The third angels’ message determines the destiny of every person in the world who is alive when Jesus returns. If rejected, it will result in a person’s receiving the seven last plagues (see Revelation 16:2) and finally being destroyed (see Revelation 19:20, 21). The third angels’ message is a warning against worshipping the beast (Revelation 13:1–10) or his image or receiving his mark. Before a person can understand the third angel’s message, he must understand who and what the beast is. Following is a description from Scripture of the beast power.
- A beast in Bible prophecy represents a kingdom or nation or power (Daniel 7:17, 23).
- This beast received his power, throne, and great authority from the dragon (Revelation 13:2). The dragon primarily represents the devil (Revelation 12:9). Secondarily, the dragon represents the pagan Roman empire because it was the pagan Roman empire that attempted to kill Jesus at his birth (see Revelation 12:3–5 and Matthew 2).
- The beast received a deadly wound, at which time it looked as if it would cease to exist.
- The deadly wound was healed. It recovered from this deadly wound and became worldwide in its authority again.
- This beast is a worldwide power—“all the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3).
- This beast is also a religion, because the whole world will worship this power (verses 4 and 8).
- This beast would blaspheme God, His name, His sanctuary and those who dwell in heaven (verse 6).
- This religion would be a persecuting religion, as it would make war with the saints and overcome them (verse 7).
- This beast would gain authority over every tribe, language and nation. In other words, this is a religion that would apparently conquer and control all other religions, all languages and peoples (ibid).
- his beast would eventually go into captivity—that happened at the time that this beast received the deadly wound (verse 10).
- The beast would eventually be killed by the sword (ibid.) This will happen in the future.
- This beast had a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. According to the Bible, blasphemy is described as a man assuming power to forgive sins (Mark 2:7) and as a man making himself God (John 10:33).
- This beast arose from the sea. Compare Revelation 13:1 with Revelation 17:15.
- This beast had certain characteristics in common with all the beasts in the vision of Daniel 7. Compare the vision of Daniel 7 with Revelation 13:2.
- The number of this beast is the number of a man and his number is 666.