Revelation
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Revelation 13
Revelation 13
Commentary · verses 1-18
1and he stood upon the sand of the sea. 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.
1And 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.
Commentary · verse 1
Satan in possession of the Antichrist stood on the sand. The beast came out of the sea. The beast was separate from the Antichrist. The "beast" referred to an entire system. The beast is a mass of people that Satan will use. This beast included the Antichrist.
2And 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 throne, and great authority.
2And 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.
Commentary · verse 2
The Book of Daniel consisted of twelve chapters. The first six chapters documented Daniel's interactions with the heathen kings over Babylon. The last six chapters documented prophecies Daniel had about end times. This second half of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:1-8) began with a description of four beasts that were similar to this passage: lion, bear, leopard, and a fourth beast with ten horns that caused destruction. The dragon (Satan) gave the beast power.
3And 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; 4and 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 who is able to war with him?
3And 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.
4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Commentary · verses 3-4
Some look at the seven heads as different dispensations, with the head that was mortally wounded representing the dispensation when Jesus was resurrected. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross finished the beast system. It had no actual power. However, here was that same system that appeared to have power, but everything was being done through deception. The world will worship the dragon (Satan possessing the Antichrist) that gives power to the beast system.
5and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Commentary · verse 5
The "mouth" was the Antichrist possessed by Satan. Forty-two months is 3 1/2 years, which corresponded to the second half of the Tribulation. Rather than continue to pursue those that go into hiding after the midpoint of the Tribulation, Satan will focus on implementing his beast system to control the inhabitants of the world.
6And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Commentary · verse 6
The Antichrist possessed by Satan openly blasphemed God, His temple, and His believers in heaven during the second half of the Tribulation.
7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Commentary · verse 7
Remember, Christians were raptured before the Tribulation began. Believers during the first half of the Tribulation were raptured at the midpoint, just before these events happen. Both sets of believers avoided wrath. All those who became believers during the second half of the Tribulation were at war with the Antichrist and were able to be overcome physically. Those who died during this time would be raptured with the Two Witnesses near the end of the Tribulation.
8And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Commentary · verse 8
There appeared to be three groups of people: believers who get killed, Jewish believers in hiding (in Edom and Moab), and followers of the Antichrist. These people who worshipped the Antichrist were people whose names were not written in the Book of Life.
9If any man hath an ear, let him hear.
10If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
9If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Commentary · verses 9-10
These two verses were written to people who will live during the second half of the Tribulation in order to encourage these believers that Justice will eventually be executed on those who follow the Antichrist. Remember, the Holy Spirit will only be in the Two Witnesses, so believers will only be able to be led through logic and not through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
11And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Commentary · verse 11
The beast mentioned in verse 11 was the False Prophet. He appeared to be a lamb, but he was actually a dragon. He appeared to be like Christ/God, but he was actually like Satan. We now can see an "Anti-trinity":
- The Antichrist is self explanatory.
- This false prophet is the "Anti-Holy Spirit."
- The abomination that causes desolation that is set up in the temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation is the "Anti-God the Father."
12And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.
12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Commentary · verse 12
The False Prophet has all the power of the beast system (Revelation 13:1) and his focus is to lead people to worship the beast system. The Holy Spirit's focus is to lead us into all truth, which involves worshipping God the Father.
13And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.
13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Commentary · verse 13
Paul warned of lying signs in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Notice, this time of lying signs and wonders occurs during the second half of the Tribulation, not before this time, including today. These signs and wonders will be through deception and only once the "Anti-trinity" is in place. Remember, believers will not be able to physically stand before the Antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation.
14And 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.
14And 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.
Commentary · verse 14
The deception will be so great, the False Prophet will convince the people on earth to make an image to the beast, to state their will they have renounced God to the point they will make their own god.
15And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Commentary · verse 15
The False Prophet will cause the image of the beast to speak and kill those who do not worship the image. This sounded a lot like Daniel 3.
16And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Commentary · verse 16
People will be required to have a mark on their right hand or forehead.
17and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.
17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Commentary · verse 17
Without this mark, people will not be able to buy or sell. This requirement to take the mark will require a conscious decision by the individual. Notice, the decision to take this mark occurs during the second half of the Tribulation because of a speaking image of the beast. This will not happen without people knowing about it.
18Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Commentary · verse 18
The mark of the beast will be 666. This completed the explanation from Satan's perspective that began in chapter 12.
This chapter was a continuation of the previous chapter which presented Satan's perspective up to just after the midpoint of the Tribulation and denoted by the "13".
The last verse of chapter 12 stated the dragon (Satan possessing the Antichrist) was upset with Israel and stopped pursuing her in order to deal with the rest of the world.