TheologyNow

The Beast from the Earth

The second portion of Revelation 13 details the Beast from the earth, he’s different then the first but related. He’s the false prophet.  Together with the dragon, the antichrist he creates an unholy trinity.  Satan cannot create anything as he’s a created being himself, so he copies God’s work and in this case he produces a counterfeit trinity.

Revelation 13:11-18
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth before people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound yet lived. 15 He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast's name or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666. 

Its interesting but in the wildly popular left behind series the false prophet is shown to be a bumbling fool incapable of doing anything right, while this makes for a good story line this is the furthest thing from the truth.  He’s as dangerous, cunning and evil as the antichrist and his fate will be exactly as the antichrists

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed signs on his authority, by which he deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

These two people are the only individuals cast into hell alive and before the great white throne, so clearly the false prophet is not some bumbling boob playing second fiddle to the antichrist.

Revelation 13:11
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

Unlike the antichrist who came out of the sea (the world or people) this one came out of the land.  What’s the difference, well some theologians think that the false prophet is jewish and out of the earth is a veiled reference to the promised land.  Since this line of thought is difficult to confirm in the Bible, i.e, no further supporting evidence in using this symbolism, I’m not going to say if that’s true or not.  Its seems kind of a reach but there is a distinction of where this beast comes from.  What that means exactly, I’m unsure.

Revelation 13:12-15
12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth before people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image of the beast who had the sword wound yet lived. 15 He was permitted to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

He receives his authority and power from the antichrist (who gets his power and authority from the dragon) and this isn’t some symbolic position, as verse 13 details, he performs great signs and fire coming down from heaven. So much so he deceives people with those signs.  He also has the power to make some image, talk and kill people. Could this be some sort of robot, or animatronic statue?  Who knows, technology is progressing by leaps and bounds and its conceivable that we’re talking about machine in the image of the antichrist. This also could refer to a statue who has a “spirit” in him to speak and kill those who refuse to worship the beast.  In the end, does it really matter how it was bought about?  The end result is the same, a talking visage of the antichrist capable of killing people.

Revelation 13:16-17
16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast's name or the number of his name.

Here’s one of the more scary passages in Revelations.  Scary because the foundation for such a mark is already in place today. Cash is quickly becoming an arcane method of buying, instead using credit cards. Many of the credit cards have chips in them.  Its not a huge leap to insert a RFID chip under the skin that contains a person’s identity and banking information. They only have to wave their hand to buy stuff. On one hand, (pun intended :) ) it’s a cool idea, because that makes life simpler but on the other hand the Bible is clear that anyone  who receives this will be doomed to hell.  The use of the idea is not the evil part but rather its association to the beast and worshiping the beast. Technology is not good or evil but how we use it is and the application of this is what causes people to choose God or the devil. By choosing the dragon they rejected God’s loving offer of sacrifice and paying for their sins.  They are left dealing with their own sins before a Holy and Righteous God.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom: The one who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man. His number is 666. 

Much also has been discussed about this so much so, I cannot scratch the surface of the meaning.  All I can say is that this refers to the unholy trinity. While there will be people who get the 666 part of the mark the numbering scheme probably won’t be that explicitly. That is the mark as mentioned in the prior verses won’t consist of 3 sixes but rather the computation of it will result of 666. It could be a serial number, like part of a UPC symbol, it could be the name of the beast and the numbers associated with the letters make out the 666 or could be something

The Bible Knowledge Commentary sums up chapter 13 the best and any of my attempts of summarizing would most likely be plagiarism.  So rather then write my own thoughts, the commentary completely states how I feel of what chapter 13 means and how it fits in with the tribulation. 

Chapter 13 is important because it introduces two of the main characters of Revelation: the beast out of the sea, the world dictator; and the beast out of the earth, the false prophet and chief supporter of the political ruler. There is no evidence that either of them is a Jew though some have identified one or the other as an apostate Jew based on the expression "the God of his fathers" (Daniel 11:37, KJV). However, the Hebrew word 'elohim is a general word for god, quite different from Yahweh, and there is no proof that in Daniel it refers to the God of Israel. In recent translations it is "gods" (cf. ASV, NASB, NEB, NIV, AND RSV). Thus while it has been popular to consider either the first or the second ruler of Revelation 13 as an apostate Jew, the supporting evidence is lacking. Both beasts are probably Gentiles inasmuch as this will be the final hour of the time of the Gentiles, when Gentiles will tramp underfoot the city of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24), and both rulers will persecute Jews as well as believing Gentiles.

