Revelation 13

Revelation 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. The author records visions of two beasts (or monsters) which he saw while "standing on the seashore", the beast from the sea and the beast from the land.

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 18 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are, among others:

The last verse (verse 18) of the previous chapter connects the appearance of the beast to the dragon who delegates to the beast what power it has.

Some manuscript texts read ἐστάθην, estathēn, I stood, while others read ἐστάθη, estathē, he stood, referring to the dragon of Revelation 12:17.

The dominant violent characteristic of the beast is modelled on the vision of four beasts in the Book of Daniel, representing four great world empires (Daniel 7:1–8).

The language of verse 5 reflects Daniel 7:6, 8, 25. Although the beast's power is given by the dragon (verse 2), it can only be exercised by God's permission (verse 5).

This is the second beast, which also called the "false prophet" (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10), 'represents the priesthood of the imperial cult, which included prominent members of the elite of the cities'.