Analysis Of The Chapter This chapter Revelation 13 is closely connected with Revelation 12, which is properly introductory to this and to the subsequent portions of the book to Revelation 20:1. See the Analysis of the Book. The vision in this chapter is of two distinct “beasts,” each with special ch... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I STOOD UPON THE SAND OF THE SEA - The sand upon the shore of the sea. That is, he seemed to stand there, and then had a vision of a beast rising out of the waters. The reason of this representation may, perhaps, have been that among the ancients the sea was regarded as the appropriate place for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE BEAST WHICH I SAW WAS LIKE UNTO A LEOPARD - For a description of the leopard, see the notes on Daniel 7:6. It is distinguished for bloodthirstiness and cruelty, and thus becomes an emblem of a fierce, tyrannical power. In its general character it resembles a lion and the lion and the leopard... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ONE OF HIS HEADS, AS IT WERE WOUNDED TO DEATH - The phrase “wounded to death” means properly that it received a mortal wound, that is, the wound would have been mortal if it had not been healed. A blow was struck that would be naturally fatal, but there was something that prevented the fat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE DRAGON WHICH GAVE POWER UNTO THE BEAST - See the notes at Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:2. That is, they in fact worshipped him. The word “worship” - προσκυνέω proskuneō - is not always, however, used in a religious sense. It means, properly, “to kiss”; to kiss toward anyo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM A MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS - John does not say by whom this was given; but we may suppose that it was by the “dragon,” who is said Revelation 13:2 to have given him his power, and seat, and authority. The fulfillment of this is found in the claims set up by the prince... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH IN BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD, TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME - By his own arrogant claims; by his assumed authority in matters of conscience; by setting aside the divine authority; and by impious declarations in derogation of the divine claims. See the notes on Revelation 13:1. AND HIS TA... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM - By the same power that taught him to blaspheme God and his church. See the notes on Revelation 13:2, Revelation 13:5. TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS - See this fully illustrated in the notes on the parallel passage in Daniel 7:21, and at the end of that chapter, (f). AND TO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH SHALL WORSHIP HIM - That is, as immediately stated, all whose names are not in the book of life. On the word “worship,” see the notes on Revelation 13:4. WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB - That is, of the Lord Jesus - the Lamb of God. See... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN HAVE AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR - See the notes on Revelation 2:7. The idea here is, that what was here said respecting the “beast” was worthy of special attention, as it pertained to most important events in the history of the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LEADETH INTO CAPTIVITY - This is clearly intended to refer to the power or government which is denoted by the beast. The form of expression here in the Greek is special - “If anyone leadeth into captivity,” etc. - Εἴ τις αἰχμαλωσίαν συνάγει Ei tis aichmalōsian sunagei. The statement is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BEHELD ANOTHER BEAST - Compare the notes on Revelation 13:1. This was so distinct from the first that its characteristics could be described, though, as shown in the Analysis of the Chapter, there was in many points a strong resemblance between them. The relations between the two will be more... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE EXERCISETH ALL THE POWER OF THE FIRST BEAST BEFORE HIM - The same amount of power; the same kind of power. This shows a remarkable relationship between these two beasts; and proves that it was intended to refer to the same power substantially, though manifested in a different form. In the ful... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS - “Signs” - σημεῖα sēmeia - the word commonly employed to denote “miracles” (compare the notes on Acts 2:19); and the representation here is, that the power referred to by the second beast would found its claim on pretended miracles, and would accomplish an effect on the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DECEIVETH THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH BY THE MEANS OF THOSE MIRACLES - Nothing could possibly be more descriptive of the papacy than this. It has been kept up by deception and delusion, and its pretended miracles have been, and are to this day, the means by which this is done. Anyone in the sli... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD POWER TO GIVE LIFE UNTO THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST - That is, that image of the beast would be naturally powerless, or would have no life in itself. The second beast, however, had power to impart life to it, so that it would be invested with authority, and would exercise that authority in the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAUSED ALL - He claims jurisdiction, in the matters here referred to, over all classes of persons, and compels them to do his will. This is the second beast, and, according to the interpretation given above, it relates to the papal power, and to its claim of universal jurisdiction. BOTH SMAL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL - That is, this mighty power would claim jurisdiction over the traffic of the world, and endeavor to make it tributary to its own purposes. Compare Revelation 18:11, Revelation 18:17. This is represented by saying that no one might “buy or sell” except by its permis... [ Continue Reading ]
HERE IS WISDOM - That is, in what is stated respecting the name and the number of the name of the beast. The idea is, either that there would be need of special sagacity in determining what the “number” of the “beast” or of his “name” was, or that special “wisdom” was shown by the fact that the numb... [ Continue Reading ]