Principles of Interpretation: There are patterns to Revelation which should be considered when trying to understand it. One pattern is that each new section is introduced by a scene from the temple. There is significance to these introductions. Do not ignore them. They are a key to understanding the section. Another pattern is that the book is written in symbolic language. The King James Version translates verse 1 as “he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” To signify is to show in signs, i.e., symbols. Those symbols are based in the rest of the Bible, both Old and New Testament. As such, look to the rest of the Bible to interpret Revelation rather than using Revelation to interpret the rest of the Bible. This also means that you need to let the Bible interpret itself rather than attempting to have it fit into today’s headlines. In short, do not treat Revelation as separate from the rest of the Bible. Instead, expect that the events described in Revelation have been presented in other parts of the Bible. A third pattern in Revelation is the idea of judgement. There are courtroom scenes and wrath and complaints about God not bringing justice. In fact, humans are not the only ones under judgment. God Himself is on trial, and the repeated verdict is that God is just, holy, and worthy. From the beginning claim that this is the Revelation of Jesus to the promise in the last chapter that we shall see God’s face, Revelation is an examination of who our Creator is and whether He is worthy of our loyalty.

Disclaimer: There are four basic methodologies used to interpret the book of Revelation in modern society: futurism, historicism, idealism, and preterism. Many modern churches have embraced the idea of the secret rapture, which is a form of futurism. On the other hand, some churches say that Revelation deals solely with events that were happening in the apostolic era. This is called preterism. Other churches teach that Revelation does not describe any specific time period. Instead, the symbols are philosophical and/or spiritual ideas. The series of studies that I am posting is based on historicism, which says that the Bible teaches that Revelation begins with the time of John and describes the interactions of the church with a hostile world throughout history culminating in the final future eradication of sin from the universe. This view denies a secret rapture. I do not want you to be in confusion about the basic premises of this series of lessons. If you disagree with the historicist viewpoint, please study for yourself to be certain that the interpretations that you have been told by others and simply accepted make sense with the whole Bible. As you study, first ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit; then study the verses, and let the Bible interpret itself. Even if you disagree with my comments, you may find the verses and background information that I provide useful. Finally, I want to emphasize that I myself am still studying Revelation and my understanding is deepening each time I open the book and read. Revelation is a distillation of the whole Bible; as such, the limited space of this blog and my limited understanding means that these lessons are not nearly as in-depth as they could (and maybe should) be.

References: See the end of this post for sources and references.

Revelation 13:11

(11)  Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

• Timing: Revelation 13:3 described a deadly wound that would be inflicted upon the sea beast.  Based on the prophecies of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13:7, the deadly wound was inflicted in 1798.  That was the end of the 1260 years or 42 months spoken of in these two books.  Revelation 13:11 tells us that a second beast would arise about this time.
• Earth:  The sea symbolizes nations, people, and languages, so the earth should be an opposite.  The timing and the symbol of the earth help us to know who the earth beast is.  What political power rose up sometime around 1798?  What political power began not by conquering a former empire, but formed in a place where these empires had not exercised control?  The United States uniquely fits the description of the earth beast, including its location of origin.
• Like a lamb: A lamb in the Bible is always representative of purity and innocence.  It is a symbol of the sacrifice used to obtain forgiveness of sins.  It is a symbol of Jesus.
  • John 1:29  (29)  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
• Two horns:  Horns are power. 
  • Deuteronomy 33:17 (17)  A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
  • The two horns are two sources of power, and they are both lamblike, i.e., they are both like Jesus.  Many have identified these two horns as the secular and religious powers of the United States.  The United States fits the description of the earth beast well.   There is a lamblike power in the political elements of a country where the government is required to act according to the will of the governed.  Historians tell us that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are both based on Christian principles.  The United States’ power is inundated with Christlike philosophies.  On the other hand, there are two horns because the government does not claim Christianity as a state religion. The separation of church and state is also incorporated into the Constitution.  Religion has been separated from the government.  In modern times, we do not usually think of religion as a power, but the truth is that in all of history, the people who controlled the religious beliefs of a kingdom, were people of power.
• Spoke like a Dragon: Speaking refers to the actions taken.  In this case the actions are like those of Satan, even though the power seems to be that of Jesus.  Here are examples from the Bible that show that speaking is more than just words.
  • Genesis 1:3  (3)  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
  • John 1:1-3  (1)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  He was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
  • Ezekiel 12:25-28  (25)  For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.”  (26)  And the word of the LORD came to me:  (27)  “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’  (28)  Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”
• A Dragon:  Revelation has already identified the dragon as the devil / Satan / the deceiver
  • Revelation 12:9  (9)  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

