Book of Revelation:  Beast from the Earth.
Scripture: Revelation 13:11-18
Date: 06262022
Bible Version: NKJV

The word revelation means ‘the unveiling’.

How Revelation Book is Broken up:
Section 1: The things that you have seen (Chapter 1)
Chapter 1: Is the Revelation of the glorified Christ.
Section 2: The things that are (Chapters 2-3)
Chapters 2-3: We see the entire scope of Church History
Section 3: The things that will take place after this (Chapters 4-22)
Chapters 4-5: We see the Church taken up to Heaven for a seven-year honeymoon.
Chapters 6-19: We see the Tribulation
Chapter 20: We see the Millennium.
Chapters 21-22: We see the new Heaven and the new Earth

BOTTOM LINE: We must not engage in false worship.  We must remain faithful to the Lord.

Vs. 11

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth - Similar to the beast out of the sea, John now observes another beast coming out of the earth. The same word is used to describe both beasts, but as we will see, this beast is different from the beast out of the sea.

These two beast are similar but distinct:
1. In origin: One is out of the sea and the other is out of the earth.
2. In Appearance: One is grotesque and the other is like a lamb.

He had two horns like a lamb- The second beast only has two horns.  This may be because he has power but it may be less compared to the beast out of the sea; or it may be because he is like a lamb.  We can also note that although this beast has horns , it has no crowns.  This may mean that his authority may not be in the political arena.

and spoke like a dragon- The main point here is that even though this beast looked like a lamb, he spoke like a dragon.  Again we see that this beast is distinct from the first beast, but similar to the dragon.

This second beast is called the false prophet, as someone distinct from the first beast (the Antichrist) and the dragon (Satan). —David Guzik

With this second beast, we have the completion of the unholy trinity.
1. Dragon: anti-Father
2. Beast from the sea: anti-Christ
3. Beast from the land: anti- Holy Spirit

Vs. 12

He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence - The second beast from the earth is a Satanic prophet (false prophet). The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to put the focus on Jesus.  Here, we will see the ministry of this false prophet is to put focus on the antichrist. 

Causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast - This second beast will lead the world in the worship of the first beast.

Whose deadly wound was healed - John reminds us that the first beast mortal wound was healed.  This was done to mimic the resurrection of Christ.

The enemy is a counterfeit and a great imitator. 

Vs. 13

He performs great signs - The second beast will be able to perform great signs.  Many will fall for this imitation because they live in a spiritual vacuum. 

He even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth - John highlights an important event.  If you recall from Revelation 11:5, the two witnesses were able to call down fire from heaven. Here, the second beast (false prophet) is able to mimic and answer the work that the two witnesses were able to do.

There is a supernatural power which is against God and truth, as well as one for God and truth.  A miracle, simply as a work of wonder, is not necessarily of God. There has always been a devilish supernaturalism in the world, running alongside of the supernaturalism of divine grace and salvation. —Seiss

Signs and wonders don’t always point to God.

Signs and wonders will be present among Christians, but the real marks of God’s work are love and truth. —David Guzik

Vs. 14

He deceives those who dwell on the earth - The point of the signs and wonders is to deceive those who dwell on the earth.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring honor and glory to the Father.  The work of the anti-Holy Spirit is to deceive people.

Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast - This second beast would encourage those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast. This false prophet will perform deceptive signs and wonders in order to lead a spiritually dead world into the open worship of Satan.

Even if someone can call down fire and raise the dead, he is an instrument of Satan if he does not also point people to Jesus. —Tony Evans

Vs. 15

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast - The second beast was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast. We can see that this image of the beast is animated in some way 

That the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed - The point of this was to cause those who dwell on the earth to worship the beast.  Many believe that this idolatrous image is the abomination of desolation spoken of in Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; where this idolatrous image is set up in the rebuilt temple.  Those who would not worship this image of the beast would be killed.

Since Satan could not command worship in heaven, he will go to the next best place, the Jewish temple in the Holy City. —Warren Wiersbe

Vs. 16

He caused all… - This second beast had the power and influence to impact the entire world.  This will more than likely be enforced by a government of some sort.

To receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads - Controlling everyone through his religious deceit would not be enough. He would also require everyone to receive a mark on their hand or on their foreheads.  This would impact everyone economically.  This illustrates the nature of Satan.  Where God marked his people in Revelation 7:3-4 (144,000 were sealed), here we see Satan (the great imitator) copy God.

Vs. 17

No one may buy or sell except one who has the mark of the name of the beast or the number of his name. - The second beast (false prophet) will force everyone to receive this mark to show their allegiance to the Antichrist. This mark would not only be used to identify one’s allegiance to Antichrist, it would also be used to engage in commerce.  Without it, you would not be able to buy or sell.

Vs. 18

His number is 666 - We now come to a much debated topic.  Seven is the number of perfection and six is the number of man.  We are told that the number of the beast is 666.  This could represent one six for the anti-Father, one six for the anti-Christ, and one six for the anti-Holy Spirit.  History indicates that there have been no shortages of candidates for the Antichrist. 

If you work at it hard enough, almost any name will fit! —Warren Wiersbe

By nature, men have an undeniable religious impulse, and they also have an undeniable rebellion against God.  What men want most is not the elimination of religion, but their own religion.  They say they want the kingdom, but they don’t want God in it. —David Guzik

You and I were put on this earth for one simple purpose; that is to bring honor and glorify to the Lord.

How can you live a life that is not deceived in this world?
1. Follow Jesus with all your heart.
2. Compare everything to the inerrant word of God.
3. Live your life for God alone.