Revelation Chapter 13 We continue with our look at the second beast which arose from the earth. VERSE 13 “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” AND HE PERFORMS GREAT SIGNS: NOTE: at this point in the narrative, the various brethren who interpret this prophecy divide in their opinions. Some explain Verses 13-17 as part — symbolic of powers exercised by the English beast similar…
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 12 continued “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, who’s deadly wound was healed.” (As explained in The Keys of Revelation) Verse 12 signifies that Henry VIII, in his own territory, executed a similar authority and exerted a similar power in both civil and religious matters as the Papacy, but far more limited in scope…
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 12 “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, who’s deadly wound was healed.” AND HE EXERCISES ALL AUTHORITY OF THE FIRST BEAST: Recall that the first beast had three kinds of authority. 1) The GREAT AUTHORITY of ruler-ship (Verse 2). 2) The TIMED authority (viz. the “forty-two months”) to wear out the saints (Verse 5)….
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 11 continued “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” For centuries the title “Supreme Head of the Church on Earth” has been emblazoned on the crown of the British monarch and surmounted by a cross. Furthermore, the Great Seal of England, besides describing Queen Victoria as the defender of the faith, illustrated her being supported on either side by…
THE TWO-HORNED BEAST Once we have seen the history of the ten-horned beast, we are introduced to a second player in this drama. One reason the ten-horned beast recovered from its Reformation wound is that this new player demonstrates that there is yet left some real church- state power — even separate from the original beast. It, in essence, revitalizes the concept of Divine Right and church-state unity– just at the moment when the Reformation might have killed the concept….
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 9 “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” IF ANYONE HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR: This refrain carries us back to the messages to the seven churches (Chapters 2 & 3). It is always coupled there with (and here, no doubt, is meant to bring to mind) the words: TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES. Most of the Church has had to overcome the beast. The rewards will be stipulated to all who refer back to…
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 8 “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” AND ALL WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH: This class represents those with an interest in the status quo – people with rooted interests in the present order of things. This verse is here to show a CONTRAST. Even though the beast has authority over all…
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 7 “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” AND IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS AND TO OVERCOME THEM: It is most likely that this sentence is spurious. This “given” was already covered in Verses 5 and 6. It seems redundant to repeat it here. It is easy of explanation if it…
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 6 “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.” AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH IN BLASPHEME: It was Papacy’s practice to destroy by condemnation – evil speaking (blaspheme). AGAINST GOD, TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME: This is the first of THREE targets of his blaspheme. The doctrines of Papacy totally misrepresent the character (name) of God, thus making sure few could truly know God….
Revelation Chapter 13 VERSE 5 “And he (the beast) was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.” AND THERE WAS GIVEN TO HIM: Remember what we learned about the construction of this chapter in our opening statements on this chapter, this phrase begins another look at this beast, (the second look) one which clicks back in time to its beginnings. In the first one the beast was given three…