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Revelation 13:11-15. Who does the beast from the earth represent?

Rev 13:11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

The first beast in Rev 13:1 came out of the sea meaning the wicked nations and peoples, (Is 57:20) and that would mean populated Europe during the Middle Ages. The second beast in Rev 13:11, came out of the earth. Again, this beast is a super world empire just like all the other beasts in prophecy.

What does the earth mean in symbolic language in the book of Revelation?

Rev 12:15.16. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

The woman represents the pure church of believers during the Middle Ages. The serpent represents Satan Rev 12:9. The flood from Satan represents persecution. Psalm 18:4. Dan 11:22. So when the earth opened its mouth, the believers escaped from the persecutions. The reformers travelled to England, Holland and then to North America to escape persecution from the papacy. In North America, there was no persecution from the papacy. Earth in symbolic language represents North America, which was depopulated at the time. Therefore, sea represents an area of many wicked people and the earth represents land with hardly any people. A beast represents a super empire along with the other beast as we have studied.

Which land started around the end of the Middle Ages in the late 1700´s and around the time of the French Revolution? The United States of America started as a new nation around this time. This is the new earth, the new world, where the reformers travelled to in escaping persecution.

This beast had two horns like a lamb, but they had no crowns on their heads like the sea beast which had ten crowns. Crowns on heads represent kingly authority. The absence of crowns on the lamb like horns reveal that this super power has no kingly authority. OK! The two horns in prophecy represent the political and the lamb represents the religious powers. What became the fundamental principles of this new nation USA? Republicanism and Protestantism with no kingly authority. These became the guiding principles of this nation where all reformers travelled to, to escape persecution, to a safe haven.

These horns were like a lamb. What does lamb mean in prophetical language? John the Baptist pointed to Jesus at the river Jordan and said Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Joh 1:29. Rev 12:11. The lamb refers to Jesus Christ.  The beast spoke like a dragon. Who does the dragon represent in the book of Revelation? Satan or the devil. Rev 12:9.

So we have a nation here, the United States of America who has built its principles on the Bible and looks like a Christian nation, however it speaks like a dragon and that is Satan. When a nation speaks like a Dragon, then that can only mean one thing, and that is persecution of the saints again like in Rev 12: This prophecy is yet in the future. But when this nation turns away from God and the principles outlined in the Bible; then they begin to persecute the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, then we will know that the nation will speak like the Dragon: Satan.

Who is the False Prophet in Rev 19:20?

This nation of Protestants in the USA, is also known as the false prophet in the book of Revelation.

The word false prophet in the Greek is “pseudoprophaitais”.

A short word study on the words false prophet in the New Testament.

Rev 16:13. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (This is under the sixth plague in Rev 16:).

Rev 19:20. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs and miracles in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (This false prophet is referring to the beast with the lamb like horns in Rev 13:11-18 who deceives people with signs and miracles. This false prophet is the USA according to our study on Rev 13:11-18).

Rev 20:10. The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

2 Pet 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.

Acts 13:6. Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus.

Math 7:15. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep´s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Verse 16. You will know them by their fruits. (These false prophets can also be churches)

Mat 24:11. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (False prophets can also mean churches).

Mat 24:24. For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible the elect (Elect are Christians).

Conclusion

A false prophet can be a man or a woman, or an institution like a church denomination. It can also be a religious nation like the USA. The false prophet in Rev 13:11-18 is the Protestants nation in the USA and works together with the beast in Rev 13:1-10, which represents the papacy in the Roman Catholic Church system. The false prophet, the beast and the devil will share the same destiny in eternal fire. False prophets will be found among God´s people in the church worldwide. False prophets can make sorcery and miracles to deceive God´s people. False prophets can be known by their fruits, and that is they do not believe in the whole Bible and keep the commandments of God. False prophets will do signs and wonders to deceive God´s people in the church.

Rev 13:11. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

Who is the dragon a symbol of in prophecy? Rev 12:9. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

So when the USA of America speaks, it speaks like a dragon and all the peoples of the earth are afraid. The speaking from the dragon and the USA are related to worship. There will come a time in the future when the USA will speak like a dragon and enforce laws going against the Law of God and primarily against God´s sabbath law to keep this law holy on the seventh day of the week which is a Saturday. And all who refuse to obey this law will be persecuted by the state and the Protestant church in the USA.

Rev 13:12. 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.

This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled in the future. The USA will exercise the same authority as the first beast, which is the Roman Catholic Church system with the papacy, and Jesuits in control and running this vast world organization. When Rev 13: talks about authority, we have learned that the authority comes first from Satan, and then was transferred over to the Roman Catholic Church system, and further continued with the USA. What does this authority involve? To establish the rights of worship in the land of the USA. This prophecy is yet in the future and can foresee a law of the land being enforced, thus taking away the free democratic rights of worship, and enforcing the worship of the first beast, which is the Roman Catholic Church system in the USA.

