The Beast: What Does “the Mouth of a Lion” Mean?

Last updated on May 24, 2025

Revelation 13 describes the “beast” as having “the mouth of a lion”. In this post, I will focus on that specific detail—the “mouth of the lion”—exploring what it symbolizes and how it relates to both our current political climate and future global developments.

Revelation 13:1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Theocracy

In biblical prophecy, a “lion” is often interpreted as symbolizing a religious system—specifically, a theocratic form of governance. It is a nation that is under religious laws. It was described by the the prophet Daniel in his vision of the four beasts.

Daniel 7:4 The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.

Theocracy is a form of government in which religious leaders or institutions hold political power, and the state is governed by divine guidance or by officials regarded as divinely guided.

From a biblical perspective, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon serves as a model for this type of rulership. His reign could be seen as a form of theocracy, even by today’s standards, as he governed with absolute authority and acknowledged divine power as central to his rule. Therefore theocracy is one of the aspect of the governing system of Babylon.

In Daniel chapter 2, the prophet Daniel interprets a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, revealing that the king is symbolized by the statue’s head of gold—representing the first kingdom appointed to rule over the earth.

Daniel 2:36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

The “head of gold” symbolizes the governance of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar—a form of rule that can be identified today as a theocracy. Many nations throughout history had operated as theocracies—each serving as the “lions” or “Babylon” of their time.

One World Religion

In a prophecy in Revelation 13, the “mouth of the lion” symbolizes the coming “one world religion”. This represents an entity—or a coalition of entities—that are all regarded as theocracies. It can be understood as a group of nations governed by religious authorities.

Moreover, in Biblical prophecies, such an entity is associated with the spirit of Babylon.

Furthermore, with this understanding, we gain deeper insight into biblical prophecies and their connection to the current state of global politics and religion. In light of present events, we can thoughtfully consider various scenarios that may lead to the emergence of an organization referred to as the “one world religion.”

However, as of today, only three nations are widely recognized as theocracies. This makes it all the more important to remain vigilant toward any nation that begins shifting toward theocratic rule. Such nations may develop the characteristics that align them with the emerging structure of the New World Order—potentially becoming one of the members of its symbolic “mouth of a lion.”

The Little Horn

Additionally, the “little horn” is prophesied to be a theocratic power and will play a central role in the creation of the “image of the beast.” In time, it will rise to replace the “one world religion”, becoming the new “mouth of the beast.” I’ve written a separate post exploring the identity and role of the little horn—you can read it here.

Conclusion

The “mouth of a lion” represents the rise of a one world religion—a coalition of theocratic nations that will serve as the spiritual backbone of the New World Order. This alliance will help shape global laws and foster unity among the members of the beast system.

Understanding these prophetic symbols gives us clarity as we observe the changing political and religious landscape in our time.