The Deceived People on the Earth Revelation 13:14

After writing about the “beast or the antichrist” and “the dragon – the devil or Satan” being worshiped by the people on the earth, John the apostle wrote, “If any man have an ear, let him hear.” John continued with the words, “He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fourteen of Revelation John saw how the second beast, “deceives them that dwell on the earth” where we read:

And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The verse reads, “And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast;” John began with the words, “and deceives” which means “causes and leads to go astray, wander and roam about” “them that dwell” or “the people who live and abide” “on the earth” which means “upon the arable land, country, territory and region” “by the means” or “through the demonstration and manifestation” “of those miracles” which refers to “the signs, marks, tokens or unusual and supernatural occurrences” “which he had power” or “for which the ability, strength and authority of the second beast or false prophet was provided” “to do” which means “to perform, make ready or provide” “in the sight” or “within the vision and presence” “of the beast” which refers to “of the first beast or antichrist”. John shared how the “false prophet” will be able to lead people astray because of the “miracles” he performs in the presence of the antichrist.

The verse goes on to say, “saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” John continued the word, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” “to them” or “to the people” “that dwell” which means “who live and abide” “on the earth” or “upon the arable land, country, territory and region”, “that they should make” which means “so they should produce, construct, form and make ready” “an image” or “a statute or figure in likeness or resemblance” “to the beast” which means “to the first beast or the antichrist”, “which had the wound” or “who had the injury, blow and plague” “by a sword” which refers to “through a large knife, a curved or cutting sword or a straight sword for thrusting”, “and did live” or “and continued to breathe, be among the living, was active, full of vigor, strength and power”. John shared how the “false prophet” instructed the people upon the earth at this time to build an “idol or image” of the antichrist who survived a mortal blow.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how the “false prophet” will not only “deceive” the people on the earth, but will convince them to construct an “idol” of the antichrist as well. This is idolatry, and the antichrist shall desire to be “worshiped” by the people in the earth. The “false prophet” will see that people worship the antichrist's image, and only God is able to make a way of escape from these things. By way of a relationship with God's Son Jesus, God's plan of “salvation” is received, and those who accept Him shall be “deceived” by the “false prophet” nor be forced to worship an image to the antichrist. May all who read these words take heed.

Next time John shares how this second “beast”, “had power to give life unto the image of the beast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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