Revelation – Chapter 13

New Testament18 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of…" — so begins Revelation 13. Across its 18 verses, two threads run through the text: healing and wisdom for daily living. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy.

2And the beast which I saw was like to 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 own strength and great power.

3And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.

4And they adored the dragon which gave power to the beast. And they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? And who shall be able to fight with him?

5And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and power was given to him to do, two and forty months.

6And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.

7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

8And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world.

9If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10He that shall lead into captivity shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth: and he had two horns, like a lamb: and he spoke as a dragon.

12And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight. And he caused the earth and them that dwell therein to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed.

13And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth, in the sight of men.

14And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs which were given him to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which had the wound by the sword and lived.

15And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and that the image of the beast should speak: and should cause that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast should be slain.

16And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand or on their foreheads:

17And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.

Important Verses in Revelation 13

And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy.

Revelation 13:1

And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.

Revelation 13:6

He that shall lead into captivity shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:10

Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.

Revelation 13:18

Historical Context

As a New Testament book, Revelation was written with persecuted churches, lifted to see Christ's final victory in view. Chapter 13 of 22 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a apocalyptic vision revealing God's ultimate victory over evil with 18 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon…" The final verse reads: "Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and…" The wider setting of Revelation is this: Written to seven churches of Asia suffering under Rome's demand for emperor worship, Revelation unveils history's hidden meaning through visions of heavenly liturgy: the Lamb who was slain stands victorious, and every… Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

Who Wrote It

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle

When It Was Written

About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian

Catholic Commentary

This chapter uses symbolic imagery to reveal God's sovereignty over history and the final triumph of good. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy." The passage repeatedly touches on healing and restoration.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1095). Here, Revelation reveals the Church's ultimate destiny (CIC 1042-1050). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize healing and restoration as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: Christ is the Divine Physician who heals both body and soul.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • Christ is the Divine Physician who heals both body and soul.
  • True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Faith is a gift and a decision: entrusting ourselves entirely to God and to His promises.

Reflection for Today

As Catholics read Revelation Chapter 13, we do so within the living Tradition that has guarded this text for two millennia.

The saints did not treat Scripture as antiquarian literature. St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, and countless others used passages such as this to fuel daily conversion. the sanctity of marriage and family remains a practical lesson for modern disciples.

As you continue through Revelation, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Revelation Chapter 13 about?

Revelation 13 contains 18 verses. It opens with "And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon…" and closes with "Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and…". The book as a whole is apocalyptic prophecy and epistle.

What is a key verse in Revelation 13?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And I saw a beast coming up out the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Revelation and when?

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle. About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

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