ACC ~ Revelation 13 v2

STRONG, FILTHY AND BLOODY. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, like a leopard.” This passage indicates that the kingdom of that time, the kingdom of the antichrist, will be commingled with a variety of nations and peoples. “Its feet were like the feet of a bear,” that is, they were of a strong and utterly filthy beast. He speaks of the leaders [of this kingdom] as his “feet.” And “its mouth was like the mouths of lions.” This means that the beast is armed by teeth intended for blood.For the “mouth” is his command and his tongue which proceed only for the purpose of the shedding of blood. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.1.

THE DEVIL IS QUICK TO DECEIVE. OECUMENIUS: “And the beast that I saw was like a leopard,” because, I think, of his ability to turn quickly and quickly to form devious plans. “And its feet were like a bear’s,” it says, since they are sturdy and steadfast, that he might “walk to and fro upon the earth under heaven,” plotting against humankind. “And its mouth was like a lion’s,” for “our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour,” as it is written. “And to it the dragon gave his power.” Without question the power of the apostate dragon inhabits these deceptions and wiles, for he has become for [the devil] both the instigator and the teacher of his works. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.1-4.

HERETICS POSSESS THE DEVIL’S POWER IN THIS WORLD. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: The beast is like a leopard because of the variety of nations; he is like a bear because of his maliciousness and madness; he is like a lion because of the strength of his body and the haughtiness of his mouth. At the time of the antichrist his kingdom will be [as a leopard], for it will contain a commixture of various nations and people; it will have feet as a bear in its leaders, and its commanding authority will be as the mouth [of a lion]. “And the dragon gave him his power,” for we see how the heretics, who have the power of the devil, are powerful in this world. For just as formerly it was the pagans who devastated the church, so now it is the heretics. EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.2, HOMILY 10.

THE RUIN OF THE WEAK AND UNSTABLE. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The kingdom of the Greeks is signified by the leopard; the Persians are signified by the bear; the Babylonians are signified by the lion. The antichrist, who will come as a king of the Romans, will rule over them and destroy their empires, when he beholds the clay toes of their feet, by which is indicated the destruction of a weak and brittle kingdom. Satan, that spiritual dragon, will give all of his authority to the antichrist, who through false signs and wonders will work for the ruination of those who are weak and unstable. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.2.

Rev