In Revelation 13:1–18, two key figures are introduced: the beast from the sea (often interpreted as the Antichrist) and the beast from the earth (often interpreted as the False Prophet). The passage describes their rise to power, their blasphemy, and their role in deceiving the nations. Preterists interpret this passage within the historical context of the first century, particularly in relation to the Roman Empire and its persecution of Christians. The key points of the preterist interpretation are:

  1. The Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10):
    Preterists identify the beast from the sea as symbolic of the Roman Empire, particularly Emperor Nero or the broader imperial power that persecuted Christians. The ten horns represent the ten provinces or rulers under Roman control, and the blasphemous speech refers to the emperor’s claim to divine status and the persecution of Christians who refused to worship him. Nero is often seen as the fulfillment of this figure, with his brutal persecution of Christians and his self-deification serving as a prototype of the beast. His reign is marked by intense opposition to the Christian faith, and his eventual death is seen as a temporary setback for the empire.
  2. The Beast from the Earth (Revelation 13:11-18):
    Preterists view the beast from the earth as a figure that represents the Roman imperial cult or the false religious system that supported emperor worship. This cult is seen as a tool of the Roman Empire, used to enforce loyalty to the emperor and suppress Christianity. The false prophet is often identified as the priests, or the religious leaders who supported emperor worship. The number 666 is often interpreted as a reference to Nero, using gematria (the numerical value of letters in Hebrew and Greek). Nero’s name can be translated into Hebrew characters that, when assigned numerical values, equal 666. This identification connects the passage to the historical events surrounding the persecution of Christians during Nero’s reign.
  3. Economic and Religious Control (Revelation 13:16-17):
    Preterists see the mark of the beast (the number 666) as symbolic of the Roman Empire’s economic and religious control over its citizens. The requirement to worship the emperor or face economic sanctions is interpreted as a real historical phenomenon under Nero’s reign, where Christians were often forced to choose between loyalty to the Roman state or facing persecution, including economic hardships.

Dispensational Response to Revelation 13:1–18

We interpret Revelation 13:1–18 from a futurist perspective, seeing the events described as pertaining to the end times, particularly during the Tribulation period. Dispensationalists have disagree with the preterist view on several items:

  1. The Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10):
    Dispensationalists interpret the beast from the sea as a future, literal world leader, often referred to as the Antichrist. This figure is seen as a charismatic political leader who will rise to power in the last days, initially bringing peace and prosperity but ultimately leading the world into rebellion against God. The ten horns represent a ten-nation confederacy (sometimes thought of as a revived Roman Empire) that will support the Antichrist’s rule during the Tribulation. The blasphemous speech refers to the Antichrist’s claim to be God and his persecution of those who refuse to worship him.
  2. The Beast from the Earth (Revelation 13:11-18):
    The second beast, the false prophet, is interpreted by dispensationalists as a future religious leader who will support the Antichrist. This false prophet will perform signs and wonders to deceive the world into worshipping the Antichrist. The false prophet will set up an image of the Antichrist and enforce the mark of the beast. Dispensationalists often believe that this figure will head a global religious system that will combine politics and religion, and will lead people into a false worship of the Antichrist.
  3. The Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16-17):
    Dispensationalists interpret the mark of the beast as a literal mark that will be used during the Tribulation for economic and social control. The mark is seen as a way for the Antichrist to enforce loyalty to his regime. Those who refuse the mark will face economic exclusion, persecution, and potentially death. The number 666 is taken literally as a unique identification number or mark that will be used to identify those loyal to the Antichrist’s system. The mark may be a literal technology, such as a microchip or biometric scan, though the specifics are often left open for future interpretation.

The Key Differences Between Preterist and Dispensational Interpretations

AspectPreterist InterpretationDispensational Interpretation
The Beast from the SeaSymbolic of the Roman Empire, often associated with Nero.A future Antichrist, a literal world leader who will rise in the Tribulation.
The Beast from the EarthSymbolic of the Roman imperial cult and false worship.A future false prophet, a religious leader who supports the Antichrist.
The Mark of the BeastSymbolic of Roman imperial control, particularly emperor worship.A literal mark (e.g., microchip) used to control the economy and worship during the Tribulation.
Number 666Interpreted as Nero’s name using gematria (the numerical value of letters).A literal number that identifies those who follow the Antichrist.

Summary

The preterist interpretation of Revelation 13:1–18 sees the two beasts as symbolic of the Roman Empire (the first beast) and the Roman imperial cult (the second beast). The persecution of Christians under Nero, the emperor worship system, and the economic and religious control of the empire are understood as the fulfillment of these events in the first century. The mark of the beast and the number 666 are often connected to Nero through gematria, reflecting the historical context of the time.

In contrast, dispensationalists interpret these verses as describing future, literal events that will occur during the Tribulation. The first beast is the future Antichrist, a world leader who will rise to power and demand worship. The second beast is the false prophet, a religious figure who will lead the world into false worship of the Antichrist. The mark of the beast is seen as a literal mark used to control economic and social participation during the Tribulation.

These two interpretations highlight the broader theological divide between preterism, which sees Revelation as fulfilled in the first century, and dispensationalism, which sees it as a description of future events during the end times.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Dan Starcevich

Hi, I am Dan Starcevich. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. I live in Windsor Colorado, just north of Denver. Not only do I run TheoFaith but I also serve as a professor at Tyndale Theological Seminary and Bible Institute, and I serve as the academic dean and professor of applied faith at Agathon University. I wasn’t always a theologian. I was in the United States Army for almost 10 years, then spent 30 years in the Aerospace and Defense industry. Thanks to the support of my wife I was also able to get degrees from Hawaii Pacific University (B.S.), The University of Southern California (M.S.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Thm.), and Tyndale Theological Seminary (PhD. and D.min). My deep desire is the see people grow in the knowledge of the Lord through deep, enriching, satisfying engagement with Scripture.

Leave a comment