JOEL - The beast represents the Great and Abominable Church or Church of the Devil, who gets its power from the dragon(Rev 13:2), who is Satan(Rev 20:2). The term, Church of the Devil, is used to signify all churches or any other type of organization or cause, which are designed to take men on a course away from God and salvation. The Beast being wounded may refer to the brief period of time when Jesus was on the earth spreading His Gospel and bestowing the Holy Ghost. Following His death and the death of the apostles the beast was able to revive itself to begin the great apostasy and once again be able to spread the lies and doctrines of man.