Although he is alluded to variously throughout several places in scripture and known by an assortment of names, the end times world dictator so detested by God the Almighty is referred to here in the Revelation as the “beast” (a k a, often referred to as the “anti-Christ” by modern churches; Daniel is the first to make his mention, calling him the mouthy little horn, the prince who will destroy the Jerusalem Temple and the abomination of desolation, in chapters 7, 9 and 12 respectively. Jesus repeats Daniel’s reference in Matthew 24, while Paul called him the “son of perdition”, per his 2nd epistle to the Thessalonians, chapter 2). It is John the apostle and revelator who gives the most revealing description of this eschatological end times character, first mentioning him in chapter 11, following his resurrection and battle with God’s two witnesses, who will occasion his death. Chapter 13 of the Revelation is devoted to a broad snapshot of the early days of his rise and reign, after he kills the two witnesses, in revenge. It is here, in chapter 17, however, it might be argued, where his story begins.

That said then, it should be noted, perhaps, that God’s use of the term “beast” to describe what He sees as the epitome and thus the most detestable, eschatological enemy and threat to his people is a kind of play on words. The term in the Greek means “dangerous wild animal”. It is used, interchangeably by the Lord, to refer to both an end times kingdom and to the person who will be the leader of that kingdom. That being so, the focus in this context is specifically on the individual who will preside over that kingdom.