Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
A leopard, a bear, a lion
This first Beast is a combination of all the Beast kingdoms within Daniel 7. This is Satan's full kingdom described.
Daniel 7:4 The first was like a lion...
Daniel 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear...
Daniel 7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard...
Notice that they are all carnivores. They are here to devour.
and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
This first Beast is not Satan himself because Satan is called the Dragon. And we see that it is the Dragon that gave the Beast its power and authority.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years
Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
one of his heads as it were wounded to death
This verse along with verse 1 verifies that it is the same Beast as in Revelation 17 to which the Great Whore is riding upon. Because we now see that it has 7 heads and that the head that was during the Church Age was given a death blow. It is now healed because Satan's kingdom is once again allowed to rise to power. The following verse concerns Satan receiving the death blow at the Cross during the Church Age...
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
worshipped the Dragon
When God had left the Church so did His power and authority. Satan took over the Church and annexed it to his kingdom. The Dragon (Satan) was now the power and authority of the Church. The congregation now unknowingly worship the Dragon.
Daniel 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
worshipped the Beast
Just as a President is in command of a whole country and the people pledge allegiance to that President and their country, so too, the congregation worship their Church doctrine over the Word.
Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Given unto him
We now know that Satan (the Dragon) took over the Church as it's authority and is now annexed as his kingdom (this 1st Beast). What is the mouth of the church? It is the leaders and it's congregation. It is this mouth that is speaking blasphemies because the unsaved (from the sea) within the Church are given power and authority to lead for the remaining period of time until the End. Remember that the unsaved did not have the power and authority during the Church Age. But now do.
Revelation 13:2 "...and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy
Who is opening their mouth? The 1st Beast which is the Church... the leaders and congregation. How are they blaspheming God? They are worshipping Satan as he became king of the Church instead of God. They are calling themselves christians but are not. The Lord shows us this in the Church of Smyrna:
Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 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.
And it was given unto him
The first 2300 Days was like a civil war within the Church. It's new king, Satan (the Dragon) was in authority. It is him that "gives" in verses 5 and 7. But we must keep in mind that it is ultimately God whom allows Satan to arise and gives authority.
Again...
Revelation 13:2 "...and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him
Again, scripture tells us that the unsaved (those from the sea) worship this 1st Beast from the sea. Church doctrine is their truth above the Word of God (Jesus). Thereby worshipping the Church and its king, Satan.
Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast.
Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Only God's people can see the corruption and understand.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me
Matthew 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive
Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Captivity
This is describing the 1st Beast (the Church... congregation) as it broadcasts it's false doctrine. Their false doctrine leads people to be enslaved to sin (captivity)... no salvation.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised
The Sword
To be killed by the sword is to kill by scripture. The sword is scripture. They use scripture to kill with their false doctrines. But in the End, it is they whom will be slain.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Patience
This is the full 2300 Days to which the saints had to wait before salvation was once again available on a grand scale outside the Church.
Revelation 6:9-10 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Conclusion: All the evidence above shows that the 1st Beast is Satan's kingdom. Every one of Satan's past kingdoms were actual physical kingdoms. Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman. The only one that was'nt, was the 6th head that was given a death blow during the Church Age. The Church is Satan's 7th kingdom. Seven heads/seven kingdoms.
1. The 1st Beast came from the sea
All unsaved people are within the sea. Satan's kingdom is the unsaved.
2. The 1st Beast is declared a kingdom
Daniel 7 describes all Satan's different Beasts coming from the sea as kingdoms.
3. The 1st Beast is a combination of all Satan's previous Beasts
The description of all Satan's Beasts in Daniel 7 match the 1st Beast's description.
4. The 1st Beast is the same Beast in which the Great Whore is riding
Full description of the same Beasts as in Daniel 7 including the 10 horns.
5. This 1st Beast is not only the physical Church but also it's congregation
The ten horns are the congregation of unsaved multitudes from the sea.
6. The 1st Beast is not Satan himself
Satan as the Dragon gives the 1st Beast it's power under his authority.
