Revelation Study 27: Chapter 13:11-18

Revelation 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all; 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; 15 and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.

Let’s do a little review to regain our bearings.

Up to this point John have discussed

Introduction of Revelation and Vision of Christ in chapter 1

Letters to the seven churches in chapter 2-3

Vision of Heaven in chapters 4-5

Seven seal judgements

Seven trumpet judgements

The two witnesses

The Woman and the child

The Dragon: Satan-devil

Satan cast out of heaven

Woman flees

Beast out of the sea

Significant aspects of the second beast

horns like a lamb - parody of Jesus

Spoke like a dragon - further parody of Christ in that Christ spoke God’s words and the second beast spoke the words of the dragon

Exercises authority of first beast - He did the work of the first beast.

makes inhabitants worship the first beast (who’s fatal wound was healed)

preforms great signs (miracles) even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all - Elijah did this when confronting false prophets before King Ahab

deceives the inhabitants of the earth by these great signs

requires them to make an image of the first beast

gives breath to the image of the first beast - parody of the two witnesses in which the breath of life entered them

through the image and it’s ability to speak came forced worship of the image, death for those who opposed

causes all to receive the mark - all-inclusive small and great, rich and poor. free and slave,

Mark on forehead or right hand

no commerce without mark

what is the mark

name of beast

number of the name of the beast

Wisdom is needed for anyone to understand his number, it’s 666