Revelation 13

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth…” The line’s distinctive content terms include feet, mouth, authority. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all…” The line’s distinctive content terms include kindreds, nations, overcome. Its relationship to verses 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If any man have an ear, let him hear.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hear. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, first, causeth. Its relationship to verses 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” The line’s distinctive content terms include doeth, earth, fire. Its relationship to verses 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, dwell, earth. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, image, both. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bond, both, causeth. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” The line’s distinctive content terms include name, beast, mark. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.