Revelation Chapter Thirteen Commentary

Contents

I. Introduction

Our purpose is to render a commentary on Revelation chapter thirteen. We begin the commentary with the last verse of Revelation chapter twelve; this verse appears as the introductory sentence to verse one of chapter thirteen (following the NASB).

A note of clarification concerning our terminology: When we speak of the “Sea Beast” below (particularly verses 1-10), it is understood that this Beast is comprised of seven constituent beasts represented by the seven heads of this Beast, and that the seventh head is the revived Roman Empire from which Antichrist, an eighth and final head emerges. Thus the Sea Beast is the world dominion of Antichrist with him as its head.

Aside, some of our verses reference passages in Daniel chapter eight, which, by force of Dan 8:16-19 we believe concern the last days of human history, and/or Antichrist, as appropriate, and not the days or person of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 BC).

We will follow this format:

Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text (except for verse 12:18, where we opted to utilize the NLT) followed by an NASB mouseover of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Greek text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word (we are not biblical Greek or Hebrew scholars, please consider our grammatical constructions with a critical eye).
Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way.

II. Revelation Chapter Thirteen Commentary Verses

12:18 Perched for a Kill

NLT TEXT: “Then the dragon took his stand* on the shore beside the sea” (BLB versions) [1].

COMMENTARY: This verse introduces our commentary. In consideration of the curious reader, the NASB (our mouseover translation), following some manuscripts, has it as the introductory sentence to Rev 13:1, but the Greek of 13:1 does not reflect this text seeing it came before at the end of chapter twelve [2].

At this time in biblical history Satan is still free to roam (consider Job 1:7, 1Pe 5:8, Rev 20:10-he will not be free to roam forever). We think that is why John saw him standing on the seashore [3]. What is his posture there, and why? Probably, in keeping with 1Pe 5:8 and Rev 12:12, he stands there like a wolf eying a flock, watching; he watches. Satan watches for an opportune temptation scenario by which to seize and devour a vulnerable one. With the “sea” typically representative of the great mass of humanity in Scripture (Rev 17:15), we see him through the eyes of John standing on the seashore perched for a kill. Satan is a murderer (Jhn 8:44); he seeks to kill human beings, physically, spiritually (deceit is his big gun—smoke and mirror tactics, half-truths, outright lies, etc.). But why; why target humanity? No doubt he is thus motivated because he is intensely jealous of humanity owing to our exalted position (unmerited though it be) around the throne of Jehovah God thanks first to Creation (lovingly created by God in His image—Notice: not so for Satan; he is simply a creature) and thanks finally to Redemption-Salvation. Yea, thanks to our great savior God Jesus Christ, the Agent of Creation and Redemption-Salvation, whom it follows Satan hates preeminently (Satan=”hater”). Importantly, our unmerited exaltation contested, indeed, contests this former so-called morning star’s place of eminence, and put/s him beneath “lowly” humankind positionally (so did Adam and Eve at Creation; so do all saints going forward into eternity future). Exaltation-lust motivated Satan’s fall (Isa 14:12-14)—a price (irredeemable fall) he was obviously, remarkably, willing to pay—here is exaltation-lust defined. There can be little doubt that our (unmerited) exaltation around the throne of God, in the face of his own unfathomable missed opportunity, motivates this vicious and ruthless killer of humankind (see his treachery in the Garden of Eden—Gen 3:1ff—he did to humankind in the Garden what he tried to do to our Lord in the wilderness Temptation [Mat 4:1ff], but failed). Satan’s post-Genesis unrelenting assault on the Messianic lineage (and thus Israel) down through the ages (specifically, post-Gen 3:15; the Messianic lineage, came under attack the instant Gen 3:15 was uttered; cf. Rev 12:1-6, 13-17; notice that Jesus is a Jew, and that Israel also gave birth to the Christian Church), and finally his assault on our great savior God (“A Threefold Test”, “Holy Week: Part Two”), shows his resolve to thwart the plans of God for humankind. Plans that were themselves “put back on track” after Satan’s Genesis assault, precisely through Redemption-Salvation. We think that these plans, these plans of God for the jewel of His Creation, that is, for humankind—to some extent plans that Adam and Eve enjoyed—are “beyond our wildest dreams” in their glory (1Cr 2:9, 2Cr 12:3-4), to the extent that Satan rebelled and broke off with God seeing that he coveted them for himself (note again Isa 14:12-14, consider Rev 12:7-9; no surprise here that Satan straightaway assaulted Adam and Eve—this proud creature does not want to be subservient in any capacity to, or stoop to “lowly” humankind; his attitude toward God is the same of course, but he has no choice but to do God’s bidding in that sphere). The unfolding of Scripture shows that he cannot “out muscle” or “out think” Jehovah God, try as he may—notice what Redemption-Salvation secured for God, for believers: the reborn believer is in fact like the Most High God seeing that by definition such a one bears the likeness of Jesus Christ by way of the Spirit of God Most High that literally indwells them—here is the image of God restored in humankind (“John Chapter Three Commentary”)—compare Satan’s goal: “…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High…” (Isa 14:14). Satan said: ‘…I will…’, but God said: ‘…nay, thou shalt not…’ [4]. And He resolved, that is, God resolved to give humankind, rather, to give to as many as would accept, His best—Himself, and all that entails—the very (substantial, to say the least) thing that Satan coveted, but ended up losing, to “lowly” humankind [5]; nay, ended up losing to God’s exalted saints, relative to whom he finds himself positionally beneath, and to some extent by whom he finds himself judged (1Cr 6:2-3, 2Pe 2:4, Jud 1:6)—here in the aggregate is his motivation for hating, and the attendant killing of, humankind (“Have You Considered My Servant Job?: Spiritual Perturbation”) [6]. Thus he stands on the seashore and watches, like a wolf eying a flock (that is, everybody—not least to prevent Salvation); watching especially the Flock (that is, the Flock of God—not least to impoverish the rewards of Salvation-Mat 7:21-27, 25:14-30, 1Cr 3:8-15, 2Cr 5:10, etc.). And how he hates the latter, and its Shepherd all the more.

