Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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THE PROPHET DANIEL
REVELATION 13 – PROPHETIC POSSIBILITIES ON THE HORIZON
Revelation 13:1-10 – One of Seven Heads Slain but Revived!
RV11:7 Now when the Two Prophets
have finished their testimony, the wild beast that rises from the abyss will war with them,
conquer and kill them.
| 134 | The Two Prophets: A prophetic symbol for the corporate body of the Saints during the end-time. Compare Revelation 11:2,
3 with Revelation 13:5, 7. For details see the commentary Nazarene Apocalypse. |
| 135 | Wild beast that
rises from the abyss will war with them: This suggests the wild Sea Beast rises out of the abyss and then wars with he Saints. Thus, the reviving of the Sea Beast precedes the Great Oppression. That the rising out of the abyss is the same as the king who
was, is not, and yet is to be can be seen by comparing Revelation 11:7 with Revelation 13:3, 7. This wild beast is amplified in Revelation 13:1-18. It seems fair to conclude that the Small Power of Daniel is the same as the wild Sea Beast of Revelation probably
represented in one of the heads which is slain and yet revives. |
| 136 | Conquer and kill them: Daniel 7:21, 25 is the root of this where the Small Power wishes to make the Saints obsolete. Compare Revelation 11:2. |
RV13:1 And I watched a wild beast rising out of the Sea.
It had seven heads and ten horns.
Upon the horns were ten diadems and upon its seven heads blasphemous names.
| 137 | A wild beast rising out of the Sea: Thus we call it the wild Sea Beast in contrast to the wild Earth Beast later. |
| 138 | Seven heads and ten horns: We see the Sea Beast with seven heads and ten horns. It seems fair to conclude that this is after
the “ten kings” of Daniel have developed following the demise of the fourth kingdom of Rome. For many centuries these seven heads have been viewed as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and a seventh. Compare notes on Revelation 17:10
(‘five have fallen, one is, and another is future’). For details see Nazarene Apocalypse. We may view the Sea Beast as we might the Image of Nebuchadnezzar: it is a corporate body involving various world-governments dating from Daniel’s
time. The Image exists for thousands of years and though we might now find ourselves during the period of the clay and iron toes the whole Image still exists. It will continue to exist as one great entity until destroyed by the Kingdom of God. Thus we now see a similar corporate image composed of seven world-governments still in existence though one head is currently dominate: Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Rome (the only one not a contemporary power), and a seventh world-government. Included are the ten former European Papal states which would include as possibilities: Italy, Spain, France, Britain, Holland, Germany, Russia, and others. Some view the “ten” as a symbol for all other kingdoms or the European Community. This prophecy could not be fulfilled until long after Rome ceased to exist for the seventh head is seen on the wild Sea Beast. |
RV13:2 Now the wild Sea Beast I saw was like a leopard with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion.
The wild Sea Beast’s power, throne and authority came from
the (Satanic) Dragon.
| 139 | Like a leopard with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion: We have here three of the beasts of Daniel 7:4-6 but in
reverse order (leopard-Greece, bear-Persia, lion-Babylon) as John is looking backward and Daniel saw them in the future: lion, bear, leopard. It is noteworthy the fourth iron beast (Rome) is missing here. There may be a reason for this. We are placed in prophetic
time when the Seven Heads (or, former world governments or empires) have existed. |
| 140 | Power, throne and
authority came from: No matter the world-government each has been ruled by Satan the Dragon. Note the Dragon at Revelation 12:3 has seven heads and ten horns. We realize the truth of the Devil’s words at Luke 4:6. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) |
RV13:3 I watched one of the heads of the wild Sea Beast as if it were slain,
but its deadly wound was healed.
All the earth followed the wild Sea Beast in awe.
| 141 | One of the heads of the wild Sea Beast as if it were slain: We know for sure that Rome was to be “slain” as
Daniel 7:11 while the lion-Babylon (Iraq), the bear-Persia (Iran), and the leopard-Greece (Greece) were allowed to exist though without their world empires. If we view this slain head as Rome, then it is going to be revived. Several attempts have been made
in modern times to restore Rome. The Russia czar means Caesar. The German kaiser means Caesar. Adolf Hitler wished to revive Rome in the Third Reich. All of these attempts failed.
Is it possible that “Rome” is revived in another form? Since the wild Sea Beast that is healed, becoming thus an eighth head or king, is seen paralleling the Small Horn in Daniel in the oppression on the Saints it seems fair that the Small Horn
and revived head of the wild Sea Beast are the same. Thus, from one prophetic perspective once dead Rome has been revived through a political entity which rose out of the fragmented Ten (European) Powers -- America.
