Verse 11
Kai eidon, "and I saw," marks another new scene in the vision that John had been observing since Revelation 12:1 (cf. Revelation 13:1). John saw another beast (Gr. allo therion, one of the same kind) rise to prominence out of the earth. The Greek word translated "earth" (ges) refers to the land in contrast to the sea (Revelation 13:1).
"In the minds of the ancients, none of the terrestrial animals could compare in magnitude with monsters from the deep, so coming out of the earth in itself indicated a degree of inferiority in power of the second beast to the first." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 172.]
"The second beast represented native political and economic authorities [to people living in Asia Minor in John’s day]." [Note: Beale, p. 682.]
It is probably not valid to see a reference to Palestine in this reference to the earth.
"To argue that the earth means Palestine and that therefore this character is a Jew is reading into the passage more than it says." [Note: Walvoord, The Revelation . . ., p. 205.]
If the sea represents the abyss (Revelation 13:1), the earth probably represents planet earth. Clearly this second beast is a servant of the dragon, but his connections with the dragon are not as obvious as those of the first beast.
His two horns may symbolize some political power but less power than that of the first beast (cf. Revelation 13:1; Revelation 5:6). [Note: Stuart, p. 646.] Probably in his external conduct this second beast was peaceful, as a lamb, but his words will prove satanic (cf. Matthew 7:15). His words reveal his true loyalty. He is a false prophet (Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10).
"Preterist interpreters admit that it is impossible to find any ancient historical figure who is the counterpart of the second beast." [Note: Ladd, p. 183.]
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