Lesson 46 — The Beasts Out of the Sea and Earth

1. 1 THE BEASTS OUT OF THE SEA AND EARTH

THE BEASTS OUT OF THE SEA AND EARTH

Revelation 13:1-18

Revelation 13 is a prophecy of two men who will fulfill what is predicted here during the last 3½ years of this age.

First let us examine this passage to see what it has to say about the beast out of the sea. This is a symbol and must be treated as such. The sea is symbolic of peoples Daniel 7:2, 3Revelation 17:1, 15. The beast in Revelation refers to the rise of a kingdom, and more particularly to the Antichrist, the earthly head of the kingdom Revelation 13:18. It also symbolizes a supernatural spirit out of the Abyss, as we shall later see. Beasts in Scripture symbolize kingdoms and kings Daniel 2:38, 39Daniel 7:2-7, as well as supernatural powers which control the kingdoms. The personal Anti-christ, his power, source of power, worship, characteristics, mouth, titles, wars, exaltation, reign, length of reign, etc., are the subject of this passage. They are briefly dealt with as follows:

1. 1 Who is the Antichrist? At the present time (1949) this question cannot be answered. The question is unanswerable and will be until the Antichrist personally makes the covenant with Israel for seven years Daniel 9:27. Many today, as ever, are speculating that the pope, Stalin, or others will be the Antichrist. Much harm has been done to the subject of prophecy by this speculation for many thinking people have been disgusted. Many have turned their faces against the inspiration of prophecy because of just such unfounded speculation concerning Hitler. Mussolini, or other men in the past who failed to become the Antichrist. The following points prove that no man now prominent in world affairs could possibly be the Antichrist.

1. 1 From where does he come? This question is fully answered in our study of the book of Daniel, as we have seen in Lesson Thirty-nine, Point IV, 2.

1. 1 When is he to be revealed or when is he due to come into prominence in world affairs? This question is also clearly answered in Scripture:

(1) In Dan. 7:24, we have definite proof that Antichrist cannot be revealed and be prominent in world affairs until after the ten kingdoms are formed inside the Roman Empire. According to this verse, the ten kingdoms must first be formed and exist for some time as the seventh kingdom, or Revised Rome. The Antichrist will arise and gain the whole ten kingdoms in the first 3½ years of the Week. By the middle of the Week he will be seen as the beast of Rev. 13 coming up out of the sea of humanity already with the seven heads and ten horns, which he will have conquered before the middle of the Week. His coming out of the sea in the middle of the Week will be simply the recognition of his power by the ten kingdoms and his acceptance of them from the ten kings and the dragon Revelation 13:2-4Revelation 17:12-17. This verse further teaches that because of his rise out of the ten kingdoms, he is to come out of obscurity and his rise to power will be quick. Daniel saw the “little horn” rising so suddenly among the ten that he was bewildered Daniel 7:7-8, 19. Therefore, no man can determine whom the Antichrist will be until after the ten kingdoms are formed.

(2) The Antichrist cannot be revealed until the rapture as proven in 2 Thess. 2:6-8, for which see Lesson Forty-three, Point VII, 9.

1. 1 How long is he to reign? He will reign over one of the ten kingdoms of Revised Rome at the beginning of the Week and will get power over the whole ten kingdoms during the last 3½ years Revelation 13:5Revelation 7:25Revelation 12:7. It is in these last 3½ years that he will exalt himself above every God and will be worshipped by many of his subjects Revelation 13:14-18Daniel 8:25Daniel 11:36-452 Thessalonians 2:4.