SUMMARY OF REVELATION 13:11–What would it mean to have horns like a lamb and to speak like a dragon?  The power of the U.S. has always appeared to have noble goals, i.e., a Christlike nature, while in reality the U.S. has frequently used its power in satanic ways.  Slavery is an example of this abuse of power.  Another example is that there have been governmental laws prohibiting certain kinds of worship from the Puritans’ laws that drove people like Roger Williams to flee the colony to later blue laws that enforced Sunday as a day of worship causing the imprisonment of people who worked on Sunday to government agencies during World War I censoring and confiscating religious materials that they disliked.  These are only a few examples of the U.S. speaking like a dragon.  There has always existed a kind of governmental split personality in the U.S. where we have striven for high ideals yet fallen into the trap of using force to oppress certain groups.  The prophecies of Revelation point to a time when the United States will use its power to force people to act contrary to God’s law while saying that the civil and religious power of the country is obeying God.  Just as many churches and the government used God’s word to justify slavery, in the future the earth beast will continue to use force to do evil while claiming to serve God.

Revelation 13:12

(12)  It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.

• Exercises all the authority of the first beast:  What authority did the first beast have?  It told other countries what to do, and they did it out of fear.  It claimed authority from God to do what it did.  The coercive power of the medieval church will be exercised by the earth beast.
• In its presence: The first beast still exists and is very much a part of what is taking place at the instigation of the earth beast.
• Makes the earth and its inhabitants: This is a global phenomenon.
• Worship the first beast:  When we worship, we emulate and admire and look up to.  The first beast enacted rules that governed worship, and the second beast will enforce those same kinds of rules.
• The mortal wound is healed: by recreating the same church/state combination as the medieval Catholic church, apostate Protestantism has healed the mortal wound delivered to the papacy in 1798.

Revelation 13:13

(13)  It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,

• Performs great signs:  This will be miraculous, not just normal beastly (political) power.
• Fire comes down from heaven to earth: The Holy Spirit.  The Earth Beast (the U.S. government united with apostate Protestantism) will have false prophets and false spiritual gifts.  False spiritual gifts have already started happening.  In the modern charismatic movement, many claim to be speaking and performing miracles through the Spirit, but when their actions and words are compared to the scriptures, it is obvious that their power does not come through God.  This is just a forerunner of the fulfillment of this prophecy. The beast will imitate the power of God, but the signs and wonders performed by the earth beast will be performed through spiritism / demons.
  • 1 Timothy 4:1  (1) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
  • Matthew 24:23-24  (23)  Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.  (24)  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
• This is a quote for my Adventist readers.
  • “Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in\ token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of Heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing, and will profess to have revelations from Heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.” (Great Controversy, page 624).
• In front of people:  This will be public.

Revelation 13:14

(14)  and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

• It is allowed to work signs:  God could limit the signs, but He will not.  He is allowing Satan to fully reveal himself to the world.
• The signs are in the presence of the sea beast:   The papacy is not the origin of this work.  The earth beast is the one who performs signs.  The papacy is still around, but it is apostate Protestantism combined with the U.S. government that works the signs.
• The effect is that the people of earth are deceived, i.e., it is a global deception.
• They form an image for the sea beast:   What does it mean that the earth beast is forming an image of the papacy?  Since the earth beast forms the image, it will originate in the United States before going global.  This image is not the original, so it is not the medieval church restored to power.  Instead, some aspect of the original beast is being mimicked.  Basically, the character and form of the first beast are copied. Religious and political power have been united and the system is intolerant of any challenges to its authority.  While serving God, it will blaspheme by usurping God’s power and forcing worship.

