Revelation 13:11-18: The Beast from the Earth

Revelation - The Lamb is Victorious  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

Scripture

Revelation 13:11–18 ESV
11 Then I saw another beast rising 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 in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was 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 might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 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 unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction
Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction
Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus
Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna
Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum
Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira
Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis
Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia
Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room

Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room
Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy

Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals

Revelation 6:1-8 - The First Four Seals
Revelation 6:9-17 - The Fifth and Sixth Seals
Revelation 7:1-17 - Who can Stand on the Day of the Lord?
Revelation 8:1-5 - Anticipation of Further Judgment

Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:6-13 - The First Four Trumpets
Revelation 9:1-21 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets
Revelation 10:1-11 - The End is Near
Revelation 11:1-14 - The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:15-19 - The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions

Revelation 12:1-17 - The Woman, Child, and Heavenly Hosts Versus the Great Dragon
Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast out of the Sea
Revelation 13:11-18 - The Beast from the Earth
Revelation 13:11 - The Rising Beast from the Earth
Revelation 13:12-17 - The Second Beast’s Mission
Revelation 13:18 - The Second Beast’s Identity

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

The Dragon calls the second beast out of the earth to function as an unholy Spirit diverting true worship away from Christ towards the first beast

Revelation 13:11 - The Rising Beast from the Earth

Revelation 13:11 ESV
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth.

This beast does not come from the sea, but comes out of the earth yet both are called out by the dragon
Both beast are called out by the dragon AND both will be defeated by God
Leviathan and Behemoth
1 Enoch 60:7-10
The Book of Revelation E. The Beast from the Earth (13:11–18)

According to 1 Enoch 60:7–10 Leviathan (a female monster) lived “in the abysses of the ocean,” and Behemoth (the male) occupied a “waste wilderness named Duidain.”

2 Baruch 29:3-4 - 70AD

And it will happen that when all that which should come to pass in these parts has been accomplished, the Anointed One will begin to be revealed. 4 And Behemoth will reveal itself from its place, and Leviathan will come from the sea, the two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of creation and which I shall have kept until that time. And they will be nourishment for all who are left.

It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

The beast looks like Jesus, but has demonic origins
Matthew 7:15 ESV
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
False prophet in future passages of Revelation - Religious leader/role
This false prophet is not leading people to worship Christ, but leading others to worship totalitarian governments/state or compromise their faith for things less than God

Revelation 13:12-17 - The Second Beast’s Mission

Revelation 13:12–17 ESV
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was 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 might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 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 unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.

It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence
This beast/false prophet functions like an unholy Spirit
Makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed
The goal of the second beast is to stir the world to worship the first beast, Rome who appeared to have died after Nero’s death
Notice the Holy Spirit’s role
John 16:7–15 ESV
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to the earth in front of people
The signs done by the second beast validate the ministry of the first beast
Matthew 24:24 ESV
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 ESV
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
By the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived
The second beast’s signs deceive the unbelieving world convincing them to worship the first beast
The word for lived means a resurrected life - the roman empire was thought to be dead with Nero’s death BUT it came back to life under Vespasian - thus a fake, counterfeit Christ

15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

It was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast
Rome did not literally come back to life
The second beast is empowering Rome to be worshiped
So that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain
Coercion is a primary tactic of the second beast
His aim is to get the world to worship Rome instead of Christ
Those who do not bow the knee to the first beast are put to death - Absolute allegiance is required

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 unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

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
Not literally, but symbolic of allegiance and devotion to the beast - opposite of the sealing of the saints
So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name
Economic hardship will be the norm for those who do not bow the knee in worship to the beast

Revelation 13:18 - The Second Beast’s Identity

Revelation 13:18 ESV
18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

One of the most debated verses in all of Revelation for 2,000 years
Wisdom
Transcendent wisdom given by God to reveal a secret
Calculate the number of the beast - 666
Here is a riddle forcing readers to probe deeply
Who is this man?
Nero, but also symbolic of humanity
No one has solved this mystery, but one day it will be made clear

Main Point

The Dragon calls the second beast out of the earth to function as an unholy Spirit diverting true worship away from Christ towards the first beast

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