John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. The beast which thou sawest was, and is not , etc.] It is added at the end of the verse where the same description is given, and yet is; this beast is to be understood not of the devil, who was the god of this world, is not, being cast out by Christ, and yet is in being; for he, the dragon, is distinguished from this beast, and indeed from him the beast has his seat, power, and authority, ( Revelation 13:1,2) nor any particular emperor, as Domitian, a cruel and savage one, who was in power in Vespasian's time, when he was abroad, and then was out of it upon his return, and yet afterwards was in again, being as one sent from hell, and went at last into perdition; but the Roman empire itself is intended, as we have seen, which carried and supported the Papacy; and variously may this be interpreted; as that it was in the hands of the Romans originally, and long continued with them, but now is not, in John's time, being in the hands of Trajan, a Spaniard, and yet is in being, Rome being the metropolis of it: it was a very powerful and flourishing empire, and is not, being destroyed by the Goths and Vandals, and yet is a large empire under the jurisdiction of antichrist; it was an idolatrous empire, which encouraged the worshipping of Heathen gods, and is not guilty of the same idolatrous practices it was, as the worshipping of Jupiter, Mars, etc. and yet is much given to idolatry in another way, worshipping the virgin Mary, and other saints; it was under kings, consuls, dictators, tribunes, decemvirs, and emperors, it is not in such a form of government, and yet is under its seventh head the pope; Rome was, but is not the same it has been, in some respects, and yet is the same, for idolatry, cruelty, etc. it has the image of old Rome, when Pagan, and under the power of the dragon; and though antichrist was not risen up in the empire to an head, to supreme power yet it was in being in the apostles' times, and began to work, and by degrees to show itself. In short, the meaning is, that this beast was the Roman empire, as Pagan, described by a dragon with seven heads, and ten horns, with crowns on the heads, but is not as yet in the Apostle John's time, as Papal, described with seven heads, and ten horns, and crowns on the horns. And shall ascend out of the bottomless pit : out of hell, from whence the antichristian beast has its power; (see Revelation 11:8 13:2) otherwise all civil power is from God, but not antichristian power, that is from the devil: and go into perdition ; everlasting destruction, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; this will be the end of the beast, ( Revelation 19:20). and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder ; the inhabitants of the Roman empire, earthly minded men, shall have the beast in great veneration, and follow and worship him; (see Revelation 13:3,4,12) whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world ; none but reprobates, not any of the elect of God, are the admirers and worshippers of antichrist; (see Gill on Revelation 13:8) when they beheld the beast that was, and is not, and yet is ; the Roman empire in glory, under the emperors, destroyed by the Goths, and revived in the Papacy. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions leave out the last clause, and yet is .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-14 - The beast on which the woman sat was, and is not, and yet is. It was seat of idolatry and persecution, and is not; not in the ancient form which was pagan: yet it is; it is truly the seat of idolatry an tyranny, though of another sort and form. It would deceive into stupi and blind submission all the inhabitants of the earth within it influence, except the remnant of the elect. This beast was seven heads seven mountains, the seven hills on which Rome stands; and seven kings seven sorts of government. Five were gone by when this prophecy wa written; one was then in being; the other was yet to come. This beast directed by the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatr again. It had ten horns, which are said to be ten kings who had as ye no kingdoms; they should not rise up till the Roman empire was broken but should for a time be very zealous in her interest. Christ mus reign till all enemies be put under his feet. The reason of the victor is, that he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He has suprem dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hel are subject to his control. His followers are called to this warfare are fitted for it, and will be faithful in it.
Greek Textus Receptus
{VAR2: το 3588 T-NSN } θηριον 2342 N-NSN ο 3739 R-ASN ειδες 1492 5627 V-2AAI-2S ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S και 2532 CONJ μελλει 3195 5719 V-PAI-3S αναβαινειν 305 5721 V-PAN εκ 1537 PREP της 3588 T-GSF αβυσσου 12 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ εις 1519 PREP απωλειαν 684 N-ASF υπαγειν 5217 5721 V-PAN και 2532 CONJ θαυμασονται 2296 5695 V-FDI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM κατοικουντες 2730 5723 V-PAP-NPM επι 1909 PREP της 3588 T-GSF γης 1093 N-GSF ων 3739 R-GPM ου 3756 PRT-N γεγραπται 1125 5769 V-RPI-3S τα 3588 T-NPN ονοματα 3686 N-NPN επι 1909 PREP το 3588 T-ASN βιβλιον 975 N-ASN της 3588 T-GSF ζωης 2222 N-GSF απο 575 PREP καταβολης 2602 N-GSF κοσμου 2889 N-GSM βλεποντες 991 5723 V-PAP-NPM το 3588 T-ASN θηριον 2342 N-ASN ο 3739 R-NSN τι 5100 X-NSN ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S καιπερ 2539 CONJ εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. To go into perdition (upagein). Some good texts read uJpagei, goeth. For the verb, see on John vi. 21; viii. 21.In the book (epi). Lit., upon.
From the foundation of the world. In ordinary New Testament Greek these words would belong to are written. construe with the words immediately preceding. Compare ch. xiii. 8, and Matt. xxv. 34.
And yet is (kaiper estin). Read kai parestai, and shall come. Lit., shall be present.
