Two of the most recognizable themes in the end time drama are the image of the beast and the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast and the image of the beast have given people over to their imaginations. Some of the most horrific ideas have sprung from these two topics. Many movies and books today only add to that. Many things regarding the end times, as we have found, are simply from the wisdom of men.
Last time, we discovered the many of the things regarding antichrist that we have been told do not exactly line up with Scripture. We discovered that antichrist is a spirit working through men that denies the Father and the Son, denies Jesus coming in the flesh or in their flesh, deceives, works as a false prophet, and is more than one man. We also discovered that the antichrist spirit gives life to the beast. Specifically, the 7 headed, ten horned beast that is coming to rule in its kingdom during the Tribulation period. They are two separate things. Antichrist already rules in the hearts of the non believers, and it is already in the world. We learned that there are two bodies in the earth, one of Christ and the other of antichrist. Remember, Jesus is the head of His body, the church, and the Spirit of God gives life to it. The devil is the head of His body, lost humanity, and the antichrist spirit gives life to it. Both are made up of nations, tribes, and tongues.
A Second Beast
Revelation 13: 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth,
Many speak of this beast as the false prophet that is coming to help the antichrist rule in this world. Let’s see if this is a man. The first beast comes out of the sea, and now this beast comes out of the earth. The first was a ruling spiritual entity that will come into power during the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation. This second beast is very interesting. Who was created out of the earth? Adam was, and he was the first man. This beast appears to be another spiritual entity as well, it is also a little different. This beast exercises the authority of the beast kingdom over those who dwell on the earth. This beast, much like the other, is made up of a body of people. These are a little more isolated as the first beast was made up of all of lost mankind.
and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon
Horns represent authority is Scripture. The two represents division. Like a lamb is very interesting as well. Who is the lamb in the Bible? It is Jesus. This beast will try to look like Jesus, but it will not sound like Him. Speaking like a dragon is not speaking the true Word of God. The words may be religious, but will not be the holy truth from the Word. The dragon is the devil. The devil rules over flesh or the sinful man. This is very parallel to so many in the body of Christ today who are claiming Jesus, but their works, thoughts, and words are still coming from the old man. The want to look like Jesus and claim His name, but outside of that, their commitment to Him is very shallow.
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed
Much like a police has the authority of the law to exercise it, this beast has the authority of the first beast. He causes those in the earth to worship the first beast. Remember, the deadly wound was to a head on the first beast. This is a principality that ruled over mankind that comes back from the pit to rule during the Tribulation.
False Prophets
This second beast is what most will call the false prophet. It is identified later in the book of Revelation (19:20,20:10) as such. We are discovering that it is made up of body of people, and it is not merely one person, much like the antichrist. You see, false prophets are nothing new to the people of God. They are spotted through the Old Testament, and we are warned of them in the New Testament.
Jeremiah 14: 14 And the Lord said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart
Matthew 7: 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves
2 Peter 2: 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction
2 Corinthians 11: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works
Each time, and this is just a few references, there are a group of them. It is not just a single entity. As in all of Scripture, the first time to see someone, it is that individual. The next time, it is a body of people. See Israel (Jacob) as a person, then a people. Other examples are Edom, Ammon, Moab, the 12 tribes of Israel, and even Jesus. It is no different in the book of Revelation. The single false prophet beast is a spiritual entity made up of a body of people.
