What does 'beast' represent in the book of Revelation?
In Revelation, the term "beast" represents a governmental power, not a ferocious animal or dragon. The first beast rises from the sea, symbolizing the mass of humanity. The second beast rises from the earth and represents a religious government centered in a person, a satanic religious system.
Les emphasizes that when studying the book of Revelation, the word "beast" is not talking about some ferocious-looking animal or a dragon coming out of a lake. A beast in Revelation is always a governmental power. The first beast comes up out of the sea, out of the mass of humanity, while the second beast comes up out of the earth. Some people take the tack that since the earth and Israel are God's concern, this second beast, a government centered in a person, would be the religious government, and he would have to be a Jew. Les says he doesn't say he has to be, but thinks he could be, not necessarily. This second beast has two horns like a lamb because he's a religious leader, but he speaks like a dragon, receiving his power from Satan. Thus a satanic religious system comes on the scene in this second beast.