Another possibility is that the Seventh Head is the same as the Small (American) Power and so this once insignificant colony of Britain, rising to world power status, is yet to be “killed” with a foretold revival. |
| 142 | Deadly wound was healed: There are three phrases describing this: a) slain but healed; b) revived; and, c) into an abyss and
then coming back out. This may apply to Rome as discussed above who is revived, healed, or ascends out of the abyss in another mode. There are many reasons to compare Rome with America. |
| 143 | All the earth followed the wild Sea Beast in awe: It is the revivification of the slain beast which causes all the earth to follow the restored (healed) head of the seven-headed wild Sea Beast. This may argue against a slow evolution of a political development out of the ancient Roman empire. |
RV13:4 The earth worshipped the (Satanic) Dragon
because it gave authority to the wild Sea Beast. With these words they worshipped the wild Sea Beast:
“Who is like the wild Sea Beast,
and who can make war with it?”
| 144 | The earth worshipped the (Satanic) Dragon: Few will likely realize or admit that their admiration for this political entity
amounts to worship of Satan. |
| 145 | With these words they worshipped the wild Sea Beast: Worship may involve asking a simple question? The misled praise and laud the beast with words that belong to God. |
| 146 | Who is like the wild Sea Beast: We remember that Michael’s name means, “Who is like God?” Here a similar question is asked of the world-government represented in the wild Sea Beast. |
| 147 | Who can make war with it: This question by the global followers of the wild Sea Beast may infer international peace. So powerful is the wild Sea Beast) = Small Power) that it has attained global military power. |
RV13:5 The wild Sea Beast was given a mouth speaking great thoughts and blasphemies.
The wild Sea Beast was authorized to take action for 42 months.
| 148 | Wild Sea Beast was given a mouth speaking great thoughts and blasphemies: This phrase alone would confirm the wild Sea
Beast is the same as the Small Power. Daniel 7:8, 11, 20, 25. Note that the Sea Beast has a mouth which speaks. Note the word “mouth” in Daniel 7:8, 20; Revelation 13:2, 5, 6; 16:13. The Sea Beast speaks and yet another will do what the beast wills.
Note this in a moment. |
| 149 | Wild Sea Beast was authorized to take action for 42 months: This also confirms Daniel’s Small Power is the same as Revelation’s Sea Beast. (Daniel 7:25) This describes the period of great oppression after one of the seven heads is healed and the beast ascends out of the abyss. We remember Satan is cast out of heaven before the three and a half year period. It is then the Dragon makes war on the Remnant of the celestial Woman’s seed. (Revelation 12:17) It seems clear that once Satan is cast out of heaven he revives his political instrument: the Small Power in the mode of an Eighth Head. |
RV13:6 And the wild Sea Beast opened its mouth blaspheming The God, blaspheming His Name and His dwelling and even those who dwelt with Him in heaven.
RV13:7 The wild Sea Beast was given authority to war with the Saints and overpower them.
Authority was granted the wild Sea Beast over all
tribes, peoples, tongues and nations.
| 150 | Authority to war with the Saints and overpower them: This assures a parallel between the Small Power and the Sea Beast.
(Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:2; 12:14, 17; 13:5, 7) |
| 151 | Authority was granted the wild Sea Beast over all:
This seems clearly to imply global control. |
| 152 | Tribes, peoples, tongues and nations: We note similar
phrases in Daniel 7:14, 27 and Revelation 5:9, 10 and Revelation 7:9. |
RV13:8 Now everyone dwelling on earth will worship the wild Sea Beast.
Not one of their names
from the world’s foundation were inscribed in that slaughtered Lamb’s scroll of Life.
| 153 | Now everyone dwelling on earth will worship the wild Sea Beast: Confirming the world-control is global. This is beyond
anything the ancient world-governments experienced which were limited to the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and Northern Europe. When the text says “everyone” it does not include the Saints. Note in Revelation 12:9 though Satan misled the “entire
earth” it was the Saints who conquered him by the faith in the Lamb’s blood and their own testimony. (Revelation 12:11) Religious worship has been replaced by worship of the State. |
| 154 | Not one of their names: We are reminded of Daniel 12:1, 2. See notes on this text. Those who worship the Sea Beast will never be included in the roll call of the Church. |
RV13:9 Anyone with an ear, listen!
| 155 | Anyone with an ear, listen: This is a phrase from the Nazarene and concludes all the Christine epistles to the Seven Churches.
See notes on MT 11:15 in Nazarene Commentary. |
RV13:10 Anyone for prison will be imprisoned.
