The dragon in fury seeks to destroy the seed of the woman (Revelation 12:17). In the present paragraph the Lord shows his children how the dragon teams up with fallen people in an effort to put such pressure on Christians that they will deny their Lord and Saviour. Here is a central theme of all history (including what we see around us today): the dragon teams up with the beast to try to destroy God’s children. Knowing this reality helps God’s people make sense of the world in which we live.
Though the alliance between the dragon and the beast is deeply intimidating, the Lord includes numerous details in this paragraph to assure his people that the beast’s power is more show than reality. Its abilities are given (repeated four times), its reign of terror limited (to forty-two months). This comes on top of the message of Revelation 12:7–9 that the dragon was defeated and thrown out of heaven. The saints are promised endurance in Revelation 13:10. Altogether this makes the message of Revelation 13:1–10 wonderfully encouraging.
The offspring
of the woman (= church) who hear the words of this paragraph have no reason to panic or despair in the face of the demonic alliance characterizing New Testament history. The Lamb was slain for them, yet enthroned; he will ensure that the saints too will persevere.
1 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.