The eighth king of this seventh empire will be of the same human form as the rulers of the first six empires. (Rev 13:1) – “And he stood upon the sand of the sea”, The following translations place this phrase at the beginning of chapter 13: (ASV, NASB, NIV). This beast (false prophet) “exercises all the authority of the first beast,” because the two beasts are essentially one and the same. and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Then I stood on the sand of the sea: In Revelation 12, John’s vision mainly had heaven in view. (Rev 13:3) – 3 And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; NET – 3 One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are literally being tortured and killed. New American Standard Version And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his … This may be the most talked about chapter in the book of Revelation. The teachings of Christianity is diametrically opposed to the teachings and ways of the world, and thus Christians would not be included among those who participate in the “buying or selling” (sharing) of the ways of the world. Salem Media Group. The sea-beast of this chapter is characterized by the “seventh king,” who is Satan himself, and rules without a human king until the eighth king arises to power. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. This “war” will be led by the eighth king, the “man of sin” (2 Th 2:1-12). The world hates Christians, and they go after us with great fury. Thus this blasphemy is against Christ and His people and everything that relates to the Christian faith, which is the only truth in this world of sin, lies, and deception. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation”. To interpret this false prophet as a particular person (like the Pope, for example) is far too limiting. But that’s what happens when we interpret Revelation with such strict literalism. To summarize, in the seventh world empire (now, Church age), there are two kings: Satan, who is the seventh king, and the “man of sin,” who is the eighth king (Rev 17:10-11)—who arises at the end of this empire. And I saw aa beast rising up out of the sea, bhaving 2seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a cblasphemous name. For examples of strange phenomena, just google “strange phenomena.” When you read about some of these things, it’s easy to see the “great signs” of this beast in them. It represents those who belong to the kingdom of darkness. The idea that the book of Revelation is about a mere seven year period, fails to capture the greater message and full significance that this book actually conveys. Six is less than seven. Everything in this chapter (and book) should be interpreted with that in mind. As indicated above, this means that this false prophet (demonic rulers) leads the people of the world away from the truth through the false religions and false belief systems of the world. The image “speaks” through the false religions and philosophies and values and ways of the world. Realistically, what could possibly have authority over “every tribe and people and tongue and nation?” The kingdom of darkness is the only thing that touches every living soul in the world. Thus those who bear the “name” of the beast, are identified with Satan as belonging to him and his kingdom, as his children (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13; 1 Jn 3:10). While there’s no doubt that this number refers to Satan and his kingdom, it’s through humanity that he carries out his evil schemes. (NET), (1 John 4:2-3) – 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that refuses to confess Jesus, that spirit is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. Everything they speak is against the truth. Again, not to be taken literally. and who is able to war with him? (NET). Therefore, what we see in chapter 13 is the reign of the, Therefore, as we go through this chapter (13), we need to be aware that we’re dealing with the, Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. I outline those reasons below: (Eph 6:12) – 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This entire chapter (entire book) describes the whole world and its system in opposition to the followers of Christ and His teachings. Considering all the seven’s in this book, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that the number six here is assigned to this beast, since the number seven is assigned to Christ and His Church. We have the beast and the false prophet (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10) and the image of the beast that talks; the great signs of the false prophet; the seven heads and ten horns; the mark of the beast (666); no buying or selling without the mark; and we have the book of life of the Lamb. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. It’s about the conflict between the truth and falsehood. (Rev 13:6) – 6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven. 14 And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived. Then I stood on the sand of the sea. Revelation 13 King James Version << Revelation 12 | Revelation 13 | Revelation 14 >> The Two Beasts. It didn’t really die, it just transformed into a different type of kingdom. And I saw a a beast rising up out of the sea, b having 2 seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a c blasphemous name. (Rev 13:18) – 18 Here is wisdom. “if any man shall kill with the sword” (ASV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, NRSV), “If anyone is to be killed by the sword” (NET, ESV, LEB, NIV, CSB). (Rev 13:4) – 4 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. All that opposes Christ is in the world today. Christians belong to the Kingdom of light, and we are the only ones who stand in opposition to it. And by these things, they “deceive” the world. The same is true of those who have the “mark of the beast.” It’s a symbolic mark of identification of who they belong to. They worship him by giving their hearts and lives to those things that are associated with him and his kingdom: false religion, philosophies of the world, materialism, sinful pleasures, self-glorification, power and prestige, hatred toward Christians and what we stand for, etc. a. In order for us to identify those who have the “mark of the beast,” all we have to do is listen to their words and observe their lives. They form it and fashion it as they will (within the limits God allows), all for the purpose of deceiving the world in order to keep people from coming to faith in Christ. It’s about the conflict between light and darkness, between the, The idea that the book of Revelation is about a mere seven year period, fails to capture the greater message and full significance that this book actually conveys. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. Their goal is to keep as many in their kingdom as possible. The order that the Roman Empire had brought to western Europe for 1000 years was no more.” (http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6f.asp). All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version unless otherwise noted. The obvious difference is, Jesus is all-powerful, and His kingdom is a kingdom of light. I think the picture we get here is of Satan watching and ruling over the two beasts of this chapter (Rev 13:11). REV 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, REV 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 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