See how Satan is the consummate loser (see how he has fallen)? And once his roaming freedom is stripped from him he, as also his cronies, servants, followers, indeed, all who mock and disdain God, must bear that stigma for eternity, in misery (‘misery loves company,’ as the saying goes, and it will have plenty of it here), while humankind, nay, while the Flock of God, those tethered to the Shepherd, the Savior, Christ the great savior God, precisely those whom Satan cannot devour, will exult in God our Savior forever in unimaginable glory. The irony here is O so thick. It is a fool’s game to fight against God; notwithstanding, as we move into chapter thirteen now, Satan will show himself to be that very fool. Praised be omniscient, omnipotent Jehovah God; praised be your Name great savior God, how good it is we have you.

13:1-10 Antichrist and the Sea Beast

YLT TEXT: And I saw out of the sea a beast [7] coming up, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns ten diadems, and upon its heads a name of evil speaking, and the beast that I saw was like to a leopard, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon did give to it his power, and his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of its heads as slain to death, and its deadly stroke was healed, and all the earth did wonder after the beast, and they did bow before the dragon who did give authority to the beast, and they did bow before the beast, saying, `Who [is] like to the beast? who is able to war with it?’ And there was given to it a mouth speaking great things, and evil-speakings, and there was given to it authority to make war forty-two months, and it did open its mouth for evil-speaking toward God, to speak evil of His name, and of His tabernacle, and of those who in the heaven tabernacle, and there was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and there was given to it authority over every tribe, and tongue, and nation. And bow before it shall all who are dwelling upon the land, whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; if any one hath an ear — let him hear: if any one a captivity doth gather, into captivity he doth go away; if any one by sword doth kill, it behoveth him by sword to be killed; here is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Rev 13:1-10

