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BOOK OF REVELATION: Chapter 13

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Our Lord Jesus already gave us the seven seals and the seven trumpets. From the Rev.12 chapter forward, He's giving us a greater detail of the enemy's system of working on earth in the last days. So it's important to remember what He covered thus far in Revelation.

Rev 13:1-18
1 And 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.


This beast rises up out of the sea. Note how it is similar to the ten horns, seven crowns, and seven heads image given back at Rev.12:3-4 linked with the time of Satan's original rebellion against God, drawing one third of the angels (stars) into rebellion with him. This beast has ten crowns upon his horns. The one back at Rev.12 had only seven crowns. The beast associated with Satan's original rebellion reveals the idea of a false kingdom setup on earth to try and supplant God's true Kingdom and reign. All the ones of history were patterns for Satan's first one in that time of old. This one here in Rev.13 is a final one for this present world.

2 And 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.

Our Lord links this Rev.13:1 beast with three beast kingdoms of Daniel 7. That's where those beast animal symbols were given about the old Babylon empire ("lion"), the Medo-Persian empire ("bear"), and the Macedonian empire ("leopard"). Daniel saw four beasts coming up out of the sea. The fourth one with "great teeth of iron" is not mentioned here (Dan.7:7). Many have assumed this Rev.13:1 beast represented the Roman empire of history, a fourth beast kingdom, and because John was captive under the Roman emperor Domitian when he was given to write this.

But in Dan.2 the statue image which also represent the historical beast kingdoms is divided into 5 parts. The head of gold represented the Babylon empire under Nebuchadnezzar, the breast and arms of silver the Medo-Persia empire that came after, then the belly and thighs of brass the Macedonian empire under Alexander, and then the legs of iron the Roman empire. There's one more part to that Dan.2 statue though, the feet of part iron and part clay. We're also shown a stone cut out without hands (Christ) will smite that statue on its feet and the whole "together" will come tumbling down. Then an everlasting Kingdom for the saints will be setup and last forever (i.e., Christ's future Kingdom on earth).

The idea is that all... those previous beast kingdoms of history will be part of this final beast of Rev.13:1. All the previous beast kingdoms will come back to power on the earth, under authority of this final one pointing to the feet of ten toes made up of part iron and part clay. In my opinion, I believe the part iron and part clay which doesn't mix represents the joining of East and West, the whole earth under a one world system of control. Western and Eastern cultures simply are not going to mix.

Notice it's the "dragon" that gives this Rev.13:1 beast its power, seat, and great authority. We already know from Rev.12 that word dragon is but another title for Satan himself.

3 And 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.

One of the seven heads shows as it were wounded to death, but then it is healed. When it is healed, all the world wonders after the beast. The seven heads of this beast are not simply pointing to the seven hills of Rome, nor Jerusalem's hills. It's pointing to areas of the earth, as with seven continents. This beast kingdom is to suffer a wound upon one of its areas on earth, which will be healed.

4 And 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?"

Again, who is this "dragon" per Rev.12:9? It is Satan himself, the devil. When the deadly wound is healed, we're shown all the world worshipping both the dragon, and the beast kingdom. The question of who can make war with the beast points to total control over the earth and its peoples. An organization like the United Nations was established to bring authority and control over all nations, including their ability to make war. The U.N. has been a tool to help bring in this Rev.13:1 beast kingdom, a one-world beast kingdom of ten horns (kings), ten crowns, and seven heads to include all the previous beast kingdoms of history within it.

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

This Rev.13:1 beast kingdom, and the dragon, are given to work for a period of 42 months. That's the same time period as 1260 days, or a time, times, and half a time, or 3 and 1/2 years. Because this 42 months is given according to lunar reckoning, it applies to Christ's enemies, the children of darkness who follow the devil.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Daniel 11 mentions a "vile person" that will plant himself in power at Jerusalem, and will blaspheme God, with craft prospering in his hand, and he will destroy many using the idea of peace. How long have we been hearing the idea of "world peace" coming out of world leader's mouths, and their organizations? Dan.11:45 says that vile person will plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain, pointing to Jerusalem on earth.

7 And 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.

We learned back in Rev.12 how the serpent or dragon will wage that war upon the saints, by the symbolic flood waters that comes out of his mouth. That symbolic flood of lies to cause deception will be over all nations and peoples. Christ will be our only Covering against it, having His sealing by The Holy Spirit.

8 And 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.

All that dwell upon the earth shall worship that dragon and beast? Not all, but only those "whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Is your name written in the Book of Life of The Lamb (Christ Jesus)? That again is about God's sealing of His elect servants in prep for this event.

