Well, satan being the ruler of this world would be the head of the government, the first beast. Because of the head wound, I think its the government because I think the head wound was the scattering at the Tower of Babel and I think that its being healed means that the world will be one again. Also, the end where it says who is like the beast and who is able to wage war with him...who can come up against a totalitarian government? And I agree that the first beast gets its power and position and authority from the dragon...but isn't it interesting that there will be 10 kings that only have their authority for an hour so they can give it to the anti?
I still think that the 2nd beast is the anti because he comes into power using deception and here it says he had two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. He excercises all the authority of the first beast...he controls the government. And he makes the world worship the government...his government. And he makes people get the mark....to me this seems like a behind the scenes look into the power of the man who runs the most totalitarian government ever...
Yes, it will be an incredible time where you are scared out of your mind and blown away that you are seeing prophecy come alive!
the beast from the sea of Rev 13 kingdoms are the same as the beasts of Daniel 7. The 'dragon' of Rev 12 & 13 is that 4th beast of Daniel 7 with 10 horns. (1 lion head, 1 bear head, 4 leopard heads, + 1 4th beast head that has 10 horns on it = 7 heads, 10 horns)
the little horn of Daniel 7, aka the 11th horn that comes up among the 10 horns is the 'mouth' of Rev 13
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
the beast from the sea is the conglomeration of the Daniel 7 (lion, bear, leopard, 4th beast with 10 horns) 4 beasts together. the little horn (aka the 11th horn) of Daniel 7 is that same 'mouth' of Rev 13
Dan 7
8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
the beast from the earth is completely separate from the beast from the sea. The mouth of the beast from the sea is the same as the little horn of dan 7. The false prophet (beast from the earth) tells people to worship an image of the beast who had a mortal head wound (that head is on the beast from the sea, not the beast from the earth).
In layman's terms, the 'antichrist' is the little horn/ 11th horn of Dan 7, the mortally head wounded individual. the beast from the sea is the conglomeration of 4 kingdoms with 7 heads. The 'mouth' of Rev 13 is the little horn that belongs to the beast from the sea. (we know that the 'antichrist' has a mortal head wound because he is the worthless shepherd of Zech 11
15Then the Lord said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
16For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.
17“Woe to my worthless shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
May the sword strike his arm
and his right eye!
Let his arm be wholly withered,
his right eye utterly blinded!”
the false prophet tells people to worship an image of the mortally head wounded person (this is a separate person from the false prophet)
