RSV ~ Revelation 13 Notes
Rev 13:1-18 | ISB Notes
Chapter 13 introduces two agents of the dragon: one is a beast from the sea (13:1), and another is a beast from the earth (13:11). The sea beast is surely the Roman Empire, while the land beast seems to represent a corrupt religious authority. See note on Rev 13:11.
Rev 13:1-2 | ISB Notes
a beast rising out of the sea: Several parallels indicate that the sea beast, as a demonic rival, mimics the Lamb. (1) The Lamb is worshiped by angels and saints (5:14), while the beast is worshiped by the wicked (13:4); (2) the Lamb was slain and rose again (5:6), while the beast was mortally wounded and recovered (13:3); (3) the Lamb sits on the throne of his Father (3:21), while the beast shares a throne with the dragon (13:2); (4) the Lamb redeems believers from every tribe and nation (5:9), while the beast has temporal authority over every tribe and nation (13:7); (5) the Lamb is worthy of power and glory from God (5:12), while the beast receives power and authority from the dragon (13:2); (6) the name of the Lamb is stamped on the foreheads of the saints (14:1), while the number of the beast is branded on brows of sinners (13:16-18).
ā¢ The imagery comes from Dan 7:1-7, where the pagan empires that oppressed Israel in exilic and postexilic times appear as four beasts rising up out of the seaā a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a creature with ten horns. Their animal features are here combined into an image of imperial Rome, who embodies the power and ferocity of them all.
Rev 13:3 | ISB Notes
One of its heads: The seven heads of the beast represent seven Roman kings, according to 17:9-10. mortal wound ā¦
healed: The wounded head is probably Caesar Nero, who committed suicide in June A.D. 68. He was the last of Julius Caesarās dynastic line, and his death threw Rome into political chaos and civil war. Though many thought the Empire had ended with the demise of Nero, a new claimant gained control of the throne (Galba), and the Empire lived on. Others read this as an allusion to the Nero redivivus legend, an ancient belief the Nero would someday return and reclaim his authority as Roman dictator. See notes on Rev 13:18 and 17:10.
Rev 13:5 | ISB Notes
forty-two months: A time of limited but intense tribulation. See note on Rev 11:2.
Rev 13:6 | ISB Notes
his dwelling: The heavenly sanctuary inhabited by the saints (7:15).
Rev 13:7 | ISB Notes
war on the saints: Believers become martyrs when they refuse to worship the beast and its image (13:15; 20:4). According to some, this alludes to the Neronian persecution of the Church in the mid 60s; for others, the Domitian persecution of the late first century is in view (CCC 2113).
ā¢ The passage recalls the violence of the fourth beast in Dan 7:21.
Rev 13:8 | ISB Notes
the book of life: A heavenly registry of the saints. See note on Rev 20:12.
Rev 13:10 | ISB Notes
If any one: An allusion to Jer 15:2 and 43:11, where Jeremiah learns that tragedy was certain to befall the sinners of Judah and Jerusalem, for Yahweh had decreed their captivity and death. In this context, the oracle is an exhortation to endurance, either assuring believers that God will bring judgment on their persecutors or calling them to remain faithful in spite of imprisonment (captivity) and martyrdom (sword).
slays with the sword: Another manuscript reading has this in the passive voice: āis to be slain with the swordā.
Rev 13:11 | ISB Notes
another beast: A land beast as distinct from the sea beast of 13:1. Because its power is used to promote false worship (13:12), most think that it represents a religious entity subordinate to the secular State embodied in the first beast. It is identified differently by different scholars. (1) Those who date Revelation in the 60s tend to identify this beast with the religious leadership of Israel centered in Jerusalem. This is the priestly and juridical body that rejected the kingship of Christ and pledged its allegiance to Caesar (Jn 19:15). Thereafter it was primarily Jewish leaders who aroused opposition against the early Christians and accused them before Roman authorities (Rev 2:9; 3:9; Acts 14:2; 17:5-7; 18:12-13; 24:9; 25:1-7, 24). Also, the land beast is later called a āfalse prophetā (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). This may be significant in light of Jesusā warning that false prophets would arise to deceive and perform signs in the days before Jerusalemās doom (compare Rev 13:1314 with Mt 24:11, 24). (2) Those who date the book in the 90s identify the land beast with the custodians of Roman civil religion, specifically, the cult of the emperors. Its basis was the deification of the Roman Caesars, to whom temples were dedicated and whose images were placed throughout the Empire. Loyalty to the divine ruler was expressed by worship, with each citizen making a small offering of wine and incense before the rulerās statue. Refusal to participate was not only frowned upon but was gradually regarded as a punishable crime. History shows that Christians were faced with this option of religious apostasy or Roman punishment from at least the second century A.D. (Pliny the Younger, Epistles 10, 96).
Rev 13:13 | ISB Notes
great signs: The land beast is empowered to dazzle the wicked with displays of its power (cf.Ā 2 Thess 2:910). fire ā¦
from heaven: A demonic replication of the miracles of Elijah (1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10-14).
Rev 13:14 | ISB Notes
an image: An idol to be worshiped.
ā¢ Allusion is made to Dan 3:1-7, where King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon erected a colossal image and decreed that all must bow in worship before the idol under pain of death. The pious Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego became protomartyrs when they refused and were cast into the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8-23).
Rev 13:17 | ISB Notes
the mark: A sign of apostasy. By demanding the mark, the beast forces believers to choose between prosperity and poverty, material wealth and martyrdom. It is uncertain what historical circumstances underlie this description. However, standard coinage minted in Tyre and used throughout Syria-Palestine was discontinued in the late 50s, eventually passing out of circulation. In its place, new coins were minted in Antioch with an image of Emperor Nero (). This may in part explain ābuying and sellingā in connection with āthe beastā, especially since the Greek term for āmarkā can refer to an image struck on a coin.
Rev 13:18 | ISB Notes
six hundred and sixty-six: A number directly linked with the ānameā of the beast (13:17). It is probably a cryptogram for Nero Caesar, whose name written in Hebrew adds up to 666. Interestingly, when the Greek word for ābeastā is written in Hebrew letters, it too adds up to 666. A few ancient manuscripts list the number as 616, which is the value of Neroās name according to its Latin spelling. In any case, describing Nero as the beast is entirely apt: he was a man of exceeding cruelty and moral depravity and was the first emperor to order a bloody persecution of Christians (Tacitus, Annals 15, 44). See notes on Rev 13:3 and 17:10.
ā¢ The numeral 666 appears in the Bible only here and in connection with Solomon, who received 666 talents of gold in a single year (1 Kings 10:14; 2 Chron 9:13). This was the beginning of Solomonās end, for his wealth turned him away from the Lord. Solomon typifies the beast to the extent that he allowed material prosperity to corrupt the People of God.