REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:1 As the dragon stands on the
seashore (Revelation 12:17), a beast emerges from the sea. This beast
is sometimes identified with the Antichrist (see 1 John 2:18, 1 John
2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7) or the man of lawlessness (2 Thes [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:3 SEEMED TO HAVE A MORTAL WOUND.
Literally, “as slain to death.” Rome represented the beast in
John’s day. It seemed to have been mortally wounded by Nero’s
suicide (A.D. 68) and the civil chaos that followed. It experienced a
“resurrection” in the reigns of Vespasia... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:4 WHO IS LIKE THE BEAST? The
worshipers’ question echoes Israel’s praise of the Lord after the
exodus (Exodus 15:11). This reinforces the beast’s claim to divine
honors.
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(var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:5 WAS GIVEN... WAS ALLOWED. See
note on 9:1. The beast speaks HAUGHTY AND BLASPHEMOUS WORDS, like the
horn (king) on the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:20,
Daniel 7:25). FORTY-TWO MONTHS. See note on Rev. 11:1–2; also
Revelation 12:6,... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:6 The identification of God’s
DWELLING as THOSE WHO DWELL IN HEAVEN confirms that the sanctuary in
Revelation 11:1 symbolized the worshipers in it. Likewise, the “holy
city” is the Lamb’s church-bride (Revelation 21:2, Revelation
21:9).
⇐ ⇔ [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:8 WRITTEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF
THE WORLD IN THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN. Before
creation and by grace alone, God chose individuals to be redeemed by
Christ’s death (see Ephesians 1:4; and note on Eph. 1:11). God’s
book of life appears in Exodus 32:... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:9 ENDURANCE. Perseverance is a
major theme in Revelation 1:1 (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12;
Revelation 16:15; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21:7;... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:11 A second beast rises out of the
earth to recruit worshipers for the first beast. He gathers people
using lying words and miracles. In John’s day, the imperial cult in
the Roman province of Asia encouraged worship of the emperor as divine
savior and lawgiver.
⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:13 MAKING FIRE COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN. The false prophet (the second beast) does a miracle similar to
Elijah’s to make people believe the first beast is divine (see 1
Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:5).
⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:14 Idols “have mouths but cannot
speak” (Psalms 115:5). Thus the impression that the first beast’s
image has BREATH and MIGHT EVEN SPEAK is likely some kind of miracle
worked by demonic power yet still subject to God’s sovereign control
(IT IS ALLOWED).
⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var im... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:16 MARKED ON THE RIGHT HAND OR THE
FOREHEAD. The Israelites wore God’s law on their hands and
foreheads. They did this to show God’s authority over their thoughts
and actions (Deuteronomy 6:8). The beast’s mark and the seal of God
on believers’ foreheads (see Revelat... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELATION—NOTE ON REVELATION 13:18 The NUMBER OF THE BEAST is 666.
This NUMBER OF A MAN may contrast with divine completeness (symbolized
by seven).
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(var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]