Rev 13:13.14. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 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.

What do signs mean in Revelation?

We shall do a short word study on the word signs, which is “seimion” in the Greek.

Mat 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (The signs her are related to false prophets which can mean one person or a church who try to deceive true Christian believers).

2 Thess 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders. Verse 10. And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (The signs are related to the Roman Catholic Church in this text: they have healing signs at Lourdes in France, and healing plus speaking in tongues amongst their charismatic members).

Rev 16:14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs/miracles, which go out to the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty (These spirits convince the kings of the earth through signs to go into battle against God and his people).

Ex 7:9 When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, show a miracle for yourself, then you shall say to Aaron, “Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.” Verse 11. But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Ex 7:19 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, “Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and in pitchers of stone. Verse 22. Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments – – -.

Ex 8:5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt. Verse 7. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

Ex 8:18.19. Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”

Ex 4:8 (Plagues of Egypt) Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. Verse 9. And it will be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice – – -.

Ex 4:17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.

Ex 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh´s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Joh 2:11. This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (Signs of turning water into wine).

Joh 4:54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when he had come out of Judea into Galilee. (This second sign was the healing of the nobleman´s son).

Joh 6:2 Then a multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he performed on those who were diseased. (Healing of sicknesses).

Joh 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (This is after the sign of the feeding of the 5,000 with two small fish and five loaves of bread).

Joh 9:16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” (This was just after Jesus healed a blind man with clay).

Joh 12:18 For this reason the people also met him, because the heard that he had done this sign. (This sign was the raising of Lazarus from the dead).

Conclusion

Because the signs deceive men upon the earth, they are not from God, but from Satan. Spirits of demons performing signs with the kings of the earth to gather them for the battle of Armageddon. Signs that deceive the elect (Christians). Those who work these signs did not receive the love of the truth. Pharaoh’s magicians turned the waters into blood. Pharaoh’s magicians brought frogs out of the land of Egypt. Pharaoh´s magicians could not bring lice out of the land of Egypt. Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus healed the nobleman´s son. Healing of diseases and sicknesses. Feeding of the 5,000 with two small fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus heals a blind man with clay. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Signs that come from Satan, are related to Spiritualism and the Charismatic movement today, and are performed to mislead and deceive people and to draw them away from the teachings of the Bible. Signs from Jesus Christ are true signs that do not deceive.

What does “fire come down from heaven” mean in the Bible?

Some Bible students have speculated into what this fire is in prophecy. Some say it is the atom bomb, which had fire from the earth up to the heavens. Others conclude that it is some kind of laser weapon, which can cause fire to appear out of heaven.

When studying this chapter Rev 13: it is full of symbolic language and fire is one of them. It is not to be taken as literal fire. The context of this chapter reveals everything is symbolic and not literal. Therefore, fire is symbolic in this chapter. The purpose of the fire from heaven and signs are to deceive the people living in the USA, especially Protestant Christians.

 Gen 19:24. Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

Lev 9:23.24. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

Lev 10:1.2. Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took a censer and put it fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

Numb 16:35. And fire came down from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense. (This is referring to the rebellion of Korah and the two hundred and fifty leaders of Israel. Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

1 Kings 18:30-38. (Elijah built an altar to the Lord, cut the bull up into pieces and put them on the altar with the wood. Then he asked the people to pour water over the altar three times and then he prayed to God). Verses 37.38. “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that you have turned their hearts back to You again”. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

2 Thess 1:7-9. When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

Rev 20:9. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. (The ones who are devoured are Satan and all the nations of the earth, Gog and Magog, who try to go into battle against the city of Jerusalem where the saints are. Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and destruction).

Acts 2:1-4. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Fire is related to the Lord´s presence and signs of speaking in tongues, which are languages).

Conclusion

All these texts reveal that fire comes down from the Lord and reveals God´s presence. They also reveal that fire has a destroying effect. However, having said this,  Acts 2:1-4  is the only text in the Bible where tongues of fire from heaven, are connected to signs e.g. Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. These signs of speaking in tongues and healing were not performed to deceive, but to strengthen the faith of those who believed in what the apostles preached about salvation through Christ and Christ alone.

Therefore, fire in Rev 13:13 maybe related to the speaking in tongues and the healing phenomena in the Charismatic movement. This speaking in tongues in the Charismatic movement is not the same as the speaking in tongues experienced in Acts 2:1-13, which is the speaking of languages only. The speaking in tongues in the Charismatic movement is described as a warm feeling of the Holy Spirit entering the body, and when one speaks in tongues it shows the presence of the Lord.

