A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Revelation 12:1,2
~~~~~~~
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Revelation 12:3

1. The description of the woman connects her with Israel (AKA Jacob), the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Genesis 37:9-10
2. The description of the dragon connects it with the first beast of Revelation 13 and the scarlet beast of Revelation 17.
3. The seven heads bear crowns so these are symbolic of seven kings or kingdoms under the dragon's dominion which have been or will be enemies of God's people.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter." And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne Revelation 12:4,5
~~~~~~~
The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

4. The dragon's motive for this attack is because he knows the Messiah would bring about the end of his dominion on earth.
5. What the woman symbolically gives birth to is not Jesus, son of Mary, but the promise of a savior in fulfillment of Scripture. Genesis 3:15
6. This promise is delivered through the calling of Abraham from whose line would come the Messiah. Genesis 22:18

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, But he [the dragon] was not strong enough... The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil... He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:7-9
~~~~~~~
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring - those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. Revelation 12:17

7. Although the great dragon is identified with Satan, the representation includes all the human agencies that it has recruited in its attack on God's people.
8. Having failed in its attempt to prevent the promise, the dragon pursues the woman but she is given refuge from his attacks.
9. The time the woman is given refuge is the same period of time given to the little horn of Daniel 7, and the leopard beast of Revelation 13.
10. It is quite evident these texts cannot be applied to Mary, but a deeper symbolic reference to a spiritual Israel through which God would fulfill the promise of a savior.

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. Revelation 13:1

1. The sea from which it arises symbolizes the populous region around the Mediterranean from which arise the great civilizations and empires of the ancient world. Revelation 17:15

The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. Revelation 13:2

2. The physical description of this beast (AKA the leopard beast) connect it with the four beasts of Daniel's dream. Daniel Ch. 7
   • Resembled a leopard: Greece.
   • Feet like those of a bear: Medo-Persia.
   • Mouth like that of a lion: Babylonia.
   • Ten horns on its head: Rome.
3. The seven heads on the leopard beast symbolize seven historical powers (empires) which have been and will be the primary oppressors of God's people.
   • Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
   • The seventh head foretells the end-time reappearance of the beast. Revelation 17:8-11

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. Revelation 13:3

4. Which of the seven heads received the fatal wound? "Five have fallen", says the angel, or had passed into history by Johns day, who lived during the Roman Empire. This clearly identifies Rome as the sixth head on the beast. Revelation 17:10
5. What could have caused this death blow to imperial Rome which is symbolized by the beast that "once was" and "now is not", and how was it healed?
6. Imperial Rome persecuted both Jews and Christians when it's religion was pagan. This ceased when the empire converted to Christianity in the fourth century AD.
7. This is strong evidence that it was this change in Rome's religious character that inflicted the fatal wound. The Western Roman Empire came to an end in the fifth century AD.
8. The healing of the fatal wound foretells of a time just before Jesus' Second Coming of the reappearance of the beast "that yet will come" Revelation 13:3, 17:8
9. This end-time power mirrors in every respect that of imperial Rome. It is the work of the false prophet that brings about the healing of the fatal wound. Revelation 13:12
10. The crowns on the ten horns symbolize the time when they are empowered as kings and become united in purpose with the beast. Revelation 17:12,13

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.
Revelation 13:5
~~~~~~~
It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. Revelation 13:7

11. The beast exalts itself, making itself equal with God. It speaks blasphemies against God, the heavenly realm and all those abiding there, and it oppresses God's people on earth.
12. Forty-two months is the same period of time given to the little horn power that arose later on the head of Daniel's fourth beast, which has been identified as the Roman Empire. Daniel 7:25

Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. Revelation 13:11

1. Just as water and earth are two different states of matter, so the second beast possibly arises from a different region on earth. Having lamb-like horns but the voice of a dragon strongly suggests that this entity is a deceiver.

It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. Revelation 13:12<

2. It is the second beast (AKA the two-norned beast) who, by deception, is instrumental in the healing of the fatal wound which causes the world into worshiping the first beast.
3. The second beast is in fact further identified as the false prophet who is allied with the first beast and the kings of earth at Jesus' second coming. Revelation 19:20

Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. Revelation 13:14,15

4. This symbolizes the introduction of idolatry in the worship of the first beast. The second beast then gives life and breath to the image signifying that it is not like other idols made of stone or wood. By giving the image this ability could symbolize a separate agency created to work on behalf of the second beast.
5. The image of the beast commands the people of earth bow down to it on pain of death. The worship of idols in ages past was how people would show devotion to their gods.

It [the two-horned beast or the image] also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Revelation 13:16,17

6. This mark signifies subservience (or loyalty) to the first beast by thought or deed. Those who refuse to receive the mark are denied basic necessities and services.
7. The mark of the beast is connected numerically with name of the first beast. The number is 666, "the number of a man." Revelation 13:18
8. Since the first beast represents much more than any one individual, it is suggested this figure may apply to a specific title belonging to it.

1. The leopard beast and the scarlet beast are one and the same power. The usage of a beast in Biblical prophecy represents nations that have been enemies of God's people; historically, the nation of Israel.
2. The scarlet beast symbol with its seven heads and ten horns represent the powerful empires that became the enemies of God's people throughout history.

   The beast [the scarlet beast], which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. Revelation 17:8(1)

3. The scarlet beast is revealed initially as it existed in the past during its "once was, and now is not" periods. The scarlet beasts "yet will come" period is synonymous with the leopard beast when it appears.
4. The people of earth are astonished by the reappearance of the leopard beast upon its fatal wound having been healed. This reaction is the same observed for the scarlet beast.

   The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come. Revelation 17:8(2)
   ~~~~~~~
   They [the seven heads] are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. Revelation 17:10,11

5. The apostle John lived during the time of the Roman Empire, which identifies it with the "one is", or the sixth head on the beast.
6. The Roman Empire being so identified as the sixth head on the scarlet beast is crucial in identifying the five that have fallen (i.e. passed into history): Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece.
7. The question is, what is the identity of the seventh head? The beast that "once was, and now is not" is said to be the eighth king but "belongs to the seven."
8. This suggests that one of the first six heads on the scarlet beast that existed in the past will reappear in a future time.

   After them [the ten horns on Daniel's fourth beast] another king will arise, different from the earlier ones... He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. Daniel 7:24,25
   ~~~~~~~
   The beast [the leopard beast] was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. Revelation 13:5

9. Rome 2.0: The little horn arises later among the ten horns that appear on the head of Daniel's fourth beast, which has been identified as the Roman Empire. This makes a strong argument that a re-emergent Rome is the final head on the scarlet beast.

The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. Revelation 17:12

10. Prior to Christ's Second Coming the ten horns, when they are empowered as kings, subject themselves to the authority of the scarlet beast. Revelation 17:12,13

    The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. Revelation 17:16,17

11. The scarlet beast, by the will of God, in union with the ten horns exercises its power to become the dominant force promoting itself as the object of worship, and thus is used to execute God's judment upon Babylon the Great. Revelation 17:1, 18:8,20

They [the beast and ten horns] will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14
~~~~~~~
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. Revelation 19:19,20

12. In the final battle we find the beast, the false prophet, and the kings of earth confronting the Lamb of God and the army of heaven but they are defeated.

~~~ Final Thoughts ~~~

The prophetic books of Daniel and the Revelation use imagery and symbolism to convey their message, the understanding of which is open to interpretation and debate. I prefer rather to base my faith and understanding on other scripture, particularly the four Gospels which recount Jesus' acts and words, and the apostle's letters to the churches. Jesus, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of God the Father and the Holy Spirit.