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There are 13 creatures mentioned in the Book of Revelation: The Lamb (Rev. 5:6), the four living creatures (Rev. 4:7), the four horses (Rev. 6:1-8), the Red Dragon (Rev. 12:3), the Beast from the Sea (Rev. 13:1-2), the Beast from the Earth (Rev. 13:11), and the locusts (Rev. 9:3-11).
The debate of figurative vs. literal continues today with Revelation, as some believe that the figures and events mentioned are entirely figurative, while others conclude that the figurative describes real people and situations. Personally, I’m certain the figurative language describes the literal, because if Revelation pictures most of these things in heaven as figurative (including the creatures), is heaven just a figment of the Apostle John’s imagination?
I pray not!
Last week we described nine of the creatures of Revelation (Interruption #1931); below find images of the other four. While the previous nine originate in heaven, the last four — the Red Dragon, the Beast of the Sea, the Beast of the Earth, and the locusts come from below. But let’s always remember…
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7, ESV).
and…
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
The Locusts
In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails (Revelation 9:7-10).
The Red Dragon
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth (Revelation 12:3-4a).
The Beast from the Sea (Receives power from the Red Dragon)
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority (Revelation 13:1-2).
The Beast from the Earth (Exercises authority over the first Beast)
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed (Revelation 13:11-12).
That’s it; between this Interruption #1937 and last week’s Interruption #1931, we have a pictorial review of the creatures of Revelation. With these last four, my wife says that she will be raptured by the time they appear.
I agree with her — come more quickly, Lord Jesus!