... and upon his head names of blasphemy...the dragon (Satan) gave his authority to the beast..." (Revelation 13:1) Malina and Pilch explain this beast as a reference to the oppression that first and second century Christians were experiencing at the hands of the Romans. They write that the concept of "blasphemy on his head" refers to the fact that The Roman emperors were called divus or sebastos, ... belong to God alone. (Malina & Pilch 2000) Although both Revelation and 1 Enoch clearly share a monster motif, the beasts in Enoch function as a reward for the righteous, while the beasts in Re...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate