Day 161: Don't be deceived – Revelation 13 vs 11 – 15

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 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. 13 -15 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,  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. 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. Revelation 13:11-15 (English Standard Version)

In the first part of this chapter we saw the first of Satan's helpers – a beast that came out of the sea. In this reading we see a beast that arose from the land. Once again there are different opinions. Those who regard Revelation as being about the last few years of history just before the event called 'the rapture', will see these beasts as being about someone who will appear at that time called the Antichrist. Others, who regard Revelation as intended for Christians of John's own generation, will see in these beasts Satan's ongoing warfare on the world and against the Church until Christ returns. But both groups would probably agree that the beast from the earth represents Satan's false religion and false prophets. The beast had two horns like a lamb . . . but how did it speak? (vs 11)

The dragon is always symbolic of Satan. What was the aim of this beast? (vs 12)

Having risen from the earth it deceives the world into giving allegiance to the first beast – i.e. the ungodly powers and governments. False religion and false prophets work hand in glove with evil powers. Any religious leaders who supported people like Hitler and Stalin would surely fall into that category. So today in China there are true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is also a state Church which would encourage loyalty to the Communist agenda. Over the years the World Council of Churches has appeared to be more supportive of revolutions than revivals!

While some Christians expect vs 13-15 to have a literal fulfilment at a future date, others have seen it more as a description of the ongoing workings of false religion and false prophets. Almost all non-Christian faiths claim to have had amazing miracles in their midst, and even the 'Christian' health and prosperity cults experience many strange manifestations. Perhaps this is a good spot to recall what the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2.

In vs 3-4 he spoke of a coming figure who would take a defiant stand against God. He says that, before the Lord's coming, there will be a rebellion in which “the man of lawlessness” will be revealed. Paul calls him “the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, and takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” Whether that referred to an event that happened in Paul's generation or is still future, Christians have differed. But Paul goes on in vs 9-11 to say: “The coming of this lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.”

With regard to the first beast we saw that Christians were encouraged to be patient when persecutions come and to remain faithful to Jesus. The message here surely is that Christians mustn't be deceived by any religious movements or 'prophets' that don't teach the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Even if they perform miracles! There is religion that is false, and there is a faith that is true. Jesus said: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders. They will come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Don’t be deceived.