The Scarlet Beast of Revelation 17 -

Who Is It?

To Evidence Links

There has been a lot of speculation over the centuries about who the beast of Revelation 17 represents.  Many different theories have been proposed, most of which are probably incorrect.  The author, however, contends that if the leopard beast of Revelation 13 is properly understood, one may deduce the identity of the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.  This web page will explore the identity of the scarlet beast and attempt to demonstrate that the leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 are in fact one and the same power.

Do understand that the basic hypothesis this web page is built on is that the leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 are representing the same power.

The reader should be aware that this is not easily accomplished.  Based on the materials present in Revelation 17, there are a number of ways in which the hypothesis could be disproved.  So, unless the hypothesis is likely true, the author will fail to reasonably demonstrate the accomplishment of the objective.  The author asks that the reader keep an open mind and base his decision for or against the final conclusion on the preponderance of the evidence.

For the evidence that the hypothesis is true, the author has divided the material up into several sections.  First, the broad view of Revelation regarding the use of the word "beast," which can help show that they are the same.  Second, there are characteristics present on both the leopard beast and the scarlet beast that can help us identify them or show that they are the same.  Third, we can look at the differences between them and see if they tell us the two beasts are different, an approach based on the idea that they are actually the same and contradictions to that would disprove the hypothesis.  Then, the identification of the woman and explanation of her location on the beast is explored.  Last, the identification of the 10 horns is covered.

This document covers a lot of material, so the author would suggest that the reader work on one section at a time to avoid mental fatigue.  To read the evidence for each section, select a section to read below:

Evidence Links

• To read the Broad View, click here.
  
  
• To read the common factors identifying the two beasts, click here.
  
  
• To read the final summary, Who is the beast? The common identifying factors, click here.
  
  
• To read the differences between them and how these can be successfully reconciled, click here.
  
  
• To read the differences summary, click here.
  
  
• To read about the identity of the woman & her relationship to the beast, click here.
  
  
• To read about the identity of the 10 horns, click here.
  
  
• To read a summary of the terms used, click here.
  
  

The Broad View of the Beast’s Identity in Revelation

To begin, a broad view of things in Revelation can help identify the scarlet beast.  If you take time to read Revelation chapters 13 through 22, you will it makes reference to "the beast," but what beast is it referring to?  This is used in reference to both the sea beast and the scarlet beast, and no others in these chapters.  In some places it is relatively clear which beast "the beast" refers to, but in others, it is impossible to know for sure.  Those for which it is impossible to know are those which perhaps present the greatest evidence that the two beasts are in fact the same power. 

Revelation 13 through 16 consistently refers to "the beast" to reference the leopard-like beast that comes up out of the sea in Revelation 13:1.  Any other beasts referred to are qualified by the names used for them so as to differentiate them.  Revelation 17 refers to the beast as being scarlet colored only in verse 3, but later verses in that chapter refer to "the beast" for the scarlet colored beast.  After Revelation 17, there are no more references to either beast in a way that can clearly differentiate between them.

These are the references to "the beast" in Revelation 19:

• Rev 19:19 - And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
  
  
• Rev 19:20 - And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
  
  

After you have read the two verses above, can you determine definitely which beast is referred to?  Now some would say that "the beast" in verse 19 must refer to the scarlet beast because it is clear that it carries out a war against God (Revelation 17: 14).  But, do not assume this too quickly.  The same can be said of the leopard beast of Revelation 13 because it too carries out a war against God's people.  So, which beast is it?  Look at the next verse.  It makes reference to the "mark of the beast," which is a reference to the Revelation 13 leopard beast.  So which is being referred to in Revelation 19:19-20? 

As you should be able to see, assuming the two beasts are if fact two different powers makes it nearly impossible to determine which is actually being referred to.  But, that is not the case if you simply assume they are actually referring to one and the same power.  Then the difference is irrelevant and the verses make perfect sense. 

Now let us look at the verses in Revelation 20 that can be confusing. 

• Rev 20:4 - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
  
  
• Rev 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever
  
  

Obviously, verse 4 refers to the leopard beast of Revelation 13 because of the reference to the mark of the beast.  But what about verse 10?  Which is it?  Can you really determine which beast it is?  There is evidence that the false prophet is associated with the image to the beast or the earth beast of Revelation 13, and that would suggest that the "beast" referred to here is the Revelation 13 leopard beast.  But one cannot tell since it simply speaks of "the beast" and in that sense is somewhat indefinite.  Consequently, proof positive of which beast it is simply is not present.  But, if "the beast" refers only to one power, then these verses make perfect sense.

Here is another point to consider.  Revelation 13 and 17 both present two apparently different beasts (at least, they are different based on their appearance) that make war on God and his people.  Some might argue that only the leopard beast is mentioned as being thrown into the lake of fire in Revelation 20.  But, both the leopard beast and the scarlet beast make war upon the people of God and God himself, and therefore are guilty of a serious crime against God and his people.  So, then, why would only the leopard beast be eligible for mention as being thrown into the lake of fire, but not the other?  Since nothing is mentioned by which to differentiate the two beasts in Revelation 19 and 20, and both clearly are guilty of war against God, and only one appears to receive punishment for warring against God, these facts are strongly suggestive that the two beasts are one and the same powers.  There is no difference.

Another fact that strongly hints that the two beasts represent the same power is the use of names for other powers in Revelation 12 through to the end of the book of Revelation.  Where the image to the beast is mentioned, it is always referred to as the "image to the beast," the "image of the beast,", or "his image."  It appears not to be referred to by any other names that would confuse the reader.  In other words, one always knows that the image to the beast is being referred to.  It is not said in such a way that could confuse the image to the beast with the original beast or the earth beast or the dragon.

Revelation 13 is the only place where the beast that arises from out of the earth is discussed.  It is referred to there as "another beast coming up out of the earth" and as "he."  The first reference is used only once, when John saw it arise out of the earth.  Thereafter, it is referred to as "he" and the context generally makes it clear which beast is being referred to.  Now, a casual reader might confuse the earth beast with the image to the beast based on context, but careful reading should make it clear that the earth beast is also clearly distinguished from the image to the beast.  But in no case would the reader confuse the leopard beast or the scarlet beast with either the earth beast or the image to the beast.  The terminology and context is entirely too clear to make that mistake.

There are a few who make the mistake of thinking that the number of the beast, 666, at the end of Revelation 13, is the number of the image beast.  But this is likely incorrect.  Consider Revelation 20:4, shown above, where it shows that "the beast" and the "image to the beast" are considered different.  If that were not the case, it would not mention them as separate powers to be dealt with.  Thus, the number 666 must apply to a different power than the "image to the beast.".

Hence, the fact that the terminology makes it clear which beast is always being referred for the earth beast, the image to the beast, and the dragon, tells us that when there is deliberate confusion created on the part of the writer for the two beasts, that is a strong hint that the reason this is done is because there is no difference between the powers the two beasts actually represent.  In other words, the two beasts are one and the same and the reader should see this from the naming that is used for the beasts.

