Revelation 13:1b-3 - The fatal wound had been healed

13:1b,2

We then get a description of the beast, and this is quite clearly figurative. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns upon the horns, with each one having a blasphemous name. Trying to picture this beast is quite difficult! However, the primary point is the range of its power, and the nature of its power. The power is widespread and far reaching.  And the power is blasphemous, completely opposed to God.  The beast had aspects of a leopard, a bear and a lion. It is worthwhile looking back at Daniel 7 where he saw four great beasts, three of which were like a lion, a bear and a leopard. In Daniel these were separate beasts, here in Revelation they are all encompassed in one great beast. The beast was given power and authority by the dragon. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6 about our battle bening not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers are apposite here. The beast would take the form of human power, but the source of the power is the devil.

13:3

We will find in this chapter that the beast seeks to counterfeit Christ. There is a parallel here with Rev 5:6 where it talks the “I saw a lamb, looking as if it had been slain”, here we have the beast who “seem to have had a fatal wound”. However, the wound had been healed, and the whole world was will ed with wonder and followed the beast. This gives us another severe warning from the Bible that following the world is a dangerous and foolish thing to do.