This is the great deception described in Rev 13:13. Why? Because we never read about the disciples and apostles speaking in a “gibberish” way and rolling on the floor like they do in many Charismatic meetings.

In addition, the healing from the Charismatic movement is only a temporary healing in many cases from my experience. Satan can inflict people with sicknesses and use healers to make them better. Furthermore, many of these healing services are not Christ like according to the Bible narrative.

What is the image to the beast?

Rev 13:14. 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.

OK! The beast in Rev 13:1-10 is the Roman Catholic Church system. In Rev 13:11-18 the beast with the two lamb like horns represents the USA. The USA jurisdiction and government tells those who dwell on the earth (the people who live in the USA) to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived (which is the Roman Catholic Church system). This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled in the future.

This prophecy describes a union between the Roman Catholic Church system and the protestant church along with the US state government. When this union takes place there will be a law enforced making an image to the beast. How can this law be enforced? We have already experienced a new law made by the 5 justices of the USA stating that all homosexuals and lesbians can unite in marriage going against the teachings of the Bible. Lev 20:13. Rom 1:26.27. So these 5 justices can make new laws going against the Bible.

What is this image?

Image in the Greek language is είκων aikon and means an emperor´s head image on a coin showing that he is the one who has issued the coin and supports the value of it.[1]

Mat 22:19-21. (The Pharisees asked Jesus) Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? Jesus said, “Show me the tax money”. So they brought him a denarius. And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him. “Caesar´s.” And he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God what is God´s.” (Image means tribute and authority).

Rom 1:18. Paul is talking about ungodly and unrighteous men. Verse 22. Professing to be wise, they become fools. Verse 23. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Image of God in opposition to images of animals).

Rom 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. (Image of Jesus Christ character).

2 Cor 3:18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (Image of Christ).

1 Cor 11:7. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God. (Image of God and Jesus Christ).

1 Cor 15:49. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man (Jesus Christ).

Colos 1:15. (Christ) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Heb 10:1. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. (The law of sacrifices is an image)

Rev 13:15. 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. (The beast with the lamb like horns gave power to the image, which resulted in the image having breath, can speak and coming alive. Those who do not worship the image will be killed. This reminds us of Daniel´s three friends Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego who refused to worship the image/statue to the King in Dan 3:)

Rev 14:9. (Third angel from heaven message) Then the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, Verse 10. He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God – – -. (This is a serious message from God in heaven stating that anyone worshipping the beast i.e. the Roman Catholic Church system and receives his mark shall receive the wrath of God).

Rev 15:2. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image – – -. (The sea of glass is in heaven where the victors stand who have overcome the beast and refused to worship his image).

Rev 16:2. So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. (This is during the first plague with the wrath of God upon those who worship the image of the beast).

Rev 19:20. Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence by which he declared those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Here we have the results of those who created the image and forced others to worship the image: the beast and the false prophet where thrown into the lake of fire).

Rev 20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on the foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Dan 2:31. You O King, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. (Image in the Hebrew is “tselem” and means statue in this text).

Conclusion

Image is related to the following: worship, authority, and image of God. Christ. False worship of the beast. Deception. Statue in Dan 2: Statue of gold in Dan 3: Issue of life and death. There is a difference between true worshipers and false worshipers in the book of Revelation. They are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ and those who do not. The Ten Commandments of God includes keeping the sabbath day as a holy day, which is on a Saturday in the Bible. (Rev 12:17. 14:12). The image to the beast is the opposite to keeping the commandments of God, like keeping Sunday as a holy day.

Rev 13:15. 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.

“He” refers to the false prophet or the Protestants living in the USA. Power was given to the Protestants living in the USA to give breath to the image, so that it can become alive and have authority to speak and administer a death decree to those who do not wish to worship the image to the first beast. Her we have a union of both protestants in the USA and the Roman Catholic Church system who make a law enforcing all people living in the USA to worship the image to the first beast in (Rev 13:1), on the point of death.

There is a similar account of this situation written in Dan 3:

Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. Verse 2. The image was to be dedicated and all were invited. Verse 5. At the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that king Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Verse 6. And whoever does not fall down, and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Verse 12. (Certain Chaldeans came forward to the king and accused some Jews). There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up. As a result, these three men were cast into a burning oven to be burnt up alive.

Verse 24. Then king Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, “True O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (In this historical account, image is related to forced worship by the king).

In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the State will also be employed by the Church to accomplish her own ends.[2]

When the leading Churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.[3]

The image to the beast represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant Churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.[4]

 

[1] Walter Bauer, (Trans., by W. F. Arndt and F. W. Gingrich) A Greek – English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1979), 222.

[2] Ellen G. White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 443.

[3] Ibid., 445.

[4] Ibid., 445.

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