Anyone who executes with the sword
will also be killed by the sword. Here is where the Saints must endure in faith. | 156 | Imprisoned: During the Great Oppression some of the Saints will be in prison compounds or concentration camps. Note carefully Matthew 25:36. This is likely to be the greatest of all holocausts. |
| 157 | Executes with the sword: Not only will Christians be imprisoned but some will be executed just as hundreds of thousands of their fellows during the centuries of the Gospel Age. Note the martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 20:4. The phrase is similar to that of the Nazarene the night of his arrest. (Matthew 26:52) |
| 158 | Here is where the Saints must endure in faith: Or, KJV: here is the patience and the faith of the saints; RSV: here is a call for the endurance and faith of; BECK: here is where the holy people will need to endure and trust. Research the words endure and endurance in Revelation. |
Summary
Where we saw the Small Power in Daniel oppress the Saints for three and a half years, we now see in Revelation the parallel in the wild Sea Beast. Revelation 13:11-18 continues to describe the type of world control the Sea Beast and its instrument the Earth
Beast (the False Prophet) exercise over the earth. There are strong indications that this global control is economic and the number-name 666 is related to this global economic control. For details see the work Nazarene Apocalypse or he CD-ROM Nazarene Commentary.
Revelation 13:11-15 – The Earth-Beast and Global Worship
RV13:11 Now I watched as another wild beast rose out of the ground.
The Earth-Beast had two lamb-like horns
but spoke like a dragon.
| 159 | Another wild beast rose out of the ground: Thus the term Earth-Beast. This beast does not rise out of the Mediterranean
Sea but the ground of earth. (Genesis 1:10) It has a different origin. |
| 160 | Earth-Beast had two lamb-like
horns: A lamb is a young sheep. A young male sheep slowly grows what will become the ram’s horns. This is a relatively young lamb-like political entity. Why a lamb? It may be to indicate its submissiveness to the wild Sea Beast. Or, it could have
some characteristics of the other Lamb in Revelation, Christ. It may appear lamb-like but this is deceptive. Remember the feet of the Image in Daniel chapter 2 were of iron and clay. Clay is moist earth. This is an earthen beast without the iron heritage. |
RV13:12 The Earth-Beast has the authority of the Sea-Beast
to execute (such authority) before it.
The Earth-Beast causes those who dwell on earth to worship the Sea-Beast
who was slain but healed.
| 161 | Earth-Beast has the authority of the Sea-Beast: They are not opposed to one another. Indeed, the Earth-Beast seems to carry out what the Sea-Beast speaks. It is called “False Prophet” in Revelation 19:20. So, it must be the spokesman for the Sea-Beast. |
| 162 | To execute (such authority) before it: While the Sea-Beast speaks with a blasphemous mouth, the lamb-like Earth-Beast executes what the Sea Beast wants. Thus, the Earth-Beast speaks like the dragon-Satan. |
| 163 | Causes those who dwell on earth to worship the Sea-Beast: |
| 164 | Who was slain but healed: The only world empire “slain” in Daniel is Rome, the Fourth Kingdom. (Daniel 7:11) |
RV13:13 The Earth-Beast executes great signs,
even making fire come down out of the Sky
to the ground as humankind watches.
| 165 | Earth-Beast executes great signs: Such “signs” may imply heaven’s backing. Only one such sign is mentioned. |
| 166 | Making fire come down out of the Sky: This is a phenomena credited to God. Compare 1 Kings 18:38 and Revelation 20:9. The Earth-Beast
is able to make fire come down from above, the Sky. Such a thing would not surprise anyone in the years around 2,000 CE. |
| 167 |
As humankind watches: This fire out of the Sky is observable by mankind. |
RV13:14 Because of the signs it was authorized to execute before the Sea-Beast, the Earth-Beast deceives earth’s
inhabitants.
The Earth-Beast commands earth’s inhabitants to make an idol-image to the head
of the Sea-Beast that was slain but revived.
| 168 | Earth-Beast deceives earth’s inhabitants: This sign of fire from the Sky is done with approval “in the sight
of” or right before the Sea-Beast. This authorized sign misleads humankind to begin to worship the Sea-Beast. |
| 169 |
Commands earth’s inhabitants to make an idol-image to the head: It is the Earth-Beast which tells mankind to make an idol in homage to the Sea-Beast. Or, more specifically to the one head which was healed or revived. This would be an idol of the
Eighth Head, the revived form of Rome or the Seventh Head. |
RV13:15 It was granted her to breathe life into the idol-image
of the Sea-Beast. So the idol-image of the Sea-Beast could speak
as well as execute any who refused to worship
the idol-image of the Sea-Beast.| 170 | Granted her to breathe life into the idol-image: Suddenly “her” appears here.