If the two beasts are considered different, then there has been deliberate confusion introduced by the writer of Revelation which seems inconsistent with the purposes that God would have for us as readers.  After all, he clearly intended that we understand Revelation.  We know this to be the case because the angel said to John,

Rev 22:10 - "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."

This should be a compelling reason to see the two beasts of Revelation 13 and 17 as representing the same power.

Therefore, it seems the most consistent hypothesis for explaining the confusing verses in Revelation 19 and 20 is that the two beasts are in fact one and the same, even though they look different. 

But, is there other evidence that the two beasts represent the same power?  To answer this question, it is helpful to do a comparison of Revelation 13 and 17, looking for commonalities between the leopard beast and the scarlet beast.  From the common characteristics, the author will show that a conclusion can be drawn, which is that the two beasts represent the same power.  Next, it would be wise to consider the things that are not in common and see if they can be shown to not be reconcilable, in which case it would contradict the hypothesis that the two beasts are the same.  In other words, see if things found on one beast can actually be found in another form on the other beast, and are therefore in harmony so that the hypothesis that the two beasts are the same would be supported.  Clearly, if the things that appear not to be in common clearly contradict each other, then the two beasts cannot be the same power.

Return to Evidence Links

Common Elements of the Two Beast's Characteristics That Help Identify the Them

Remember that the hypothesis the author uses here is that the leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 are the same power.  The following points will be discussed in this section, from which a conclusion can be drawn:

• Both beasts have the same number of heads and horns
  
  
• Both beasts start from a position of power
  
  
• Both beasts have a time of restraint, or a time when they have little power
  
  
• Both beasts recover their power just before the end of this world's history
  
  
• Therefore, as a consequence of these changes in power of both beasts, both of them have a three phase existence
  
  
• The second phase of the existence of both beasts began in 1798
  
  
• The third phase cannot conclusively be proven to start exactly together, but we know that in both cases they begin very near the end of this world's history so begin very close together
  
  
• Both beasts terminate together very close to or at the end of this world's history
  
  
• Both beasts speak blasphemy during their existence, something that is in common with the talking horn on the dreadful beast of Daniel 7 and NOT in common with the political beast of Daniel 7
  
  
• Both beasts involve the Catholic Church as the dominant power, which is known both from history and the interpretation of the symbols present with both beasts
  
  
• Both beasts can be shown to look like the beasts of Daniel 7, and follow the same pattern demonstrable in Daniel 7 for interpretation of beasts in that chapter
  
  
• Both beasts involve church and state combined in an alliance that God does not approve of.
  
  

With that in mind, here are the details of the common elements between the two beasts:

1. Both beasts have 7 heads and 10 horns.  If they represent different powers, is it not at least somewhat likely that there would be a different number of heads and horns?  Consider Daniel 7, where 3 beasts had one head, one had 4 heads, and one had 10 horns (then gained a new one, and lost 3 of the originals).  Each was a separate and distinct power and their heads or horns in part reflected that fact.

Having the same number of heads and horns is strongly suggestive that at least the heads and horns are identical, and probably the body is the same as well since the heads and horns normally are an outgrowth of the body.

While this does not prove the bodies are identical, it is strongly suggestive that they are.  But one has to gather other evidence to corroborate the hypothesis that the two beasts are identical as this evidence by itself is insufficient.  A simple case that shows this to be true is the fact that the dragon has the same number of heads and horns as the beasts of Revelation 13 and 17, and yet is a different power (however, the heads and horns are identical for all 3 beasts, but that is another story by).  So, by itself, this is not proof but is strongly suggestive.  Clearly other evidence is necessary to draw properly supported conclusions.

2. Both beasts begin with with a position of power.  Revelation 13 tells us that the leopard beast would have power for 42 months, which automatically implies an end to the power of the leopard beast at the end of the 42 months, something that indeed did happen in 1798.  Since then, the leopard beast has been in a form of restraint but is gradually gaining power again.

Revelation 17 tells us that the scarlet beast "was", which clearly means the power represented by the body of that beast existed at one time.  Based on the beasts of Daniel 7, you can know that when a beast exists, it has power during that time.  Revelation 17 does not tell us how long the beast would be in power during the "was" phase of it’s existence.  We only know that by the time from which the angel is speaking from, the scarlet beast's body represented a power that is a "has been" - and is not the power it once was.

3. Both beasts have a loss of power followed by a time of restraint in which they have little power.

The restraint time of both beasts is what Revelation 17 calls the "is not" time.  To say that the beast "is not" is a way of saying that the power represented by that beast is gone from the world's stage during this time, or one could say that it is not visible during this time.  By saying that it has gone into the abyss it adds further detail, for this tells us that the power it had is not really gone but simply subdued or placed into restraint.  Revelation 20:7 says that the function of the abyss (or the bottomless pit as some versions render this word) is as a prison.  When someone is in prison, they are not free to do as they wish.  They are powerless to effect their will upon others outside their restraint as they wish.  Therefore, we may conclude that the scarlet beast in Revelation 17 is in restraint, or prison, and cannot freely exercise its will upon others as it once did while it is in the abyss.  But that is as good as gone for all practical purposes for now, so the angel says it "is not".

Revelation 13 tells us the same thing about the leopard beast, but in a different way.  It says that the leopard beast has power for 42 months.  That means its power must terminate after the 42 months is over.  Since we know that time ended in 1798, then we may know that it is currently under restraint and does not have the power it once had.  And because the leopard beast has been identified as the church-state combination that existed in Europe during the dark ages, we can know from relatively recent history of Europe and the Papacy that this power indeed has been in restraint.  But because Revelation 13 indicates that the beast will come back, we may know that the time of restraint of the leopard beast will not last forever.

4. Both beasts eventually return to their former positions of power (Rev 13:7,16-18, 17:13-14). 

This return to power of the leopard beast is expressed in Revelation 13 in several ways.  One of those is the wound to the head (which, by the way, is not the loss of power itself but a result of the loss of power that occurred 5 days earlier), which is followed by it being healed.  The wound to the head could not happen in the manner it did unless there first was a loss of power by the beast itself.  Then it says that the world wondered after the beast.  The world wondering after the beast is indicative that the beast is eventually restored to it's former position (if you can consider the two beasts to represent the same power, then see Revelation 17:8 for evidence of this, and if you cannot, then you have no way to date the "wondering after the beast" other than it must occur after the head wound).

Another verse in Revelation 13 that implies a return to power is verse 7.  This verse states that the leopard beast is given power over all kindreds, tongues, and nations.  Now, according to history, this did not happen with the church-state combination of the dark ages, though it’s influence was widespread.  Therefore, in order for this to be finally fulfilled, it requires that the leopard beast return to power someday and have even more widespread influence than it did before 1798.  This is good evidence because God does know what the future holds.

Here is another evidence that the sea beast will be restored.  Consider this verse:

• Rev 13:14 - And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
  
  

If you read this verse carefully, you notice that the verse indicates that the image is made to the beast.  It seems that since the rest of the verse says the image is made to the beast that "did live" after having a head wound, this implies that the beast will again be present on the world stage.  This is not definitive proof, but it does suggest It gets its power back. 

