It is tempting to equate this beast with ungodly government, particularly of a totalitarian variety. As it is, though, non-government forces as the rich (think Big Money, stock markets) or educators or Big Tech (those controlling the media) can also be forceful and bullyish in compelling people to do what they want. We should also remember that without people there would be no governors or elite or economies. People’s hearts are terribly depraved and bent to evil (Genesis 6:5; Genesis 8:21); in fact, the human heart by nature follows Satan (Ephesians 2:2). This beast from the sea, then, is the human heart as its sinfulness receives expression through force (be it via government or Big Money or Big Tech or otherwise). As Satan makes war against the offspring of the woman, he forms an alliance with the bullyishness of sinful hearts (the beast) to try to force the children of God to deny their Lord and Saviour. This understanding means that we are not to equate the beast with one particular entity (say, the government), let alone one particular government or ruler (say, Nero or Hitler or Mugabe). This beast has countless manifestations in the course of history.