Beasts in the Book of Revelation Identified and Described
The Book of Revelation presents multiple beasts, each serving distinct symbolic functions within the apocalyptic vision. These figures emerge from different locations and bear different characteristics, requiring careful attention to their textual descriptions and the interpretive traditions that have sought to identify them.
The Four Living Creatures
The first beasts encountered in Revelation appear in chapter 4, surrounding the throne of God. These four creatures are described with precision: "the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle" [1, 2]. Unlike the later beasts in Revelation, these creatures function as worshipers rather than antagonists, continuously praising God in the heavenly throne room. Their composite imagery—combining human, domestic, and wild animal features—has been understood by interpreters as representing the fullness of creation offering worship, though the text itself does not provide this explanation.
The Beast from the Sea
Revelation 13 introduces a dramatically different beast, one that rises from the sea and embodies opposition to God. This creature is described as having seven heads bearing blasphemous names, ten horns crowned with diadems, and a composite body: "like a leopard, its feet as a bear, and its mouth as a lion" [5]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown observe that this beast "unites in itself the God-opposed characteristics of the three preceding kingdoms" from Daniel's visions, representing "comprehensively in one figure the world power...of all times and places" [5]. The sea origin itself carries significance, as Matthew Henry notes that the apostle "seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore" when witnessing this vision, though "by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster" [6].
John Gill identifies this first beast as representing "the Romish antichrist...in his civil power," describing it as having "power, a throne, and great authority" [4]. The interpretive tradition has consistently understood this beast as a political or imperial force arrayed against the church, though specific historical identifications have varied.
The Beast from the Earth
A second beast emerges in Revelation 13:11, this one rising from the earth rather than the sea. Matthew Henry explains that interpreters understand "Rome papal to be represented by both these beasts, by the first in its secular power, by the second in its ecclesiastical" [7]. This second beast exercises the authority of the first and compels worship of it, functioning as a religious rather than purely political power. The distinction between sea and earth origins, between civil and ecclesiastical manifestations, structures the chapter's presentation of coordinated opposition to God's people.
The Eighth Beast
Revelation 17 introduces additional complexity with reference to a beast "that was, and is not" [3]. The Geneva Bible renders this: "the beast that was, and is not, is euen the eight, and is one of the seuen, and shall goe into destruction" [3]. This cryptic identification connects the beast to the seven heads previously described, suggesting both continuity and transformation in the forces opposing God's kingdom. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note that standing "upon the sand of the sea," the dragon "gave his power to the beast that rose out of the sea," establishing the derivative nature of the beast's authority [8].
The beasts of Revelation thus function as symbolic representations of political and religious powers opposed to God, drawing on imagery from Daniel's visions while adapting it to the specific circumstances facing the seven churches of Asia Minor. Their monstrous composite forms—mixing features of known animals in unnatural combinations—signal their perversion of created order and their ultimate subjection to divine judgment.
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Revelation 4:7 — And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 4:7 (KJV) — And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 17:11 (Geneva1599) — And the beast that was, and is not, is euen the eight, and is one of the seuen, and shall goe into destruction.”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 13 This chapter contains a description of the Romish antichrist, under the figure of two beasts, the one representing him in his civil power, the other in his ecclesiastical power. The first beast is described by its origin, the sea, and by the monstrous shape its several parts; its heads seven, in which were the name of blasphemy; its horns ten, on which were crowns; its skin like a leopard, its feet as a bear, and its mouth as a lion; and by its state and condition, having power, a throne, and great authority; and having”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:2: leopard . . . bear . . . lion--This beast unites in itself the God-opposed characteristics of the three preceding kingdoms, resembling respectively the leopard, bear, and lion. It rises up out of the sea, as Daniel's four beasts, and has ten horns, as Daniel's fourth beast, and seven heads, as Daniel's four beasts had in all, namely, one on the first, one on the second, four on the third, and one on the fourth. Thus it represents comprehensively in one figure the world power (which in Daniel is represented by four) of all times and places, not mere”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 13:1: We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. 2. Whence this beast came - out of the sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem it would be ”
- Revelation (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Revelation 13 (introduction): We have, in this chapter, a further discovery and description of the church's enemies: not other enemies than are mentioned before, but described after another manner, that the methods of their enmity may more fully appear. They are represented as two beasts; the first you have an account of (Rev 13:1-10) the second (Rev 13:11, etc.). By the first some understand Rome pagan, and by the second Rome papal; but others understand Rome papal to be represented by both these beasts, by the first in its secular power, by the second in its ecclesiastical.”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13 (introduction): VISION OF THE BEAST THAT CAME OUT OF THE SEA: THE SECOND BEAST, OUT OF THE EARTH, EXERCISING THE POWER OF THE FIRST BEAST, AND CAUSING THE EARTH TO WORSHIP HIM. (Rev. 13:1-18) I stood--So B, Aleph, and Coptic read. But A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac, "He stood." Standing on the sand of the sea, HE gave his power to the beast that rose out of the sea. upon the sand of the sea--where the four winds were to be seen striving upon the great sea (Dan 7:2). beast--Greek, "wild beast." Man becomes "brutish" when he severs himself from God, the”