1. 1 Where is he to reign? During part of the last 3½ years he will reign in Jerusalem “in the glorious holy mountain” where the temple will be rebuilt Daniel 11:45. He will sit “in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” 2 Thessalonians 2:4. This temple is where the abomination of desolation will be placed Daniel 9:27Daniel 12:7-13Matthew 24:15-22Revelation 11:1, 2Revelation 13:12-18. Babylon, not Rome, will be his place of reign until then as we have seen in Lesson Thirty-nine, IV, 2, (6). The fact that there will be ten separate kingdoms with ten separate capitals and ten separate kings in the first 3½ years shows that up to the middle of the Week the Antichrist does not have one capitol where he reigns over the ten kingdoms, for they will not yet be under him. Rome will be just one of the ten capitals and her king will reign over the territory of Italy and her possessions, not over all of Revised Rome. It is only when Antichrist becomes head of the ten kingdoms by the middle of the Week, that he will establish one central throne in Jerusalem for all the newly formed empire. Even then, the kings will continue as kings under him Revelation 17:9-17.

1. 1 The power of the Antichrist. The power of the Antichrist will come from Satan, the spirit of the Abyss, and the ten kings. His power has already been predicted by God and it will be given him in due time. It is God who will permit Satan and his agents to give their power to the beast and inspire him in his evil designs Daniel 8:242 Thessalonians 2:8-12Revelation 13:1, 2. It is God who will put it into the hearts of the ten kings to give him their power for the purpose of destroying Mystical Babylon Revelation 17:12-17. It is the satanic prince out of the abyss Revelation 11:7Revelation 17:8 who will be the executive of Satan’s power to the beast and who will inspire and back the Antichrist in all his diabolical activities, as will be seen in the next two lessons. Satan will give to Antichrist the world-kingdoms he offered Christ. Antichrist will accept them; Christ did not. Antichrist must fight to possess them even as Christ would have had to do and will yet have to do. Antichrist will succeed in this world conquest by conquering the Revised Roman Empire by the middle of the Week and all the northern and eastern countries of Asia and Europe by the end of the Week. Also, he will get the co-operation of many other nations through the ministry of the three unclean spirits, who will help him against the Jews and Christ at the second advent. After his defeat at Armageddon by Christ, Antichrist will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The kingdom of God will succeed his kingdom and extend throughout all the Earth. The power of the beast may be summarized as follows:

(1) To blaspheme God Daniel 7:8, 11Daniel 11:36Revelation 13:5, 6.

(2) To overcome saints Revelation 7:9-17Revelation 14:13Revelation 15:2-4.

(3) To overcome the Jews Daniel 7:21Daniel 12:7Revelation 13:7, 15.

(4) To conquer many nations Daniel 7:8, 20Daniel 11:36-45 and rule them as he wills Revelation 13:7.

(5) To destroy Mystery Babylon Revelation 17:12-17.

(6) To overcome and kill the two witnesses Revelation 11:7.

(7) To change times and laws Daniel 7:25.

(8) To understand mysteries Daniel 8:23.

(9) To protect the Jews as long as he desires, and also to succeed in destroying them for a period Daniel 9:272 Thessalonians 2:4Revelation 11:1-2.

(10) To work signs and wonders Daniel 8:242 Thessalonians 2:8-12Revelation 13:1-18Revelation 19:20.

(11) To cause craft to prosper Daniel 8:25.

(12) To control money and riches in his own realm Daniel 11:38-43.

(13) To cause great deceptions 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12John 5:43Daniel 8:25Revelation 13:1-18.

(14) To do according to his own will Daniel 11:36.

(15) To control religion and worship Daniel 11:362 Thessalonians 2:4Revelation 13:1-18Revelation 14:9-11Revelation 16:21.

(16) To control the lives of all men in his realm Revelation 13:12-18.

(17) To control kings as he wills Revelation 17:12-17.

(18) To make all the other nations fear him Revelation 13:4.

(19) To fight against Christ Revelation 19:11-21Daniel 8:25.

(20) To reign forty-two months Revelation 13:5.

1. 1 The Titles of the Antichrist:

(1) “Antichrist.” This is the most common one we use in speaking of him for he is to be the great opponent of Christ at the end of the age. The word occurs only four times in the Bible 1 John 2:18, 221 John 4:3, but the studies above and below show him to be the one who has that title more than any other and is to be the one expressly stated to come according to these passages.

(2) “The Assyrian” Isaiah 10:20-27Isaiah 30:18-33Isaiah 31:4-32Micah 5:3-15. The prophecies in these passages were recorded against the Assyrian king in the days of the prophets, but a study of them reveals that they have a latter-day fulfillment in the future Assyrian king who is to oppress Israel just preceding her final restoration. (The Assyrian territory will be part of Antichrist’s kingdom and in that sense he is the king of Assyria.)

This first passage Isaiah 10:20-27 refers to the “remnant” of Rev. 12:17: “In that day the remnant of Israel . . . shall no more again stay [Hebrew, “look for support”] upon him [Antichrist] that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord. . . . O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod . . . yet a little while [1,260 days, Rev. 12:6, 14-17; 13:5], and the indignation [Hebrew, “God’s anger and wrath,” the day of vengeance in the Tribulation, as in Isa. 26:20; Dan. 8:19; 11:36] shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction . . . in that day his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder . . . the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” The Hebrew root for “anointing” is shawman, “to shine,” and no doubt refers to the brightness of Christ’s coming in 2 Thess. 2:8, 9.

The second passage Isaiah 30:18-33 clearly refers to Israel’s final restoration under the Messiah: “Therefore will he [the Lord] be exalted . . . the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more . . . in the day that the Lord bindeth the breach of his people . . . the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger . . . to sift the nations . . . with the flame of a burning fire, with scattering, and tempest. and hailstones. For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-102 Thessalonians 2:8-12

The third passage Isaiah 31:4–32 speaks of the same truth: “Like as the lion roaring on his prey . . . shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion . . . As birds flying so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it . . . For in that day every man shall cast away his idols . . . then shall the Assyrian Fall with the sword, not of a mighty man [but by Christ, 2 Thess. 2:8, 9] . . . a king shall reign in righteousness . . . And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

The last passage Micah 5:3-15 definitely speaks of Israel being given up “until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth [until Israel has brought forth the manchild, as we have seen in the previous lesson]: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he [Christ, verses 1, 2] shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord . . . now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assryian [Antichrist] shall come into our land: and shall tread in our palaces . . . thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian . . . I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

(3) “The king of Babylon” Isaiah 14:4. This passage is in a prophecy of Babylon which had a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians Isaiah 13:17. The complete fulfillment will be in the last days under Antichrist, as is proven by the mention of “the day of the Lord” and the restoration of Israel, which will occur when Christ comes to Earth in the days of the reign of Antichrist Isaiah 13:6-16, 19Isaiah 14:1-8, 18. All these prophecies have never been fulfilled as stated here. Antichrist will be the king of Babylon because he will be the king of Assyria, which will include Babylon, as we have seen in our study of Babylon in Lesson Forty-one.

(4) “The spoiler” and “the extortioner” Isaiah 16:1-5. That these terms refer to Antichrist is clear from a study of this passage in Lesson Forty-five, Point I.

(5) “Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (Ezek. 38; 39). These two chapters will be fulfilled at Armageddon, as seen in Lesson Forty-nine.

(6) The “little horn” Daniel 7:8, 24Daniel 8:9, 23.

(7) “A king of fierce countenance” Daniel 8:23.

(8) “The prince that shall come” Daniel 9:26, 27. This title refers to the same man as does the “little horn” coming from the ten kingdoms of Revised Rome who will make the seven-years covenant with Israel and then break it in the middle of the Week and cause the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem, as seen in Lesson Forty.

(9) “The king of the north” Daniel 11:36-45. This is the king of the Syrian division of the old Grecian Empire as we have seen in our study of Daniel in Lesson Thirty-nine. He is called the king of the north because he will come from the northern division of old Greece, that is, north of Palestine. Many Bible teachers say the Antichrist will come from Russia and they use this term to prove it, but if “the king of the north” refers to Russia, then what countries are there north of Russia that could fight against Russia, as is required in Dan. 11:44? There are none, so this title applies to the future king of Syria—the northern division of the four divisions of the old Grecian Empire out of which Antichrist must come Daniel 8:8, 9.

