1. The dragon, also called the ancient serpent, is "the devil, or Satan who leads the whole world astray." Revelation 12:9
2. The dragon has seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. This description connects the dragon with the first beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.
3. The seven heads bear crowns so these are symbolic of seven kings or kingdoms under his dominion which have been or will be enemies of God's people.
4. The dragon is mentioned in connection with the symbolic depiction of a pregnant woman about to give birth and his attempt to destroy the child. Revelation 12:1-4
5. The dragon's motive for this attack is because he knows the Messiah would bring about the end of his dominion on earth.
6. The woman clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, and having a crown of twelve stars connects her with Israel. Genesis 37:9-10
7. What the woman gives birth to is not Jesus, son of Mary, but the promise of a savior in fulfillment of Scripture. Genesis 3:15
8. This promise is delivered through the calling of Abraham from whose line would come the Messiah. Genesis 22:18
9. Having failed in this attempt, the dragon then pursues the woman but she is given refuge from his attacks.
10. Enraged, the dragon went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring. Thus begins a long history of the dragon using nations hostile to Israel to prevent the promised arrival of the Messiah. Revelation 12:12
11. It is quite evident these texts cannot be applied to Mary, but a deeper symbolic reference to spiritual Israel through which God would fulfill the promise of a savior.

1. John sees the red dragon standing by the sea shore and then a beast coming out of the sea.
2. The beast had seven heads and ten horns. Each horn was adorned with a crown and each head bore a blasphemous title.
3. The beast looked like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion.
4. The dragon gave the beast his power, throne, and great authority.
5. One of the heads on the beast bore the scar of a fatal wound. The fatal wound was healed and this caused the whole world to be in awe of the beast.
6. They worshiped the dragon for empowering the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and praised its greatness.
7. The beast exalted itself, spoke blasphemies against God, the heavenly realm and all those abiding there.
8. It exercised its authority over the earth for a period of 42 months, during which time it waged war on the saints and defeated them.
9. All the nations of earth, everyone whose name is not found in the Lamb's book of life, will worship the beast.

1. The sea from which it arises symbolizes the populous region around the Mediterranean from which arise the great civilizations and empires of the ancient world. Revelation 17:15
   • Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
2. The physical description of this beast connect it with the four beasts of Daniel's dream. Daniel Ch. 7
   • "Resembled a leopard": Greece.
   • "Feet like those of a bear": Medo-Persia.
   • "Mouth like that of a lion": Babylonia.
   • "Ten horns": Rome.
3. The seven heads on the first (leopard-like) beast symbolize seven historical empires which became the primary oppressors of Israel.
   • Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
   • The seventh head foretells the end-time reappearance of the beast. Revelation 17:8-11
4. Which of the seven heads received the fatal wound? "Five have fallen", says the angel, or had passed into history by Johns day. The apostle John lived during the Roman Empire who was exiled to Patmos because of his Christian testimony. This clearly identifies Rome as the sixth head on the beast.
5. What could have caused this death blow to imperial Rome which is symbolized by the beast that "once was" and "now is not", and how was it healed?
6. Imperial Rome persecuted both Jews and Christians when it's religion was pagan. This ceased when the empire converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD.
7. This is strong evidence that it was this change in Rome's religious character that inflicted the fatal wound. The Western Roman Empire came to an end in the fifth century AD.
8. The healing of the fatal wound foretells of a time just before Jesus' Second Coming with the re-appearance of an imperial-like Rome which resumes its persecution of God's people.
9. The ten horns on the leopard-like beast are crowned symbolizing the future end-time reappearance of the beast. It utters self-exaltations, making itself equal with God, and wages war on God's holy people.

1. It appeared arising from the earth. It had two lamb-like horns but spoke like a dragon.
2. It possessed the same authority and used it on behalf of the first beast, making the people of earth to worship the first beast.
3. The second beast performed wondrous signs on behalf of the first beast to deceive the people of earth.
4. The second beast makes the people of earth to set up an image of the first beast that bore the mark of a fatal wound and yet lived.
5. The second beast is empowered to give life to the image of the first beast.
6. The image of the first beast speaks compelling the worship of itself on pain of death.
7. The image of the first beast commands all people to be stamped with a mark.
8. This mark is placed on the right hand of the recipient or on the forehead. Anyone not bearing this mark is denied basic services.
9. The mark of the beast is the name of the first beast or the number of its name.
10. The number of the beast is the number of a man and when calculated from the name of the beast comes out to be 666.