Revelation 13:15-17 details the mark of the beast.  The mark of the beast is an identifier of some sort for determining who may buy or sell at the end of this world’s history, which is an economic sanction put upon those who refuse to honor the commands of the beast or the image to the beast (which nation in the world likes to put economic sanctions upon those who do things it does not like?).  The mark of the beast is not the same as the number of the beast itself, the number 666 as so many believe.  The number of the beast itself is for the purpose of identifying the man who is of the beast who receives the number 666, which has nothing to do with determining who may buy and sell.  Ordinary folks will not get the number 666 stamped on their foreheads or right hands.  But those who understand how the number 666 is calculated and who this number applies to, will not have much trouble identifying this man.  However, the fact that this number and the mark of the beast is present so near the end of this world’s history strongly hints that the beast will return to power someday.

Revelation 13:18 says to count the number of the beast.  Since this verse is placed at the end of the chapter, this quite possibly is a subtle way of telling us that this number must be applicable just after (or about the same time) the mark of the beast begins to be enforced (from verses 15 - 17).  Revelation 13 is not entirely linear in its presentation of events as some events are out of order, but the chapter in general does follow a timeline structure from beginning to end along the timeline.  There is nothing indicating that the 666 number occurs earlier, so this by itself suggests that the number reaches its value near the end of this world’s history.  In addition, it seems to support the idea that the beast is back in power, for if that were not so, then the number 666 would have little significance. 

Revelation 17 expresses it by saying that the beast "is not" and will ascend out of the abyss.  It confirms the completion of this ascension process out of the abyss (back to full power eventually) by saying that those whose names are not written in the book of life will wonder when they see this power restored (it says this by naming the full sequence of the events of the beast, that it was, is not, and yet will be, and inclusion of the "yet will be" part in context implies that the beast will be restored fully again).  The Greek word translated as "wonder" in the King James Version means to admire, to wonder, to marvel.

5. Because both beasts start with a position of power, lose their position and remain that way for a while, and finally return to their former position of power, this indicates a three phase existence for both of them.  This corresponds to the "was," the "is not," and "yet is" phases of the beast expressed in Revelation 17:8.

The fact that there is a three phase existence of the leopard beast is not that hard to demonstrate.  Revelation 13 and history provide plenty of evidence that the power represented by the leopard beast was in power and is now in restraint.  However, it’s power is growing.  Revelation 13 gives evidence, as discussed above, that this power will be restored just before Jesus comes again.

Revelation 17 directly says there is a three phase existence of the beast.  Here are the pertinent verses:

• Rev 17:8 - The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
  
  
• Rev 17:9 - And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
  
  
• Rev 17:10 - And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
  
  
• Rev 17:12 - And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
  
  

Note that first it is explained that the beast was, is not now, and will ascend out of the abyss (bottomless pit - literal rendering of the original Greek is bottomless pit)  This sequence in and of itself indicates a 3 phase existence.

Just so the terminology of Daniel and Revelation does not confuse the reader, do keep in mind that sometimes the prophetic literature does use the term "beast" for the body, heads, or horns (see, for example, Daniel 7:11, where the "beast" is used for the destruction of the talking horn).  So,  when it says in Revelation 17 that the beast that John saw "was", and this is followed by a discussion of the heads and then the horns, the term "beast" must logically refer to the body of the beast (the part of the beast without the heads and horns).

The idea that the three phases correspond to the body, heads, and horns pattern laid out in Daniel 7 is a little harder to prove, but there is enough evidence to point to this pattern.  The angel says in verse 10 that "one is" in reference to one of the 7 kings, who is commonly called the 6th king.  Five are already past from the standpoint of the 6th king, and one more yet to come (the 7th).  Now many read that and conclude that the "was" time of the beast and the past time of the "five have been" are concurrent.  Another way to put that conclusion in the form of a question: is the past time of the five heads the same  time as the "was" time of the beast?  Do rhe two time frames run concurrently or are they in sequence? 

It seems unlikely that they are simultaneous because if that were the case, then why did the angel not tell us that "the beast and five heads were?"  The fact that he did not is likely a strong hint that the heads come after the body of the beast but before the "one is" spoken of by the angel.  This is not conclusive proof so other evidence must be gathered to support this.

Another evidence that the heads come after the body is the fact that after the beast is explained to be "is not," then the heads and the woman is explained.  Following that, the horns are explained (which are said to not yet have a kingdom).  This seems to establish a sequence of events, in which the body, then the heads and horns, and finally the 10 horns are discussed in that order.  Something significant about this is the fact that the beast "was", so what is now?  It must be the heads!  That is only logical.  Something must take the place of the beast’s body.  Since the heads are explained next, this tells you that the heads come after the body and replace the power of the beast, though they are not the same as the beast.  This is just like the pattern followed in Daniel 7.  Does this suggest a chronological sequence to the reader?  The author believes it should, though it is not definitive proof by itself that things occur in that order.  Yet one cannot ignore this apparent sequence.  There is a reason it is done this way.

Another evidence that all the heads come after the body is the fact that the woman sits on all seven heads.  If she sat on only a few of them or maybe just one of them, we could conclude that the others came from a different time frame, but instead she sits on all 7.  What this says is that the woman and the heads must all occur in the same time frame together.  The woman and all 7 heads must be contemporaneous.  This rules out any long sequence of kingdoms, and  rule out any sequence of the heads coexisting with the body of the beast.  All heads must be relatively concurrent or this condition of the woman sitting on all seven heads could not occur.  Thus she helps lock the seven heads into one time frame, which logically should come after the time represented by the body of the beast since the beast "was" before this is explained.

This is like the leopard in Daniel 7 on the back of which were four wings, which symbolized the rapid conquest that Alexander the Great would engage in.  What is interesting is that the wings applied only to the time of the body, but it could be said that they applied to the entire time period represented by the body of the leopard, not to only part of it.  They did not apply partly to the body and partly to the heads (or even partly to the tail, for example, if it had a tail).  All of the application of their symbolism was to the body, only the body,  but not the heads.

Likewise, the woman is present on the heads, so her presence applies to the seven heads and not to the body or the 10 horns.  The fact that the beast "was" and then the woman is discussed during the time of the "is not" phase of the beast, indicates that her time comes after the time represented by the body of the beast.

The pattern of how beasts are to be interpreted in Daniel 7 is also supportive of the idea that the body must come before the 7 heads.  Since Revelation 17 is not entirely clear on this issue with respect to the body and heads, one must go back to Daniel 7 to determine the time sequence. 

Finally, the angel said that the 10 horns have not yet received a kingdom.  Thus, you have here statements which indicates that the body comes first, then goes away, then the heads occur, and finally the 10 horns will come after the 7th is gone.  This is logical because it says the 8th is the beast and the 10 horns get their power (kingdom?) for a short time with the beast, not significantly much time BEFORE the beast gets its power.  The beast becomes the persecuting beast once again when the 10 horns hand their power and authority over to the beast, at which time it will have full power once again and will carry out war against God.  Since the 8th comes after the 7, that means the 10 horns cannot get their power (and their kingdom) before the 8th comes.  This corresponds to the "yet will be" phase of the beast power. 