• This image is already being formed today.  Have you heard of the 7-mountain mandate?  Here is Wikipedia’s explanation:
  • The movement is believed by its followers to have begun in 1975 with a purported message from God delivered to evangelicals Loren Cunningham, Bill Bright, and Francis Schaeffer ordering them to invade the “seven spheres” of society. The idea was not seriously considered until 2000 during a meeting between Cunningham and Lance Wallnau. The movement came to prominence after the 2013 publication of Lance Wallnau and Bill Johnson‘s Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate.^[4]
  • The movement was generally supportive of the Presidency of Donald Trump with member Paula White becoming the president’s spiritual advisor. White claimed that Trump “will play a critical role in Armageddon as the United States stands alongside Israel in the battle against Islam.” In 2020 Charlie Kirk said “finally we have a president that understands the seven mountains of cultural influence” during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.^[4]”
  • The Seven Mountain Mandate is part of dominionism.^[5]  Followers claim that the biblical base for the movement is derived from Revelation 17:1–18, wherein verse 9 reads, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains”.^[5] The seven areas which the movement believe control society and which they seek to control are family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government.^[5] They believe that their mission to take over the world is justified by Isaiah 2:2 “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains.”^[4]  Followers believe that by fulfilling the Seven Mountain Mandate they can bring about the end times.^[4]
• This mandate is not the only movement pushing for the unification of church and state.  More and more Christian groups are gaining political power.  As the liberal culture has fallen deeper and deeper into degradation, the urge to use political force to fight the assault on morality intensifies every day.  The movement to unite church and state under the direction of false prophets is already underway.  It is only a matter of time before the impersonation of Christ by Satan follows.

Revelation 13:15

(15)  And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

• Gave breath to the image of the sea beast: To give breath is to give life when God does it. However, the image to the beast is a false life-giver.
  • (Genesis 2:7) then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
• The image of the sea beast speaks:  The image does not just sit and look like a pretty reflection of the original beast.  It acts.  God spoke and created.  This image speaks and brings about death.  It is the antithesis of God, even while claiming to be His representative.
• The image of the sea beast causes death to those who do not worship it. This is reminiscent of Daniel 3 where Nebuchadnezzar created an image on the plains and commanded all to worship the golden image or be thrown to their deaths in the fiery furnace.  The faithful followers of God were given a choice between idolatry and death.  They chose death.  What will the people of the world do when faced with the same decision?  Some will choose to follow the crowd and bow down to the image.  They will receive the mark of the beast.  The sealed of God will refuse and be faced with death.

Revelation 13:16

(16)  Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

• The image causes a mark to be on people of all levels of society
• The mark is on the right hand and forehead. This mimics God’s commands for His people to bind His words on their hands and foreheads. Binding God’s word to the hand denotes your behavior and actions reflecting your allegiance to God. Binding God’s word to the forehead signifies mental allegiance to His authority over your life.
  • Deuteronomy 6:4-8 (4)  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5)  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6)  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7)  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8)  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
• Ezekiel speaks of a time when people were marked for salvation. Interestingly, they were only marked in the forehead, and the criterion for their marking was that they hated the evil done around them.
  • Ezekiel 9:1-6 (1)  Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” (2)  And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. (3)  Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. (4)  And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” (5)  And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. (6)  Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house.
  • Ezekiel 9:11 (11)  And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”
• However, this verse in Revelation 3:17 is not the sealing of God that Ezekiel describes. This is a counterfeit mark of the beast. Thus, it denotes mental assent and/or obedient actions in deference to the beast. Some people will go along with the system because they wholeheartedly agree with everything it does. They are totally deceived and supportive of this persecuting power. Others will disagree with the power for various reasons, but they will cooperate with the beast without protest out of fear for their own safety or greed for the benefits it provides.

