In Revelation 13, the seven heads and ten horns symbolize a government—the revived Roman Empire as a consortium of nations—not a literal multi-headed creature.
Les Feldick teaches that the beast rising out of the sea is a government rising out of the mass of humanity, an empire headed up by the Antichrist. The ten horns represent ten nations or rulers, and the ten crowns on those horns show that these are kings, not body parts. He also explains that the empire will have seven distinct heads of state and ten crowned leaders.
Revelation 13:1 — This is the verse that introduces the beast with seven heads and ten horns, the exact imagery the question asks about.
Daniel 7:24 — This parallel prophecy explicitly identifies the ten horns as ten kings, showing the governmental meaning of the symbols.
Revelation 13:1 (KJV) says, "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." In the biblical text, the beast is not called a literal animal; it is a symbolic figure described with governmental features—heads, horns, and crowns—that point to rulers. Daniel 7:7 also describes a fourth beast with ten horns, and Daniel 7:8 says, "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn..." Daniel 7:24 then clarifies, "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise..." Thus, the Bible uses the same symbolic language of heads, horns, and crowns in both Old and New Testament prophecy.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the seven heads and ten horns are not parts of a literal, frightening animal. In Revelation 13, John sees a beast rise up out of the sea—the mass of humanity—and this beast is a government, a consortium of nations, an empire. It will be headed up by one man, the Antichrist, who is the central figure of the seven-year tribulation. The ten horns represent ten distinct nations or rulers, and the ten crowns show that these are kings. Les explains that the empire will have seven distinct heads of state but ten crowns, meaning ten distinct nations with ten leaders, three of which may not be large or powerful enough to have their own head of state. He connects this directly to the revived Roman Empire and Daniel's prophecy, saying the Antichrist is the little horn that comes out of those ten nations.
No. Les Feldick says this is "not some seven-headed creature or anything like that." The beast is a government—a consortium of nations, an empire—that rises up out of the mass of humanity. The imagery of seven heads and ten horns is symbolic political language, not a description of an actual animal.
Les says horns in Scripture merely refer to kings. In Revelation 13, the ten horns represent ten distinct nations with ten distinct leaders, and they are the base of operation for the Antichrist. He explains that the empire will have seven distinct heads of state yet ten crowns, meaning ten nations—three of which may not be large enough or powerful enough to have their own head of state.
John's imagery parallels Daniel's fourth beast, which had ten horns, and Daniel saw a little horn come up among them. Les says the two great prophetic books "work hand in glove." He also notes that John describes the beast with the same features Daniel used—like a leopard, feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion—so the same empires are in view. The ten-horn empire is the revived Roman Empire.
The little horn is the Antichrist. Les teaches that of the ten nations that form the revived Roman Empire, three of the smaller ones will lose their identity—"plucked up by the roots," as Daniel says—and then out of the remaining seven comes this man, the Antichrist.
Les observes that the nations of Western Europe are seemingly coming together. He points out that a Western Europe parliament already exists and meets, and while it does not yet have absolute power, the organization is already there—preparing for the ten-nation empire described in prophecy.
John's Vision of the Beast
Les reads Revelation 13:1 and cautions against artists' renditions of a multi-horned creature. He introduces the beast as rising out of the sea and reminds us the Antichrist is its central figure.
The Beast Is a Government
The beast is a government rising out of the mass of humanity—a consortium of nations, an empire—with seven heads and ten horns, not a literal seven-headed animal. It will be headed up by the Antichrist.
Same Symbolism Repeated
In a parallel teaching, Les repeats that the beast is an empire, not a physical creature, and that its imagery echoes Daniel.
Ten Horns Are Kings
Les explains that horns in Scripture refer to kings; the ten horns are the base of operation for the Antichrist, and the sea is the mass of humanity.
Horns and the Antichrist's Base
This repeated teaching again states that the ten horns are the base of operation for the Antichrist and that horns simply mean kings.
Seven Heads and Ten Crowns
Les explains the empire will have seven distinct heads of state but ten crowns—signifying ten distinct nations with ten leaders, three of which may not have their own head of state.
The Little Horn From the Ten
The Antichrist is the little horn that arises out of the ten nations of the revived Roman Empire; three of the original ten lose their identity when he appears.
Daniel's Ten Horns and Europe
Les connects Daniel's ten-horned beast to Revelation's ten nations, teaches that the Antichrist comes out of those ten, and notes that a Western Europe parliament already exists as preparation.
Revelation 13:1: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
This is the verse that directly asks the question and describes the beast's seven heads and ten horns.
Daniel 7:7: After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
This shows the Old Testament parallel to Revelation's ten-horned beast.
Daniel 7:8: I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
This identifies the little horn that arises from the ten, which Les connects to the Antichrist.
Daniel 7:24: And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
This clearly states that the ten horns represent ten kings, supporting the governmental interpretation.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the beast is not some seven-headed creature; it is a government—a consortium of nations, an empire—rising out of the mass of humanity. The heads and horns are symbolic features of that government.
The ten horns represent ten nations with ten leaders or kings. Les also says they are the base of operation for the Antichrist and that the empire will have ten distinct nations, three of which may not be large or powerful enough to have their own head of state.
The sea represents the mass of humanity. The beast rises up out of the sea, showing that this government comes out of the masses of people on earth.
The Antichrist is the one man who heads up the revived Roman Empire. Les identifies him as the little horn of Daniel's vision who comes out of the ten nations after three of the smaller nations lose their identity.
Watch the Teaching: The Antichrist Revealed: What Revelation 13 Really Says