So the order of things based on the body parts is preserved, just as it is in Daniel 7, with the exception of the 8th being the beast returned, which is telling you that the power it represents (and once possessed) will return again someday.  There is a correspondence between the "was" phase and the body of the beast, the "is not" phase and the heads with the woman sitting on top of them, and finally between the 10 horns and the body of the beast having returned from the abyss.

6. Because both beasts return to the world stage near the end of this world's history in the third phase of their existence, they must coexist.  This is indicated in Revelation 13 by the fact that the third phase is eventually followed by the explanation of the seven last plagues of Revelation 16.  Study of Revelation indicates that the second coming must follow soon after the seven last plagues occur.

This is also indicated for Revelation 17 by the fact that the events of Revelation 17 are followed by the events of Revelation 18, which is part of the 7th plague, which in turn is followed by the second coming of Jesus.  Hence these two beasts are simultaneous in the third phase because they both have their termination at or very near the second coming of Jesus. 

It is true, however, that from the information presented in Revelation 13 and 17, one cannot conclusively prove that both beasts begin their third phase exactly together, unless one comes to the conclusion that they factually are the same power.  Then they must coincide because they are identical.

7. The second phase of both beasts is simultaneous and begins at the same time.  This is reasonably provable.  Here is the evidence for that.

• The Revelation 13 leopard beast is also a three phase beast, with the second phase beginning in 1798 when the power of the Papacy was greatly reduced by the French army sent into Rome.  The third phase is future to our time (written in December of 2003).
  
  
• The Revelation 17 scarlet beast carries the woman on all 7 heads.  John is told that he is to see the judgment of the woman, and is then shown the woman sitting on the seven heads of the beast in the wilderness.  The angel later explains that the beast will ascend out of the abyss.  Now, the woman and the beast are never said by the angel, nor seen by John, to have entered the wilderness or the abyss, which implies that the beast and the woman are already in the abyss and that the wilderness is a symbol of the abyss (think it through: if John is told it will ascend out of the abyss, and he never sees it go in, then it logically must already be there.  But where did he see it?  In the wilderness!  Therefore, the wilderness must be a symbol of the abyss.) 
  
  
• The angel indicates that this is the second phase of this beast for he said that the beast which John had seen "was,", which would indicate that the power represented by the body of that beast was already gone, so the next phase must have started.  It is explained that the 10 horns have not yet received a kingdom from the time frame of the angel's explanation, so the third phase cannot have started during that time frame, which comes after the beast is gone.  The seven heads are explained along with the woman, which indicates that they are concurrent with the woman and part of the second phase of that beast.  The seven heads are never explained to exist simultaneously with the beast.
  
  
• The book of Daniel, chapter 7, tells us that the talking horn (which is a symbol of the church-state combination of Europe in the dark ages) would be judged after it's power was removed (which actually happened in 1798.)  Thus, the Papacy is to be subject to judgment by God after 1798.  That means, then, that the woman, which represents the Catholic Church and in turn contains the Papacy, is subject to judgment after 1798.  Ultimately this places the second phase of the scarlet beast after 1798, just like history shows the leopard beast lost it’s power in 1798 and therefore began it’s second phase.  Since the woman is the subject of this part of the vision, this must mean that her presence on the heads represents the judgment time for her.  Do remember that judgment is a two step process - investigation, followed by reward.
  
  
• Thus, the second phase of the leopard beast and the scarlet beast have identical starting dates and run concurrently.  Logically then, but not provable unless one accepts that the beasts are identical, is that the ending date of the 2nd phase for both beasts must also be concurrent.  However, given that the termination dates for both powers coincide, it is logical that the third phase must also begin together for both powers.
  
  

8. Both beasts speak blasphemy.  Taking on the power of God (also claiming to be able to forgive sins as God does or speaking against God) is what constitutes blasphemy.  It is an action in which they actually, in some form, proclaim publicly (in this world) that they are gods or speak directly against God (usually while pretending to speak for God).  Blasphemy is in the behavior of the leopard beast’s body, and is also written on it’s heads.  Blasphemy is also all over the scarlet beast, which should include the heads as well as the body since it is said to be full of blasphemous words, though it does not clarify this point.  Blasphemy is also in the behavior of the talking horn of Daniel 7.  Thus it is that these three powers are the same because of the presence of blasphemy on these powers. 

There are no provable examples in Daniel or Revelation where blasphemy is shown on a secular power nor are there any where it is shown on a power that is not visible on earth, such as the dragon, though he does receive worship, yet blasphemy is not shown on the dragon body.  There is no public proclamation before men that the dragon assumes the powers of God that is recorded in the Bible.

9. The author believes that the beasts of Revelation 12, 13, and 17, follow the same interpretation rules Protestants have historically used to understand the beasts of Daniel 7 and 8.  That being the case, the picture painted in words describing these two beasts reinforces that there is a three phase existence to the leopard and scarlet beasts because they each have a body, 7 heads, and 10 horns, each part (body, heads, or horns) of which constitutes and corresponds with one of the phases of it’s existence. 

10. Both beasts involve the Catholic Church as the dominant power.  The leopard beast of Revelation 13 has historically been recognized to involve the Papacy, the head of the Catholic Church, and the state.  But the Revelation 17 scarlet beast also involves the woman, who has also long been recognized as a symbol of the Catholic Church.  That cannot be ignored, whether you believe in the method of interpretation taught on this web site or not, for the woman is obviously present.  One way or the other, she exerts an influence.  Therefore, both beasts involve the Catholic Church as the dominant power.

11. The leopard beast of Revelation 13 has long been recognized to have been symbolic of the church-state combination of the dark ages.  This is very interesting because Revelation 17 directly says that the woman commits fornication with the kings of the earth, or the state in other words.  This is God's way of telling us that he does not approve of this combination of church and state.  But it is also indicative of something else.  Just as the Revelation 13 leopard beast involves an improper mix of church and state during the dark ages, so likewise the Revelation 17 beast must involve the exact same thing - because it says so.  The woman is the church, the beast has blasphemy on it (which no secular power in Daniel was shown to have), and we have this statement of an improper mix of church and state.  This strongly suggests that the beast is in fact the exact same beast as the leopard beast of Revelation 13.  Thus, both beasts involve an illicit combination of church and state and are therefore the same powers.  For more information of the woman’s involvement with the beast, see the section below on her relationship to the beast.

Return to Evidence Links

Summary - So, WHO Is the Beast?

There are three main hypotheses of the scarlet beast’s identity.  There are a few others but they rarely receive much attention because they usually are not well founded on the Bible or history.  This section considers the evidence for these three main hypotheses and attempts to show reasonable justification for the hypothesis selected.

(1). There are those who believe that the scarlet beast is the dragon in another form.  This is based on several facts found in Revelation, so it would appear to be credible.  However, let us test this hypothesis.  IF this hypothesis is true, then the woman, who is shown sitting upon all seven heads, must exist during this time of the wilderness experience of the scarlet beast.  This absolutely must be true because of the Characteristics Principle, which indicates several things, including that the location on the beast where something is placed (such as wings on the leopard beast of Daniel 7 or the woman of Revelation 17) indicates the time period that the attachment applies to. 

