After the dragon the second beast was a mix of a leopard, bear and a lion. Which is a reference to Daniel 7 that describes Babylon as a lion, Persia is the lion and the bear is Greece. One of the beasts heads seemed to have got a fatal wound Revelations 13:3 this references Nero which people said had come back from the dead as Domitianus.
People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
Revelations 13:4
They worshiped the beast possibly referring to how the emperor wanted to be worshiped. But it says that the beast will only have reign for a certain amount of time (Revelations 13:5), the message is that the persecution will end.
Horns
the other beast had two horns where horns represent strength but while the beast has two the lamb has seven which is the number of perfection.
You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
Psalms 92:10
Reflection
I like how you can read the book now with a bit of context like the head that was wounded could have been Nero. Yet it could also be a reference to Genesis 3:15 where it says that the heel will crush the serpent’s head and the serpent will bite the heel. I also think it is strange that the devil would try to copy God. I mean you only do that if you want what they have but then again maybe that is the case the devil is jealous of God and tries to emulate him. He tries to emulate in the trinity but can never fully live up to God.
Do you find the beasts scary? Or are you board of the explanation?
Source
Mikael Tellbe (2017), Libris, Lammet och odjuret En guide till uppenbarelseboken
Check out my other stuff
The Dragon and the pregnant woman https://creativemichaela.com/?p=1009
Symbolism in the book of Revelations https://creativemichaela.com/?p=1005
Är Gud verklig? – Is God real? https://creativemichaela.com/?p=800
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