The Earth-Beast has the feminine aute and it is she who gives life to the Image. This may be a symbol or metaphor for the reviving of the head of the Sea Beast. |
| 171 | Could speak: The speechless, life-less Image is caused to live and then speak. This is a sign or miracle in itself. |
| 172 | As well as execute any who refused to worship: This living, breathing, speaking Image can also kill or execute any who refuse to worship it in homage to the Sea Beast. Note Revelation 13:10. Surely there will
be Christian martyrs here who refuse to worship the Image. |
Summary
An Earth-Beast rises from the ground and proves to be a False Prophet. It is granted authority and signs by the Sea Beast and proves to be the instrument by which certain things are made to happen. The whole globe is forced to worship the Sea Beast by means
of an idol creation which can speak and kill any who refuse.
Revelation 13:16-18 – The Earth-Beast and Global Economy
RV13:16 The Earth-Beast forces everyone
– small, great, rich, poor, freeman, slaves – so that they give them an imprinted mark on
their right hand or on their forehead.
| 173 | Earth-Beast forces everyone: The next phrase shows that this is global. |
| 174 | They give them an imprinted mark on: Whether on the right hand or forehead all the earth is forced to accept a mark, engraving or imprint which is visible. |
RV13:17 As a result no one will be able to buy or sell
without having the imprinted mark: the name or number of the name of the wild Sea-Beast.
| 175 | No one will be able to buy or sell: This is global absolute control of the economy. In order to get the imprint one must
agree to worship the Image of the Sea Beast. Here the Saints do not compromise and are either imprisoned in concentration camps or executed. All this surely occurs during the Great Oppression. There is no more powerful way to control people than the
purse. Suddenly the parable of the sheep and goats takes on new meaning. (Matthew 25:31-46) Saints will be poorly clothed, out of food, with nothing to drink, imprisoned. Who will care for them? |
| 176 | Number of the name of the wild Sea-Beast: Clearly this is what is imprinted on the hand or forehead. While a mark on a hand may be hidden, such a mark on
the forehead is difficult to conceal. |
RV13:18 Here is the wisdom:
Whoever has the mind compute
the number of the wild Sea-Beast
– for it is a number for a human.
The number is 666. | 177 |
Here is the wisdom: Or, NEB: here is the key; GDSP: there is wisdom hidden here; TCNT: here there is need for discernment. This is not explained nor is the need for knowing the secret. |
| 178 | Whoever has the mind compute: Or, KJV: let him that hath understand count; RSV: reckon; PME: let every thinking man calculate; NEB: anyone who has intelligence may work out the number.
This may prove very frustrating. For nearly two thousand years intelligent persons have tried to compute the meaning of the following number. May it be that these with the “mind” or the “wise” are those Saints living at this prophetic
moment? It would not matter what the imprint is for no Saint can accept it if it involves worship of the Image and what it represents, the Sea Beast. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary states: “What or who is intended by this,
remains a mystery.” Translator John Darby suggests: “As regards the number of the beast, I have no doubt that it will be very simple to the godly, when the beast is there, and the time of spiritually judging it comes, and that name will practically guide those who have to do with him. Till then, the speculations of men are not of much value.” |
| 179 | Number of the wild Sea-Beast: The “number” of the imprint involves the revived head of the wild Sea Beast. |
| 180 | A number for a human: Or, man. This is a human name. Some apply it to Nero. Others to the Papacy. |
| 181 | The number is 666: Nothing has created more interest, concern and frustration that this cryptic name of some unknown person, man or woman. We are not told which language this may be computed in, Hebrew or Greek. These languages used numbers to encrypt names. Many make an application to Nero or Domitian and others limit it to the Papacy. Some see the number 6 as less than 7 and therefore lacking perfection as a symbol of human imperfection. Many of these have been based on Hebrew computations which is no where suggested in the text.
Does the number 666 occur anywhere else in the Bible. Yes. Twice. Both of great interest. First 666 occurs in 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13 as the annual income of Solomon. This interests us because the context is the same as Revelation: economics.
Second, Ezra 2:13 numbers the sons of Adonikam, which name means “My Lord has raised himself up.” These both seem interesting coincidences.
The conclusion of some scholars is that the number-name will be understood when the Saints arrive at that prophetic moment. It is, of course, an easy matter of making an application as if that were firm. One need not know the meaning of 666 to protect oneself
from worshipping the revived Sea Beast for such is idolatry. (1 John 5:21) So, those many Christians who are not among the wise will be at no disadvantage. (1 Corinthians 1:26) The test will be whether the Saints trust in their Father to provide for
them during that time that one cannot buy or sell without the imprint of the beast. |
Summary
The Earth-Beast compels the entire globe to worship the wild Sea Beast by means of a living, breathing, talking Idol. The earth is misled by three major signs: the revival of the slain Sea Beast, fire from the Sky, and, the creation of an idol which can
speak and kill those who refuse to worship the Sea Beast. An imprint, likely of the name of a human involved with the Sea Beast, will control the world economy.
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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