(10) “The man of sin” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

(11) “The son of perdition” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

(12) “The wicked” and “that wicked” Isaiah 11:42 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

These last four titles picture the Antichrist in his role as the most sinful and wicked man of his time, perhaps all time, for he will literally murder multitudes who will not conform to his every desire Revelation 7:9-17Revelation 13:16-18Revelation 15:1-3Revelation 20:4-6. For this wickedness he is “the son of perdition,” because he is destined to perdition, or destruction and eternal Hell.

The theory that Antichrist is the mystery of iniquity or Satan manifest in the flesh as Jesus was the mystery of godliness, or God manifest in the flesh; that Antichrist will be “the son of perdition” or the son of Satan by a woman, as Jesus was “the Son of God” by a woman; and that Antichrist is the opposite of Christ in every detail is not taught in Scripture. That Antichrist is a mysterious personage and will be such a man of mystery in all that he does is false. Not one statement in Scripture about him is mysterious, or teaches that he will be supernatural, an immortal man from the Abyss, an incarnation of the devil, or a natural son of the devil, as we shall see in the next two lessons.

The phrase “mystery of iniquity” literally means “the invisible spirit of lawlessness” or “the evil spirit forces that cause man to sin” John 8:44John 14:30Ephesians 2:1-31 John 3:8Ephesians 6:10-182 Corinthians 4:3, 4. The same men who teach Antichrist is the mystery of iniquity teach that he is the beast now bound in the Abyss and will come out again as the Antichrist. They teach that this spirit is Judas who will be reincarnated, and their main argument is that Judas and Antichrist are both called “the son of perdition” John 17:122 Thessalonians 2:14. As we shall see in the next two lessons, neither has any human being ever gone into the Abyss, nor will one ever go there, so Judas could not be in the pit to come out. The expression “the son of perdition” literally means “the son of destruction,” because both Judas and Antichrist are destined to destruction, not because they are natural sons of Satan. They could not be sons of Satan and be the sons of their earthly fathers at the same time. They could not be natural sons of Satan and incarnations of him too, as taught by some.

In the Greek it reads “the son of the destruction” just as it reads “the man of the sin.” This last phrase does not limit the Antichrist as being the only man of sin and the former phrase does not limit him to be the only son of destruction. The Hebrews and Greeks called any man who was subject to a particular evil or characteristic, the son of that trait, as “sons of Belial” 1 Samuel 1:161 Samuel 2:121 Samuel 25:17, 251 Kings 21:10; “child of the devil” Acts 13:10; “children of the wicked one” Matthew 13:38; “children of the devil” 1 John 3:10; “children of wisdom” Luke 7:35; “children of the world” Luke 16:8; “children of light” Luke 16:8John 12:36; “children of disobedience” Ephesians 2:1-3Ephesians 5:6-8Colossians 3:6. Also anyone who was destined to some particular fate was called the child of that destiny, as “children of the kingdom” Matthew 8:12; “children of wrath” Ephesians 2:1-3; “children of the resurrection” Luke 20:36. Therefore, in view of this usual practice mentioned above it would be only natural to call both Judas and Antichrist “the son of perdition” or destruction, for both are destined to destruction in Hell, because of their sin.

The word “perdition” is used only eight times and is from the Greek apoleia, meaning “ruin, loss, destruction, perdition, and perish.” It is never used as a name of the devil; hence, to call Judas and Antichrist sons of the devil by a woman is not biblical. Neither is it stated in Scripture that Judas ever was or ever will be, nor that the future Antichrist ever will be a direct and literal child of the devil by a woman. Such a statement is as far from truth as the devil himself. Try to substitute the word “devil” for “perdition” in all other places where it is found, and see if it makes sense Philippians 1:281 Timothy 6:9Hebrews 10:392 Peter 3:7Revelation 17:8, 11. The Greek word apoleia is translated “destruction” Matthew 7:13Romans 9:22Philippians 3:192 Peter 2:12 Peter 3:16, “damnation” 2 Peter 2:3, “die” Acts 25:16, “perish” Acts 8:20, and in other ways, but never as “devil.” We can conclude then that “son of perdition” does not mean “son of the devil.”

