SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:2
Y la bestia que vi, era semejante a un leopardo, y sus pies como pies de oso, y su boca como boca de len. Y el dragn le dio su poder, y su trono, y grande potestad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 13:2
Verse 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard] This similitude of the beast to a leopard appears to be an allusion to the third beast of Daniel, which is well known to represent the empire of the Greeks. The Latin empire greatly resembled the modern empire of the Greeks; for that the power of the Greeks was still said to be like a leopard, even after its subjugation by the Romans, is evident from Dan. vii. 12: "As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." The Latin empire was, in the first place, like to its contemporary, because both adhered to an idolatrous system of worship, professedly Christian, but really antichristian; and it is well known that the Greek and Latin Churches abound in monstrous absurdities. Secondly, Both empires were similar in their opposition to the spread of pure Christianity; though it must be allowed that the Latins far outstripped the Greeks in this particular. Thirdly, Both empires were similar in respect to the civil authority being powerfully depressed by the ecclesiastical; though it must be granted the authority of the Latin Church was more strongly marked, and of much longer continuance. The excommunication of the Greek emperor by the Patriarch Arsenius, and the consequences of that excommunication, afford a remarkable example of the great power of the Greek clergy. But the beast of St. John, though in its general appearance it resembles a leopard, yet differs from it in having feet like those of a bear. The second beast of Daniel was likened to a bear, and there can be no doubt that the kingdom of the Medes and Persians was intended; and it is very properly likened to this animal, because it was one of the most inhuman governments that ever existed, and a bear is the well known Scripture emblem of cruelty. See 2 Sam. xvii. 8, and Hos. xiii. 8. Is not cruelty a striking characteristic of the papal Latin empire? Have not the subjects of this empire literally trampled to death all those in their power who would not obey their idolatrous requisitions? In Fox's Book of Martyrs, and other works which treat upon this subject, will be found a melancholy catalogue of the horrid tortures and most lingering deaths which they have obliged great numbers of Christians to suffer. In this sense the feet of the beast were as the feet of a bear. Another particular in which the beast differed from a leopard was, in having a mouth like a lion. "It is," says Dr. More, "like the Babylonish kingdom (the first beast of Daniel, which is likened to a lion) in its cruel decrees against such as will not obey their idolatrous edicts, nor worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Their stubbornness must be punished by a hot fiery furnace; fire and fagot must be prepared for them that will not submit to this new Roman idolatry." And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.] It was said of the dragon, in chap. xii. 8, that his place was found no more in heaven; the dragon here cannot therefore be the heathen Roman empire, as this was abolished previously to the rising up of the beast. It must then allude to the restoration of one of the DRACONIC heads of the beast, as will be seen in the explanation of the following verse, and more fully in the notes on Revelation xvii. 1-18.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard , etc.] To which the Grecian kingdom is compared in ( Daniel 7:6); because of that rapidity and swiftness with which Alexander overran the world, and set up this monarchy; and to which the Roman Papal monarchy bears some resemblance; for as the Grecian monarchy was divided into several parts, which the leopard's spots may also point out, so the Roman empire was divided into ten parts, and united under the pope, as the head of them; and may be, in this form, compared to a leopard for its swiftness, ( Habakkuk 1:8); because this beast, as soon as he arose and got power, quickly, and in a very short time, extended it over all emperors, kings, princes, bishops, and over all kingdoms and churches; and for its spots, ( Jeremiah 13:23), which may be expressive both of the spots of sin and immorality of every kind, and of errors and heresies, superstition and idolatry, with which antichrist and his followers abound; and for its insidiousness and cruelty, ( Jeremiah 5:6 Hosea 13:7). It lies in wait for its prey, and suddenly falls upon it, and devours it; and is a lively picture of the cunning sleight of the antichristian party, who lie in wait to deceive, and of their blood thirstiness and barbarity. It is reported of the leopard, that it is of a sweet smell, and by its odour it draws the fawns, does, etc. near it, and then makes a prey of them; so antichrist, by outward riches and preferments, by the external pomp and splendour of his religion, by his living wonders and miracles, and by his great pretensions to holiness and the like, allures multitudes unto him, and destroys them. And his feet were as [the feet] of a bear ; to which the Persian monarchy is compared, ( Daniel 7:5). And this, as some think, may denote the strength and stability of the kingdom of