The Revelation of Jesus Christ:
The Faithful Witness

Lesson 14 Men Worshiped the Dragon
the book of Revelation 13:1–18

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for the book of Revelation
cross references in the book of Revelation
chapter-by-chapter review page
next lesson: On Mount Zion Stood the Lamb

This material coordinates with Lesson 14 on pages 85–90 in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

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“Great and wonderful are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages! Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord? For you alone are holy.
All nations shall come and worship you, for your judgments have been revealed.”
—the book of Revelation 15:3–4

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welcome to our in-depth study of the book of Revelation
We invite groups and individuals to check out the sample first lesson and video from this 23-lesson Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. Our online pages link to the free lesson videos, a glossary, cross references in the biblical text, and a chapter-by-chapter review page—and they also include illustrations, maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness has been granted an imprimatur. The study may be purchased from our website shop. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

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open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

let’s review—the book of Revelation 12:1–17
In Lesson 13 A Great Sign Appeared in Heaven, key points surround the sign in heaven—a woman clothed with the sun, moon, and a crown of stars. And she’s pregnant. Another sign also appears—a great red dragon waiting to devour the woman’s child. The child is born and caught up to heaven. The woman escapes into a place prepared for her in the wilderness where she’s to be nourished 1,260 days. In heaven, Michael and his angels fight the dragon. The dragon loses and is cast down to earth with his angels, and heaven rejoices. The dragon being expelled from heaven represents the third woe for those on earth and in the sea. The dragon pursues the woman on earth, but she has been given wings of an eagle to escape to the wilderness for a time, and times, and half a time. The dragon (also called the serpent and the devil) pours water from his mouth in an attempt to sweep the woman away in a flood, but the earth swallows the flood. The dragon goes off to make war on the rest of the woman’s offspring, who bear testimony to Jesus. The dragon is left standing on the sand of the sea.

do you like riddles & puzzles?
If you’re a person who likes riddles and puzzles, the thirteenth chapter in the book of Revelation should be right up your alley. In addition to the riddle concerning the infamous number 666, this chapter introduces three new ideas that are instructive for Christians—the beast from the sea, the beast from the land, and the image of the beast from the sea. The idea of the author using an image of an image is especially intriguing. One way to start to understand what’s happening with these images is to look at their relationship to the dragon. Questions to ask concern the source of each image’s power, its purpose, and how it manages to establish a hold over humanity. Click on Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino’s illustration (above right), which is on page 87 in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness. The map locating all seven of the early churches that receive dictated letters from Jesus is on page 89 and elsewhere in the study book; it can be enlarged by clicking on it.

a section of Revelation that focuses on the devil (01:13:33)
The thirteenth chapter in the book of Revelation examines the workings of the devil throughout salvation history, using the images of beasts to look closely at the way Satan attempts to imitate God. In the video for this lesson, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps cautions that it’s important when reading this section  not to get distracted trying to associate various significant players in the course of human history with the devil or to think about the devil as an abstract way of thinking about evil. The key point is to learn to recognize how the devil works so that we can refuse his advance. All of the devil’s strength is geared toward corrupting our souls, and the way the devil gains influence is through deception and lies. The four prior “weeks” in the book of Revelation have addressed opening the seals on the scroll, blowing seven trumpets, the rise and fall and rise again of the two witnesses, and—most recently—the woman in the desert. This new fifth “week” looks at the operation of the beasts. Matthew also reminds readers that these “weeks” in the book of Revelation aren’t sequential but represent the author’s heavenly vision in which time and space can be insignificant. This causes some events being described to overlap.

The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the Scripture ranges for the sets of questions in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness. You can follow along with the video overview as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 14, “Men Worshiped the Dragon,” on pages 85–90 in the study book.

read the Catechism—learn more about Satan
The entry for “devil/demon” in the Glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers readers to three paragraphs—391, 1707, and 2851. Paragraph 2851 in the Catechism, which clarifies petitions in the Lord’s Prayer, is clear that the idea of the devil isn’t merely a catchall term to refer to evil.