All other statements about the Antichrist “coming in his own name” John 5:43; “exalting himself” 2 Thessalonians 2:4; “being worshipped” Revelation 13:8; “being cast into Hell” Revelation 19:20; “doing his own will” Daniel 11:36; “destroying men” Daniel 8:24; “being wicked” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; and other facts about him, do not prove he is such a super, mysterious being as some men teach. All these statements can be understood in connection with any natural and mortal man, as we shall see. If Antichrist is the mystery of lawlessness, then he has been here all the time and cannot come from the pit, for Paul said this mystery was already working in his day 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Men try to find so many hidden meanings in the Bible. Many spend a lifetime trying to make the Bible a mystery instead of seeking to make it the simple book it really is. All such hidden interpretations must be rejected for the sake of simple truth.

The devil is never going to have a natural son by a woman. Genesis 3:15 certainly does not teach such a thing. The seed of the serpent should be understood as the natural offspring of snakes and to the spiritual children of the devil Matthew 13:381 John 3:8-10John 8:44. This last passage is taken by some to mean Antichrist will be a natural seed of the devil, “Ye are of your father the devil . . . When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.” It is claimed that the word “it” refers to one particular son of the devil, the Antichrist, but this is not only proven false by the same passage that speaks of all men as being “of your father the devil,” but it is also proven ridiculous by the same passage. The “lie” refers to a literal lie and not to a natural son of the devil by a woman. If telling a lie can be turned into a natural son of the devil in this passage, then we can make natural sons of Satan in Acts 5:3; Rom. 1:25; Ps. 78:36, and all other places in Scripture where lies were spoken. If the “lie” here means the natural son of the devil that he is going to have by a woman, then he is going to “speak” this son into existence and if this be true, then he could not be a natural son by a woman or by an incarnation of himself, as some men teach. If he could do this he would be speaking enough sons into existence to fill the Earth, so he would have a better chance to defeat God. Such teaching is plain foolishness.

It is also argued that Judas was the only one ever called a “devil,” thus proving further that he was the devil incarnate, or that he was the mystery of iniquity, and a son of perdition John 6:70, 71John 17:12. The definite article “the” is used, thus making Judas “the devil,” but the definite article is not in the Greek at all, which means “a devil.” The Greek word for “devil” is diabolos and means “adversary” or “slanderer” and is used of other men who are called “false accusers” 2 Timothy 3:3 and “slanderers” 1 Timothy 3:11. Since the word is used of other men, then it is clear that Judas is not the only one it is used of, as is claimed. The word never implies an incarnation, as some argue. If so, then these other men who are slanderers (devils) were also incarnations of the devil, and in this case the above theory is destroyed. The devil never incarnates himself in the Antichrist any more than he did Judas, for the dragon is always seen as a separate person outside the beast.

If Judas were the devil incarnate then the devil was the son of Simon, a human being, so he could not have been created of God and could not have existed until the time of Christ John 6:70, 71.

According to this reasoning, it was the devil who . . .

• Betrayed Jesus Matthew 10:4

• Jesus chose as one of His own trusted disciples and planned to give him a throne in the eternal kingdom Matthew 10:1-8Luke 22:28-30

• Received power from the Holy Spirit through Jesus to cast out himself and his demons and to destroy his own work Matthew 6:7-13

• Followed Jesus and had fellowship with Him for over three years Psalms 41:9Psalms 55:12, 13

• Had a place in the bishopric and fell from it by transgression Acts 1:15-25Acts 109:8

• Lost his name out of the Book of Life Acts 1:20

• Entered into himself to betray Jesus Luke 22:3

• Carried the bag and was the trusted treasurer of the apostolic band John 13:29

• Repented himself for betraying Jesus Matthew 27:3-10

• Hung himself Matthew 27:5

• Had his bowels gush out and was buried in a potter’s field Acts 1:17-20

Who could believe these things happened to the devil?

If Judas were the devil incarnate, then it was Judas who . . .