COMMENTARY: With the term “beast” typically representative of a kingdom or empire in Scripture, and “sea” representative of humanity per se, the beast rising up out of the sea in these verses bespeaks of a kingdom or empire rising up out of the midst of humanity: “…And I saw out of the sea a beast coming up…” Nothing new here, for over the course of human history to John’s day, to our day, there have arisen many “beasts” in the midst of humankind; nothing new except for the depiction of this beast: “…having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns ten diadems, and upon its heads a name of evil speaking…” What of these seven heads here related, what is meant by that? The answer is probably found in Revelation chapter seventeen, particularly Rev 17:9-13. With Revelation chapter seventeen as a guide, the heads must be representative of kingdoms or empires (thus beasts in their own right) that characterize this rising beast, for they are heads nonetheless, and the head guides thought, which guides expression, and expression in turn betrays/reveals the character of thought. John wrote Revelation sometime near the end of the last decade of the first-century AD, and according to Rev 17:10, five of these “heads” (kingdoms) had fallen by then, and one, the sixth, was in place in John’s day, and the seventh was yet to emerge. As attested by biblical and secular history, the five fallen kingdoms, shown in red font, and the one in place contemporaneously with John, shown in green font, and the one yet to come, shown as note 8, in the order of their appearance on the stage of history are:

Egypt–>Assyria–>Babylonia–>Medo-Persia->Greece–>Rome–>[note 8]–>[note 9].

Babylonia through Rome are the four kingdoms of Dan 2:31-44, and the four beasts of Dan 7:2-7 (notice that Daniel prophesied in the sixth century BC [10]). The common thread that ties these heads to Scripture is their various persecutions of Israel. With the Sea of Marmara as the fiducial, an apparent shift in world power from East to West attended the appearance of Greece as a world power [11].

Just above we show eight heads (red, green, and the notes), but our verses speak of seven—why the disparity? An eighth head (world kingdom, thus beast) is the one that John here sees rising out of the sea, which we suppose must emerge out of “the western sea of humanity,” out of the revived Roman Empire (of Dan 2:41). This eighth head cannot arise until after the appearance of the other seven heads in historical sequence. Antichrist is this eighth head, and ‘is of [as in from-EK] the seven,’ (Rev 17:10-11) —with him at its head this Sea Beast comprises another “great” world kingdom—the world kingdom of Antichrist (see also note 9). Thus with the fall of the Roman Empire time was rife for the appearance of the seventh head and great world kingdom in human history, the revived Roman Empire, which we understand as a thoroughly “Westernish” empire, out of which Antichrist must emerge (Dan 7:7-8; Dan 7:8 shows Antichrist, the “little horn,” emerging from the Roman Empire of Dan 7:7 and the revived Roman Empire of Dan 2:41, cf. Dan 7:23-25). Though Rome declined over a period of centuries, her fall may be dated to AD 12/04/476, “when Romulus Augustus, the last Emperor of the Western Roman empire, was deposed by Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain” (“Fall of the Western Roman Empire”). John also tells us that this Sea Beast has ten horns with ten diadems upon its horns: “…. And I saw out of the sea a beast coming up, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns ten diadems…” There seems to be a connection here by way of the ten horns to Daniel seven verse seven (Dan 7:7) and the Roman Empire proper (the fourth beast with iron teeth). Revelation seventeen verse twelve (Rev 17:12) may explain this connection: ‘…ten kings that have not yet received a kingdom…’, that is, both prophets saw this latter stage of Rome’s history. There is a further connection, to Satan, by way of Revelation chapter twelve verse three (Rev 12:3), thus both Rome proper and the revived Roman Empire as presented here must be understood to be satanic. A “horn” in Scripture is representative of strength or power, oftentimes vested in a human being. Here the symbolism of the ten horns is that of ten kings, as inferred from the diadems upon these horns (cf. Rev 17:12). With guidance from the prophecy of Daniel, we learn that these kings are the “ten toes” of iron and clay that reign in the revived Roman empire (Fig. 1), and in unanimity give their power to the Antichrist-led Sea Beast (Rev 17:12-13; clarification; “Revelation Chapter Seventeen Commentary”).