Assuming for a moment that their hypothesis is correct, consider that the dragon is known to go into the abyss only during the millennium (which is yet future - see Revelation 20:1-3,7) after Jesus comes again.  Now, what happens to the picture John sees when you make that assumption?  Since this scarlet beast is already in the abyss (because the wilderness is a symbol of the abyss) and is in the "is not" phase, as Revelation 17 says, then the woman cannot exist alive on the heads because she is dead!  The reason she is dead is because the beast, if it is the dragon, is then being shown there during the millennium.  The woman, being representative of the corrupt church, is dead and in the grave during the millennium.  And that being the case, it is impossible for her to be shown very much alive on the heads of that beast during the millennium.

Do not mistake that the author means to imply that all Catholics will not go to heaven.  To the contrary, many Catholics will be in heaven, along with many from other denominations and even pagans who lived the best, most honest lives they knew how to live.  But those who have followed and lived the pagan teachings of the church instead of the commands of God, if they knew better, will not see the inside of that city of God.  Thus, those who lived that way will be dead during the millennium as will everyone else on earth who is not in heaven during the millennium, except for Satan and his angels.  And it is those individuals within that church who have promoted the traditions of men over the commands of God, and especially those who have used the force of law to back this up and force others to go against God's law, which this woman represents.

Because the woman cannot be alive with the dragon during his time in the abyss, and yet the woman appears very much alive on the heads of the scarlet beast, we know that this means there is a logical contradiction created by the assumption that the scarlet beast is the dragon.  The woman cannot be alive when the dragon is in the abyss.  The only logical solution to this is to either change the definition of the beast itself, or else change the definition of the woman.  The woman's identity is well established, so clearly the beast’s identity is what will have to change.  Hence, the scarlet beast cannot be the dragon!  It must represent another power.

(2). The second hypothesis is that the beast is an earthly government of some sort.  People often assume that this is the identity of the scarlet beast because in Daniel 7 and 8, they see beasts representing civil (state) powers.  But there is a logical problem with this explanation too.  The scarlet beast is shown with words of blasphemy written all over it.  Blasphemy is not shown for any of the beasts of Daniel 7 or 8, which demonstrates that God never showed blasphemy as part of any civil government powers.  But blasphemy is shown as a characteristic of the talking horn of Daniel 7, the leopard beast of Revelation 13, and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.  The talking horn and the leopard beast are both religious powers, for both of them represent the church-state combination of Europe from 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D.  Therefore, with no provable examples of civil powers that have blasphemy on them, it is not a good idea to assume that the scarlet beast of Revelation is anything but a religious power.  That being the case, the scarlet beast being the state is ruled out. 

Another problem with this hypothesis is that it make it extraordinarily difficult to explain the woman being punished in Revelation 17 for actions that the beast does.  One could say that the woman is punished for things she did during the dark ages, but this punishment is given out to her before Jesus comes.  That indicates that men and women of the future will give out this punishment.  Logically they would not care what the woman had done two or three hundred years ago but would certainly care about what she had done recently.  Therefore, to punish her, there has to be a recent explanation of why they would do so.

In Revelation 17 it is the beast who carries out a war against God and his people, This results in punishment from God being given out to mankind, and eventually people figure out the real source of it is because of their following the wishes of the woman, which causes them to disobey God.  Hence, they punish her for what she has done.  But how is it that the beast would remain unpunished when the Bible says it is the beast who actually causes these problems?  There is a reason, and you can read the section below about the relationship of the woman to the beast in order to understand this issue more thoroughly.  Suffice it to say that the beast being a government does make this explanation almost impossible and very illogical.  Thus, the beast cannot be a government power.

(3). The last hypothesis is that the scarlet beast is the church-state combination of Europe during the time period from 538 A.D. to 1798.  This is sensible given that;

A. both powers (the leopard beast and the scarlet beast) have a three phase existence.  Both begin their second phase of existence in 1798, both appear to begin their third phase of existence at about the same time (which is near the end of this world’s history), and both terminate at or very near the end of this world’s history,

B. they both have the same number of heads and horns,

C. they both appear to obey the pattern found in Daniel 7 for interpretation of beasts,

D. both beasts speak blasphemy against God,

E. both beasts beasts are subjected to judgment after 1798 (see Daniel 7 and Revelation 17:1),

F. as explained below, both make war upon God or His people,

G. as explained below, both show symbols of royalty (the scarlet color of the beast of Revelation 17 is a symbol of several things, including royalty, and the leopard beast is ruler of nations, which makes it royalty), and

H. both involve the Catholic Church as the dominant powers, and

I. the leopard beast was the church-state combination of the dark ages, while Revelation 17 says the woman combines with the kings of the earth, which indirectly tells the reader that the beast in that chapter is the combination of state with the woman (church).

Given the number of points where these two powers are identical and occupy the same time period, why should there be any question that they are representing identical powers, or in other words, are the same?

Since both beasts represent powers that have a three phase existence, begin their second phases at the exact same time and terminate the third phases at the exact same time, and further, involve the same dominant power and act the same way, then the logical conclusion is: this evidence should be sufficient to convince a reasonable person by the preponderance of the evidence that the two powers are identical and are the church-state combination of the dark ages.  Therefore the church power identified here is the Papacy.

Return to Evidence Links

The 2 beasts Look Different.  Are These Differences Mutually Exclusive to Each Other?  Do These Differences Permit Them to Represent the Same Power?

There are characteristics in the description of both beasts that appear to exclude one from being the same as the other power.  Several examples of these would be. (1) the leopard beast has the feet of a bear, the mouth of a lion, and looks like a leopard.  (2) the scarlet beast is a nondescript beast that is scarlet in color and does not have the feet of a bear, mouth of a lion, and certainly does not look like a leopard.  Both of these make each beast seem to be nothing like the other.  So, are they actually different beasts?    Using the premise that both beasts are the same and are the Papacy, careful examination of the information present in each chapter shows that these characteristics do NOT prevent them from being the same power because characteristics found on one beast can be harmonized with some other characteristic on the other beast so that the two apparently different characteristics are the same.  As long as all can be shown to harmonize, or at least not contradict the other, then the hypothesis that both beasts are the same will stand.  Clear contradictions would negate this hypothesis.

The following points will be covered in this section:

• The origins are different but this is not necessarily important because one has the origin stated while the other is silent about this
  
  
• The body appearances are different but can be explained
  
  
• They are kings (religious)
  
  
• The power they have is from Satan
  
  
• They are worshiped
  
  
• Heads and horns are not explained in Revelation 13 but are explained in Revelation 17
  
  
• The 8th is explained in Rev 17 but not in Rev 13.  This is not a problem.
  
  
• Both show signs of royalty
  
  
• The crown on the 10 horns on the leopard beast are equivalent to the 10 horns of Revelation 17 being kings
  
  
• The phrases introducing Revelation 13:18 and 17:9 are a linkage between them<
  
  
• The woman of Rev 17 is not shown in Rev 13, but this can be explained
  
  
• The head wound of the Rev 13 beast is not shown on the Rev 17 beast but this can be explained
  
  
• Both beasts commit war against God or His people.  However the scarlet beast is defeated by God, unlike the leopard beast.  This can be explained.
  