• Was a created being and an angel that ruled the Earth before Adam and that invaded Heaven and was cast out Isaiah 14:12-14Ezekiel 28:11-17Luke 10:18

• Opposed Israel and smote Job with boils and has present access to Heaven Job 1:6–2

• Stood at his own right hand to betray Jesus and became childless ever afterward Psalms 109:20

• Tempted Christ Matthew 4:1-11

• Used Peter as a tool Matthew 16:23

• Caused all the sickness in men Acts 10:38Luke 13:16

• Was still alive and worked against early believers after he committed suicide Acts 5:3Acts 26:18

• Does all the things that the devil does in all Scriptures

See the words “Satan” and “devil” in a concordance and see the many things that Judas (supposedly) did to oppose God from creation until now, if he is the devil.

If the Antichrist were the devil incarnate, we would have to conclude . . .

• That the devil has not yet come 1 John 2:18John 5:43

• That he will not come until after ten kingdoms are formed inside the Roman Empire Daniel 7:24 and after the rapture of the Church 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8

• That he will continue only forty-two months when he does come Revelation 13:5

• That the devil is a “man” Revelation 13:18

• That this man is in Heaven now accusing the saints and will be cast out of Heaven in the middle of the Week Revelation 12:7-17Revelation 13:1-8

• That the dragon is not a separate person outside the beast as he is pictured as being in all passages on the subject Revelation 13:2-4Revelation 16:13-16Revelation 19:20Revelation 20:10

• That the devil is to be “slain” by Christ at His second advent Daniel 7:11Isaiah 11:42 Thessalonians 2:8, 9

• That he is to be put into two different places during the Millennium, for the beast is in the Lake of Fire and the dragon is in the Abyss during that time Revelation 19:20Revelation 20:1-3

• That the devil is still in the Lake of Fire while he is loosed at the end of the Millennium and that he will be again cast back where he already is and has always been since Armageddon Revelation 19:20Revelation 20:1-10

• That the devil has died once and will die twice in the future if we are to believe the theories of men concerning Antichrist

We would also have to believe that Judas became his own father when he incarnated himself in a woman and was born, that he died and will become incarnated again in a woman in the latter days and will become a second incarnation of the devil, or of himself. How could any person become nothing but a seed in a woman twice and grow from nothing but a seed to a full-grown man twice? How could the devil as an immortal angel be a man and die three times? How could he be the devil outside of both Judas and the Antichrist and still be an incarnation of the devil in both? How could the devil enter into Judas if he were Judas? How could he give his power to the Antichrist and be a dragon outside of him and still be the Antichrist? How could he be the beast in the Lake of Fire and still be himself in the pit? These and other ridiculous theories we would have to believe if we accepted as truth what some men teach on the subject of Antichrist as being both Judas and the devil. These teachings are not the truth about the devil, Judas, or the Antichrist, or about the head wounded to death, as we shall see in the next two lessons.

(13) “The beast” Daniel 7:11Revelation 13:1-18Revelation 14:9-11Revelation 15:2, 3Revelation 16:2, 10Revelation 17:1-18Revelation 19:19-21Revelation 20:2-4, 10. This beast will be explained in the next two lessons.

1. 1 His Person. All the above studies prove that the Antichrist is to be a real person and not a religious system or the successive head of some system as the pope, and that he is yet to come in the future and will literally fulfill all the prophecies concerning himself. His character and characteristics are clearly implied in the points above, which reveal that he will be a man who will possess the talent and leadership of all previously gifted conquerors and leaders. In addition to these natural gifts, he will possess the miraculous power of attracting people of every class, fascinating them with his marvelous personality, successes, wisdom, administrative and executive ability, and bringing them under his control through his well-directed flattery and masterly diplomacy. He will be indued with the power of Satan in the exercise of these gifts until the world will wonder after him and many will worship him as God. Some of his titles, the operations of his power, his wars, and other points of interest concerning him will be given in following lessons.

