One problem in the interpretation of Revelation is the identification of the similar but differing beasts of Daniel 7, Revelation 12, 13, and 17. For purposes of reference, they will herein be referred to by the following titles:

Daniel 7 – The Terrible Beast
Revelation 12 – The Red Dragon
Revelation 13 – The Leopard Beast
Revelation 17 – The Scarlet Beast

Let it be known from the outset that we will not solve all the mysteries of these prophecies. Many brethren of superb interpretive abilities have attempted to identify these beasts and their parts and to link each symbol to an historic equivalent. All of these attempts must be admired; but all of these attempts leave questions in the mind of this scribe. It is, therefore, the object of this paper simply to note some of the elements which seem obvious, to note where problems exist, and perhaps to suggest some possible solutions.

WHO (GENERALLY SPEAKING) ARE THESE BEASTS?

It is the consensus of brethren who interpret Revelation that all of these creatures represent Rome in one form or another. Pagan, Civil, Ecclesiastical, and Church-State forms have all been suggested. These seem accurate and logical and fill the interpretive requirements. Rome and its political and theological descendants have been the center of church history.

Rome throughout history has been known as the City on Seven Hills. It seems that the Revelator incorporated this into his message for the sake of recognition. (Compare 17:9 to 2:13 for an example.) It should be noted that Daniel 7 does not refer to this 7-part symbolism. The historical identity of the Terrible Beast is, however, obvious in Daniel’s context of four beasts.

WHO (SPECIFICALLY) ARE THESE BEASTS?

The Terrible Beast (Daniel 7). This entity represents “Rome” during its entire history and through all of its evolutions. In Daniel 7:7 it is Rome before Papacy. In Daniel 7:8 it is Rome being transformed by Papacy. In Daniel 7:11 it is today’s remains of the Roman-Papal Empire. The number of heads on this beast is only one (Daniel 7:20) because the varying forms of government of Roman history are not important to us in the interpretation of Gospel Age prophecy. The number of horns is ten plus one because it is important for us to see from history how the “little horn” came into power.

The Red Dragon (Revelation 12). This entity represents Pagan Rome evolving into Civil Rome. When first we meet it, we see it concerned about the growing religious power of apostate Christians (the manchild) – see 12:3, 4. We see it lose its religious influence to this child (12:7-9). From this point forward it no longer represents Pagan Rome, but Civil Rome, and it is given the four-part name: Dragon, Serpent, Devil, and Satan (12:9). He will be mentioned again in 20:2.

The Leopard Beast (Revelation 13). This entity represents the manchild’s view of how the Roman Empire evolved into an ecclesiastical unit. The Red Dragon (of 12) represented the secular view. That Dragon gives this beast its power (13:2), showing that in this picture the two are separate entities.

The Scarlet Beast (Revelation 17). This entity represents the interaction between church and state. Because of this it is necessary to have the woman sitting on the heads. Thus we can see how they do and do not relate or cooperate. In this chapter it becomes necessary to identify the heads since their chronology enters into the interpretation (17:8, 9, 10).

HEADS

The head of a creature is the part that does the thinking – the part that directs the rest of the body. The Red Dragon, The Leopard Beast, and The Scarlet Beast all have seven heads. The Terrible Beast of Daniel, however, only has one (Daniel 7:20). This would lead us to believe that the Lord was trying to tell us that we have no significant interest in the Roman Empire as such. It would not be profitable for us to search history to find out what kinds of leadership it had. Daniel focuses on the horns because he wants us to begin considering the details of Rome only once the Apostate Power is on the scene – once the little horn comes up. Therefore, when Revelation takes the trouble to draw our attention to seven heads on all three of these beasts, it strongly suggests that we must be interested in Roman leadership changes once Christianity develops. it would seem, then, that any listing of seven heads should not predate the existence of the apostate church.