  
• The burning of the dreadful beast’s body in Daniel 7 is the same as the burning of the woman of Rev 17.  This is not shown in Revelation 13, but is explained in Revelation 19 and 20.
  
  

Before proceeding, it is important to understand one thing which must be carefully avoided: ascribing characteristics to a power that are not actually there when the material is properly understood.  The reason we must be extremely careful of this is because God is trying to paint a symbolic picture of powers that will occur through the use of words describing scenes shown to John.  If we start adding or taking away from any of those pictures he paints with words, we will improperly identify the powers that are being described.  Thus the picture must be left as is.  That does not preclude interpretation, for that must be done, but it means don't put things on beasts that are not there in the first place.  Stick with what is present, either in the description of the beasts themselves or things attached to them or around them, their relation to other beasts, or some aspect of the described behavior of a beast.

With these ideas in mind, consider below the facts about the leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 that seem contradictory, but are actually not because they can be shown to harmonize together.

1. The leopard beast comes out of the sea.  For the scarlet beast, no origin is spoken of or shown.  One cannot assume they have the same origin just on the face of it, but neither can one necessarily assume they do NOT have the same origin.  One must determine the identity of the scarlet beast by other means and then the origin will become clear.  As a result, this does not tell us whether or not the origins of the two beasts could contradict our hypothesis that the two beasts are actually identical.  We have no information from which to decide based on this issue.  So, it is probably safe to conclude that there is no contradiction that can be proven.

2. In Revelation 13, the feet of a bear, the mouth of a lion, and the body of a leopard indicates behaviors based on the Characteristics Principle.  Many individuals try to claim that the presence of body parts from three of the beasts of Daniel 7 means the empires before this beast are incorporated into it, but that is ridiculous on the face of it because those empires were gone long before the power that the leopard beast itself represents ever came around.  Hence, incorporation of prior empires cannot apply and the Characteristics Principle must apply, which means one looks towards Secondary Characteristics which are things other than the body, heads, and horns, and point to behaviors rather than time periods of existence) to understand the interpretation of the characteristics shown on the beast. 

The lion mouth on the leopard beast tells you it will speak like Babylon (remember that the lion symbolized Babylon in Daniel 7).  Remember the story of the 3 friends of Daniel and how they had to worship the image Nebuchadnezzar set up or be burned alive in a fiery furnace?  This could be summarized as: "Worship as I decree or suffer death!"  This was a very prevalent practice during the dark ages by the church authorities.  See Daniel, chapter 3 and Revelation 13:15. 

The bear feet tells you it will invade and destroy as did Cyrus when he invaded Babylon.  Cyrus was the king of the Medes and Persians when they diverted the Euphrates River upstream of the city, and then went under the gates of the river running through the center of Babylon at night.  By this method, he was able to invade and take over the city of Babylon.  Note also that the bear of Daniel 7, which represented the Medes and Persians, had three ribs in it's mouth, which are believed to represent the three conquests that they did to complete their empire.  Likewise, the talking horn, which represents the Papacy in combination with the state, also made 3 conquests to rise to power.

The leopard body tells you it will be extremely cunning, intelligent, fast, powerful, and plan its moves very carefully.  We don't know what the heads look like but the body of a leopard suggests the heads are probably those of a leopard.

In Revelation 17, these same characteristics are not directly shown, but some of them are nevertheless present in some other form.  The lion mouth is certainly present for the woman is identified as Babylon (and remember that she is part of the beast during the time of the beast because she contains the Papacy), so she certainly will speak as did Babylon, the bear feet are found in that she invaded and destroyed the lives of the saints of God and also made three conquests to rule(but no characteristics on the woman or the beast in Revelation 17 shows the three conquests, so this is simply information from history that does not contradict the characteristics shown in Revelation 13).  We know for sure that she destroyed the lives of the saints of God because it says she is drunk on the blood of the saints of God, which can hardly be plainer.  The body of the leopard as found in the church-state combination during the dark ages certainly was very wise in planning it’s moves.  It was immensely successful in sustaining itself in power for more than 1200 years.  It successfully eliminated or neutralized most opponents during that time so as to hold onto it’s position of power.  So, it was fast, powerful, intelligent, and cunning.

Thus, we may safely conclude that the characteristics found in the physical description of the leopard beast can be found in the characteristics of the scarlet beast.

3. The leopard beast of Revelation 13 is described as a kingly power  because the Bible says that "power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (Rev 13:7).  In Revelation 17, it is true that the 8th, which is the beast returned, will acquire kingly power because it says that the 10 horns, which are kings, will and their power and authority over to the beast.  Since they are described as kings, this makes him king over all 10 kings.  Also, the seven heads of the scarlet beast are described as seven kings.  By this, we know that having kingly power is found on the leopard beast and the heads and horns of the scarlet beast.  The fact that the beast returned is handed power by the 10 horns, which are kings, makes it a king also.  Thus, both beasts have kingly power.

4. The leopard beast of Revelation 13 got his seat, power, and great authority from the dragon.  The equivalent statement is found in Revelation 17:18, which says that the woman is the city that rules over the kings of the earth.  How it is equivalent is found in her behavior.  She was engaging in fornication with the kings of the earth, which is another way of saying she was jumping in bed with political bedfellows in order to gain control over them.  This is an act that served her evil purposes.  Since evil comes from Satan, the power she gains is something that comes from the dragon (Satan).  And since many political leaders do not know or follow God (even if they claim to be Christians), who is to say but what Satan was in control of their lives too?  Thus he could cause them to give the woman any power he wanted her to have.

More details are found in this verse:

• Rev 17:15 - And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
  
  

It is obvious that this whore has great power for she has power over peoples, nations, tongues, and multitudes.  Does this sound a great deal like the description of the power given to the leopard beast by the dragon?  Consider what was said about the leopard beast:

• Rev 13:2 - and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
  
  
• Rev 13:7 - and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
  
  

It would appear that while verse two gives the source, verse seven tells you specifically the extent of it's powers.  They seem quite widespread and sweeping. 

But from this it is clear that the woman is given powers whose extent is very similar to that of the leopard beast.  And further, since she acts with evil intent, it is not hard to understand that the source of her power is the dragon.  The logical conclusion then is that her powers are from the dragon and are essentially identical with those of the leopard beast.

As a result, the power source and extent of the power given to the leopard beast and the woman are essentially identical and therefore can be harmonized.

5. The beast of Revelation 13 will be worshiped by men.  The beast of Revelation 17 will also be worshiped by men, for it says so in at least two ways (and possibly a third, which will be listed here):

A. it says the scarlet beast commits blasphemy, which means it takes on the powers of God (and must publicly proclaim this for this to be a notable characteristic).  A god is worshiped. 

B. The 7 heads are also mountains, which in another web page on this site, it is shown that mountains are to be identified as symbolic of gods, which is another way of saying that the heads commit blasphemy.  This implies worship of the heads of the beast because of them taking on the powers of God,

C. the 10 horns give their power and strength to the beast to accomplish a common goal.  They would not do this unless they had great respect for the power of the beast.  Could this become or at least imply worship?  Perhaps this last thing is a bit uncertain, but it certainly can be considered.

