CHAPTER XIII.

1.  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.

2.  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 gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3.  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.

4.  And they worshipped the dragon 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?

5.  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.

6.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7.  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.

8.  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.

9.  If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10.  He that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword.  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Vs. 1-10.—­This chapter may be considered as an explication or commentary upon the seventh chapter of Daniel’s prophecy, and a farther elucidation of what is revealed under different symbols in the two preceding chapters; and no one can have an intelligent understanding of its contents without a competent knowledge of the symbols employed in those chapters.  Here the Holy Spirit has given a most graphic, intelligible and comprehensive exhibition of the complex power which the dragon employs, to persecute and slay the witnessing servants of Christ.  Hitherto the devil has conducted the war against the saints through the agency of the beast of the pit, (ch. xi. 7,) and those allies called “his angels:”  (ch. xii. 7:) but there has been a vail of obscurity hanging over these agencies.  Who the beast and other allies of the dragon are, it is the very design of this chapter to disclose, with greater precision and clearness than heretofore.  In a word, we have here the full portrait of THE GREAT ANTICHRIST. The distinct features and component parts of this complex and diabolical system of hostility to the Lord and his Anointed, are presented in detail for our inspection.  And it is a fact, that by a competent knowledge of this hostile combination, the suffering saints of God have been hitherto enabled