II. The Beast Out of the Earth Revelation 13:11-17

The above individual, or second beast, is mentioned here for the first time and all that is revealed concerning him in the Bible is recorded in Revelation. He is called “the false prophet” (Greek, pseudoprophetes) in Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10, which are the only other passages that mention him. He is to be a prophet, but a false one; a prophet of Antichrist, not of Christ. In Rev. 16:13 he is seen with the beast and dragon as sending forth the demon spirits to gather the nations to Armageddon. In Rev. 19:20 he is seen as being the miracle-working co-laborer and leader of the nations along with the first beast as he comes against Christ at Armageddon. The doom of this second beast will be torment in the Lake of Fire forever along with the first beast, the dragon, and all rebellious creatures Revelation 20:10. The facts concerning him and his ministry in Rev. 13:11-17 are:

1. 1 He is seen coming on the scene of action by John after the vision of the first beast Revelation 13:11. He is called “another” beast, from Greek allos, meaning “another of the same kind,” denoting numerical distinction; the second of two where there may be more, as in Mt. 10:23; Jn. 18:15. Therefore, this beast is the second one in this chapter and cannot possibly be the same as the first beast of Rev. 13:1-10. If there were only one beast there would not be two descriptions and statements concerning two different beasts. This point is so clear in this passage that we need not take up the many points of contrast between the two beasts.

1. 1 This beast is seen coming up “out of the earth” Revelation 13:11. The word “earth” is the same as “world” in Rev. 13:3 and “earth” in Rev. 13:12. Here it symbolizes the peoples on the Earth, as in Dan. 7:1-7, 17. The word “sea” is also used in a symbolical sense of peoples in Rev. 13:1-8; 17:1, 15; Dan. 7:1-7, 17. The phrase “out of the Earth” is the same in meaning as “out of the sea,” as is proven by a similar construction in Dan. 7:3 and 17 where four beasts came up “out of the sea” and in the interpretation they are said to be four kingdoms coming up out of the Earth. This does not mean that this beast comes out of the underworld of spirits and is a resurrected or reincarnated man that has lived on the Earth before, as is taught by some. It does not mean this any more than it does when four kingdoms are spoken of as coming out of the Earth in Dan. 7:17.

Some teach that this beast is Judas who will come up out of the underworld, because his characteristics are like those of Judas in that he will be a leader in worship, be idolatrous, and work miracles as Judas did. Such arguments based upon similar acts in the lives of these men are not sufficient proof of this theory. Others claim that the first beast will be Judas from the underworld, but, as we shall see in the next two lessons, no human being can come up from the underworld and fulfill the office of either of these beasts. The beasts symbolize two natural men, as the sea and Earth symbolize peoples. They are yet of the future and will be born and live natural lives like all other men. They will rise in power out of the peoples of the Earth to carry out their intended missions of these prophecies in the will of God.

1. 1 The second beast has two horns making him look like a lamb, but he speaks as a dragon. His lamb-like appearance will make him a fit man for his office, thus causing him to be looked upon as a wonderful prophet and man of religion. Combined with this lamb-like appearance will be his dragon or serpent-like deceiving speech. This, and a few miracles, will complete his method of deception. The expression “spake as a dragon” should read “was speaking as a dragon,” showing that when John saw him coming out of the mass of humanity he was speaking and that was one of the most conspicuous things about him.

1. 1 He will exercise all the power of the first beast before him and cause the earth “to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound will be healed” Revelation 13:12. He will be the executive of Antichrist and exercise Satan’s power, which will be given to the first beast Revelation 13:2-42 Thessalonians 2:8-12. The length of the existence of this second beast in power is not stated but he is not to rise until after the first one does, so it cannot be for more than 3½ years. He will exercise this power before or in the presence of the Antichrist. He is never mentioned apart from the Antichrist, so it must be that the two will work in close union and will withstand the two witnesses as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses in power and miracles 2 Timothy 3:8.

1. 1 “He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire to come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of men” Revelation 13:13. The purpose of these signs wrought by the false prophet is to deceive men to accept the Antichrist as God. He “deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast” Revelation 13:14. Satan has continually deceived the whole world Revelation 12:9, but here he has planned the worst deception ever known, which is to be permitted of God, because men receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12Revelation 9:20, 21Revelation 13:3, 12Revelation 14:9Revelation 16:21 Timothy 4:1-3. He will deceive and use these signs to further impress his deception, for miracles alone are not complete and definite proofs of a divine mission. Just as the Lord’s signs were for the purpose of impressing the people and causing them to believe in Him, so these also will be to impress those who may not be ready to believe in the beast.

