During Jesus' time on the cross, the darkness of Sheol enclosed the world as a heavy blanket (Matthew 27:45). But Jesus defeated the powers of hell (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12:8–9) so that the demonic forces under the earth in fact had to submit to Jesus the King (Revelation 5:13). This is the mortal wound this beast from the abyss suffered. As this beast arises from under the earth to roam upon the earth, that wounded head is healed—thereby denying Jesus’ victory over Satan and his demons.
3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.