Revelation Chapter 13

I have been doing more studying lately, and mentioned this chapter to my husband just this week while we were watching the news from Fox.  I had watched a video a few days ago and it actually put new light on this chapter...but I couldn't intelligently talk of it so this morning, I am researching just that topic and documenting it here for me, and maybe for you too.  

Many years ago, I started and led a women's bible study at our church, and did that for maybe 7 or 8 years until an issue with my eyes made me give it up because I couldn't safely drive myself at night any longer...The way this study worked, was Scripture 1st...and then with my study bible we would break apart verses and study them and talk about it.  I do miss those days...I will also give you the link of the YouTube video that I watched that made me question this chapter...things that I couldn't understand before.  Question everything.  Study like the Bereans did...hope this makes some sense to you too.  I've also put the verses that were referenced at the end of the Revelation 13 study.

The video that started me to think a little bit more...

Revelation, Chapter 13

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 

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     13:1 The beasts was initially identified with Rome, because the Roman empire, in its early days, encouraged an evil life-style, persecuted believers, and opposed God and his followers.  But the beast also symbolizes the antichrist - not Satan, but someone under Satan's power and control.  This antichrist looks like a combination of the four beasts that Daniel saw centuries earlier in a vision (Daniel 7).As the dragon (Rev. 12:17) is in opposition to God, so the beast from the sea is against Christ and may be seen as Satan's false messiah.  The early Roman empire was strong and also antichrist (or against Christ's standards): many other individual powers throughout history have been anti-Christ.  Many Christians believe that Satan's evil will culminate in a final antichrist, one who will focus all the powers of evil against Jesus Christ and his followers.

     13:1ff Chapter 13 introduces Satan's (the dragon's) two evil accomplices: (1) the beast out of the sea (13:1ff) and (2) the beast out of the earth (13:11ff).  Together, the three evil beings form an unholy trinity in direct opposition to the holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

     When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, he wanted Jesus to show his power b y turning stones into bread, to do miracles by jumping from a high place, and to gain political power by worshiping him (Matthew 4:1-11).  Satan's plan was to rule the world through Jesus, but Jesus refused to do Satan's bidding.  Thus Satan turns to the fearsome beasts described in Revelation.  To the beast out of the sea he gives political power.  To the beast out of the earth he gives power to do miracles.  Both beasts work together to capture the control of the whole world.  This unholy trinity - the dragon, the beast out of the sea, and the false prophet (see Revelation 16:13) - unite in a desperate attempt to overthrow God, but their efforts are doomed to failure.  See what becomes of them in Revelation 19:19-21 and 20:10.

2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 

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     13:3ff Because the beast, the antichrist, is a false messiah, he will be a counterfeit of Christ and will even stage a false resurrection (Revelation 13:14).  People will follow and worship him because they will be awed by his power and miracles (Revelation 13:3, 4).  He will unite the world under his leadership (Revelation 13:7, 8), and he will control the world economy (Revelation 13:16, 17).  People are impressed by power and will follow those who display it forcefully or offer it to their followers.  But those who follow the beast will only be fooling themselves: he will use his power to manipulate others, to point to himself, and to promote evil plans.  God, by contrast , uses his infinitely greater power to love and to build up.  Don't be misled by claims of great miracles or reports about a resurrection or reincarnation of someone claiming to be Christ.  When Jesus returns, he will reveal himself to everyone (Matthew 24:23-28)

4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 

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     13:5 The power given to the beast will be limited by God.  He will allow the beast to exercise authority only for a short time.  Even while the beast is in power, God will still be in control (Revelation 11:15; 12:10-12).

6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 

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     13:7 The beast will conquer God's people and rule over them, but he will not be able to harm them spiritually.  He will establish worldwide dominance and demand that everyone worship him.  And many will worship him - everyone except true believers.  Refusal to worship the beast will result in temporary suffering for God's people, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[b]

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     13:8 (Revelation 3:5 To be "dressed in white" means to be set apart for God and made pure.  Christ promises future honor and eternal life to those who stand firm in their faith.  The names of all believers are registered in the book of life.  This book symbolizes God's knowledge of who belongs to him.  All such people are guaranteed a listing in the book of life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ (See Luke 12:8, 9).

