Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The angel addresses John, explaining the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her. This occurs during a visionary revelation where John is instructed to understand the symbolism of the seven heads and ten horns.

The words — θηρίον (thērion) translates literally as "beast" or wild animal, appearing in Revelation 11:7 and 17:11 to denote the same apocalyptic figure. The Greek phrase ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ("was and is not") structurally mirrors the beast's temporary absence and imminent return from the Abyss.

The thread — The beast's emergence from the Abyss and march to destruction appears in Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 17:11. The contrast between the beast's apparent return and the eternal security of those whose names are written in the Book of Life echoes the warning in Revelation 3:10.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to distinguish between the temporary power of the beast and the permanent record of the Book of Life. It demands sober recognition that earthly marveling cannot substitute for verified standing in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΤὸToThe θηρίονthērionbeast ὃhothat εἶδες,eidesyou saw ἦνēnwas καὶkaiand οὐκouknot ἔστινestinis καὶkaiand μέλλειmelleiis about ἀναβαίνεινanabaineinto come up ἐκekout of τῆςtēsthe ἀβύσσουabussouabyss καὶkaiand εἰςeisinto ἀπώλειανapōleiandestruction ὑπάγει.hupageigo.καὶkaiand θαυμασθήσονταιthaumasthēsontaiwill be astonished οἱhoithose κατοικοῦντεςkatoikountesdwelling ἐπὶepion τῆςtēsthe γῆς,gēsearth,ὧνhōnwhose οὐounot γέγραπταιgegraptaihas been written τὸto<the>ὄνομαonomaname ἐπὶepiin τὸtothe βιβλίονbiblionbook τῆςtēs<the>ζωῆςzōēsof life ἀπὸapofrom καταβολῆςkatabolēs[the] foundation κόσμου,kosmouof [the] world,βλεπόντωνblepontōnseeing τὸtothe θηρίονthērionbeast ὅτιhotithat ἦνēnwas καὶkaiand οὐκouknot ἔστινestinis καὶkaiand yet παρέσται.parestaiit will exist.

King James Version

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Cross-references

Revelation 11:7 When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.
Revelation 17:11 The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.
Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.
Revelation 19:15 And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
John 17:24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
Revelation 13:1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.