Beast Two–Signs & Wonders, deceptions and a new world order
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 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 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. 15 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. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:11-18–ESV)
The being labeled here as a beast rises not from the ocean this time, but from the land. It had horns, not 10 like the first beast but two, like a lamb. The emphasis seems to be about the shape of the horns more so than a counterfeit of Jesus, the lamb of God. If it was about deceit I would think that John would have said it looked like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon rather than looked like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
A puppet
Verse 12 says that beast two exercises the power of the first beast in its presence. Verse 14 says that this beast is allowed to work signs and again it is in the presence of the first beast. Carrying on this theme verse 15 beast two makes an image of the one who empowers him. He gives life to that beast, but it is a permissive giving of breath or pseudo-life to this idol.
John tells of mighty things done by beast 2, but each is done by the power of and for the glory of beast 1. Verse 18 hints that beast 2 is a man though the analogy is imperfect given his horns and all. The actions of this entity are solely for the aggrandizement of beast 1. He is like a prophet or a puppet. He is a minion, a deputy, of the evil manifested in the Dragon and Beast 1.
Why a person?
We all do better with those like us. This second beast is Satan’s move to gain humanities trust. They may be amazed at the healed head of the first beast, but there is a terror and a fear associated with that being that will limit its success as a vehicle of willing allegiance and worship.
By sending an engaging a human figure to the task men and women the world over will be eased into a better allegiance. Jesus did this, but he came not as a wolf in sheep’s clothing but as a genuine man and one who experienced the many sorrows attendant with the walk through life a person may see.
Jesus came offering himself. He said, “I am the bread of life.” He spoke of being the living water. “Life everlasting comes from following me,” Jesus of Nazareth said to those in Galilee and eventually all the way to you and me.
Contrast that with the representative of Satan. This second beast comes offering signs and miracles. Recall those are the very things Jesus said were demanded by a wicked generation.
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