We are told that each of the heads of the Sea Beast is at odds with Jehovah God, for they blaspheme His Name: “… and upon its heads a name of evil speaking…” The Greek text has it: KAI EPI TAS KEFALAS AUTOU ONAMA[TA] BLASFHMIAS (character map, Aland). Humankind is characteristically antiGod (specifically, anti-Jehovah God, for other gods it will espouse; when we use the term antiGod below we have in mind anti Jehovah God); it is so looking back into history (the six heads—there is ignorance of the true God Jehovah [Jer 10:10] to consider here though) and going forward (the seventh head—much less ignorance of the true God here). And the Beast, the Sea Beast and its heads, are the embodiment of this mindset that is antiGod [12].

We are given next the specific animal-like qualities of this Beast rising out of the sea of humanity: “…and the beast that I saw was like to a leopard, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion…” Here is a killing machine. It is like a leopard, that is, agile, swift, a nocturnal, opportunistic, cunning hunter, ingeniously selective of its victim. A leopard is inclined to “stash” its victim out of sight and reach with much expenditure of its own energy if necessary. Its feet are like those of a bear, which uses its exceedingly strong legs and feet to beat and pound down its victim and then rip it open, and its mouth is like that of a lion, which uses its mouth to strangle its victim and then devour it—lions, particularly the lionesses, kill largely by strangulation. Here is the portrait of a consummate killer. Notice that this Beast is the embodiment of all that antiGod-humankind has achieved in its various interests down the centuries represented by the heads of the Beast, particularly in religion and government, in the application of its scientific learning, and God depicts the end of these things here as a Beast, indeed, a killing Beast. This is a sad report from the highest court—not at all how humankind assesses the end of its labors here. Yea, antiGod humankind is content with the status quo, that is, the labors and realized progress by way of these labors that define its history, and hopes to build on the same for a better tomorrow, notwithstanding, independent, still, of Jehovah God. We are not suggesting here that it is wrong for humankind to be busy about, or preoccupied with, the things of progress, which is self-evidently the case for humankind down the centuries as represented by the civilizations that comprise the heads of this Beast; in righteous moderation that is good, in fact, required (‘…be fruitful, multiply, subdue the earth…’, Gen 1:28—create, design, explore, think, progress…)-—what is wrong is that humankind endeavors to progress independent of Jehovah God (here is cause for tribulation), whom it thus blasphemed by its preference for polytheism in the eras of the six heads, and whom it thus blasphemes by its preference for atheism, self-deification, and demonic infatuations (through Antichrist) in the era of the seventh through the eighth heads going forward [13]. No surprise then that Satan firmly plants and empowers this Beast (clarification), and vastly so, for it is the deceptive means by which he intends to sorely oppress a largely receptive humankind that after all built/builds this thoroughly human monstrosity and thus cannot in any sober sort of way see it for what it is; it is the illusory means by which he intends to sorely oppress a people that determinedly see only good, and the possibility for more good, in this antiGod, pro-man, Beast—here is blasphemy in search of (nay, begging for) an effectual, coordinating head, and Antichrist is that head. With Antichrist as its head, this Beast becomes the means by which Satan intends to lay waste the jewel of Creation—humankind (see above “Perched for a Kill”), with some of the expenditure of effort in that regard coming from the victim no less. But for the sake of the saints, and repentance, why should God stop Satan here? We are told that all that this Antichrist-led Beast requires to effect its end in the world is supplied by Satan (cf. Dan 8:24)—its power, throne (that is, governmental, individual, institutional, etc., clout), its authority, he Satan underwrites so as to empower and sustain this Beast, this Antichrist-led windfall darling of his, this thoroughly human monstrosity: “…and the dragon did give to it his power, and his throne, and great authority…” The Greek text has it: KAI EDWKEN AUTW hO DRAKWN THN DUNAMIN AUTOU KAI TON QRONON AUTOU KAI EXOUSIAN MEGALHN (character map, Aland). What this means is, this Antichrist-led Beast that rises up out of the sea of humanity will be so mighty (Dan 8:24), and have such great momentum as it sweeps back and forth across the earth, yea, thoroughly choking and enveloping it to the very costly exclusion of any alternatives to its imposed oppression, that only Jehovah God will be able to stop it (Dan 7:11, 13-14). Life will become grievous for antiGod humankind (we expect the saints of God to be raptured [the removal of the Church from earth-1Th 4:13-18, Rev 3:10] before this hell on earth breaks loose, which rapture will open the door for the public appearance of Antichrist-[Dan 11:21, esp. 2Th 2:3-8]), and life will be grievous even for those (few, we reckon) that come to faith in Jesus Christ during the Tribulation. Revelation chapters six through nineteen (Rev 6-19) are the specific chapters that describe this unprecedented misery on earth (consider the words of Jesus toward that end-Mat 24:21-22). Indeed, life will become unprecedentedly grievous for antiGod humankind in its worship of its beloved Antichrist-led Beast, in its determined building upon it, and its faith in it for a better tomorrow, its hoping in it—because not only will that Beast disappoint humankind here, it will comprehensively turn on him with the agility and swiftness and cunning of a leopard, and will beat and pound him down with its unbearable measures, and will ultimately strangle and devour him with its rapacious tyranny. The Book of Revelation tells us that such a sore, grievous time is precisely what Jehovah God will allow to visit antiGod humankind—for an eternal record. And why? Notice: God is no Beast, quite the opposite—in Him alone can all the aspirations of humankind be fully realized in a manner consistent with God’s Holiness, which is antiBeast (compare a better eternal record–Isa 11:9, 55:12-13, 56:7, 65:25, et al., “Be Holy”). Moreover, God, that is, Omniscience, Omnipotence; that is, sovereign Jehovah God, even Him—He is never mocked, not even a little bit (Gal 6:7).

