Still another and more striking description of this person is given in the second passage just mentioned (Rev. 13:1-8):  “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion:  and the dragon (Satan) gave him his power, and his seat, and his great authority.  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:  and all the world wondered after the beast.  And they worshipped the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:  and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

The first, and, it would seem, most important thing that is stated of this being in this Scripture is that one of his heads was, as it were, wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed.  Some have claimed this to be a reference to a previous political defeat followed by reinstatement to power.  The expression is, however, most suggestive and significant as an attempt on the part of Satan to imitate, in the Man of Sin, that which was the supreme miracle of the Christ—­His death and resurrection.  The effort is plainly effective; more so than a mere shifting of political fortune could possibly be; for the statement follows:  “All the world wondered after the beast who had received the deadly wound and yet lived.”  After they wondered, they worshipped.  First they worshipped Satan, who performed the mighty miracle; and then they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” The terrible blasphemy of the Man of Sin has been emphasized in all Scripture references to him, and is here still more vividly pictured.

The time he is to continue is said to be forty and two months, which would be one-half the tribulation period; and this statement is probably not at all figurative.  By his overwhelming supernatural power and wisdom he gains authority over every living thing in the Satanic system, excepting those recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.  These are not brought under his governing power.