There is another way to look at this if the reader believes that the scarlet beast and the leopard beast are both representing the same power - or at least could be doing this.  In the section appearing below where the relationship of the woman to the beast is discussed, it is shown that the woman is part of the beast during the time represented by the body of the beast, which is simultaneous with the 10 horns.  The Papacy is part of the Catholic Church and the Papacy is the part of the church that worked with the kings of the earth during the dark ages to control the conscience of people.  The leopard beast, which was a combination of church and state, is said by the Bible to have been worshiped by men.  Logically, because the scarlet beast is also the combination of church and state, one could say that the scarlet beast was worshiped by men.  So worship of the scarlet beast would have occurred, though Revelation 17 does not directly say so, because they are identical beasts.  Of course, if one refuses to believe that, then you have to rely on other less direct evidence of this.

6. The heads and horns are explained in Revelation 17 but, though there are the same number of heads and horns on the leopard beast, no explanation of heads and horns is given in Revelation 13.  The only explanation is found in Revelation 17.  This is not contradictory because this is merely the explanation for both chapters under the assumption that both beasts are representing the same power.  If they do not represent the same power, then there is no explaination of the heads and horns for the leopard beast of Revelation 13, and in that situation, you have to resort to guessing the identity of the heads and horns.  Do you really want to do that?

7. In Revelation 17, the returned beast is explained to be the 8th, but this is not explained in Revelation 13.  This is not contradictory because Revelation 13 does indicate that the beast will return again, but no details of that are given.  The explanation of Revelation 17 on the 8th simply fills in the details not given in Revelation 13.

8. The scarlet color of the beast in Revelation 17 can symbolize royalty, as well as sin (Isaiah 1:18).  The word translated as scarlet can also mean crimson.  Further, as has been shown above, the beast does have the power of kings handed to it, so is a royal power.  Given the description of the beast in Revelation 13, royalty certainly would apply to it and would not prevent the two beasts from being considered to be the same.  In Revelation 13, the beast is both engaging in sin and is ruler over other peoples and nations (Rev 13:7), which defines it to be a king over other kings and therefore defines it as royalty.

From The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Scarlet and crimson colors were probably from the same source.  The Greek word kokkinos (and it’s Hebrew equivalent) has been translated as both “scarlet” and “crimson”.

9. The 10 crowns upon the horns of the leopard beast of Revelation 13 are  symbolized in Revelation 17 through the 10 horns, which are said to be kings.  Crowns are associated with kings, so we can logically associate crowns with the kings of Revelation 17.  Thus the crowns in Revelation 13 on the 10 horns, which signifies kingly power, are shown in Revelation 17 through the 10 horns being identified as 10 kings.  Thus, the crowns in one chapter are the same as saying they are kings in the other chapter.  By this we may know that the crowns not being present in Revelation 17 is not contradictory, and in fact can be harmonized. 

One may also associate crowns with the seven heads in Revelation 17 because they are kings as well. There are also crowns upon the seven heads of the dragon of Revelation 12 (there is only one explanation of the heads and horns, so the heads and horns are the same across all three beasts).  Another way to look at this is: the 10 kings of Revelation 17 had 10 matching crowns upon the horns of the leopard beast, which indicates they are the same thing.  Where are the matching crowns for the 7 kings of Revelation 17?  How about upon the seven heads of the dragon?

Consider that in Revelation 12 and 13, the crowns upon the heads and horns tells you that those powers will be kings.  Crowns signify kingly authority and position, do they not?  Of course!  Therefore, those heads and horns will be kings.  Revelation 17 simply dispenses with the crowns and directly tells you these guys are kings.  But that would not be the case unless they are the exact same power.  Does this make sense to the reader?  But this proves only that the heads and horns are the exact same power across all three beasts.

10. Revelation 13:18 (the 666 number) and Revelation 17:9 (the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits) have a unique phrase, which is not found elsewhere in the Bible, that strongly suggests a link between the two verses.  Here is the phrase from both verses:  "Here is wisdom." (Rev 13:18) and "And here is the mind which hath wisdom." (Rev 17:9).  The two phrases actually are very similar and describe a relationship between the heads and the count of the numbers with a sum that accumulates to 666, as demonstrated on this web site.  The count applies to the heads and the beast through a relationship between them.  Thus the body of the beast of Revelation 13 and the heads of Revelation 17 are in fact logically linked together, likely meaning the body of the beasts, the heads, and the horns are all one and the same for both the leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.

What is interesting is that the number 666 is introduced in Revelation 13 at the end of the chapter.  Though Revelation 13 does not strictly follow a linear structure in which it logically progresses down through time from beginning to end, because it is out of order at some points, it nevertheless does follow a general sequence of events.  Here is the general sequence in that chapter:

Part A - First phase - 1260 years - 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D.

• (1) John sees the leopard beast arise,
  
  
• (2) the details of the 42 months of power is explained,
  
  
• (3) the prediction of the taking of the pope captive at the end of the 42 months is predicted and by the fact that this matches the head wound, we know it occurs very soon after the 42 months of power, 
  
  
• (4) the head wound, which occurs just after the 42 months of power is also explained because it is involved in the change of power that occurs in 1798, 
  
  

Part B - Second phase - about 1798 to future (written Dec, 2003)

• (5) the arrival of the earth beast begins the next phase.  This beast is described as having two horns like a lamb, which can be interpreted to be two powers arising from the same power and they are not described as kings.  This power would be the United States in prophecy because it describes a great power that arises at about the end of the 1260 years of power of the leopard beast, or 1798, which matches the United States.
  
  

Part C - Third phase - Events that occur just shortly before Jesus comes again

• (6) In the third part of this chapter, the movement towards the formation of the image beast and the return of the beast is described.  However, this primarily focuses on the earth beast and the image beast and the power it has which it wields to force the world to worship the original beast (then returned) or to worship the image beast.  This is yet future for this type of situation predicts a turning of the United States to forced worship, something that has not yet happened but trends are moving in that direction. 
  
  
• (7) As a final part of this movement in the United States, and evidently as part of what it persuaded the rest of the world to go along with, is the mark of the beast.  This is a number or some type of other identifier that is used to identify who may buy and sell, and if you don't have the right mark, then you cannot buy or sell.  This clearly is a form of economic sanctions to force compliance with the wishes of the laws of the land.  It also says that the death penalty will eventually be wielded against those who refuse to cooperate (Revelation 13:15).
  
  
• (8) The last thing mentioned in connection with the third phase of the events described in Revelation 13 is the number of the man of the beast, which has the value of 666.  This parallels events seen in Revelation 17, where we see the return of the beast presented as the 8th.  Because the last half of Revelation 13 and Revelation 17 are parallel times or lines of prophecy, we should see the number 666 come about at the time of the 8th.  Thus the patterns present in the chapters show us that these things arise simultaneously. The calculation method on this web site demonstrates that this is exactly what should happen. 
  