Apparently to consummate an unholy resurrection, in imitation of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ by Father God Jehovah (Isa 14:14), and to display his power publicly, seducing, Satan allows Antichrist, the charismatic (Dan 7:20) world leader (Rev 13:7, 17:12-13) that comes to power through the revived Roman empire (Fig. 1), to sustain a mortal blow, and then revives him to mortal life: ”…And I saw one of its heads as slain to death, and its deadly stroke was healed …” [14]. Scripture seems to indicate that the public display of this so-called wonder convinces the world that Antichrist is deity (for thus he claims to be-2Th 2:4)—here is insult added to injury—devilish, mundane Antichrist yes, but Jehovah, irrespective of the testimony of Scripture—particularly the miracles of Christ—no way: “…and all the earth did wonder after the beast…” And Satan, indwelling Antichrist, receives by way of this adulation directed toward the Antichrist-led Beast (clarification) the worship he sought since eternity past: “…and they did bow before the dragon who did give authority to the beast, and they did bow before the beast…”

Antichrist, when he appears, will have much to say, and it will resonate with the antiGod, pro-man times (which will be well represented as the world’s population continues to burgeon exponentially) in that it will be antiGod, pro-largely anything else speak: “…And there was given to it a mouth speaking great things, and evil-speakings, and there was given to it authority to make war forty-two months, and it did open its mouth for evil-speaking toward God, to speak evil of His name, and of His tabernacle, and of those who in the heaven tabernacle…”, and he will be a smooth talker in this ( Dan 7:20); his talk will be convincing: “…Who [is] like to the beast? who is able to war with it?…” (cf. Dan 8:25). No doubt he will be verbose and loud, insofar as he is boastful (Dan 7:8, 20), but convincingly so. Probably by leveraging his perceived invincibility, his greatest boasts will concern his claim to deity ( 2Th 2:4), and his capacity to broker peace in the world, particularly Middle Eastern peace centered on Israel (Dan 9:26-27). As the head of a beloved, and thoroughly pro-man System (Beast), and asserting himself as deity, and promising unprecedented world peace that then seems to be coming to fruition (he appears in a time of tranquility [Dan 11:21], which suggests that he will claim credit for the same; moreover, said tranquility will at first likely buffer the vacuum set up by the removal of the Church upon which his appearance is contingent), he will win the acceptance and support of millions. Notice that his antiGod speak will turn into antiGod-sourced bloodletting: “… and there was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them…” This means that some (probably the majority) that are converted after the Rapture, in the seven year Tribulation [15], must perish for the cause of Jehovah God: “… and there was given to it authority to make war forty-two months…”, and others will perish for the cause of Jehovah God before the Rapture owing to the spirit of Antichrist at work in the world (1Jo 4:3).The spirit of Antichrist is antiGod/heaven, and pro-Satan/world; it is a spirit of lawlessness (Mat 24:10-13) in that Jehovah God’s laws are trampled underfoot as though they were of naught seeing that they conflict with the pro-Satan/man goals of the Antichrist-led Beast: “…And bow before it shall all who are dwelling upon the land, whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; if any one hath an ear — let him hear: if any one a captivity doth gather, into captivity he doth go away; if any one by sword doth kill, it behoveth him by sword to be killed; here is the endurance and the faith of the saints….” (red font added)—there have been many martyrs for God since this prophecy was written owing to the spirit of Antichrist at work in the world, and there will be more leading up to the Rapture-Tribulation, and even more in the Tribulation (see above : “Perched for a Kill”).

