Read Revelation 13
The Beast out of the Sea
13 The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs,even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small,rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.
Go Deeper
John’s vision continues to reassure God’s people of Jesus’s ultimate victory and to warn us about the powerful, yet limited, authority of Satan in this world. In Revelation 13, the writer describes forces of evil that arise, how they lead people astray, and what happens to believers who live in these days. Similarly to the rest of Revelation and other apocalyptic texts, the writer uses images like ‘horns,’ animals, and ‘marks,’ as symbols of spiritual realities. These include rulers, their characteristics, and their works. This chapter has numerous references to the book of Daniel, specifically Daniel 7. Daniel’s visions point to beasts that arise from the sea (a symbol of chaos to Jewish readers), authority given to them, destruction of God’s people and the earth, and the Son of Man’s return to destroy evil. He will one day reign over all the nations in fullest holiness!
In Revelation 13, we learn more about the nature of the enemy and his rule. Though the enemy is conquered (we see him overthrown in Revelation 12), he continues his fading rule by passing off some of his power to “a beast.” The enemy shows that he is content promoting the worship of any earthly power, so long as the true God is rejected and dishonored. Make note of the ways that we live amidst this prophecy, and how we see displays of evil from Satan at work. This is displayed in every nation, where there are religions and powers which kill the people of Jesus, speak against him, work miraculous signs, and claim to have the only god(s).
Another theme of scripture which appears in this chapter is people being “marked.” In the Old Testament, God tells his people that His word shall “be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:9-10,16). In this instruction, God shows that he wants the world to know that His people belong to him. If His people are marked by His word, they will remember His salvation. In Revelation, we see similar language about “marked” on the head or “on the hand.” In an adverse and twisted way, the enemy also wants to mark those who are allegiant to him, and those who follow the ways of his kingdom and his words. This idea is further supported by the “number of man,” which is 666. In Jewish writings, each number holds symbolism. The number six generally points to humankind, created on the sixth day, given work for 6 out 7 days. By repeating ‘6’ three times, the writer emphasizes that the beast’s reign of complete human evil.
Finally, John gives specific applications and warnings to us as believers. He suggests that there will be a great cost to those who are not marked by the way of the Beast. Followers of Jesus will have great difficulty in “buying and selling,” the economic system in the final days. We must be awake and aware of the fact that people of God will face difficulty as they live in obedience and integrity in this world. However, He is worthy of every cost. John also quotes parts of Jeremiah and Isaiah as reminders that the justice of God is coming (v. 10). He gives the saints a call for endurance and faith, not because we earn our salvation, but because the Lord will come to restore all things. He will raise up those whose names are covered by His blood in the Book of Life. We can have hope today knowing that the enemy will be conquered and awaits destruction.
Questions
- What similarities do you see in this chapter and in the book of Daniel?
- In Christ, we are forever marked and changed by the blood of Jesus. How do you daily remind yourself of your testimony of going from death to life?
- God rules in a very different way than the enemy! What does Jesus’s kingdom look like, and how is it different from the ways of the world?
Watch This
Check out The Bible Project’s video overview over the final half of Revelation!
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
4 thoughts on “Revelation 13”
16 “It also forced all people, great and small,rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
Fascinating/terrifying how the most basic act of marketplace transactions is used to exert power over all people. My economic self is also a reflection of the standing of my faith.
As I’ve read this chapter in the past, it has driven fear into my heart. This is partly because the main focus of this chapter is pure evil. Satan and his accomplices are on full display. The only way not to be awed by their power and manipulation, is to trust God’s sovereign authority over everything. We must keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith, instead of being overcome by the evil around us. No matter what may happen to our physical bodies, our souls are eternally safe in Christ.
Amen!
What is your true, deep down, relationship with God? Are your words consistent to your heart? What are your patterns of thinking (forhead), and doing ( hand/wrist)? This is specifically what marks our affections and worship to.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 5 You eshall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30 ESV
Will I, will you, be ready to face what God would ask me/you to do as we go forward in these minutes of spiritual warfare now and in the coming days? What are your idols? I must put them to rest.
God search the innermost parts of my heart. Show me what is hidden. Thank You for giving me insight into what I need to get rid of. Help me to let go of my “idols” and make You the center most part of my being. God You are majesty, wonder, joy ,love, amazement, love, faithfulness, delightfulness and all things holy. God thank You for continuing to open the eyes of my understanding in Your ways for this day, these minutes to speak, love and worship You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!