Daily Bread 2011 - Revelation 13
Revelation 13
1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
The Beast out of the Sea
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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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?”5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 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. 8 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. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear.10 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.
What Does This Mean?
John returns to the vision he has seen, as opposed to the visions from heaven in chapters 11-12. This time he sees a beast coming out of the sea, who is given authority by the dragon. There are resemblances between the dragon and beast in terms of the real power it is given, as symbolized by the ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowds.
Although the beast has some power, in the cosmic realm it is not the same power as God has, yet those on the earth whose names are not written in the book of life worship the beast as if it is God. As part of its reign, he is given power to make war against the saints and even conquer them. We do see that the beast has a fatal wound on one of its head, a foreshadowing that the beast’s power is limited. Through Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, the beast was dealt a mortal blow and his time is limited. The number for the beast is 666, one less the number for God 777.
Some in history connect the “conquering of the saints” by the beast with the persecution of the Church starting with the Roman emperor Nero. His eventual slaying would then correspond to one of the mortal wounds of the beast. But one must be careful with such subjective interpretations, and keep the teaching to a more universal application. The key verse in the end is, “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” The error we might make is to fight fire with fire, or try to avenge our own cause, and yet the victory is ours in Christ. God will avenge and enact His power and authority in the end.
What Does This Mean For Us?
As just mentioned, it is hard for us when we see evil proliferating in the world around us to leave justice in God’s hands. While we are called to speak out against evil and fight for justice, ultimately it will be God who justifies our cause. Listen to these New Testament verses that back that up:
“17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”(Proverbs 25:21-22) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21
As we shall see as we finish the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ has overcome the devil and all his empty promises. The victory is ours in Christ, and yet we wait patiently for God’s finalization of His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. So though our battle is not over, we know its outcome and that gives us the perseverance and patience to endure to the end. Remember this as you face your own battles, spiritual and otherwise, in this life. God’s purposes will come to pass in your life it is assured through Jesus Christ our Lord!!
Jesus, give us faith to persevere and trust in Your promises which we know are true, Amen.
1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
The Beast out of the Sea
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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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?”5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 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. 8 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. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear.10 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.
What Does This Mean?
John returns to the vision he has seen, as opposed to the visions from heaven in chapters 11-12. This time he sees a beast coming out of the sea, who is given authority by the dragon. There are resemblances between the dragon and beast in terms of the real power it is given, as symbolized by the ten horns, seven heads, and ten crowds.
Although the beast has some power, in the cosmic realm it is not the same power as God has, yet those on the earth whose names are not written in the book of life worship the beast as if it is God. As part of its reign, he is given power to make war against the saints and even conquer them. We do see that the beast has a fatal wound on one of its head, a foreshadowing that the beast’s power is limited. Through Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, the beast was dealt a mortal blow and his time is limited. The number for the beast is 666, one less the number for God 777.
Some in history connect the “conquering of the saints” by the beast with the persecution of the Church starting with the Roman emperor Nero. His eventual slaying would then correspond to one of the mortal wounds of the beast. But one must be careful with such subjective interpretations, and keep the teaching to a more universal application. The key verse in the end is, “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” The error we might make is to fight fire with fire, or try to avenge our own cause, and yet the victory is ours in Christ. God will avenge and enact His power and authority in the end.
What Does This Mean For Us?
As just mentioned, it is hard for us when we see evil proliferating in the world around us to leave justice in God’s hands. While we are called to speak out against evil and fight for justice, ultimately it will be God who justifies our cause. Listen to these New Testament verses that back that up:
“17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”(Proverbs 25:21-22) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21
As we shall see as we finish the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ has overcome the devil and all his empty promises. The victory is ours in Christ, and yet we wait patiently for God’s finalization of His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. So though our battle is not over, we know its outcome and that gives us the perseverance and patience to endure to the end. Remember this as you face your own battles, spiritual and otherwise, in this life. God’s purposes will come to pass in your life it is assured through Jesus Christ our Lord!!
Jesus, give us faith to persevere and trust in Your promises which we know are true, Amen.
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