Revelation 13, however, gives much insight into the character of the Great Tribulation. It will be a time of one world government and one world religion, with one world economic system. Those who will resist the ruler and refuse to worship him will be subject to execution, and the martyrs may outnumber the believers who survive. It will be Satan's final and ultimate attempt to cause the world to worship him and to turn them from the worship of the true God and Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This chapter also makes it clear that the postmillennial dream of a world getting better and better through Christian effort and gospel preaching is not supported in the Bible. Instead the final form of world religion will be apostate, satanic, and blasphemous. There are many indications today that the world is heading in this direction, with the corresponding conclusion that the coming of the Lord may be near. 
(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)

The Beast from the Sea

Chapter 13 is symbolism rich in its description of the antichrist and the false profit. It adds more information about the antichrist and the false prophet.  There’s so much information in this chapter, I’ll break it into two parts and also do a verse by verse exploration of the chapter as opposed to taking larger swaths of the chapter.

 

Revelation 13:1-4
13:1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. He had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear's, and his mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?"

The first verse of chapter 13 details the beast coming out of the sea, not the actual ocean but a symbol of the people of the world. That is he will be a gentile not a Jew.  Many theologians believe that the seven heads refer to the 7 mountains where Rome was settled.  In other words a reformed roman empire.  For cross reference we have Daniel 2 where God details the major world empires, starting with Babylon ending with Rome

Daniel 2:31-35
31 "My king, as you were watching, a colossal statue appeared. That statue, tall and dazzling, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was terrifying. 32 The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its stomach and thighs were bronze, 33 its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly fired clay. 34 As you were watching, a stone broke off without a hand touching it, struck the statue on its feet of iron and fired clay, and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the fired clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were shattered and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The Interpretation

Head of Gold - Babylon 

Chest and Arms of Silver - Medo-Persia 

stomach and thighs of Bronze - Greece 

Legs of Iron - Rome 

Feet of Iron and Clay - United Europe (or reformed roman empire)

The Roman army unlike Greece whose weapons were bronze had iron weapons and were swift, i.e., the legs. The feet mixed partly with clay and iron detail a confederation that is both strong like iron but brittle like clay.

Back to revelations 13:1, the 10 horns which had 10 crowns (or diadems) are 10 kings, so the confederation consists of 10 European nations. The Bible Exposition Commentary describes what the symbolism behind the animals that make up the beast better then I can

Revelation 13:2
The three animals named in Revelation 13:2 remind us of the four beasts Daniel saw in his dream (Daniel 7): a lion (Babylon), a bear (Media-Persia), a leopard (Greece), and a "terrible beast" (the Antichrist). John saw these animals, or kingdoms, in reverse order since he was looking back, while Daniel was looking ahead The final world empire will be rooted in all the previous empires and unite in one their evil and power. Added to the ferocity of these beasts will be Satan's own power, throne, and authority!
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

Basically the final human empire built on man’s corruptible nature will be a combination and compilation of Man’s prior empires. All that worked and terrified people in those empires will be evident in this final confederation.

Revelation 13:3 One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.

Imagine the following a world leader would have had be been shot, killed and “resurrected” Consider how the world would follow that person who had special powers and abilities. This is probably one avenue in how the antichrist would imitate the true Messiah but also how he would deceive the world.

Revelation 13:4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?"

Here’s a verse that could easily be lost amongst the other information, they (the whole earth) worshiped the dragon, that is while the second part of the verse state that the world will also worship the antichrist they worship the dragon (satan) because he gave the authority to the beast.  This is what the devil is after from the day he fell from grace till the time that the tribulation occurs.  He wants to be like God and be worshipped.  Isaiah offers a glimpse of the devil’s motives. 

Isaiah 14:12-15
12 Shining morning star, 
how you have fallen from the heavens! 
You destroyer of nations,
you have been cut down to the ground.
13 You said to yourself:
"I will ascend to the heavens; 
I will set up my throne
above the stars of God. 
I will sit on the mount of the gods' assembly,
in the remotest parts of the North. 
14 I will ascend above the highest clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
15 But you will be brought down to Sheol
into the deepest regions of the Pit. 

He wanted to make himself the most high even though he was only a created being but in his pride he felt he out to take the place of the creator and have the angel’s and God’s creation worship him.  In revelation 13:4 people somehow recognize that the power that miraculously healed the antichrist did not come from God Almighty but rather the devil and they bow down to him and not God.  What’s sad and strange at the same time, we have the Bible detailing who the devil is, who we are as sinners and God’s plan for salvation, and end times. Yet people choose to ignore that and follow a lie.

To summarize, Chapter 13 of the Revelation is rich with details of who the antichrist is, where he gets his power, how the world will follow him and the events that cause people to bow down to him and the dragon.  

