The Beasts in State

The next chapter of Revelation pictures the dragon summoning forth a beast from the sea, who in turn summons a beast from the land. Each guides the worship of the masses to its source, the land beast to the sea beast, the sea beast to the dragon. What is being shown to us is the nature of the state as a tool of Satan. John is teaching the church to recognize the many faces of the dragon behind the governments that turn against God. Maybe most importantly, he is teaching us to recognize that these governments may not always be obviously villainous; to serve the purposes of Satan, they just have to be good at lying. The message to the Church? Believe, and persevere.