What is the beast that 'was, and is not, and yet is' in Revelation 17:8?
The beast is the Roman Empire—an ancient political, economic, and pagan religious system that existed, disappeared, and yet will rise again. It is linked with Antichrist and Satan, ascends from the bottomless pit, goes into perdition, and culminates in a revived worldwide system supporting the world church.
Les explains that in Revelation 17:8 the beast that 'was' refers to the ancient Roman Empire, which faded off the scene and disappeared, so it 'is not.' Yet it will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. He ties the beast also to Antichrist and Satan, as well as to the Empire, because verse 7 describes the beast carrying the woman with seven heads and ten horns. The unbelieving world whose names were not written in the book of life will wonder when they behold this beast. Les says the ancient Roman political and economic system, plus the pagan religious system, will culminate. The seven heads are seven mountains, kingdoms, or nations on which the woman sits and rules. The ten horns and seven kings picture Western Europe as the core: five are fallen, one is, and one is not yet come, continuing only a short space.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
More Questions
What is the beast in Revelation 17:8 that was, is not, and will ascend from the bottomless pit?
In Revelation 17:8, the beast that was, is not, and will ascend from the bottomless pit is the Roman Empire, which existed, faded from history, and will re-emerge to go to perdition.
Who are the earth-dwellers that wonder at the beast in Revelation 17:8?
The people 'that dwell on the earth' whose names were not written in the book of life are the unbelieving element of the world, and they will be part and parcel of the great end-times religious system and will wonder at the beast.