The first beast, as described in Revelation 13, rises from the sea and is empowered by the dragon, who is Satan. This beast holds significant authority and is a central figure in the deceptive operations orchestrated by Satan to oppose God's purpose. Together with the dragon and the second beast, who rises from the earth and is identified as the false prophet in Revelation 16:13, they form a formidable and evil trinity. The first beast, often referred to as the lawless one in II Thessalonians 2:9, is accompanied by all power, signs, and lying wonders, though it remains unclear if this beast personally performs miraculous acts. The primary role of the first beast appears to be as a focal point of power and deception, supported by the false prophet's miraculous signs, which are designed to persuade multitudes to follow and loyally support the beast in his operations against God's plan.

In Revelation 13:1, the first Beast rises up out of the sea, representing a political, economic, and military power emerging from the great populations of the earth. This Beast is described as an entity that is worshiped, with people marveling at its might, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" It is given authority to continue for forty-two months, during which it speaks great things and blasphemies against God, His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. The scene shifts as the Beast becomes identified with a singular human being, the head of this powerful organization. In Revelation 13:12-15, the first Beast is supported by a second beast, a religious leader who exercises all the authority of the first Beast in his presence. This second beast causes the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, deceiving those on earth and commanding them to make an image to the first Beast. He is granted power to give breath to the image of the Beast, enabling it to speak and to cause as many as would not worship the image of the Beast to be killed. This second beast enforces the worship of the first Beast and is instrumental in imposing the mark of the Beast, though the mark itself belongs to the first Beast. The mark of the Beast, as detailed in Revelation 13:16-17, is imposed on all—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—on their right hand or forehead, ensuring that no one may buy or sell without it. This mark, identified as the mark or name of the Beast or the number of his name, signifies ownership, devotion, and loyalty to the Beast, impacting social and economic life dramatically. The Greek word for mark, charagma, carries meanings of a brand, a tattoo of devotion, a seal of certification, or a token of worship, all indicating a rejection of God's commands. Those who refuse the mark face severe persecution, often martyrdom, as they cannot participate in economic activities, highlighting the critical choice between obedience to God and submission to the Beast's authority. In Revelation 6:9-11, under the fifth seal, the souls of those slain for the word of God and their testimony cry out for justice, indicating a future tribulation with increased martyrdoms as the intensity of the seals grows. This persecution is linked to the refusal to accept the mark of the Beast, as reinforced in Revelation 13:15, where the image of the Beast causes death to those who do not worship it. The first Beast, through the influence of the second, becomes the instrument of this persecution, driven by the authority granted by the dragon. Finally, in Revelation 20:4, those who are beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, having refused to worship the Beast or his image and to receive his mark, are seen reigning with Christ for a thousand years. Their refusal to accept the mark demonstrates their ownership by God, even at the cost of their lives, contrasting with those who accept the mark and face God's wrath, as warned in Revelation 14:9-10. The first Beast, as the political and military power, remains central to this conflict, embodying the system through which such dire choices are enforced.