Understanding Revelation (13:3)

"One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast."

(Revelation 13:3)

Part 1:

John now sees the beast with a wound on one of his heads. The wound comes from God, because the Greek word for "wound" (plégé) is the word translated "plague" eleven times elsewhere in Revelation, always signifying something of divine origin. This wound on the beast's head is none other than that inflicted by Christ at His resurrection and is the fulfillment of Gen. 3:15: "He shall crush [or bruise] you on the head." Mention of the sword that struck the beast's head in (Rev.13:14) recalls the end-time prophecy of (Isa.27:1): "In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan [or sea monster] the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan [or sea monster] the twisted serpent; and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea." The fact that (Isa.27:1) is also echoed in (Rev.12:3,9) points to the conclusion that the death blow administered to the beast came through Christ's death and resurrection in initial fulfillment of the prophet's words. The effects of this defeat are carried on by the faithfulness of Christ followers (Rom.16:17–20).

(G.K. Beale)