A beast rises out of the sea, the mass of the Gentile people. It is the Roman Empire comprised of ten kingdoms, but having the characteristics of the three previous empires.
Satan gives him his power and his throne and great authority. The "powers that be" will then be, not ordained of God as they are now, but of Satan-political apostasy.
One of his heads (imperial form of government) was slain, but was healed (a resurrection-beast) and the whole earth wondered after the beast, and worshipped the dragon and the beast, extolling his power. Authority was given him for forty-two months (three-and-a-half years, half-week of Daniel).
He blasphemes God and His tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven, embracing all the saved ones. He has authority over all nations. All the dwellers on earth, those who had been professing Christians, worship him.
Another beast comes out of the earth, the sphere of God's ordered dealings. He does not manifest his true character until he speaks; then it is seen to be Satanic by those who have discernment. It is the false Christ, the Antichrist, king of Judea.
He causes the dwellers on earth to worship the Satanic Roman beast and deludes them by working miracles and signs. He brings down fire from heaven and orders all in his dominion (Jews) on pain of death to worship an image of the first beast, to which he has given power to speak. Others yield this power voluntarily; see verses 3 and 8. None are allowed to buy and sell but those who are marked with the name of the beast, or the number—666—of his name.
W. Scott