The beast in Revelation symbolizes both the revived Roman Empire and the man Antichrist who will rule it.
In Revelation 13, John sees a beast rise out of the sea, which Les Feldick explains represents the sea of humanity and the nations of the world. The beast is, first, the revived Roman Empire—a consortium of nations—and, second, the human leader, the Antichrist, who heads up that empire. Les teaches that the two uses are so closely connected that they can be used synonymously.
Revelation 13:1 — John sees the beast rise up out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, introducing the central symbol in question.
Revelation 13:2 — The beast's leopard-like body, bear-like feet, and lion-like mouth connect it to earlier world empires, and the dragon gives him power.
In Revelation 13:1, John reports: "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." Verse 2 continues: "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Verse 4 records that "they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Verse 6 shows the beast opening his mouth "in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Scripture also uses the term elsewhere: 1 John 2:18 says, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."
Les Feldick teaches that the term 'beast' in Revelation is a twofold picture. In Revelation 13 it is first and foremost the revival of the old ancient Roman Empire, which he also describes as a consortium of nations and the United States of Europe. The reason Scripture calls it a beast is that the government will be so bestial—having no concern for human rights or the individual. Then, within that revived empire, a human leader will arise, the man Antichrist, so that the beast also refers to that ruler. Les says you almost use the term synonymously, and you take the meaning according to the context. The sea out of which the beast rises represents the sea of humanity, the masses of people around the globe. The seven heads and ten horns are not a literal creature but a consortium of nations, an empire, headed up in one man. Les also points to a second beast in Revelation 13, a religious government centered in a person who has two horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon—a satanic religious system.
Les teaches it is both. In Revelation 13, the beast is first the revived Roman Empire—a government so bestial it has no concern for human rights. Into that empire will come a leader, the man Antichrist, who is the other aspect of the beast. The two expressions are used almost synonymously.
The sea is symbolic of the sea of humanity—the masses of people around the globe. Out of this mass of humanity comes the empire that has been dead and is now revived, headed up by the man of sin.
Les explains it is called a beast because the government is so bestial in its operation, with no concern for human rights or the individual. It is a government, not a literal animal.
Les says this is not some seven-headed creature but a consortium of nations, an empire. The seven heads and ten horns are also a twofold picture, since Satan is sometimes referred to with seven heads and horns, referring to his power and authority.
Les teaches there is a second beast in Revelation 13 that comes up out of the earth—a religious government centered in a person. He has two horns like a lamb because he is a religious leader, but he speaks like a dragon because his power comes from Satan.
1 John 2:18 calls the coming figure the Antichrist. Les identifies this Antichrist as the man of sin who will rule the revived Roman Empire. Revelation 13 shows Satan giving power to the beast, the world worshipping him, and the beast blaspheming God.
Antichrist Named in Scripture
Les shows that the man referred to elsewhere as the man of sin is explicitly called the Antichrist in 1 John 2:18, giving the personal name for the ruler who will appear in the last time.
The Sea and the Man of Sin
Les interprets the sea in Revelation 13 as the sea of humanity, out of which a long-dead empire will be revived and headed up by one man of sin, the Antichrist.
A Bestial Government
Les teaches the beast is first the revived Roman Empire; it is called a beast because the government will be bestial and show no concern for human rights, and the seven heads and ten horns symbolize an empire rather than a literal creature.
Emperor or Empire According to Context
Les explains that the beast in Revelation can refer either to the empire or to the man Antichrist who rules it, and the reader must decide by the context.
Revived Roman Empire and Its Leader
Les sees the revived Roman Empire in the ten nations of the European community, and shows that the same term 'beast' is used for the empire and for the human leader, the Antichrist, almost synonymously.
The Second Beast: A Religious System
Les identifies a second beast in Revelation 13 as a religious government centered in a person, a satanic religious leader who appears religious but speaks like a dragon.
Satan's Power, Worship, and Blasphemy
Les shows how Satan gives power to the beast, the world worships the beast, and the Antichrist blasphemes God, revealing his true satanic character.
Daniel's Four Beasts and the Final Empire
Les connects John's beast to Daniel's four beasts—lion, bear, leopard, and the terrible fourth beast—showing that the final empire is a consortium of nations headed up in one man, 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 central verse introducing the beast symbol that Les interprets as both an empire and a ruler.
Revelation 13:2: And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
The beast's features combine traits of earlier empires, and Satan empowers him.
Revelation 13:4: And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
This shows the worldwide worship of both Satan and the beast.
Revelation 13:6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
It reveals the beast's blasphemous character and opposition to God.
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 like a dragon.
This introduces the second beast, which Les identifies as a religious government under satanic power.
1 John 2:18: Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
This is the clearest biblical use of the word 'Antichrist' for the coming last-time figure.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the beast is a symbolic picture of a government—the revived Roman Empire—and also of the human ruler, the Antichrist. The seven heads and ten horns are not a literal creature but a consortium of nations.
Both. Les says you take it according to the context. The beast refers to the revived Roman Empire, and it also refers to the man Antichrist who rules that empire, so the terms are used almost synonymously.
The sea represents the sea of humanity—the masses of people around the globe. Out of this mass of humanity the dead empire is revived, headed up by the man of sin.
Les teaches that the second beast is a religious government centered in a person. It comes up out of the earth, has two horns like a lamb because it is a religious leader, but speaks like a dragon because it receives power from Satan.
Watch the Teaching: The Antichrist Revealed: What 2 Thessalonians Really Says