Revelation 12 part II - The fall of the devil

Revelation 12 continues, now with satan being cast out of heaven

Revelation 12:7-9
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out--the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.

Some people may be surprised that satan was allowed access into heaven but we see in Job that God had allowed him into his presence for a time.

Job 1:6-7
6 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord asked Satan, "Where have you come from?"

"From roaming through the earth," Satan answered Him, "and walking around on it."

And verse 10 of revelation 12 shows us why he's in heaven

Revelation 12:10
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Messiah have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out:
the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

After he is cast out, we hear a loud voice, probably from an angel praising God's salvation, power and kingdom

Revelation 12:10
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Messiah have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out:
the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not love their lives in the face of death.
12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
for the Devil has come down to you with great fury,
because he knows he has a short time.

But along with the praise, there's a warning to the inhabitants of earth. The devil knows his time is coming to an end, and after being cast out of heaven he's going to inflict his anger and fury on God's people, and chosen people so that means Christians and Jews. This is where revelation 12:13-14 picks up

Revelation 12:13-14
13 When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male. 14 The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent's presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed for a time, times, and half a time.

Since this verse is completely in symbolism its difficult to fully discern what exactly is going on. From the my earlier blog we know that the woman is Israel, and the mail is the Messiah. The water that is being spewed out of the serpent is most likely the people of the earth, so it may mean an army is going to march against Israel. I'm not sure what the two wings of a great eagle infer possibly airplanes and many theologians believe the place in the wilderness is the ancient city/fortress Petra. I'm not quite sure why but people hold onto this view. Suffice to say that God is providing a means and a place to save his chosen people. Make no mistake also that while we are currently in the age of the church the jews are still his chosen people. That covenant never ended and he is dealing with their sins here in tribulation.

I like what the IVP Bible commentary has to say about the eagles wings. While it could be airplanes as I stated, we see that in the OT that the wording was used for God's protection.

IVP Bible Background Commentary
12:13-14. When God led his people forth from Egypt and into the wilderness, he "bore them upon eagles' wings" (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11), and other *Old Testament texts speak of God sheltering his people beneath his wings (Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4; cf. Jeremiah 49:22); later Jewish texts speak of God's protecting his people, including converts to Judaism, under "the wings of his presence." "Time, times, and half a time" refer to three and a half years, as in Daniel (7:25; 12:7; cf. 4:32). The miraculous provision in the wilderness also recalls God's provision of manna for Israel of old there. The Old Testament prophets and Judaism looked forward to a new exodus like the first one in which God would ultimately deliver his people from all their oppressors; the early Christians applied this notion to their salvation by *Christ's first coming and entrance into the future era of the *kingdom by his second (see comment on Rom 8:12-17).
(from IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener Copyright © 1993 by Craig S. Keener. Published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)

As the waters attempt to sweep the woman away we see supernatural intervention by God

Revelation 12:15-17
15 From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman: the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring--those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony about Jesus. 18 He stood on the sand of the sea.

God himself makes sure his chosen people are protected against the wrath and fury of the serpent. While having the earth open up as it did is unusual God has used this before to quall a rebellion. Back in Numbers 16

Numbers 16:28-33
28 Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the Lord sent me to do all these things and that it was not of my own will: 29 If these men die naturally as all people would, and suffer the fate of all, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them along with all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised the Lord."

31 Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah's people, and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.

Korah's rebellion which challenged Moses's leadership ended in disaster, the earth opened up and were swallowed up. So too like Numbers we see God directly intervening in a supernatural way to protect the woman.

This protection does not bode well for Christians. Because the devil is prevented from inflicting harm against the Jews, he directs is fury and vengeance on Christians which In verse 17 is her "offspring" Its clear the supernatural protection that woman enjoys is not extended to her offspring meaning there will be more martyrs

Chapter 12 represents the "swan song" of the serpent. His presence in heaven has ended, he no longer can walk into the presence of Most High and cast accusations against his children - Those that have accepted the Messiah's payment for their sin. He then directs that anger of being cast out and knowledge that his time on earth is drawing to an end by trying to destroy God's people, first God's Chosen people and then The Christians. What does this chapter tell us, well even though there will be great pain and suffering at this time for both Jew and Gentile we see that ultimately God is in control. He allows certain actions to occur for purposes we may not understand it but that I no way suggests that God is not in control. Too often when people don't understand something they disbelieve it. Bad things happen so they thing God hates, them, or is incapable or unwilling to help them through their trials. Our ways are not God's ways and there's currently 6 billion people on this planet and God is using each and everyone of them to fulfill his plan, for some he's piecing their hearts to realize that without him they will be condemned and others who reject him, he's using them to further his plan.