  

What is even more interesting is that Revelation 13:18 indicates that this number applies to a man who is obviously of the beast.  Scholars make a point of indicating that the Greek words for this "man" are singular, thereby indicating it should apply to a single man.  It is also true that the 8th is a single individual, because he stands in contrast to the other seven kings in not being described as a head or a mountain.  The seven kings were all multiple individuals, so the 8th will be a single person only as the head of the beast.

But this shows that the number and how it applies can be harmonized between Revelation 13 and Revelation 17!

11. The woman of Revelation 17 does not appear in Revelation 13.  This would make it appear that they are different beasts, but that is deceptive.  It is not a contradiction for the woman to appear in Revelation 17 but not in Revelation 13, because Revelation 17 is simply an expanded explanation of details not shown in Revelation 13. 

Revelation 13 is known from history to be a combination of church and state.  In Revelation 17, the woman represents the church and it is explained that the woman commits fornication with the kings of the earth, which tells us that the beast there is also a church-state combination (this is only logical because if the beast of Revelation 13 is a combination of church and state, and in Revelation 17 the same thing is said to be happening, then the beast found there must be this same combination).  So there is no contradiction.  She also provides information about the behavior of the seven heads in Revelation 17 by her presence on the heads and by her condition - she is drunk.

Something interesting about the leopard beast of Revelation 13 is that the Bible actually predicts the combination of church and state that this power would create, but it states it indirectly.  Here are the verses where this is said:

• Rev 13:6 - And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
  
  
• Rev 13:7 - 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.
  
  

Revelation 13:6 is telling us that it would take on the power of God for itself (such as the claim to forgive sins as God does).  Only a church would make such a claim.  Then in the  next verse, it tells us that this same power would have power over nations.  Now nations are states, so this is telling us that the church will combine with the state through this verse, something that must be true for the church to have power over nations.

12. The wound to one of the heads of the leopard beast of Revelation 13 is not shown on any of the heads of the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.  This might seem bothersome at first, but again this is simply a detail included in Revelation 13 that is not contradicted by what is lacking in Revelation 17.  Revelation 13 emphasizes the events prior to the end of the 1260 days, and very shortly after that for the leopard beast, while Revelation 17 gives much more detail of the events after the 1260 days.  It is a matter of emphasis of events for each time period that determines whether something is shown on a beast or not shown.  The wound to the head in Revelation 13 occurred very soon after the going away of the beast (only 5 days later), so it is not surprising that this detail would be lumped in with the 1260 days details explained with the story in Revelation 13.

13. The leopard beast is largely successful in it’s war against the saints, for it is said to overcome them.  But the scarlet beast appears to be different.  It is said to carry out a war against God and to be overcome by the lamb of God.  Is this something that prevents them from being the same power?  No, because God shows by the events of Revelation 13 and onward (see Revelation 19:19, 20; 20:4, 10) that the leopard beast will meet it’s end, which means that it will be overcome when Jesus comes again.  Therefore, the description of this characteristic of one beast is fully compatible with the other. 

14. The talking horn in Daniel 7 is sometimes referred to as "the beast" in the book of Daniel.  It is said in Daniel 7:11-12 that the beast will be given over to the flames to be destroyed near the end of this world's history.  But, of course, by the time the beast is given over to the flames to be destroyed, Rome as an empire has long disappeared into the dustbin of history.  So, the only logical conclusion is that when it says the beast will be given over to the flames, this must mean that the talking horn will be given over to the flames.  This event must occur near the end of this world’s history because there are no other kingdoms said to follow this one and we know that God will give the kingdom to the saints shortly after this event predicted in Daniel 7.

But the significance of this event is twofold: (1) Giving the beast over to be destroyed by flames is the same event as the 10 horns in Revelation 17 turning on and destroying the woman by fire and eating her flesh.  The Bible indicates that the head of this power will remain alive and not be destroyed until the second coming of Jesus (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) so destruction is apparently not entirely complete.  (2) The talking horn and the leopard beast are synonymous, so that means the church which is part of the church-state combination represented by the leopard beast in Revelation 13, will be given over to the flames just before the end of this world's history.  This means that, though this event is not shown for the leopard beast, because it is the same power as the talking horn, this event will happen to it and therefore can be harmonized with the same event in Revelation 17.

Return To Evidence Links

Conclusions About the Apparent Contradictions Between the Leopard beast of Revelation 13 and the Scarlet Beast of Revelation 17

As the reader should be able to see by now, the apparent contradictions do not prevent the two beasts from being the same power.  As a matter of fact, these reinforce the picture that the two beasts are the same, because it shows here that using the conclusion that the two powers represent the church-state combination that existed during the 1260 years of bible prophecy that ran from 538 to 1798, does lead to the conclusion that the differing characteristics present on those beasts can be harmonized in most cases and there are no contradictions present.  Hence, they are identical.

If the two powers are actually different, most of the differing characteristics would very likely clash and could not be shown to harmonize.  Another way of saying this is the fact that the differing characteristics can be harmonized indicates that the correct identification of the power these two beasts represent has been found. 

Perhaps the author should demonstrate how characteristics would clash were the two beasts to actually represent different powers.  Pretend for a minute that the leopard beast of Revelation 13 represents the church-state combination present during the dark ages in Europe, and pretend that the scarlet beast is, say, the United States (There are those who probably believe this, so for the moment in order to illustrate how this works, we will ignore the fact that the heads and horns are said to be kings, something that we would not do normally.)

Now what would happen to the characteristic of "scarlet" on the scarlet beast?  It is a symbol of sin, royalty, prosperity, and conquest.  Being a political power, royalty would automatically be ruled out.  Sin might apply, and prosperity also, but not conquest, for generally the United States has not been a country that goes out for conquest to take and keep territory like the kingdoms of the Bible in the book of Daniel.  But this would contradict with the symbols present in regards to the leopard beast, for it is said to be a ruler of other nations and peoples, and history shows it to have been a conquering power that made it the ruler it became.  It is true that it used other nations armies to accomplish this, but it still used force to bring about it’s control over other nations. 

Thus, we have brought to light the fact that if the two beasts are considered to be two different powers, then some symbols will work together, but others will not.  It is those for which there are clear contradictions that one needs to pay attention for they tell you that the two powers indeed are not the same.

Likewise, assuming that the two powers are the same, and finding nothing that directly contradicts that, should tell you that the two powers are indeed the same.

Return to Evidence Links

Terms to Understand

By now you should know that the beast is the combination of church and state that occurred during the dark ages in Europe.  This combination stopped in 1798 when the French army, under the command of General Berthier, invaded Italy and Rome eventually, and wrote an enforceable decree declaring that the Papal Government was at an end that day.  At that point, the connection of the woman (the Roman Church) to the state stopped.  The heads are the continuation of the Papacy (which is part of the church as a whole) after 1798 along with the Woman, who is the Roman Church.  When the state again combines with the church to recreate the church-state combination of the dark ages (the 1260 years), then the beast will have returned once again.  This shows the 3 phase existence of the beast.

The Image beast is a similar combination of church and state that will happen someday here in America, and likely spreading worldwide in its reach. 

The 10 horns are a combination of Protestant Religions and states that will act in a manner similar to the beast which existed in the past (and will return again), probably primarily here in America since Protestantism is strongest here in America.

Return to Evidence Links