the beast

Also known as: Beast / beast · Family: evil · Role: symbolic adversary · First appears: Revelation 11

In Revelation 11, after the two witnesses finish their testimony, the beast rises from the bottomless pit, makes war against two witnesses, overcomes them, and kills them: “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”

In Revelation 13, Satan gives the beast power, a throne, and great authority. After its deadly wound is healed, the world wonders after it and worships it, while the beast receives authority for forty-two months, blasphemes God, and is supported by another beast, who compels worship of it and its image, gives the image life and speech, and marks those who bear its name or number. Those who worship the beast or receive its mark face torment, while in Revelation 16 its kingdom is darkened, its marked followers develop grievous sores, and three unclean spirits like frogs come from the mouths of Satan, the beast, and False Prophet.

In Revelation 17, the beast carries Babylon the Great, rises from the bottomless pit toward perdition, and receives the power of the ten kings, who make war against Jesus but are overcome. The ten kings then turn against Babylon the Great, while God causes them to give their kingdom to the beast. In Revelation 19, the beast and False Prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire; in Revelation 20, Satan joins them there, where they are tormented day and night forever.