Revelation 13:17-18

(17)  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. (18)  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

• The mark is required for buying and selling.  There will be economic consequences for refusing to worship the image of the beast.
• The mark is the name of the beast.  In the Bible, your name is your character.  God’s character is holy, loving and just.  Thus, the opposite character will be presented by the image of the beast—profane, harsh, and unrighteous.  While claiming to be serving God, its true character will be revealed as the image of the intolerant medieval church.
• The mark is the number of its name:  It is important to remember the symbolic nature of numbers in the book of Revelation.  This is not a literal number that will be somehow imprinted on our hands and/or foreheads.
• The number is 666:  The Godhead is Holy, Holy, Holy.  This triple repetition of 6 is a false trinity.  The sign of the image to the beast is a man’s number repeated three times rather than God’s perfect number of 7.  The number is imperfect, i.e., sinful.  Rather than causing people to become holy like God, the mark of the beast creates followers in its own image—unloving, unfair, and far from God’s image.  Instead of becoming more righteous, bowing to this false image causes people to fall farther and farther away from God’s standards and deeper and deeper into sin.
• We need wisdom to calculate the number.  Unfortunately, too many Christians attempt to use human wisdom.  However, Revelation is always pointing us back to the wisdom of the Bible.  Where in the Bible do we find the number 666 and have it associated with the number of a man rather than God?
  • The Bible gives us a clue as to the meaning in 1 Kings 10:14 where 666 talents of gold was Solomon’s income.  Solomon was faithful to God, but he turned away and ruled using his own power and logic.  This verse begins a section of the Bible that describes Solomon’s wealth, power, and military strength rather than praising God’s gift of wisdom to Solomon.  Thus, 666 is the number of a man ruling in his own strength by worldly standards of power rather than the mark of a man letting God rule His own people.  Humans want to lead by controlling others.  God wants to lead by serving others. 
    • 1 Kings 10:14  (14)  Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

Summary: For years, Hollywood and authors of horror stories have given us a false picture of the mark of the beast. Satan has people scared of micro-chips and bar codes and tattoos of numbers when the reality is that there is something even more sinister and scary on the horizon. The church, which is supposed to be God’s people, switches allegiance from the lamb to the dragon. They have grown impatient with waiting for God to act, so they decide to take matters into their own hands and use political force. Their stated intentions are lamb-like. They want to stop the downward spiral of degradation caused by secularism and create a society loyal to God above. However, their methods show that their true allegiance is to worldly power. They create an image of the sea beast composed of an alliance of church and state. This religious-political power forces people to worship God out of fear of punishment rather than out of love. This beastly church entity relies on the power of man rather than the strength of God. In the end, these supposed Christians will persecute the sons and daughters of God who remain loyal to Him in the name of God. History repeats itself.

References:

• Andrews Study Bible–In some lessons, I refer to study comments from this Bible.
• God Cares: The Message of Revelation for You and Your Family-A book by C. Mervyn Maxwell that examines how the prophecies of Revelation relate to an individual’s life.
• Plain Revelation–A book by Ranko Stefanovic that summarizes the meaning of various sections of Revelation
• Revelation of Jesus Christ–A book by Ranko Stefonovic that comments on each verse of Revelation.
• Salvation in Signs and Symbols–a series of shows where two pastors and two others study through the books of Revelation and Daniel. These programs can be accessed at 3abnplus.tv . Scroll down to 3ABN Dare to Dream Network and choose Salvation in Signs and Symbols from the list there.
• Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary (Volume 7) (Copywrite 1957)–This is the old green set of commentaries, not the new commentary series that is in the process of being published and should be released after 2022. (Boy, I would love to get my hands on that set when it comes out!)
• Table Talk–A series of shows where four pastors discuss various topics. These programs can be accessed at tabletalk.online . Season 4 focuses on Revelation.
• Unlocking Revelation–A series of pamphlets that can be downloaded for free from lightbearers.org and clicking on Resources