1. Just as water and earth are two different states of matter, it would appear the second beast arises from a vastly different region on earth.
2. The second beast having lamb-like horns but the voice of a dragon strongly suggests that this entity is a deceiver; a wolf in sheeps clothing.
3. It is the second beast who, by deception, is instrumental in the healing of the fatal wound which causes the world into worshiping the first beast.
4. The second beast is in fact further identified as the false prophet who is allied with the first beast and the kings of earth at Jesus' second coming. Revelation 19:20
5. The second beast orders the setting up of an image of the first beast. This symbolizes the introduction of idolatry in the worship of the first beast.
6. The second beast then gives life and breath to the image signifying that it is not like other idols made of stone or wood.
7. By giving the image this ability could symbolize a separate agency created to work on behalf of the second beast.
8. The image of the beast commands the people of earth bow down to it on pain of death. The worship of idols in ages past was how people would show devotion to their gods.
9. The image then moves to impress on all the people of earth to bear the mark of the first beast on their right hand or their forehead.
10. This mark signifies subservience (or loyalty) to the first beast by thought or deed. Those who refuse to receive the mark are denied basic necessities and services.
11. The mark of the beast is connected numerically with name of the first beast. The number is 666, "the number of a man." Revelation 13:18
12. Since the first beast represents much more than any one individual, it is suggested this figure may apply to a specific title belonging to it.

1. The leopard-like beast and the scarlet beast are one and the same power. The usage of a beast in Biblical prophecy represents nations that have been enemies of God's people; historically, the nation of Israel.
2. The scarlet beast symbol with its seven heads and ten horns represent the powerful empires that became the enemies of God's people throughout history.

   The beast [the scarlet beast], which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. Revelation 17:8(1)

3. The scarlet beast is revealed initially as it existed in the past during its "once was, and now is not" periods. The scarlet beasts "yet will come" period is synonymous with the leopard-like beast when it appears.
4. The people of earth are astonished by the reappearance of the leopard-like beast upon its fatal wound having been healed. This reaction is the same observed for the scarlet beast.

   The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. Revelation 17:8(2)
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   They [the seven heads] are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. Revelation 17:10,11

5. The apostle John lived during the time of the Roman Empire, which identifies it with the "one is", or the sixth head on the beast.
6. The Roman Empire so named as the sixth head on the scarlet beast is crucial in identifying the five that have fallen (i.e. passed into history): Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece.
7. The question is, what is the identity of the seventh head? The beast that "once was, and now is not" is said to be the eighth king but "belongs to the seven."
8. This suggests that one of the heads on the scarlet beast that existed in the past will reappear in a future time.

   After them [the ten horns on Daniel's fourth beast] another king will arise, different from the earlier ones... He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. Daniel 7:24,25
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   The beast [leopard-like beast] was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. Revelation 13:5

9. The descriptions for the little horn of Daniel 7 and the leopard-like beast of Revelation 13 make a strong argument that a re-emergent Roman-like power is the final head on the scarlet beast.

   The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. Revelation 17:12

10. Prior to Christ's Second Coming the ten horns, when they are empowered as kings, subject themselves to the authority of the scarlet beast. Revelation 17:12,13

    The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. Revelation 17:16,17

11. This suggests an act of rebellion since she is shown seated upon the scarlet beast which implies that she exercises authority over it, symbolized as an adulterous relationship. Revelation 17:2
12. The religion aspect of this end-time union is unlike the polytheism of the old system. It is centered on the worship of the first beast of Revelation 13 which proclaims itself equal with God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

They [the beast and ten horns] will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14
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Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. Revelation 19:19,20

13. This is the end when the beast, in union with the false prophet and the kings of earth, confront Jesus and the armies of heaven.

~~~ Final Thoughts ~~~

The prophetic books of Daniel and the Revelation use imagery and symbolism to convey their message, the understanding of which is open to interpretation and debate. I prefer rather to base my faith and understanding on other scripture, particularly the four Gospels which recount Jesus' acts and words, and the apostle's letters to the churches. Jesus, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of God the Father and the Holy Spirit.