Revelation 13:5-15

5 There was given to him a mouth 1speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for 2forty-two * months was given to him.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, 3those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was also given to him to 4make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over 5every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
8 All who 6dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone 7whose name has not been written 8from the foundation of the world in the 9book of life of 10the Lamb who has been slain.
9 11If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
10 12If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; 13if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is 14the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then 15I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had 16two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a 17dragon.
12 He 18exercises all the authority of the first beast 19in his presence. And he makes 20the earth and those who dwell in it to 21worship the first beast, whose 22fatal wound was healed.
13 He 23performs great signs, so that he even makes 24fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
14 And he 25deceives 26those who dwell on the earth because of 27the signs which it was given him to perform 28in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the 29wound of the sword and has come to life.
15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause 30as many as do not 31worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Revelation 13:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 13

This chapter contains a description of the Romish antichrist, under the figure of two beasts, the one representing him in his civil power, the other in his ecclesiastical power. The first beast is described by its origin, the sea, and by the monstrous shape its several parts; its heads seven, in which were the name of blasphemy; its horns ten, on which were crowns; its skin like a leopard, its feet as a bear, and its mouth as a lion; and by its state and condition, having power, a throne, and great authority; and having one of its heads wounded, and healed; and by the great regard had unto him, being wondered at, and worshipped by all the world, and declared to be more powerful than any, and none to be like them, Re 13:1-4. Next an account is given of what he was suffered to have, a blaspheming mouth, and power to continue forty two months, Re 13:5; and of what he said or uttered, his blasphemy against God, his name, tabernacle, and the inhabitants of heaven, Re 13:6; and of what he did by permission, made war with the saints, overcame them, and had power over all people, Re 13:7; and of the worship given him by the reprobate part of the world, Re 13:8; and the whole is concluded with an exhortation exciting attention to what had been said, with a threatening to the beast, and a word of comfort to the saints, Re 13:9,10. And then follows the description of the second beast, by its original the earth; by its likeness to a lamb, and a dragon; to the former for its two horns, and to the latter for its speech, Re 13:11; and by the actions ascribed to it, which are many; as exercising all the power of the first beast; causing all the inhabitants of the earth to worship that; doing miracles, of which one is mentioned, thereby deceiving the men of the world; ordering them to make an image to the wounded beast; giving life to it, so that it could speak; putting to death all that refused to worship it; obliging men of all ranks and degrees to have a mark in their right hands or foreheads, and forbidding such that had not to buy or sell, Re 13:12-17. And the chapter is concluded with an epiphonema, exciting men of understanding to search out, and count the number of the beast's name, since it is possible to be done, being the number of a man, and easy to be done, consisting of three Greek letters, c x v, which are numerically 666, Re 13:18.

Cross References 31

  • 1. Dan 7:8, 11, 20, 25; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
  • 2. Revelation 11:2
  • 3. Revelation 7:15; Revelation 12:12
  • 4. Daniel 7:21; Revelation 11:7
  • 5. Revelation 5:9
  • 6. Revelation 3:10; Revelation 13:12, 14
  • 7. Revelation 3:5
  • 8. Matthew 25:34; Revelation 17:8
  • 9. Psalms 69:28
  • 10. Revelation 5:6
  • 11. Revelation 2:7
  • 12. Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 43:11
  • 13. Genesis 9:6; Matthew 26:52; Revelation 11:18
  • 14. Hebrews 6:12; Revelation 14:12
  • 15. Revelation 13:1; Revelation 16:13
  • 16. Daniel 8:3
  • 17. Revelation 13:4
  • 18. Revelation 13:4
  • 19. Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20
  • 20. Revelation 13:8
  • 21. Revelation 13:15; Revelation 14:9, 11; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4
  • 22. Revelation 13:3
  • 23. Matthew 24:24; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:20
  • 24. 1 Kings 18:38; Luke 9:54; Revelation 11:5; Revelation 20:9
  • 25. Revelation 12:9
  • 26. Revelation 13:8
  • 27. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
  • 28. Revelation 13:12; Revelation 19:20
  • 29. Revelation 13:3
  • 30. Daniel 3:3f
  • 31. Revelation 13:12; Revelation 14:9, 11; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4

Footnotes 10

  • [a]. Lit "great things"
  • [b]. Or "tabernacle"
  • [c]. Or "holy ones"
  • [d]. Or "written in the book...slain from the foundation of the world"
  • [e]. Or leads "into captivity"
  • [f]. Or "steadfastness"
  • [g]. Or "holy ones"
  • [h]. Or "by his authority"
  • [i]. Or "by the authority of"
  • [j]. One early ms reads "speak, and he will cause"
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