A beast has already been mentioned in 11:7, but without any suggestion that it is to be identified with Rome. This one combines the first three beasts of Daniel 7, while the ten horns belong to the fourth beast of Daniel 7:24, where they signify ten kings. In the 'little Apocalypse' (cf. Luke 21:20) the work of Daniel's fourth beast or kingdom is ascribed to Rome, for the words about the 'abomination of desolation' are changed to 'Jerusalem compassed about with armies.' Such an identification was therefore already known to the Church. That the beast is coming up out of the sea may both point to the connecting of the sea by the ancients with the powers of evil, and indicate that the new agent of Satan comes from the Mediterranean. The seer, as we see in 17:9,10, does not shrink from a twofold interpretation. The names of blasphemy are the divine titles which the emperors claimed. Domitian, e.g, claimed to be called Lord and God. We note that the beast (cf 12:3) is the express 'express image' of the dragon, and his manifestation to the world as the Lord is of the Father.
From: A New Commentary on Holy Scripture including the Apocrypha, The MacMillian Company, New York MCMXLVIII
Rev. 13:1-10
A beast has already been mentioned in 11:7, but without any suggestion that it is to be identified with Rome. This one combines the first three beasts of Daniel 7, while the ten horns belong to the fourth beast of Daniel 7:24, where they signify ten kings. In the 'little Apocalypse' (cf. Luke 21:20) the work of Daniel's fourth beast or kingdom is ascribed to Rome, for the words about the 'abomination of desolation' are changed to 'Jerusalem compassed about with armies.' Such an identification was therefore already known to the Church. That the beast is coming up out of the sea may both point to the connecting of the sea by the ancients with the powers of evil, and indicate that the new agent of Satan comes from the Mediterranean. The seer, as we see in 17:9,10, does not shrink from a twofold interpretation. The names of blasphemy are the divine titles which the emperors claimed. Domitian, e.g, claimed to be called Lord and God. We note that the beast (cf 12:3) is the express 'express image' of the dragon, and his manifestation to the world as the Lord is of the Father.
From: A New Commentary on Holy Scripture including the Apocrypha, The MacMillian Company, New York MCMXLVIII