2851    In this petition [“But deliver us from evil”], evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who “throws himself across” God’s plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ.

all about that infamous 666
“666: What Is in a Number?” on page 88 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness contains information you don’t want to skip. Once you’ve read this common-sense interpretation of the infamous number of the beast, it’s unlikely you’ll ever look at 666 the same again. It’s equally unlikely that you’ll be taken in by any of the wacky interpretations floating around about that number.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about idolatry & false worship?
Three of the most bizarre images in Scripture appear in the thirteenth chapter in the book of Revelation, and all three are associated with idolatry and false worship practices.

?  What are these three images and how are they similar?
?  In what ways do these three images differ?
?  Is there any evidence in the present-day world to point toward the influence of the beast from the sea?
?  What in our world points to active influence of the beast from the earth?
?  Consider whether there’s any evidence of present-day men and women worshiping anything that could be considered a man-made image or extension of the beast from the earth.
?  What might be the most dangerous idols or false gods attempting to lead Christians away from the worship of God?
?  Consider whether these idols differ from ancient idols and false gods, and if so, in what ways.
?  What can Christians do to avoid being tempted to worship man-made idols?

blasphemy—you could look it up in our archives
We assume we understand the reference to blasphemy in the book of Revelation, but then we run into the unforgivable sin in the Gospel According to Luke 12:10. To learn more about the word “blasphemy,” read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. During Lent, you also can check out Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering, which isn’t available at other times of the year.

be on the alert whenever you see mention of a Book of Ezra
There’s a lot of confusion about the names of the four books associated with the scribe Ezra. These works sometimes are referred to by Esdras, a Greek variation of the name Ezra. Over the centuries, these four books have gone by different titles. They started out as the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Books of Esdras. Two are canonical (accepted as part of the canon of the Scriptures) and two are apocryphal (not part of either the Catholic or Protestant canons). The apocryphal fourth book of Ezra is mentioned in “Two More Beasts” on page 90 of The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness. You can learn more about the canonical books of Ezra in Lesson 12 Ezra Combines Legal & Religious Authority in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks to His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption.

Because the naming conventions for these books have changed over the centuries, and some of these changes have taken place rather recently, it’s important to pay attention whenever we encounter a reference to any one of them.

The original First and Second Books of Esdras (sometimes called the First and Second Books of Ezra) are accepted by Catholics and Protestants alike as canonical, and we now know them as the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah. Some older Catholic Bibles list them as the First and Second Books of Esdras. The last two books associated with the scribe Ezra are apocryphal—that is, they’re not part of the canon of the Scriptures accepted by Catholics and Protestants. These usually are called the Third and Fourth Books of Esdras or the Third and Fourth Books of Ezra. Some modern naming systems, however, now refer to these two writings as the First and Second Books of Esdras since the original First and Second Books of Esdras now usually are called the Book of Ezra and the Book of Nehemiah.

To further complicate matters, one or the other of the last two books associated with the scribe Ezra are accepted as canonical by some Eastern Orthodox churches even though they aren’t included in Catholic and Protestant Bibles.

are you confused?
If the differences between the Catholic and Protestant versions of the Bible has you scratching your head, our website offers an explanation of how the Church determined which books are the inspired word of God, as well as how Catholics and Protestants typically refer to these works. When you have time, you can browse our website for other helpful aids to prayer and Bible study.

what fate awaits the dragon & the beasts?
What’s going to happen to the dragon, these two beasts, and the image of the beast? Pay attention as our study progresses to learn where each ends up. Also be on the lookout for evidence of more idolatry leading humanity away from worship of God. Try to figure out the primary method God uses to overcome false liturgical practices.

Q&A—exactly where is this dragon?
The limitations on the dragon’s freedom can be difficult to wrap our heads around, prompting a couple of questions from one of our study groups.