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

             10“If anyone is to go into captivity,
    into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[c] with the sword,
    with the sword they will be killed.”[d]

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

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     13:10 In this time of persecution, being faithful to Christ could bring imprisonment and even execution.  Some believers will be hurt or killed.  But all that the beast and his followers will be able to do to believers is harm them physically; no spiritual harm will come to those whose faith in God is sincere.  All believers will enter God's presence perfected and purified by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-17).

     The times of great persecution that John saw will provide an opportunity for believers to exercise patient endurance and faithfulness.  The tough times we face now are also opportunities for spiritual growth.  Don't fall into Satan's trap and turn away from God when hard times come.  Instead, use those tough times as opportunities for growth.

The Beast out of the Earth

11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 

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     13:11ff The first beast came out of the sea (Revelation 13:1), but this second beast comes out of the earth.  Later identified as the false prophet (Revelation 16:13; 19:20), he is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit.  He seems to do good, but the purpose of his miracles is to deceive.

12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 

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     13:14 Throughout the Bible we see miracles performed as proofs of God's power, love, and authority.  But here we see counterfeit miracles performed to deceive.  This is a reminder of Pharaoh's magicians, who duplicated Moses' signs in Egypt.  True signs and miracles point us to Jesus Christ, but miracles alone can be deceptive.  This is why we must ask with respect to each miracle we see; Is this consistent with what God says in the Bible?  The second beast here gains influence through the signs and wonders that he can perform on behalf of the first beast.  The second beast orders the people to worship an image in honor of the first beast - a direct flouting of the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6).  Allowing the Bible to guide our faith and practice will keep us from being deceived by false signs, however convincing they appear to be.  Any teaching that contradicts God's Word is false.

15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

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     13:16, 17 In every generation, Christians need to maintain a healthy skepticism about society's pleasures and rewards.  In our educational, economic, and civic structures, there are incentives and rewards.  Cooperating Christians must always support what is good and healthy about our society, but we must stand against sin.  In some cases, such as Satan's system described here, the system or structure becomes so evil that there is no way to cooperate with it.

18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666.

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     13:16-18 This mark of the beast is designed to mock the seal that God places on his followers (Revelation 7:2, 3).  Just as God marks his people to save them, so Satan's beast marks his people to save them from the persecution that Satan will inflict upon God's followers.  Identifying this particular mark is not as important as identifying the purpose of the mark.  Those who accept it show their allegiance to Satan, their willingness to operate within the economic system he promotes, and their rebellion against God.  To refuse the mark means to commit oneself entirely to God, preferring death to compromising one's faith in Christ.

     The meaning of this number has been discussed more than that of any other part of the book of Revelation.  The three sixes have been said to represent many things, including the number of man or the unholy trinity of Satan, the first beast, and the false prophet (Revelation 16:13).  If the number seven is considered to be the perfect number in the Bible, and if three sevens represent complete perfection, then the number 666 falls completely short of perfection.  The first readers of this book probably applied the number to the Emperor Nero, who symbolized all the evils of the Roman empire (The Greek letters of Nero's name represent numbers that total 666.)  Whatever specific application the number is given, the number symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity designed to undo Christ's work and overthrow him.

Footnotes

1. Revelation 13:1 Some manuscripts And I
2. Revelation 13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
3. Revelation 13:10 Some manuscripts anyone kills
4. Revelation 13:10 Jer. 15:2
5. Revelation 13:18 Or is humanity’s number

Daniel 7

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

4 “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

9 “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
    the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
    coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[b]

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Footnotes

1. Daniel 7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.
2. Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year

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Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
2. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
3. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
4. Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
5. Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13

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Matthew 24:23-28

23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, t

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Luke 12:8, 9here the vultures will gather.

8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.

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Exodus 20:4-6

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.