Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Now the last 3 and 1/2 years begins with Satan coming up out of what John says is the sea, which is actually a sea of people and nations mostly gentiles. Again we see the seven heads and ten horns which represent world power and the crowns the authority to use that power. The symbolism of the animals is the different world powers that have existed The sixth beast represents Rome which will play a big part in the tribulation. The Antichrist at this time is empowered totally by Satan and we see where the Antichrist was wounded as unto death, but not dead, and Satan it seems brings him back to life and this amazes the people. The first deception of Satan to gain the peoples trust.At this time the Antichrist is actually Satan himself and he begins speaking blasphemes against God and saying all the things the people want to hear because they are looking for a great leader to get them past the tribulation they have already been through. Again the deception of Satan just as he is deceiving people today by simply telling you do not have to to church that much or go to the church that makes you feel good, and some of these people will be the some of the same people deceived in the tribulation.