The Power of the Second Beast Revelation 13:12

After writing about the “beast or the antichrist” and “the dragon – the devil or Satan” being worshiped by people upon 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 in chapter thirteen and verse twelve of Revelation John saw how the second beast “exercises all the power of the first beast before him” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, ...” John began with the words, “and he exercises” which means “and the second beast produces, constructs, forms and fashions” “all” or “each and every one of” “the power” which means “the liberty, ability, strength, physical and mental authority” “of the first beast” which refers to “pertaining to the first savage and ferocious creature” “before him” or “in front and in the presence of the first beast or antichrist”. John shared how this “second beast” had all the “ability and strength” exhibited by the antichrist.

The verse goes on to say, “... and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” John added the words, “and causes” which means “makes, produces, constructs, forms and fashions” “the earth” or “the arable land, country, territory and region” “and them which dwell therein” which means “and the people who live and abide within the earth” “to worship” or “to pay homage to, fall upon their knees and give obeisance in respect in supplication toward” “the first beast” which refers to “the first savage and ferocious creature”, “whose deadly wound” or “whose blow, stripe, heavy affliction and stroke which caused physical separation from the soul and body” “was healed” which means “was cured and restored to health”. John told how the “second beast” made everyone on earth “adore and give homage” to the antichrist.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how this “second beast” which is known as the “false prophet” has all the “power and authority” of the “antichrist”, and he makes everyone alive “worship” the antichrist as well. These “substitute” and “false” creatures portend themselves to be the Messiah and his forerunner, but God declares the truth about them and desires for every person to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Those who do will not encounter or be deceived by these “false” powers, therefore let all who read these words take heed.

Next time John shares how this second “beast”, “does great wonders”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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