HORNS, CROWNS, AND BLASPHEMY

In Daniel and in Revelation we find 10 horns in common for all of these beasts. Horns represent powers – just as we begin to consider the power of a bull or ram when he lowers his head to show us he is ready to exercise or employ the power he has.

These horns (along with crowns) are used symbolically to make several points:

(a) The consistent use in all of these creatures helps us to equate them as various parts of one big picture.
(b) In Daniel the plucking up of three of them by the “little horn” allows us to trace in history and chronology the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation.
(c) In Revelation 12 and 13 we see that Pagan-Civil Ro e (The Red Dragon) has crowns on the heads. This is because the authority was vested in the central Roman political structure, not in the provinces. But in The Leopard Beast (Rome as viewed by the manchild), the crowns are moved to the horns because the church crowned the civil rulers under it and, for the most part, let them have the civil authority. In one sense the pictures are identical in that they both acknowledge that the civil rulers wore the crowns. In Revelation 13, however, the heads have blasphemous names on them. This is because church and state were so mixed as to be inseparable in each of the stages of the empire’s evolution, and the Lord saw this entanglement of church and state as blasphemous.
(d) The Scarlet Beast (Revelation 17), on the other hand, has crowns on neither heads nor horns because in this picture the woman considers herself sovereign over the whole arrangement. It is not stated that she is crowned, but her royal attitude is clear in 17:4. 18:7 explains clearly what her attitude was – “A Queen.” In 7:3 names of blasphemy appear all over The Scarlet Beast. This is because it claims through its history to rule by Divine Right received from the woman.

THE BIG TWO BEASTS

While for purposes of detail we have Daniel’s Terrible Beast, Revelation’s Red Dragon, Leopard Beast, Scarlet Beast, The Two-Homed Beast, and The Image of the Beast, we can profitably shrink all of these creatures into two characters. This is intimated in job’s prophecy when it introduces us to Leviathan and Behemoth.

Leviathan and Behemoth seem clearly to distinguish between the civil beast and the ecclesiastical beast – both of whom are great enemies of the people and the true church. The civil beast (Leviathan) seems clearly linked to the prophetic “seed” of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) which would “bruise (the seed of the woman) on the heel.” Insufficient focus has been given to the civil beast (governments) as the primary source of trouble for the saints. This imbalance is dangerous.

The lesson we want to learn is that mankind and the church have been faced with a double opposition. Satan has been operating through both civil and ecclesiastical institutions – sometimes even against each other, and thus against himself. But Satan will cast out Satan whenever it is expedient for him to do so to save himself. Being aware of these two prophetic forces as enemies of the saints not only helps us to interpret prophecy, but also to be prepared for whatever we may have to endure.

Thus, all of these creatures are, in one form or another, either civil or ecclesiastical opponents of the church.

Leviathan, the primary civil power of Satan, was introduced to us in detail in Revelation 12 as the Red Dragon. He was there given the four-name appellation “Dragon … Serpent … Devil, and Satan.” (12:9) We find him again in chapter 16 (vs. 13) when, during the 6th plague, he is in collusion with religion to try to prop up the old order. His final appearances are in chapter 20 which begins with his binding (20:1-3) and ends with his final attempt at deception (20:7, 8) and with his ultimate total destruction (20:10).

Behemoth, the primary religious power of Satan, on the other hand, does not seem very capable of functioning well without the aid of the state. Hence, when we first are introduced to him in detail (13:1, 2), he looks a lot like Rome! And his characteristics borrow from the first three secular beasts of Daniel 7. This beast also is found in chapter 16:13 working with the dragon. In 19:20 he is destroyed forever. He is again mentioned in 20:10 because it is important for us to see that the Leviathan beast joins him in oblivion.

All of the other “details” of Revelation prophecy about a Two-horned Beast, an Image, a False Prophet, etc., are merely extensions of this Big Two beasts picture. It is helpful to remember this simple kernel of prophetic thrust.

– David Doran

Be Thou Faithful unto Death
and I will give thee a Crown of Life
REVELATION 2:10

 

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