Q: Our group is trying to work our way through the questions pertaining to the book of Revelation 13:1, and it’s not going well. Question 2 asks where the dragon in the book of Revelation 12:17 comes from. The answer in the biblical text is the sands of the sea. This would imply the earth, since the dragon was left standing not in the sea but on the sands of the sea. That’s the consensus our study group came up with last week. It seems we were wrong.

In the video for this lesson, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps suggests this week that it’s in the sea, the realm of the dead, where the dragon is left, and that implies that the dragon cannot step past the barrier of hell, so he’s restricted to the land of the dead. We get that the dragon’s authority is limited, and that the beast has greater power than the dragon (Satan). Matthew explains the beast’s power is an extension of Satan’s power, and that the beast from the sea is an agent of the devil but not the devil itself.

A: [Here’s the question for the benefit of those who don’t have access to the study book. Question 2 (Read the book of Revelation 13:1; the instruction with Question 1 still applies). What does the dragon represent, and where did he come from? If necessary refer to the book of Revelation 12:9. With which realm is the dragon now associated, and what does that realm represent? Where is the dragon unable to go, and where is his power limited? If necessary, refer to the book of Revelation 12:17. Where did the beast come from who will kill the two witnesses in the book of Revelation 11:7? Consider what the author is suggesting by his use of changing verb tenses in the book of Revelation 11–7-13.]

This is a good question. You’re really not that far off but are wise to ask for clarification. You may be encountering a bit more trouble if you’re looking for an answer to where the dragon comes from in the book of Revelation 12:17 instead of the book of Revelation 12:9, though we suspect this is the result of a typo when you emailed your question. The book of Revelation 12:9 indicates that the dragon originates in heaven. The book of Revelation 12:17 indicates that the dragon is restricted to operating within the realm of the sea (death).

It’s easy to understand how the book of Revelation 12:17 might be confusing if you think of the sands of the sea as equivalent to the realm of the earth. It’s more like the sands of the sea are only the sand that remains touched by the waters of the sea (the waters of death). The sands themselves then are an extension of the sea by being in contact with it—as opposed to sands of the Sahara Desert, for instance, which would definitely be considered part of the realm of the earth.

The sands of the sea where the dragon is left standing represent the nearest Satan can directly approach the realm of the earth. He’s at his limit. The author of the book of Revelation is suggesting that the dragon can’t lose contact with the realm of the sea—death. He has great power, but this power always is associated with death. The thirteenth chapter in the book of Revelation is about how Satan uses his power to exert influence on earth. The three manifestations of Satan are extremely interesting because they show us some very important truths about how Satan manages to deceive humanity.

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic Bible study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however.

the book of Revelation 13:1—14:20—paragraph 2113
the book of Revelation 13:5—paragraph 677

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing extra information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun in the primary biblical text for The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the cross references pertaining to it—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

review previous lessons
As we progress through the book of Revelation, the images become more complex, increasing the potential for confusion. To help participants in our study keep track of what’s happening in the Scripture, we’ve prepared a chapter-by-chapter review of key events and images in the book of Revelation. A link can be found at the top of every online study page that accompanies The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
You can find links to magisterial documents referred to in Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This page includes a listing of significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the book of Revelation 13:1–18 (NIV)

close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following short prayer based on this lesson’s text from the book of Revelation.

O God and loving Father,
you give us the wisdom to recognize the many false idols
attempting to draw us away from true worship.
Help us to avoid being taken in by man-made images
and strengthen our resolve to remain devoted followers
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

Lesson 15 On Mount Zion Stood the Lamb, the book of Revelation 14:1–20
Lesson 13 A Great Sign Appeared in Heaven, the book of Revelation 12:1–17

you also may like our two-part study of the prophets
Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided examines the prophets in their historical context using the First and Second Books of the Kings and other Old Testament passages written before the Babylonian Exile in 586 B.C. Volume II: Restoration & Redemption looks at the post-exilic prophets. This 51-lesson Catholic Bible study builds on The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King. Click on the books’ covers to view a sample lesson from each volume.

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start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness. Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer questions and offer support. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

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*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online pages of The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.