The Image
Revelation 13: 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
We walk by faith and not by sight. This beast is a liar and a deceiver working through men. Fire coming down from heaven is something that is seen in the Bible from Elijah and from the two witnesses in Revelation 11. This beast is mimicking the Bible which is why his deception is so great. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24: 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Many people will flock towards signs, wonders, and miracles even where there is no basis in Scripture for them. Some of the false revivals lately will prove that. These will be very convincing and very deceiving. So much so that an image is created.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Now we see the image of the beast. This image speaks and is worshipped. This has to be some supernatural statue or computer generated icon that can be see everywhere right? Well, the ideas that have been created would work in Hollywood for sure. So what does image mean? Image in the Greek means two different things. First, the word eikon speaks of manifestation and representation. It is where we get the word icon. In other words, it looks like the original. We will get to the second later. This is the original word in this verse. Now, the word breath is the same word for spirit. So the second beast gives the spirit or breath to the image or representation of the first beast. Remember, the first beast of Revelation 13 is a spiritual entity that is made up of all lost mankind. The second beast creates the image or manifestation/representation of that spiritual beast in the hearts of those outside of the body of Christ. The image of the beast is a spiritual creation just the image of Christ is a spiritual creation. Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. This means not only resembling but also representing. The image of the beast speaks as a corporate body just like the body of Christ speaks as a corporate body. Notice that this beast was granted the power to give life to the image. The Lord is taking the credit for the happening. Only God can grant the final authority. This beast also has been given power to cause those who do not worship the image to be killed. There have been many martyrs for the Lord beginning immediately in the early church until today. There have also been many people who have spiritually died from not being taught the truth, and it was replaced by the self gratifying, ear tickling, feeding the flesh kinds of doctrines. How is this beast worshipped? As we have discovered, you can worship something purposefully or without even knowing it. We worship the Lord with a purpose and we know it, but before we were saved, we worshipped the beast in us without knowing it. We were slaves to sin and walking after the spirit of this world which is antichrist. Ephesians 2: 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The Mark
Revelation 13: 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
The second meaning is the word for image is charakter, and this is where we get the word character. It literally is a used like a tool for engraving, or a stamp or to impress to bear the image of the product. It is translated mark in these verses. First off, I believe there is a physical mark of the beast because of the buying and selling in this verse. However, I would like to look at the spiritual part of this as we are seeing many things that are happening in the book of Revelation and in the end times are happening first in the spiritual realm.
No one is immune to this mark. It involves all the people of the earth. The right hand and the foreheads will contain the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Let’s first talk about the right hand and the forehead. Hands in Scriptures represent your works. There are many verses that equate the two together. The forehead is the seat of your mind. Look at Exodus 13: 16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt." Notice it is the same chapter and verse. Here the Lord is talking about sacrificing and redeeming the firstborn of man and beast after the people of Israel came out of Egypt. It is a spiritual sign that is marked on them when they obey the Lord. The hands represent the works, the frontlets or forehead represent the mind. Before we go further, let’s compare this verse with the very next one in Scripture. Revelation 14: 1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. Isn’t interesting that this next verse not only contains another name on the forehead, but it matches perfectly with the verse in Exodus. 4 .. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. This group of people has the name of the Father on their forehead. This is a spiritual mark. The firstfruits to God have His name on them and those who receive the mark have the name of the beast on theirs.
The mark of the beast first happens in the spirit. Remember this literally means to impress to bear the image. If the image of the beast is spiritual, doesn’t it make sense that the mark happens in the spirit as well. So what is it then? It is on the right hand and on the forehead. Well, let’s talk about works and the mind for a minute. One of the most dangerous deceptions in the body of Christ today is believing that it is not important to read the Bible. We have been taught enough or would rather just hear it from someone else about what I am to believe and what means what in the Bible. We would rather take the traditions of men over the teaching from the Spirit of God. This creates a lack of motivation and discipline in the hearts of believers. Our mind is so vital in our walk with the Lord. It is where the enemy attacks us the most. This is why Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We are to be transformed by the Word. If we are not being transformed, we need to ask why because the Word says we will be as we renew it. Romans 8: 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. An unrenewed or carnal mind is against God. 1 Corinthians 2: 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The natural mind cannot understand the things of God. This is the unregenerate mind. You cannot understand the things of the Spirit without the Spirit of God.
When we are not renewing our mind, the works show it. They are directly related to one another. Remember faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and that we show our faith by our works (James 2:14-26). We are never justified by our works, but we do show where are faith is by the things we do. Galatians 5: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The works clearly identify what your mind is doing. As a man thinks so is he. Are we manifesting the works of the flesh or the works of the Spirit? 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Colossians 3 also has a list of one versus the other.
The point is the mark on the hand and the head are already manifesting in the spirit. The physical mark just puts a physical identification on the people who are already serving self, sin, and the old man.
1 John 4: 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world
We studied this verse when speaking about the antichrist, but now look at it again in light of the false prophet. Both are found here, and we can see how Revelation 13 relates to it. The false prophet beast, represented by physical false prophets among us, creates an image of the beast of lost humanity whose breath or spirit is the spirit of antichrist. The mark comes from the worship of the image. The mark identifies those who truly have the spirit of Christ and the spirit of antichrist.
Jesus said to take heed in what we hear. The words people speak, whether of God or not, have life and death. There is a spiritual link between the words people say and the spirit it creates. When the false prophets speak words full of antichrist, it is creating the image of antichrist and its mark in those who are hearing and receiving them. When true prophets of God speak and when the true Word of God is taught, it is creating the image and mark of God in those who believe and receive.
more to come......
more to come......
