The Second Beast

Revelation 13: 11-18

We've seen the first beast, who is commonly called The Antichrist. Now we will see the second beast, who is called The False Prophet. 

(11) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; 

This is a different kind of beast, not from the sea, but from the Earth. 

and he had two horns like a lamb 

Lambs don't have horns until they grow up to be rams. These horns must signify power. 

and he spoke as a dragon. 

He talked like Lucifer! 

(12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. 

This person aligns himself with the Antichrist. These two horns could be the political power and the demon spiritual power. 

And he makes the Earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 

He must be a spiritual leader who wields political power, like a Pope. The Roman Catholic Pope is the spiritual leader of all the Catholics in the world, and he is also the Governor of Vatican City, and as such he speaks to other world leaders. 

(13) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of Heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 

This looks like when Elijah called the fire down on the Lord's sacrifice after the priests of Baal, the fire god, could not on their altar (see I Kings 18: 19-40 for the story). Satan is imitating what God does again, fraudulently. 

(14) And he deceives those who dwell on the Earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, 

This religious leader is convincing the people that he is telling them God's message, when he is leading them into idolatry by these supernatural signs he is performing. 

telling those who dwell on the Earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 

He instructs them to make a statue, like you see of the saints in Catholic churches, of this political leader who has apparently been raised from the dead. Another fraudulent copy of God's works, of raising Jesus from the grave. 

By this time, the Antichrist has acquired the governorship over all the nations of the world during the first three and a half years of the seven. 

(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 as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

Not only does this False Prophet preach to the people, but this statue also is given the ability to do the same. Whether this is a biological or an electronic feat, the effect is that people everywhere will be lighting candles and praying to this statue and the man it represents. 

(16) And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 
(17) and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 

This mark can be figurative or literal. It could be an implant or a vaccination or some kind of debit card that is marked or implanted on one's body. 

There is already a chip that has been implanted on people's hands that allows the person to wave his hand over a reader, and the transaction will take place to deduct the payment for the item being purchased. These chips can hold more than financial information, but also personal histories, health info, all kinds of sensitive information, and even substances that that will leach into the person's body to influence their thinking processes and emotions. 

And this Antichrist will put all this technology into use to force the masses to turn to himself. 

(18) Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. 

Wisdom is more than adding up a bare number. This whole issue is much deeper, and needs God's wisdom to discern. This is a whole lifestyle and mindset issue. 

This Antichrist, with the help of the False Prophet, in the power of Lucifer, will force everyone in the world to worship him instead of God with tight economic controls that intends to starve out every dissident. 

And this will last for at least three and a half years, along with all of the environmental upheavals that God will be bringing upon the Earth in His wrath upon the evil and wickedness. 

God's people at this time will need to come together to help one another. To do that we need to know one another, and be able to contact each other. 

O my Father, please help us to be able to acquaint ourselves with one another, and allow others to get hold of us when they have needs that we can help with as brothers and sisters in Christ. Teach us how to love one another as You have loved us, and to go out to the rest of the world to share Your love with them, too. Let everyone in the world hear of Your wonderful plan to save us from ourselves, and from the sin that seeks to enslave us. 

My Father, please send us out now, give us the sense of urgency to spread Your Good News everywhere, before the Bad News comes. Let every living person hear and understand sufficiently to make a fully informed choice to accept or reject Your generous and gracious offer, before their clarity of mind is clouded. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation' to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!