the times of Titus, and magnificently rebuilt by Domitian, which was a thing past, and of no such moment as to be taken notice of here; nor anyone of the Roman emperors particularly, as Julius Caesar, at whose death the empire received a wound, upon its first erection in him, but was healed by the settlement of Augustus in it; nor Nero, at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:4

And they worshipped the dragon ,.... The devil, in the idols, images, angels, and saints departed, to whom they give adoration, as did the Gentiles, whose successors they are, and whose name they bear; see 1 Corinthians 10:20 ; which gave power unto the beast , as in Revelation 13:2 ; and they worshipped the beast ; not only in a civil way, being subject to him as their temporal lord, to whom they give homage; obedience, and tribute, but in a religious way; for antichrist sits in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth ,.... The beast is said to have a mouth before, like the mouth of a lion, Revelation 13:2 ; but now he was moved and stirred up by the dragon, the devil, to open it, not only in a cruel and voracious way, but in a haughty, lying, and blasphemous manner: and this was given him, it was at the instigation of Satan, and by divine permission; his coming, speaking, and acting, were after the working of Satan, but not without the will of God; who, as he gave... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:6

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God ,.... By sitting as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God; by suffering himself to be called by the name of God, God on earth, Lord God the pope, and to be worshipped as God; and by assuming infallibility, giving out that he cannot err, which only belongs to the God of truth; and by his idolatrous practices commanded by him, as the worshipping of idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, which is in Scripture called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:7

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints ,.... The remnant of the woman's seed, Revelation 12:17 , whom God has set apart for himself, Christ has cleansed from sin by his blood, and the Holy Spirit has sanctified by his grace; and who under the influence of it live holy lives and conversations; against such Satan always bore an enmity; and it is an aggravation of the wickedness of the Romish antichrist, that he makes war with such, which he is stirred up to by Satan, with a... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 13:11-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 13:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:7

Group of Brands