The beast of the sea in Revelation 13 is interpreted for us in Revelation 17 by the angel himself. It is Daniel’s 4th kingdom of iron, the one that followed Greece, and had potter’s clay mixed with it (Judea). The 7 hills and the temples to false gods on top of the hills are a dead giveaway, not to mention all the prophecies of Daniel that said it was within the time of the reign of this empire that some very special things would happen!
Revelation 13:1
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Here’s the mountains/hills and even some of the blasphemous names you were likely to find in the 1st century:
- Palatine – Apollo
- Capitoline – Jupiter
- Quirinal – Sun / Serapis / Septimius Severus / Mars
- Viminal – Silvanus
- Esquiline – Minerva
- Caelian – Divus Claudius
- Aventine – Ceres, Liber, and Libera
The angel tells John even more:
Revelation 17:9-10
This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
- Julius
- Augustus
- Tiberius
- Claudius
- Caligula
- Nero
- Galba (lasted only 6 months)
Now why would one start with Julius instead of Augustus? Well, because the ancient Roman historians did, including Josephus. But even if you wanted to start with Augustus, considering Galba died in January of AD 69, you are still talking about Rome and a pre-AD 70 writing of Revelation. Whether Nero was dead or alive at the time of the writing of Revelation, it is an IMAGE of this sea beast that is worshiped, and laws are made regarding the mandated image of such. And indeed, Nero was held in higher regard by many even after his death, than before. He was even believed to be returning from the dead.