antichrist, it having already endured a great while, and will be thought to be very firm and stable when its ruin is near; or rather the wars and fightings of antichrist against the saints, the fore feet of the bear being what that creature lights with, and tears and destroys such as oppose it, or fall a prey to it; and may also, as before, express the voraciousness and cruelty of antichrist, with respect to the bodies and souls of men: and his mouth, as the mouth of a lion : to which creature the Babylonian monarchy is compared, ( Daniel 7:4), uttering out blasphemies against God, threatening ruin and destruction to men, and injecting fear into them, as the roaring of a lion does, and seizing upon, and devouring their estates and possessions, as well as butchering their persons. This beast has all the properties of the several beasts in Daniel's prophecy, wherefore all the figures there made use of to describe them are put together, to point unto us this monster of iniquity. And the dragon gave him his power : for the coming of antichrist is after the working of Satan, ( 2 Thessalonians 1:9,10); he gave him his cunning and subtlety, as the old serpent, and taught him his arts and tricks to deceive mankind; and gave him a power to do signs and lying wonders, as well as communicated his malice and cruelty to persecute and oppress the saints; or an army of ecclesiastics to fight under him, and for him: and his seat ; at Rome, for there Satan's seat was, ( Revelation 2:13), in the time of the Pagan Roman empire, which was quitted by Dioclesian and Maximian, when they resigned the government of it, the one being at Nicomedia, and the other at Milan; and when Constantine came to the throne, he removed to Byzantium, and rebuilt it, and called it after his name Constantinople, and had his residence there, as had all the eastern emperors afterwards; and as for the western emperors, they chiefly resided either at Milan or Ravenna, to which last place Odoacer, Theodoric, and other Gothic kings retired, when the government was in their hands; so that hereby this seat was empty, and way was made for antichrist to take it, as he did. And great authority ; over the Roman empire, and the kings and kingdoms in it; he gave him his authority as the god of this world; what Christ refused at the hands of Satan, that his pretended vicar took, even the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them; yea, assumed to himself all power in heaven, earth, and hell, signified by his triple crown, at the instigation of the devil; so that it appears that he is not the vicar of Christ, but the vicar of the devil; and not the successor of Peter, but the successor of Satan; and that he holds his possessions, not by the donation of Constantine, but by the gift of the dragon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The apostle, standing on the shore, saw a savage beast rise out of the sea; a tyrannical, idolatrous, persecuting power, springing up out of the troubles which took place. It was a frightful monster! It appear to mean that worldly, oppressing dominion, which for many ages, eve from the times of the Babylonish captivity, had been hostile to the church. The first beast then began to oppress and persecute the righteous for righteousness' sake, but they suffered most under the fourth beast of Daniel, (the Roman empire,) which has afflicted the saints with many cruel persecutions. The source of its power was the dragon. It was set up by the devil, and supported by him. The woundin the head may be the abolishing pagan idolatry; and the healing of the wound, introducing popish idolatry, the same in substance, only in new dress, but which as effectually answers the devil's design. The world admired its power, policy and success. They paid honour an subjection to the devil and his instruments. It exercised inferna power and policy, requiring men to render that honour to creature which belongs to God alone. Yet the devil's power and success ar limited. Christ has a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorde in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichris may overcome the body, and take away the natural life, they cannot conquer the soul, nor prevail with true believers to forsake their Saviour, and join his enemies. Perseverance in the faith of the gospe and true worship of God, in this great hour of trial and temptation which would deceive all but the elect, is the character of thos registered in the book of life. This powerful motive and encouragemen to constancy, is the great design of the whole Revelation.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 το 3588 θηριον 2342 ο 3739 ειδον 1492 5627 ην 2258 5713 ομοιον 3664 παρδαλει 3917 και 2532 οι 3588 ποδες 4228 αυτου 846 ως 5613 αρκτου 715 και 2532 το 3588 στομα 4750 αυτου 846 ως 5613 στομα 4750 λεοντος 3023 και 2532 εδωκεν 1325 5656 αυτω 846 ο 3588 δρακων 1404 την 3588 δυναμιν 1411 αυτου 846 και 2532 τον 3588 θρονον 2362 αυτου 846 και 2532 εξουσιαν 1849 μεγαλην 3173
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. A leopard (pardalei). The ancients do not seem to have distinguished between the leopard, the panther, and the ounce. The word stands for either. Leopard is leo-pard, the lion-pard, which was supposed to be a mongrel between a panther and a lioness. Compare Dan. vii. 6.
Bear. Compare Dan. vii. 5.
Lion. Compare Dan. vii. 4.
