Chapter 13
The beast from the sea and the beast from the earth — representing imperial power and false religion — demand worship. The number 666 is revealed.
Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name(s).
NAB footnote:Beast from the sea: the Roman Empire, or any political power that sets itself up against God.
I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast.
NAB footnote:Mortally wounded: an allusion to Nero, who died by suicide in A.D. 68 and was rumored to have come back to life.
They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast and said, "Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?"
NAB footnote:Worshiped the beast: allusion to emperor worship, which Domitian insisted upon and ruthlessly enforced.
Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb's but spoke like a dragon.
NAB footnote:The second beast is described in terms of the false prophets who accompany the false messiahs (the first beast).
It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads,
Saul's insight:Believe in the Eucharist and receive it with your hand.
so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast's name or the number that stood for its name.
Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
NAB footnote:The most likely candidate is the emperor Caesar Nero, the Greek form of whose name in Hebrew letters gives the required sum. Nero personifies the emperors who viciously persecuted the church.
Saul's insight:John 6:66 says, 'As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.' Those who do not believe in the Eucharist and receive the Eucharist with their hand. John certainly didn't know the verses of the Bible — those designations came much later. But he knew about the Eucharist. And may have been conveying a theme here. Those who don't believe in the Eucharist are antichrists. 'Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared.' (1 John 2:18)