1. 1 The beast out of the Earth will tell the Earth dwellers to make an image to the first beast. The image will be made and set up in the temple of God to be worshipped Matthew 24:15. He will have the power to give life to this image that it should both speak and cause all who will not worship it to be killed. This will be a wonderful sign in itself, that a material image should be given power to speak and act Revelation 13:14, 15.

1. 1 The second beast will cause all classes to receive brands in their right hands or in their foreheads, that no man might buy or sell except those who have them Revelation 13:16-18. This will result in the martyrdom of most of the “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations” Revelation 7:9-17Revelation 13:7Revelation 14:13Revelation 15:2, 3Revelation 20:4. In the worship of the first beast and his image, men will be so devoted as to say, “Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” This reveals the worship will be both political and religious Revelation 13:4. It will not be a willing worship on the part of many, for force will be used to make them worship. The worship will be of such an apostate nature as to pronounce eternal doom to all who partake Revelation 14:9-11. Many men will throw overboard all faith in God and Christ, become servants of the devil, and be controlled by demon spirits to such an extent as to be past redemption.

The three brands that followers of Antichrist may choose are:

(1) “A mark,” or in the Greek, “the mark.” That this mark is different from either the name, or the number of his name, is clear from the following passages where the three brands are enumerated Revelation 13:16-18Revelation 14:9Revelation 15:2-4Revelation 20:4. What kind of mark it will be is not revealed, but it will be a literal mark in the flesh Revelation 13:16Revelation 14:9. Perhaps it will be the emblem of the kingdom of the Antichrist.

(2) “The name of the beast;” that is, of the first beast Revelation 13:17.

(3) “The number of his name” Revelation 13:17, 18Revelation 15:2. The idea is that the letters in the name of the Antichrist will equal 666. In the Hebrew and Greek languages there is no separate system of numbers as in the English. The letters of the alphabet also stand for numbers, so the numerical value of the letters in the name of the future Antichrist (whatever they will be) will equal 666. This will be “the number of a man” Revelation 13:18. There are many Greek and Hebrew names that have a numerical value of 666 (just like any number of combinations of English numbers equals 666). This is especially true of foreign names, which are transliterated into Hebrew or Greek. There is no hidden meaning to the number, for the very expression “Here is wisdom” (native insight, understanding) shows that it is easy to understand, for it is given here as 666 and anyone can understand this. It is in trying to learn the name of the beast and also his mark by the numerical value of certain names that Bible students have given themselves over to much foolish speculation. Such speculation as to what the name of the beast will be by counting the numerical value of certain names should not be indulged in to say the least.

The brands of the beast cannot be taken until the last 3½ years of this age, or during the great tribulation. Therefore, it is impossible for one to take any of his brands, or worship him today, for he is not now on the scene. When he does come and these things begin to be fulfilled, those who take any one of the brands or worship him will be doomed to eternal Hell, and in this life he will be plagued by the vial plagues Revelation 14:9-11Revelation 16:1-21. No man will ever know what the mark or the name of the beast will be until after he comes, which will be after the rapture and after the ten kingdoms are formed inside the old Roman Empire, as we have already seen. Although men cannot know what the Antichrist’s mark or name will be, they can know what the numerical value of his name is, for it is already revealed as being 666 Revelation 13:18. This, and this alone, is all that men will ever get to know of the three brands until Antichrist comes and fulfills Rev. 13. When he comes all men will know what his name will be, and they can then see what combination of letters he will have in his name that equals 666. When he comes and chooses the mark he will put upon men, then all men will know what it will be. Until then, let us forget what the mark or the name may be. We know that it will not be keeping Sunday as the sabbath, social security numbers, union cards, the faces on the American dime, and many other foolish theories preached by modern men.