Revelation 13:11

The Beast from the Earth · Revelation 13:11–15
Read Revelation 13

Translations

Modern
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.
Traditional
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Literal
And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, and it was speaking like a dragon.
Latin
Et vidi aliam bestiam ascendentem de terra, et habebat cornua duo similia Agni, et loquebatur sicut draco.

Original

Greek
English
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.

Notes

  • The beast appears as a lamb, the same symbol used for Christ (see Revelation 5:6–13; 7:9–17; 14:1–4), but this lamb spoke like a dragon. This image represents a false messiah.

  • The two horns might symbolize two emperors, possibly Nero and Domitian.

another beast: This second beast, the third member of the evil trinity (see study note on Revelation 12:18–13:18), is later called the false prophet (16:13). As a high priest of false religion, he leads the world to worship the first beast and the dragon (see also 16:13–14).

John shows that the dragon carries out his war (Revelation 12:17) through two beasts. Together with Satan, these three form an evil trinity, meaning three evil beings acting together as one group.

The people of God are pictured as a woman who gives birth to the Messiah. Even though the devil has already been defeated, he continues to attack her and her children (Revelation 12:1–17). With his two followers, the beast and the false prophet, Satan tries to keep controlling the world (Revelation 13:1–18) before the final battle with the Lord (14:1–20).

Glossary

Antichrist Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Dragon False Prophets Horn Lucifer Mark of God, Mark of the Beast Persecution Prophets, False

Topics

Horn: Symbolical Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Lamb Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Beast Coming out of the Earth