Heaven and Earth

Revelation 13 is throughout a parody of John’s vision of the heavenly worship of Revelation 4.

In both scenes, there is a sea. In both, there is a beast – a Lamb, and the composite predatory empire. In both, there is a beast slain – the lamb, and then one of the heads of the beast. Both beasts are warriors, and both beasts open things – the Lamb opens the scroll, and the beast opens the mouth given by the dragon. In both, a senior figure gives authority to another – the Seated One to the Lamb, and the dragon to the beast. In both, there is worship, prostrations before the ruler (4:10; 5:15; 13:4). In both, there is authority and a throne (4:2, etc.; 13:2). In Revelation 13, there is an infernal variation on the song of Moses (13:4), which is sung in its true form when John sees into heaven in 15:3.

Is it possible that John wanted us to note the pun between thronos (throne) and therion (beast)?