The beast with seven heads (Revelation 13:1–10) is the Roman papacy (see Lesson 20). Remember that beasts in Bible prophecy symbolize nations or world powers (Daniel 7:17,23).

The Bible predicted that the papacy would lose its world influence and power at the end of the 42 months. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1798, when Napoleon’s General Berthier took the pope captive and the papal power received its deadly wound (see Lesson 20).

The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The United States declared its independence in 1776, adopted the Constitution in 1787 and the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. The timing obviously fits America. No other power could possibly qualify.

This nation arises “out of the earth” instead of out of the water as did the other nations of Daniel and Revelation. Water symbolizes densely populated areas of the world (Revelation 17:15). Therefore the earth represents the opposite: this new nation would arise in an area that had been virtually unpopulated before the late 1700s. It could not arise among the crowded, struggling nations of the Old World; it had to come up on a sparsely populated continent.

Horns represent kings, kingdoms, or governments (Daniel 7:24; 8:21). Here they represent the United States’ two governing principles: civil and religious liberty — also labeled republicanism (a government without a king) and Protestantism (a church without a pope). The absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government rather than a monarchy. The lamb-like horns denote a young, innocent, peace-loving, and spiritual nation (Jesus is called a Lamb 28 times in Revelation).

As shown in Lesson 20, the dragon is Satan, who works through earthly powers to build his own kingdom and to crush God’s church. Satan’s aim has always been to usurp God’s throne and force people to worship him. So “speaking as a dragon” means the United States (under Satan’s influence) will, in the end time, force people to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.

Notice four crucial points. A. The U.S. will exercise all the authority of the first beast (verse 12) — becoming a persecuting power. B. It will cause the earth to worship the first beast (verse 12): the issue is always worship — Christ or antichrist. C. It will tell people to make an image to the beast (verse 14): the U.S. will legislate religious practice, copying the church-state union. D. It will cause all who refuse to worship the image to be killed (verse 15). Jesus labels this worldwide coalition a false prophet (Revelation 19:20), because it will appear spiritual yet act satanically.

The final point of contention will be worshiping and obeying the beast and receiving his mark — honoring Sunday as a false holy day — versus worshiping and obeying Christ and receiving His mark by honoring the holy seventh-day Sabbath (see Lesson 20). When the issue becomes clear and people are forced to break the Sabbath or be killed, those who choose Sunday will be, in essence, worshiping the beast: they will have chosen the word of a creature, a man, over the word of their Creator.

During World War II, buying was controlled by ration stamps; without them, money was worthless. In this computerized age, a similar system would be easy to set up. No one knows precisely how it will all come about, but you can be sure it will happen, because in Revelation 13:16,17 God says it will.

It is arguably the strongest religio-political power in the world. Virtually every leading country has an official representative at the Vatican. The nations look to the pope as a moral authority and peacemaker, and his influence on world affairs keeps growing — exactly as prophecy predicted regarding the healing of the deadly wound.

The United States is regarded as the world’s most powerful military force and its center of influence. Despite challenges from other powers, America’s ability to stand down aggressors and deploy rapidly continues to dominate the world. A future president might well use that influence to enforce new global standards, especially if promoted as a path to world peace and stability after a difficult global event.

We cannot name them with certainty, but possibilities include terrorism, riots and rising crime, drug wars, a major economic crash, epidemics, nuclear threats, political corruption, miscarriages of justice, social conflicts, rising taxes, immorality, and global disasters. A backlash against such woes could easily precipitate a demand for strict laws to be rigidly enforced.

The U.S. will experience a counterfeit revival and insist that religious laws be passed to force everyone to participate (the image to the beast). People will be pressured to disregard the holy seventh-day Sabbath and worship on Sunday instead. World conditions will become so intolerable that a worldwide “back to God” movement, with all praying together on Sunday, will be presented as the only solution. Thus Satan will deceive the world into thinking it must compromise Bible truth and keep Sunday holy.

The Bible says the whole earth will be lightened with glory (Revelation 18:1). Everyone will be reached (Mark 16:15) with the three-part message of Revelation 14:6–14. The last-day church will grow with amazing speed as millions accept salvation by grace. Many will refuse to worship the beast and instead worship Jesus, receiving His Sabbath sign in their foreheads (Revelation 7:2,3). This growth will infuriate the counterfeit movement, which will disqualify the faithful from buying and selling; but God promises His people food, water, and protection (Isaiah 33:16; Psalm 34:7).

They will work miracles so convincing that everyone except God’s faithful people will be persuaded (Matthew 24:24). Using Satan’s spirits (Revelation 16:13,14), they will impersonate dead loved ones and probably even Bible prophets. Satan’s angels will appear as godly clergymen, and Satan himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). As his crowning deception, Satan will claim to be Christ (Matthew 24:23,24) and urge people to uphold Sunday. But God’s people will not be deceived, for they test everything by the Bible.

A. Test every teaching by the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20). B. Follow truth as Jesus reveals it: He promised that those who genuinely want to obey Him will never end up in error (John 7:17). C. Stay close to Jesus daily (John 15:5).