1-2 I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. 3-4 I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery - but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marvelled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.  They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?”

5-6 Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling - that is, those who dwell in heaven.  7-8 And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.  And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.

9-10 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. Revelation 12:2-10 New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)

Chapter 12 told how Satan was thrown down to earth and he poured out his rage upon its inhabitants, including the Jewish nation and the followers of Christ. This chapter describes how he goes about his evil works by using ungodly governments. Many Christians believe that this is what the beast from the sea symbolizes.

In the days when John wrote these words that ungodly government would've been the Roman empire (which fits well into the description of the beast in vs 1-2). Over the years we've seen similar anti-God governments such as when Germany was under the Nazi's, and the various Communist countries. The head of the beast that was fatally wounded, but recovered again, probably refers to when a power that seemed to be dealt a death blow reappears again. That happened with the Roman Empire. In our own generation many people thought Communism was dealt a death blow when the USSR fell, but not only is Russia rising again, China has become a super power in the world. What is the reaction of many people in the world (especially those who are not Christians) when things like this happen? (vs 3-4)

People of the world often stand in awe of these powerful regimes. Vs 5-6 describe the absolute defiance these Governments show towards God. Who are the people that are most deceived by these super powers and give them such blind allegiance? (vs 7-8)

2 Corinthians 4:4 says: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” But John saw that Christians would also sometimes experience great suffering because of Satan's rage and he speaks of that in vs 9-10. Many Christians did experience imprisonment and death in the days of the Roman Empire. So what did John say Christians would need to do? (vs 9-10).

Surely this was one of the main reasons why Jesus Christ gave John the visions we read of in Revelation. Jesus calls us to patiently endure whatever the Devil might bring upon us through ungodly Governments. That's an important message even today because such Governments are still all over the world.