No — in Revelation, the 'beast' is not a literal animal; it is a governmental power.
Les Feldick teaches that the word 'beast' in Revelation is always a governmental power. John sees a beast rise out of the sea and another out of the earth, and Les interprets these as the revived Roman Empire and a satanic religious government headed by the Antichrist.
Revelation 13:1 — This verse introduces the first beast rising out of the sea, the main passage behind the question.
Revelation 13:11 — This verse introduces the second beast coming out of the earth, showing that the chapter presents two distinct beast figures.
In Revelation 13:1, John records seeing a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on his horns and the name of blasphemy on his heads. In Revelation 13:11, John then sees another beast coming up out of the earth; this beast has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Revelation 13:12 says this second beast exercises all the power of the first beast and causes the earth to worship the first beast. The book of Revelation uses the word beast for these two figures, but it does not define the word itself. The imagery — rising from the sea and from the earth, horns, heads, crowns, and dragon-like speech — is symbolic. The biblical text gives the literal imagery, while the meaning of the symbol is drawn out through the prophetic context and by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that the word 'beast' in Revelation is not talking about a ferocious-looking animal, a dragon, or a Loch Ness-type creature. He says Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation write in symbolic language, and the symbolism must be reduced to literal truth by searching the Scriptures. When that is done, the beast is a government — not an eerie creature. Les identifies the first beast in Revelation 13 as, first and foremost, the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire. The government is called a beast because its operation will be so bestial that it will have no concern for human rights or the individual. This empire is a consortium of nations, and it will be headed by one man, the Antichrist. The sea out of which the beast rises represents the mass of humanity, the masses of the nations. The second beast, which comes up out of the earth, is also a government, but it is centered in a person and functions as a religious government. It has two horns like a lamb because it is a religious leader, but it speaks like a dragon because its power comes from Satan. It therefore represents a satanic religious system. Some people think the 'earth' points to Israel, since Israel is the only part of the earth God especially concerns Himself with, but Les says the second beast could be a Jew, though not necessarily.
The first beast in Revelation 13 comes up out of the sea. Les teaches that the sea represents the mass of humanity, and the beast is first and foremost the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire. It is called a beast because its government will be bestial in its operation, with no concern for human rights. This government is headed by one man — the Antichrist.
John sees another beast coming up out of the earth. Les teaches that this is another government centered in a person — a religious government. It has two horns like a lamb because it is a religious leader, but it speaks like a dragon, showing that it receives its power from Satan. It represents a satanic religious system. Les notes that some connect this beast with Israel because the earth is the part of the world God concerns Himself with, but he says, 'I don't say he has to be, I think he could be, but not necessarily.'
Les explains that Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation write in symbolic language. Artists have drawn humongous animals with many horns and heads, but the word 'beast' in Revelation is always a governmental power. It is not a ferocious-looking animal or a dragon from Loch Ness. The beast metaphor describes how brutal and impersonal the end-time government will be.
Les says the word 'beast' has a two-fold meaning. It can mean the Roman Empire — both the original and the revived — and it can also mean the man of sin, the Antichrist, who rules this final world system. The seven heads and ten horns of the beast are not a literal seven-headed creature; they represent a consortium of nations, an empire. The imagery connects directly to Daniel's four beasts, where Greece is seen as a leopard, the Medes as a bear, and Babylon as a lion.
Daniel and Revelation Interpret Each Other
Les notes that Daniel and Revelation are so intertwined that each must be studied with the other, which is why he uses Daniel to explain the beast symbol in Revelation.
The Beast as the Revived Roman Empire
Les teaches that the beast in Revelation 13 is first and foremost the revival of the ancient Roman Empire, called a beast because its rule will be bestial and will ignore human rights.
Not a Literal Creature but a Government
Les stresses that the beast is not an eerie-looking creature or a dragon, but a government headed by the Antichrist.
The Word 'Beast' Always Means a Government
Les emphasizes that in Revelation the word 'beast' is not a ferocious animal but always a governmental power.
The Second Beast — A Satanic Religious Government
Les explains that the second beast rising from the earth is a religious government centered in a person; it looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon and receives its power from Satan.
The Sea of Humanity and the Antichrist
Les explains that the sea imagery points to the masses of the nations, and the beast is both the Roman Empire and the Antichrist who rules it.
The Same Beast as Daniel's Roman Empire
Les identifies the Revelation beast with Daniel's beast and says the primary meaning is the Roman Empire.
Heads and Horns: A Consortium of Nations
Les shows that the seven heads and ten horns correspond to Daniel's empires and picture a consortium of nations, not a literal creature, headed by the Antichrist.
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 first mention of the beast in Revelation 13 and the central verse for the question.
Revelation 13:11: And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
This verse introduces the second beast, which Les interprets as a religious government.
Revelation 13:12: And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
This verse connects the second beast to the first beast, showing it exercises the first beast's authority.
Daniel 7:17: These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
Daniel's use of beasts as kings/kingdoms is the prophetic pattern Les uses to interpret the beasts of Revelation.
No. Les Feldick repeatedly says the word 'beast' does not refer to a ferocious-looking animal or a dragon. In Revelation, a beast is always a governmental power — an empire headed by the Antichrist.
The sea represents the mass of humanity or the masses of the nations. The first beast rises out of the sea, meaning it comes out of the sea of humanity.
The first beast is the revival of the ancient Roman Empire and the Antichrist who rules it. Les says the word 'beast' has a two-fold meaning: the Roman Empire and the man of sin.
The second beast is another government centered in a person — a religious government. It has two horns like a lamb because it is a religious leader, but it speaks like a dragon, showing its power is from Satan. It represents a satanic religious system.
Some people think so, because the earth may refer to Israel since it is the part of the earth God concerns Himself with. Les says the second beast could be a Jew, but not necessarily.
Watch the Teaching: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream That Predicted Every World Empire — Daniel 2