Theological FAQs [? Multi-Verse Retrieval x. En dash not Hyphen. Let's Connect x. Subscribe to our Newsletter. Daily Devotionals x. Daily Bible Reading Plans x. Recently Popular Pages x. Recently Popular Media x. Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Revelation Chapter 13 We have, in this chapter, a further discovery and description of the church's enemies: not other enemies than are mentioned before, but described after another manner, that the methods of their enmity may more fully appear.
Rev We have here an account of the rise, figure, and progress of the first beast; and observe, 1. From what situation the apostle saw this monster. He seemed to himself to stand upon the sea-shore, though it is probable he was still in a rapture; but he took himself to be in the island Patmos, but whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell.
Whence this beast came- out of the sea; and yet, by the description of it, it would seem more likely to be a land-monster; but the more monstrous every thing about it was the more proper an emblem it would be to set forth the mystery of iniquity and tyranny.
What was the form and shape of this beast. It was for the most part like a leopard, but its feet were like the feet of a bear and its mouth as the mouth of a lion; it had seven heads, and ten horns, and upon its heads the name of blasphemy: the most horrid and hideous monster!
In some part of this description here seems to be an allusion to Daniel's vision of the four beasts, which represented the four monarchies, Dan. One of these beasts was like a lion, another like a bear, and another like a leopard; this beast was a sort of composition of those three, with the fierceness, strength, and swiftness, of them all; the seven heads and the ten horns seem to design its several powers; the ten crowns, its tributary princes; the word blasphemy on its forehead proclaims its direct enmity and opposition to the glory of God, by promoting idolatry.
The source and spring of his authority- the dragon; he gave him his power, and seat, and great authority. He was set up by the devil, and supported by him to do his work and promote his interest; and the devil lent him all the assistance he could. A dangerous wound given him, and yet unexpectedly healed, v. Some think that by this wounded head we are to understand the abolishing of pagan idolatry; and by the healing of the wound the introducing of the popish idolatry, the same in substance with the former, only in a new dress, and which as effectually answers the devil's design as that did.
The honour and worship paid to this infernal monster: All the world wondered after the beast; they all admired his power, and policy, and success, and they worshipped the dragon that gave power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast; they paid honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments, and thought there was no power able to withstand them: so great were the darkness, degeneracy, and madness of the world! How he exercised his infernal power and policy: He had a mouth, speaking great things, and blasphemies; he blasphemed God, the name of God, the tabernacle of God, and all those that dwell in heaven; and he made war with the saints, and overcame them, and gained a sort of universal empire in the world.
His malice was principally levelled at the God of heaven, and his heavenly attendants-at God, in making images of him that is invisible, and in worshipping them;-at the tabernacle of God, that is, say some, at the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which God dwells as in a tabernacle; this is dishonoured by their doctrine of transubstantiation, which will not suffer his body to be a true body, and will put it into the power of every priest to prepare a body for Christ;-and against those that dwell in heaven, the glorified saints, by putting them into the place of the pagan demons, and praying to them, which they are so far from being pleased with that they truly judge themselves wronged and dishonoured by it.
Thus the malice of the devil shows itself against heaven and the blessed inhabitants of heaven. These are above the reach of his power. All he can do is to blaspheme them; but the saints on earth are more exposed to his cruelty, and he sometimes is permitted to triumph over them and trample upon them. The limitation of the devil's power and success, and that both as to time and persons. He is limited in point of time; his reign is to continue forty-and-two months v.
He is also limited as to the persons and people that he shall entirely subject his will and power; it will be only those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life.
Christ had a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist might overcome their bodily strength, and take away their natural life, they could never conquer their souls, nor prevail with them to forsake their Saviour and revolt to his enemies.
Here is a demand of attention to what is here discovered of the great sufferings and troubles of the church, and an assurance given that when God has accomplished his work on mount Zion, his refining work, then he will turn his hand against the enemies of his people, and those who have killed with the sword shall themselves fall by the sword v. Either way I believe we should look to the return of Jesus Christ because he is our true eternal hope and savior, regardless of what happens in the earth.
It is not uncommon for people to be worried or fearful about the prophecies of Revelation or the condition of the world we live in. However, as important as it is for us as Christians to know these things, they should not be causes for worry, they should be reasons for rejoicing. When you get to the end of Revelation Jesus wins and if you are on his side that means you win too.
That is reason for comfort and rejoicing because as the days draw nearer, the time of our redemption and ultimate victory is truly at hand.
