Reconsidering the beast from the sea in Revelation-XIII,1 (Jewish political messianism and early Christian eschatology after 135CE)

The discrepancy between the historical evidence for Domitian's reign and th e persecuting "beasts" from the land and sea in the Revelation of John disc ourages the identification of the latter with the Roman government. For the author of Revelation, they are meant to represent political messianism in Palestinian and diaspora Judaism. The conflict between political messianism and Christian messianism is best illustrated by the contrast between the M essiah who emerges from the sea in 4 Ezra 13 and the "beast" from the sea i n Rev 13.1.