Revelation Chapter 13
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9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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Matthew Henry's Bible commentary for Revelation Chapter 13...
A wild beast rises out of the sea, to whom the dragon gives his power. (1-10) Another beast, which has two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon. (11-15) It obliges all to worship its image, and receive its mark, as persons devoted to it. (16-18)1-10 The apostle, standing on the shore, saw a savage beast rise out of the sea; a tyrannical, idolatrous, persecuting power, springing up out of the troubles which took place. It was a frightful monster! It appears to mean that worldly, oppressing dominion, which for many ages, even from the times of the Babylonish captivity, had been hostile to the church. The first beast then began to oppress and persecute the righteous for righteousness' sake, but they suffered most under the fourth beast of Daniel, (the Roman empire,) which has afflicted the saints with many cruel persecutions. The source of its power was the dragon. It was set up by the devil, and supported by him. The wounding the head may be the abolishing pagan idolatry; and the healing of the wound, introducing popish idolatry, the same in substance, only in a new dress, but which as effectually answers the devil's design. The world admired its power, policy and success. They paid honour and subjection to the devil and his instruments. It exercised infernal power and policy, requiring men to render that honour to creatures which belongs to God alone. Yet the devil's power and success are limited. Christ has a chosen remnant, redeemed by his blood, recorded in his book, sealed by his Spirit; and though the devil and antichrist may overcome the body, and take away the natural life, they cannot conquer the soul, nor prevail with true believers to forsake their Saviour, and join his enemies. Perseverance in the faith of the gospel and true worship of God, in this great hour of trial and temptation, which would deceive all but the elect, is the character of those registered in the book of life. This powerful motive and encouragement to constancy, is the great design of the whole Revelation. 11-18 Those who understand the first beast to denote a worldly power, take the second to be also a persecuting and assumed power, which acts under the disguise of religion, and of charity to the souls of men. It is a spiritual dominion, professing to be derived from Christ, and exercised at first in a gentle manner, but soon spake like the dragon. Its speech betrayed it; for it gives forth those false doctrines and cruel decrees, which show it to belong to the dragon, and not to the Lamb. It exercised all the power of the former beast. It pursues the same design, to draw men from worshipping the true God, and to subject the souls of men to the will and control of men. The second beast has carried on its designs, by methods whereby men should be deceived to worship the former beast, in the new shape, or likeness made for it. By lying wonders, pretended miracles. And by severe censures. Also by allowing none to enjoy natural or civil rights, who will not worship that beast which is the image of the pagan beast. It is made a qualification for buying and selling, as well as for places of profit and trust, that they oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavour, to forward the dominion of the beast, which is meant by receiving his mark. To make an image to the beast, whose deadly wound was healed, would be to give form and power to his worship, or to require obedience to his commands. To worship the image of the beast, implies being subject to those things which stamp the character of the picture, and render it the image of the beast. The number of the beast is given, so as to show the infinite wisdom of God, and to exercise the wisdom of men. The number is the number of a man, computed after the usual manner among men, and it is 666. What or who is intended by this, remains a mystery. To almost every religious dispute this number has yet been applied, and it may reasonably be doubted whether the meaning has yet been discovered. But he who has wisdom and understanding, will see that all the enemies of God are numbered and marked out for destruction; that the term of their power will soon expire, and that all nations shall submit to our King of righteousness and peace.
Recent Comments... [View All]
Laura's comment on 7/11/2010, 8:54pm...
Joe, you should finish the passage. the son of perdition, 4. who opposeth exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God (vicar of God) sitteth in the temple of God, showing that he is God . . .8. whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit 0f his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming. Who else is so elevated in this present world? Who presumes to speak for God in things political and ecclesiastical? Who is responsible for shedding the blood of righteous men on the earth and is brave enough to apologize for it or to make saints of their martyrs? This is the same system that has named the months and days in the age in which we live, and give their blessing the wars that are fought on the earth. We would not know the half of it except, like me, you search, not just the scripture, but the everyday issues of world affairs and read the history books that are of relevance to eras and circumstances.
Joe Berry's comment about verse 16 on 7/10/2010, 8:18pm...
I believe it is having to do with the United Nations, European Union and the very head of it all the antiChrist the beast whose number is 666 and I believe he is alive and well soon to be revealed.
Some believe the Church will be caught up before he is revealed however there is scripture to indicate otherwise such as:
2 Thessalonians Chapter 2
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Laura's comment on 6/26/2010, 5:43am...
The Roman Catholic Church is both religious and Political and the Revelations deal with it in both capacities. The United States of America as well as all countries of the world are mentioned as having 'committed fornication' with the Catholic system,because the Papacy still dictates to the rulers of the world.
BOB KUZEL's comment on 6/20/2010, 2:08am...
THE FIRST BEAST IS THE ONE WORLD POLITICAL SYSTEM WHICH RECIEVES THE DEADLY WOUND. THE OTHER IS THE ONE WORLD RELIGIOUS SYSTEM.
55WestonRM's comment on 6/03/2010, 11:33am...
I think this beast is the United Nations. There are 192 countries in the world and 190 have signed on to the U.N. charter (including the U.S.) Signing this charter gives the U.N. functional authority over the participating country at the descretion of the U.N. The charter is available on the internet. This voluntarily places nearly the entire world under the headship of the U.N. The U.N. began just after WW1 as the League of Nations. it tried to get all the countries of the world to sing on in the name of peace. The ouybreat of WW2 'killed' this idea (Rev.13 v14 'wounded by the sword' the sword represents war )and it appeared to be dead,but, after WW2 a U.S. government branch called the C.F.R. and some U.K. officials got the idea of the U.N. and the beast which was wounded by the sword was revived. The U.S. and the U.K. are the False Prophet(remember the two horns) of Revelation they (at least try to)make countries obey the beast. Whenever a U.N. member country does not behave correctly these two countries bring the deliquent country back in line. The Roman church and the pope form, I think, part of the future antichrist religon or, as scripture calls it, Babylon as well as part of the Great City called Babylon.
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