What does "was, and is not, and is about to come" signify in Revelation 17:8? Text “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be amazed when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.” (Revelation 17:8) Immediate Context: the Vision of the Harlot and the Beast John has just been carried “in the Spirit” (17:3) to witness a scarlet beast ridden by the harlot “Babylon.” Chapter 17 explains the ultimate destiny of the world-system that persecutes the saints. Verse 8 focuses on the beast itself, later identified with both a kingdom and a final individual ruler (vv. 10-11, 13). Identifying the Beast 1. A Kingdom – Verses 9-10 speak of seven mountains/heads that are “also seven kings.” Five had fallen by John’s day, one existed (Rome), and one was yet to come briefly (17:10). The “eighth” (17:11) is the beast himself—revived out of the prior lines. 2. A Final Ruler (Antichrist) – The beast is also an individual who leads the revived empire (cf. 13:3-8; 19:19-20; Daniel 7:8, 20-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). His apparent death and return mimic Christ’s resurrection, deceiving the unbelieving world. Historical Precedent and Future Revival • Past (“was”) – The imperial power that persecuted God’s people from Babel forward, culminating in the Roman Empire of John’s day (documented in Tacitus, Suetonius, and archaeological layers of first-century Rome). • Present (“is not”) – At the time of writing, the beast-empire’s final, Satan-empowered form had not yet appeared; Rome was a shadow of what the end-time entity will be. • Future (“about to come”) – Prophetic certainty that the same godless world-system will re-emerge, energized by Satan from “the Abyss” (cf. Revelation 11:7; 13:1). The Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint copies of Daniel confirm the longstanding Jewish expectation of such a final oppressor (4Q174, 11QMelch). Correlation with Daniel’s Visions Daniel 2, 7, and 8 forecast sequential kingdoms ending in a composite beastly power crushed by Messiah. The revived Roman-like empire (“iron mixed with clay,” Daniel 2:40-43) parallels the beast that “was, and is not, and is about to come.” Manuscript evidence (e.g., Papyrus 967 for Daniel Greek) shows the consistency of this theme across centuries. Contrast with the True Eternal One God: “who is and who was and who is to come” (Revelation 1:8). Beast: “was, and is not, and is about to come.” The literary antithesis highlights: • Eternal self-existence vs. temporary counterfeit life. • Creator vs. created being empowered by the Abyss. • Secure salvation vs. sure destruction. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration • First-century graffiti from Pompeii and coinage under Domitian depict the emperor as “Lord and God,” foreshadowing the blasphemous self-exaltation later personified in the Antichrist. • The Arch of Titus (A.D. 81) illustrates Rome’s triumph over Jerusalem, echoing Revelation’s depiction of the beast persecuting the saints. • Modern discoveries of Near-Eastern ziggurats and Assyrian annals confirm the long arc of anti-God empires ending in Rome—then lapsed—setting a precedent for future revival. Eschatological Timeline (Young-Earth, Premillennial Perspective) • Creation to Flood (~4,000 B.C.) • Patriarchs to Exodus (~2,000-1,445 B.C.) • Israel’s monarchy to Babylon (~1,000-586 B.C.) • Gentile dominion era: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome (Daniel 2). • Church Age (gap where the beast “is not”). • Tribulation: beast “about to come” (future seven-year period). • Second Coming: Christ destroys the beast (Revelation 19:11-20). • Millennial kingdom, final judgment, new heaven and earth (Revelation 20-22). Pastoral and Evangelistic Implications • For unbelievers: Marveling at the beast without discerning its counterfeit nature leads to eternal loss; the Lamb’s book of life alone secures salvation (17:8b). • For believers: The beast’s limited timetable proves God’s sovereignty; persecution is temporary and purposeful (Romans 8:18). • Call to repentance: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry” (Psalm 2:12). Christ’s verified resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) guarantees both judgment and mercy. Summary “Was, and is not, and is about to come” portrays the beast’s past existence, present absence, and imminent reappearance as a revived, Satan-empowered empire headed by the Antichrist. The phrase deliberately parodies God’s eternal name, underscoring the beast’s counterfeit, temporary, and doomed nature. Rooted in Daniel’s prophecies, confirmed by stable manuscripts, illustrated by historical empires, and culminating in Revelation’s future timeline, the expression assures readers that while evil resurfaces, it remains under the sovereign, saving Lordship of Jesus Christ. |
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