Understanding Revelation 13: The Beasts and the Mark

Revelation 13

1 And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.

Revelation 13 describes the final conflict between the powers of earth and the government of God, focusing on the rise of the papal beast, the development of the image to the beast in the United States, and the enforcement of the mark of the beast. 🛡️

The First Beast: The Papacy

The chapter begins with a beast rising out of the sea, which represents the Roman government in its papal form Revelation 13:1-2. This power is identical to Daniel’s fourth kingdom and the "man of sin," characterized by its blasphemous claims and its persecution of the saints 2 Thessalonians 2:3MWV2 78.2+1. It exercised authority for forty-two months, a period ending in 1798 when its "deadly wound" was inflicted through captivity and the sword Revelation 13:3-5+1MWV2 78.2. However, this wound is healed as the world once again wonders after and worships the beast, whose name or title is associated with the number 666 Revelation 13:3+1DAR 579.3.

The Second Beast and the Image to the Beast

A second beast is seen coming up out of the earth, having two horns like a lamb but speaking like a dragon Revelation 13:11. This power represents the United States, a nation that began with principles of religious liberty but eventually uses its civil authority to enforce religious dogmasLDE 228.2+2.

• The Image: The "image to the beast" is a likeness of the papacy—a union of church and state where religious power controls the civil government to punish "heresy"LDE 228.2+2.

• Formation: This image is formed by apostate Protestantism in the United States when churches seek the aid of the law to enforce their decrees, particularly Sunday observanceLDE 228.2+2.

• Timing: The image of the beast is formed before the close of probation, as it serves as the great final test for the people of God2SM 80.4.

The False Prophet and Deception

The second beast is also identified as the "false prophet" because it claims to speak for God while relaying untrue messages and performing miracles to deceive the inhabitants of the earth Revelation 13:13-14+1EVRR556. Through the influence of spiritualism, apostate Protestantism reaches across the gulf to clasp hands with the Roman power, creating a threefold union that tramples on the rights of conscienceEVRR556+1. This power eventually gives "life" to the image, enabling it to speak and act with governmental force Revelation 13:15ARSH February 20, 1900, page 114.13.

The Mark of the Beast and the Final Test

The climax of Revelation 13 is the enforcement of the mark of the beast, which is diametrically opposed to the seal of God Revelation 13:16-17PTUK May 16, 1895, page 309.7.

• The Issue: The conflict centers on worship and the law of God, specifically the SabbathSITI December 15, 1887, page 760.8+1. While the Sabbath is the sign of the true Creator, the mark of the beast represents the authority of the "man of sin" who thought to change God's times and laws Daniel 7:25Ed 250.1+1.

• Enforcement: A decree will eventually go forth that those who refuse to worship the image or receive the mark cannot buy or sell and will ultimately face a death sentence Revelation 13:15-17AWLF 9.5+1.

• The Victory: God’s faithful people, whose names are in the Book of Life, will refuse to yield to this human power, choosing instead to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Revelation 14:12MEDM August 28, 1906, page 76.11+1. They will eventually stand in victory upon the sea of glass Revelation 15:2SITI August 27, 1885, page 519.5+1. 🕊️