Is that event about WWIII, and random chaos of everyone going around killing each other? No. Instead, it's about the majority of the whole earth bowing in worship, to the dragon and his beast kingdom. And who is that dragon of verse 4 they worship? Satan himself. Apostle Paul said that false one will magnify himself above everything... that is worshipped. He's coming to play GOD, and the majority of the world will believe it.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Do you have spiritual ears to hear what our Lord Jesus just revealed in the previous verses? What He revealed there, and in Rev.12 about that "dragon" being Satan, and his coming to earth to present this grand deception of playing God, I know this is difficult for many to understand, and I don't ask anyone to agree with me, but to do their own homework in God's Word, asking The LORD for understanding.

10 He 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.

Some are meant to go in captivity to that beast kingdom and appear before that "dragon" (Satan), to give a Testimony for Christ. Our Lord Jesus forewarned His to not premeditate what to say in that hour, but to speak what The Holy Spirit gives you to say (Mark 13, Matt.10). How will you be able to do that for Christ if you go out trying to war with that beast with man's weapons? The Holy Spirit and Gospel Armour will be our weapons for this event. That's why our Lord reveals here to have patience and keep The Faith.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Now we're shown "another beast", meaning a 2nd beast. Our Lord Jesus will reveal that first beast of Rev.13:1 that comes out of the sea involves peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues, like a kingdom or a system structure over all the nations on earth (Rev.17:15). But this 2nd one of "another beast", is different, for it comes up out of the earth. And it is a religious beast.

This 2nd beast has two horns "like a lamb", but speaks as a dragon. Isn't that something trying to be what it is not? Yes. It's the "dragon" trying to appear like a lamb with two horns. Who was just mentioned about the book of life? The Lamb slain, a Title for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing how our Lord Jesus links these symbols together in this flow of line upon line Scripture don't you think? This "another beast" is none other than Satan himself, trying to appear meek as The Lamb, our Lord Jesus. But he will speak as the dragon. His appearance will be like Christ, but his working will be false.

12 And 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.

That 2nd beast will use all the power and authority of the first beast (kingdom), to cause the whole earth to worship the beast system, i.e., to accept it and work for it. We're shown the deadly wound is healed with the whole earth is deceived into worshipping the first beast. Already today, there's quite a few Christian organizations and Churches that have gone over to support the idea of one world government.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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.


That "another beast" (dragon that appears like a lamb) is to do "great wonders", make lightning ("fire")come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. Question: would that false one have to be on earth in person to do such miracles "in the sight of men"? Yes. That's another pointer back to Satan's casting out of the heavenly to this earth for the last days, covered in Rev.12.

Those on the earth not sealed with God's seal will be deceived by those miracles that "another beast" will work. Then the deceived are told to make an "image" to the beast, which had a wound upon one of its seven heads.

15 And 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.

The "another beast" (dragon) will give life to that image, so that it should speak, and cause those who refuse to bow down to the image should be killed. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, setup a golden image of himself for all the bow in worship to at the sound of the psalter. That's when the trials began upon Daniel, for he refused to bow to it, but kept praying to The Father in Heaven. The false prophets went around to catch Daniel praying to The True GOD, and then turned him in, had him delivered up. This also is about that pattern in Daniel, with the saints who refuse to bow to that image being delivered up.

16 And 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:
17 And 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
.

That "another beast" will create a system for buying and selling for all peoples on the earth. This mark is in contrast with God's sealing of His servants per Rev.7 & 9. It's related to the event Ezekiel 9. The mark of the beast especially points to being deceived by the dragon and his kingdom beast.

18 Here 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.
(KJV)


It's easy to wander outside Revelation to try and define this number of the beast. Many use it to try and point to men on the earth in the role of the "dragon". Yet our Lord Jesus already showed the dragon is but another title for Satan himself, and certainly not some flesh born man on earth.

Don't let the word "man" there confuse you, for Satan also was made with the image of a man. God even said He will show him that he is but "a man" (Ezek.28:9). The meaning of Archangel Gabriel's name even is 'man of God' (Strong's no. 1403). We're told to count the number of the beast, pointing in the Greek to the use of pebbles or stones. And the number is 666.

What are we given in Revelation that relate to that number 666? There is a 6th seal, a 6th trumpet, and a 6th vial. Recall how the lightnings, and thunderings, and great earthquake symbols were given at the end of each section of seals, trumpets, and vials? 666 points to the timing when the dragon will come to do his working on the earth. And Christ's coming to defeat him on 777 timing.
 
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