1. Revelation 13:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is meant by the term “blasphemous names”?

Revelation 13:1 (ESV)

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.

Instead of wearing crowns on its heads, this beast’s heads boasted a number of names. We are not told what the names were, other than that they were “blasphemous.” That term means that this beast claimed for itself terms or characteristics that rightly belonged to the Lord God alone. We might think, e.g. of the beast claiming to be almighty or God or saviour or the source of all good.