When I took my master’s degree in theology the seminary
provided professors who were all ‘big picture’ people. Rather than getting
caught up in details, which I always do, they could stand back and see a larger
view of what is going on. When it comes to interpreting Revelation 13 easily
bogs me down with details.
For instance, who is the beast out of the sea? A world
dictator? And who is the beast out of the earth? A false prophet? A supporter
of the dictator? This sounds like a time of one world government and one world
religion, with one world economic system. It also describes how all who resist
and refuse to worship this ruler will be executed with the martyrs outnumbering
any believers who survive. It appears to be Satan’s final attempt to turn the
world from worshiping the true God and Jesus Christ as their Savior.
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. (Revelation 13:4–8)
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 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 performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 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. 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. (Revelation 13:11–15)
Notice that these beasts are allowed to do what they do.
God remains in control.
As for who they are, some view both beasts as representatives
of historical recurrences of evil that comes in two ways. One is outright
opposition against the people of God. This beast receives a fatal wound, but
the wound is healed. How can that be? If the wound is healed, it is not fatal.
If it is fatal it could not be healed. Is this symbolism describing the
repeated historical manifestations of evil against God’s people? Think of Nero,
the Roman Emperor, of Innocent III, of Hitler. In each case, the monster is cut
down, but then the genocide starts again — in places such as China, Cambodia
and Rwanda. This beast receives a fatal wound, but always comes back to life.
The other beast represents religious deception. It is out
of the earth and described in 19:20 as “the false prophet” whose mission is to
seduce and deceive God’s people if possible. He looks like a lamb, but speaks
like a dragon (13:11), appearing innocent but is Satan’s mouthpiece, performing
miraculous signs and deceiving humanity. He uses the authority given him by the
first beast to seduce his followers and exclude all others. History bears out
how false religious leaders do this in their seductive plan to destroy faith in
Jesus Christ.
It could be that these beasts both symbolize evil and are
actual people. Either way, they represent our battle, my battle, against direct
assaults against my faith and the more subtle attacks, both designed to destroy
it and to bring me to my knees before Satan and his cohorts. To this, Jesus
says,
"Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’" (Matthew 4:10)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jesus, I may not be around if literal evil beasts try to
overturn faith in You and grab worship for their leader, but right now, the
battle against evil is real and constant. It can be an outright, visible
assault such as the many laws and norms now imposed on Christians by
governments and our culture, or subtle like the distractions that Satan poses
to keep me from engaging in this war through prayer. Give me wisdom in how I
respond and deal with beast number one and keep me alert against the schemes of
beast number two. As written, defeating my enemy requires Your total protection.
Help me be victorious.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Today’s thankful list . . .
- realizing this ‘future’ is already part of Christian life.
- knowing I can win the battles by faith in Jesus.
- total fatigue from the gym yet joyful because Jesus wins!
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