SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 13
IMPORTANT VERSE:
“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16)
THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA (vs. 1-10)
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 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. 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 astonished and followed the beast. Men 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 make war against him?””
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH (vs. 11-18)
Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of omen. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man]s number. His number is 666.
THOUGHTS: (From Life Application Study Bible)
Satan (the dragon) has two evil accomplices: (1 )- the beast out of the sea and (2) – the beast out of the earth. Together, the three evil beings form an unholy trinity in direct opposition to the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To the beast out of the sea, he gives political power. To the beast out of the earth, he gives power to do miracles. Both beasts work together to capture the control of the whole world. This unholy trinity unite together in a desperate attempt to overthrow God, but their efforts are doomed to failure.
The beast is also called the Antichrist, a false messiah. He will be a counterfeit of Christ so that people will follow and worship him because they will be awed by his power and miracles. He will unite the world under his leadership by controlling the world economy. He will use his power to manipulate others, to point to himself, and to promote evil plans. He will misled people by claiming miracles or resurrection or reincarnation, claiming himself to be Christ. He will conquer God’s people and rule over them, but he will not be able to harm them spiritually. He will establish worldwide dominance and demand that everyone worship him. Refusal to worship the beast will result in temporary suffering for God’s people, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.
Those who remain faithful to Christ could result in imprisonment or even execution. This time of persecution will provide an opportunity for believers to exercise patient endurance and faithfulness. The tough times that we face are also opportunities for spiritual growth. The beast can only harm us physically and not spiritually. All believers will enter God’s presence perfected and purified by the blood of the Lamb.
The mark of the beast is designed to mock the seal that God places on his followers. Just as God marks his people to save them, so Satan’s beast marks his people to save them for the persecution that Satan will inflict upon God’s followers. Those who accept it show their allegiance to Satan, their willingness to operate within the economic system he promotes and their rebellion against God.
Number 7 represents complete perfection. The number 666 fails completely short of perfection and symbolizes all the evils of the Roman Empire. The Greek letters of Nero’s name represent numbers that total 666. 666 symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity designed to undo Christ’s work and overthrow him.