Beast of Revelation

The Beast is a figure in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. There are two beasts described in Revelation 13; the First Beast arises out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns. The Second (Lamb-like) Beast arises out of the earth, having the appearance of a lamb while speaking like a dragon. This Beast exercises authority on behalf of the first beast, causing the Earth-dwellers to make an image of the First Beast, and worship him. It is able to give life to this image so that it could speak and kill anyone who doesn't worship the First Beast. This Beast is later called “The False Prophet” (Rev. 16:13; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10) and together with the Dragon and the First Beast forms the unholy trinity (Satan, Antichrist, The False Prophet).

Futurists identify the Beast with the Antichrist who will appear immediately after the rapture to rule the world and deceive the Jews. They hold that the Beast will rule the world using a world government like unto or greater than the Roman empire. Christian Zionist author Hal Lindsay has written of the Antichrist as head of a revived Roman Empire (A United States of Europe Or European Union). They also believe that RFID tagging could represent the mark of the beast, which Revelation 13:16-17 says will be placed by the Beast in the right hands or foreheads of humans and necessary for commerce.