That great day draws closer every moment and that my friend is reason for great hope and great rejoicing.
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be.
To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes. Shoebox Collection Week is Here! Plus Toggle navigation. Password Assistance. Email address. Who Are the Two Beasts in Revelation 13? What Are the Two Beasts in Revelation 13? Share Tweet Save. It is more probable, then, that the reference is to the empire as a whole. The deadly wound signifies the apparent demise of tyrannical rule. And yet the empire is not destroyed; just when it seems that its tyranny has ended, its power is resumed.
The so-called death-blow is ineffective. In response, the world is astonished with the beast and gives its allegiance to him, for the revival of a demonic empire is a kind of resurrection, and so once again the beast parodies the Christ. The staying power of the beast and its empire leads to worship of the dragon and the beast.
The dragon is worshiped for giving authority to the beast. The beast is worshiped because of his so-called resurrection. He is considered incomparable and omnipotent, like God cf. People worship the beast, believing he cannot be resisted or overcome. As has often been observed in history, people support a winner. In the comment on , I defended the notion that God is the implied subject of this passive construction.
Even though God ordains what the beast does, he does not have the same motivations or intent as Satan. The beast is allowed to exercise his authority for forty-two months. Some understand this to be a literal three and one-half years before Jesus returns.
All totalitarian governments arrogating to themselves divine authority reveal that they too are the beast. This is likely a reference to the people of God , showing that their true home is in heaven.
The actions of the beast here accord with Daniel , where the beast opposes God and his people. The beast, harboring divine pretensions, hates anything and anyone devoted to the one true and living God. First, God has allowed him to make war on the saints and conquer them. This does not mean the saints surrender their faith cf. It means God allows the beast to take their lives cf. God grants the desires of the beast for a period of time, so that the beast exercises authority over every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
Such an understanding is confirmed by the next clause, for the earth dwellers are those with names not inscribed in the book of life. The book of life contains the names of those who will not perish in the lake of fire cf. Those who give their allegiance to the beast thereby demonstrate that they do not belong to the one true God.
Word order is not determinative, and, given the parallels, John probably speaks of those who were inscribed in the book of life before history began. After all, the death of Christ was predetermined before history began, but it is quite another thing to say he was actually slain before the world began, for the Lamb was slain in history, not before the world began. On the other hand, God decided before history began who would be inscribed in the book of life.
John reverts to the formula used in all seven letters Rev. Those who have ears should open their ears and heed what is being said. Revelation Chapter 13 Continued. Revelation "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. This is just another way of saying, whatever you sow, you will reap.
Those who teach false doctrine causes his neighbor to go into captivity and so will those who teach it. A call for the believers to accept persecution from Antichrist with perseverance and endurance. God has chosen some believers to be imprisoned and executed which they must not resist compare Matthew ; 2 Cor. In Matthew Jesus taught Peter that they that take the sword shall perish with the sword when he cut off Malchus' ear.
End time believers are to depend on God and not to take matters into their own hands. This scripture is for the believers alive at that time during the Antichrist's persecution. God will punish those who do evil. The Beast and his followers will be overthrown and judged. Patience Gr. Those who have genuine saving faith will endure all the persecution of the Beast because they are God's saints. Verses couples the three evil personages of the Tribulation that are the opposite counterparts of the person of God.
Just as the dragon has already been anti-God and the first beast is anti-Christ, so the second beast will be anti-Spirit. His capacity in working for the worship of the Antichrist will correspond with the present ministry of the Holy Spirit. This second beast is the False Prophet. He will not seek to cause people to worship himself. He will not court his own personal prestige but will work purely for the purpose of getting others to worship the Antichrist.
This evil scheme will be used by the devil and his 2 cohorts to deceive people during the Tribulation. They will victimize many individuals because they will traffic in amorality. In these 2 verses, 5 characteristics chart the role of the False Prophet. Many Bible teachers suggest that his coming up out of the earth indicates that he will not come up out of the sea of peoples, as the first beast does.
That is, he will not be of mixed nationality; that he comes out of the earth around Palestine , may indicate that he will be a Jew. As such He has taken away the sin of the world. The False Prophet coming on the earth will look like a lamb with two horns. Lambs do not have horns, which are symbols of authority; instead, they are meek and mild animals. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" Mat. The False Prophet will come to Israel in sheep's clothing, but God terms him "a beast".
This False Prophet see article " False Prophet - The Beast , will deceive human beings by acting like a lamb; but really, he will speak the words of Satan.
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