13:11-17 The False Prophet and the Earth Beast

YLT TEXT: And I saw another beast coming up out of the land [16], and it had two horns, like a lamb, and it was speaking as a dragon, and all the authority of the first beast doth it do before it, and it maketh the land and those dwelling in it that they shall bow before the first beast, whose deadly stroke was healed, and it doth great signs, that fire also it may make to come down from the heaven to the earth before men, and it leadeth astray those dwelling on the land, because of the signs that were given it to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling upon the land to make an image to the beast that hath the stroke of the sword and did live, and there was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, that also the image of the beast may speak, and that it may cause as many as shall not bow before the image of the beast, that they may be killed. And it maketh all, the small, and the great, and the rich, and the poor, and the freemen, and the servants, that it may give to them a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads, and that no one may be able to buy, or to sell, except he who is having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Rev 13:11-17

COMMENTARY: We are here told of another Beast, an Earth Beast, which rises up out of the earth: “…and I saw another beast coming up out of the land…” It has two horns we are told, like that of a lamb: “…and it had two horns, like a lamb…” The horns bespeak of strength—times two here, thus significant, while the comparison to a lamb bespeaks of a docile, meek character. Yet, this Beast speaks altogether differently than its lamb-like outward appearance suggests—it speaks (and thus is characteristically motivated) in a manner consistent with a dragon: “…and it was speaking as a dragon…”, which is the devil in Scripture. The picture of this Beast is that of significant strength housed in apparent benignity, but its out-of-the-photo-album reality is the foul language of deceit motivated by an explosive intent to kill—here is the signature of the devil (Jhn 8:44, “Perched for a Kill”). This (Earth) Beast is strong and at the same time appears to be docile; it is in fact the mouthpiece of Antichrist, and it promotes his interests: “…and all the authority of the first beast doth it do before it…”, which are aligned with the interests of Satan: “…and it maketh the land and those dwelling in it that they shall bow before the first beast …” (Isa 14:12-14), with a vigor that is animated by the strength of Satan: “…and it doth great signs, that fire also it may make to come down from the heaven to the earth before men…” (“Holography,” “Internet,” “Laser,” “World Wide Web”). Only since the dawning of the age of computing and its characteristic technology have the things spoken of here become plausible, and thus the Earth Beast, and by association the Sea Beast, necessarily could not appear before then (Christian friend, think of all the saints past that did not see unfolding what you and I are blessed and privileged to see unfolding before our very eyes in this twenty-first century, and yet they maintained an unshakable faith that what God spoke through the beloved John in these verses was, just like the rest of Scripture, as sure to come to pass as the sun rising day after day, esoteric though these verses must have seemed to many a believer for millennia—we are reminded of the message of Hebrews chapter eleven [Hbr 11]). So we have two metrics (at least, but these two are certainly not arbitrary or insignificant), both realized, that indicate that humankind has moved into the final stage of its history, as outlined and predicted thousands of years ago by Scripture: The fall of the Roman empire, itself the sixth head of the Sea Beast (Fig. 1), and the onset of the computing age—the age of knowledge, and the unprecedented application of knowledge and sharing of knowledge (for example, Wikis), the age of information (Dan 12:4), central to which is the world wide web and the internet and the characteristic technology of this age, a technology arising from the keen utilization of the elements of the earth (Fig. 2).

