Prophetic Scenes

Chapter 12 takes up the history of Israel—the woman—and the man-child she bore—Christ—whom Rome sought to destroy. The chapter resumes her history with the last 3 ½-years of tribulation, a time when the dragon—the devil—will sorely persecute the Jewish remnant.
Along with the dragon, the two persons described in chapter 13 complete a trinity of evil. The Roman Empire in its final form will rise as a beast out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns. In the middle of the week, power is consolidated in a single individual—the Beast (Rev. 13:5). From verse 11 we have the Antichrist, who will work in concert with the Beast. Having two horns like a lamb, he speaks as a dragon (Rev. 13:11). While this evil trio acts out their final script, God, ever in control, intervenes in grace and judgment (ch. 14).