For all the apparent benignity, indeed, apparent constructive utility of this second Beast, this Earth Beast, one can imagine that once ingrained in business, and commerce, and national defense systems, etc., it is but a short step for that benignity to turn into a bleeding malignancy, for we are, after all, describing here a Beast; a thoroughly antiGod, pro-man-motivated System that is openly hostile toward Jehovah God, and belittles and discounts and disdains the holiness that characterizes Him; that characterizes His Name. Yes, we are describing here a means to an end, another “windfall darling” that undergirds and promotes the former “windfall darling” (Antichrist-led Sea Beast), “darlings” Satan intends to fuse and then leverage in a manner that serves his interest to thwart the plans of Jehovah God for humankind (“Perched for a Kill”): “…and it leadeth astray those dwelling on the land, because of the signs that were given it to do before the beast, saying to those dwelling upon the land to make an image to the beast that hath the stroke of the sword and did live, and there was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, that also the image of the beast may speak, and that it may cause as many as shall not bow before the image of the beast, that they may be killed. And it maketh all, the small, and the great, and the rich, and the poor, and the freemen, and the servants, that it may give to them a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads, and that no one may be able to buy, or to sell, except he who is having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…”

13:18-The Mark of the Beast

YLT TEXT: Here is the wisdom! He who is having the understanding, let him count [17] the number of the beast, for the number of a man [18] it is, and its number is 666. Rev 13:18

COMMENTARY: As said in note 16, we believe this mark is somehow related to the Greek Digamma alliteration WWW, and thus possibly to the World Wide Web.

This mark, this number, 666, is a bloody number. It is the number of antiGod mankind and his world, his mindset, and Antichrist is the embodiment of that, thus it is his number, for he is a bloody, antiGod man. Yes, a bloody lot antiGod mankind is; it is fitting, but very sad, that the bloodiest setting the world will ever know—the Tribulation, has mankind’s number as the key to much of the bloodletting.

Without this mark upon one’s right hand or forehead, as prescribed and coordinated by the false prophet by way of the Earth Beast, in his service and obedience to Antichrist, and his promotion of Antichrist and Antichrist’s satanic agenda (Fig. 3), one simply will not be able to survive in the era of Antichrist, the eighth head of the Sea Beast (no medical, food, shelter, protection, etc., to be had for such): “…And it maketh all, the small, and the great, and the rich, and the poor, and the freemen, and the servants, that it may give to them a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads, and that no one may be able to buy, or to sell, except he who is having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…” The technology of the modern computing age, or better said, the Earth Beast, makes this possible (“Microchip Implant”).

The mark, the name, or the number of the Beast—without it on one’s person one will perish fast in the era of Antichrist, the eighth head of this Beast. Consider the options one will be faced with in that day: one may choose to receive the mark and thus survive somewhat the hard times, but perish at the hand of God (Rev 14:11, 16:2), which is eternal Death on the heels of physical death, or one may choose to reject the mark and confess allegiance to Jesus Christ instead, and certainly perish at the hand of the Beast, but taste the Salvation of God, which is eternal Life in God’s presence on the heels of physical death. What are we to think about this “tight spot?” The latter choice, to reject the mark and confess allegiance to Jesus Christ, is the right one of course, but it will be a tough one to make in that day (we expect it will be very much the norm to receive the mark—at first probably it will be “faddish,” then seen as a convenience for use with various sorts of scanning mechanisms, etc., then forced upon employees for identification purposes, and so on, and then once well-entrenched, it will have to be received for survival). But consider friend, today you are not in that “tight spot,” and what is more, today is your day of Salvation—Jehovah God has given you this day to come to Jesus Christ, and to become a part of His blessed in-gathering, His Rapture, should you be alive when He returns for His Church when those hard times break loose, or to be joined to Him before the Rapture should He call you home before (2Cr 5:6-8). Be wise dear friend, and accept His grace today, and join the blessed fellowship of the saints of Jehovah God, all alike penitent sinners saved by His marvelous, His excellent and surpassing grace, and you will never find yourself in that “tight spot” (“A Letter of Invitation”).